Sunday, September 8, 2019

Wow!  What a day!! The group traveled by bus and guidance was provided by 'Henri' who was 9 years old living just outside of Bastogne when the German offensive began on December 16.  He was brilliant!  Rich with details and stories about the battle, the individuals like Eisenhower, Generals Bradley, Patton and Montgomery and the strategy behind the outcomes. From the Hotel Melba in Bastogne we traveled northeastward stopping first at Henri Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial near La Clouse.  A moving display of reverence for fellow soldiers - 57 acres with remains of 7,987 American soldiers.

By early afternoon, we arrived in Eupen, home - during the war - of the 45th Evacuation Hospital.  We found the old high school that served as the hospital and served as home for Tim and his hospital unit for some 3 1/2 months during the war.  As Tim entered the courtyard he was filled with emotions, celebrating with elation and remembering with tears, coming back to this place where so many casualties demanded the life-saving services of his unit.  If I can upload it, I will share the video of Tim's overview to the bus group of his service that led him to Eupen and to Buchenwald.

We traveled further toward the east to the Baugnez crossroads near Malmedy where 87 American soldiers were executed by a misguided order to German soldiers on December 17, 1944.  

Further east, we stopped at Wereth, near St. Vith, where 11  African American soldiers were horrifically executed by German SS guard, also on December 17.  

At each of these places our veterans received smiles, handshakes and hugs and requests for photos and autographs and information.  It was moving to see first hand that Belgium has not forgotten the sacrifice that these and other American soldiers have made.