Yes, I remember that quote, and he was just full of ****. It wasn't as if he was a damsel in distress, so perhaps he just got all cranked up because the jumpers had done a near-miracle getting into Bastogne, and didn't feel they'd been given sufficient credit. But the relief of Bastogne was necessary, and 3rd Army did it.
It’s great that the company of heroes, band of brothers guys got an HBO miniseries and a reporter in Bastogne to write the story. Patton’s army did an amazing thing by pivoting so quickly to counterpunch.
IMHO the guys who deserve more credit were the poor bastards in the 28th who fought and died rather than run or surrender, for as long as they did against impossible odds and allowed the Airborne time to get to Bastogne.
Talking up “nuts” and the Airborne heroes is better PR than talking about the division that got crushed by the intelligence failures of the US army.
My old man was an infantryman in the 110th Rgt, 2nd Bn, “Easy” Company. He told me that before the battle, when they reported contacts indicating that the Krauts were building up for a push, Division intel sent an officer complete with shined shoes and a necktie to accompany the GI’s on a recon patrol over the river at night to go see for hisself.
They got across the river, and the intel guy said he’d seen enough, even when told the Germans were up over the next ridgeline and they need to go further. He ordered them back and wrote a report about jumpy infantrymen hearing things.
When you are sending bulk we regret to inform you telegrams, the “heroes of Bastogne” story plays better than “we got cocky and your kid/husband/father got steamrolled”.