[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 181 (Thursday, November 15, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7045]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE 110TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM

  Mr. TOOMEY. Mr. President, I rise to bring this Chamber's attention 
to an overlooked part of our Nation's shining legacy during the Battle 
of the Ardennes in World War II: the heroic actions of the 110th 
Regimental Combat Team--RCT--28th Infantry Division from December 15-
19, 1944.
  As the last major German offensive on the Western Front, the Ardennes 
campaign was crucial for both sides. With the stakes high, the 110th 
RCT valiantly rose to the occasion. At a devastating cost, the 110th 
was instrumental in the American victory. Despite being thinly extended 
across the American front on the Luxemburg border, the 110th RCT held 
back and slowed the advance of nearly four reinforced German divisions. 
The Americans were outnumbered nearly ten to one, and were vastly 
outgunned in artillery and armor.
  As records have shown, it was not the unit's weapons or numbers that 
kept them fighting at this critical juncture of the war but sheer 
bravery and strength of character. The U.S. Army Center for Military 
History wrote in 1965 that, ``without the gallant bargain struck by the 
110th Infantry and its allied units--men for time--the German plans for 
a coup-de-main at Bastogne would have turned to accomplished fact. In 
the last analysis . . . the final measure of success and failure would 
be in terms of hours and minutes won by the Americans and lost to the 
enemy.''
  While the 101st Airborne and 82nd Airborne raced to entrench at 
Bastogne, their defense of the city would not have been possible 
without the delaying actions of the 110th RCT. As the soldiers of the 
110th RCT dug into the hillsides and small towns of Luxemburg, holding 
their position at all costs, the weight of the enemy attack proved 
deadly. By December 19, the 110th RCT made its last stand at Wiltz with 
just over 500 soldiers. Following the attack that day, the 110th RCT 
was effectively destroyed as a fighting force, and the few remaining 
survivors were sent to fill in other units.
  The 4 days that the 110th RCT delayed the Germans proved vital, even 
as Bastogne was surrounded amid heavy fighting. It was not until nearly 
a week later, on December 26, when units from Patton's army finally 
started to break the encirclement and offer relief to the units in 
Bastogne.
  History has shown the 110th RCT to be one of the unsung heroes in the 
opening days of the Battle of the Bulge, and its gallantry has garnered 
enthusiastic recommendations from senior leaders, commanding generals, 
and historians. I am pleased to honor and remember these heroes and 
provide proper recognition to the lineage of the unit, which resides 
today within the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.

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