[carlo3b]

To the purveyors of doom and gloom in our Country;
"NUTS"

[fhayek]

In my opinion, this one-word response by General McAuliffe was the perfect embodiment of the American character.

[carlo3b]

If a picture says a thousand words, then this word congers up a million pictures!

[tubebender]

"THE GREATEST GENERATION", What Heros they are.

From todays local paper Dec 20th,1941, Jap sub sinks ship off West Coast

[LibKill]

To the purveyors of doom and gloom in our Country; "NUTS"

Well said, back in 1944 and now, 60 years later.

Nuts to them! They had best stand back while the rest of us get on with the business of the greatest country that ever was, in all history.

[Happy2BMe]

I can only say I agree.

Both my grandfathers served in WWI.

My father and uncle served in WWII.

My brother served in Viet Nam.

I served in Desert Storm.

One son served in Iraqi Freedom.

One son is on his way to Baghdad soon.

I can only agree . .

To the purveyors of doom and gloom in our Country;
"NUTS"

[T'wit]

I wish to state for the record that Henry Fonda DID NOT single-handedly win the Battle of the Bulge. He was too busy winning the Pacific war in Mr. Roberts.

[Rocky]

What a great post. Let's remember this Christmas the sacrifices made by America's best.

[VOA]

Even in what the general actually said was an "unsanitized" version of what Americans mean
by "Nuts!"...

As they say in Texas...if it ain't the truth...it oughta' be!

[HighRoadToChina]

BUMP!!!

[Cacique]

ping

[GrandMoM]

GOD BLESS AMERICA, AND GOD BLESS OUR AMERICAN TROOPS-BUMP

[in the Arena]

I've been sitting here trying to compose the perfect reply to this...and it just can't be done...'Nuts' says it all...

[dix]

Carlo,

My Dad told me this story when I was a young boy about forty years ago. Thank you so much for reminding me.

BTW, where is the '04 cookbook? It's not going to be a Freeper Christmas without some good recipes (unfortunately we are all on Adkins). No doubt, though when it comes to the kitchen, You da man!

[LouD]

I spent Thanksgiving at Fort Campbell, and took my son and my nephew (whose father is currently in Baghdad) to the post museum. We watched some very inspiring movies there, and saw some great displays of hardware, including one of the WWII gliders that the 101st rode into battle. The boys loved the story of McAuliffe's response to the Germans, and Patton's quote that "any man that eloquent deserves to be saved."

The mood at Ft. Campbell is somber these days, as the 101st took a lot of casualties in November. Let's keep the Screaming Eagles, 5th SF Group, and everyone else deployed in harm's way in our prayers this Christmas.

[SAMWolf]

To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.

The fortune of war is changing. This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Our near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands.

There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note.

If this proposal should be rejected one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A. A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours' term.

All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well known American humanity.

The German Commander.

---

To the German Commander:

NUTS!

The American Commander

---

McAuliffe then asked Col. Harper to deliver the message to the Germans. Harper took the typed message back to the company command post where the two German officers were detained. Harper then told the Germans that he had the American commanders reply. The German captain then asked, "Is it written or verbal?" Harper responded that it was written and added, "I will place it in your hand."

The German major then asked, "Is the reply negative or affirmative? If it is the latter I will negotiate further."

At this time the Germans were acting in an arrogant and patronizing manner and Harper, who was starting to lose his temper, responded, "The reply is decidedly not affirmative." He then added that, "If you continue your foolish attack your losses will be tremendous."

Harper then put the German officers in a jeep and took them back to where the German enlisted men were detained. He then said to the German captain, "If you don't know what 'Nuts' means, in plain English it is the same as 'Go to Hell'. And I'll tell you something else, if you continue to attack we will kill every goddam German that tries to break into this city."

The German major and captain saluted very stiffly. The captain said, "We will kill many Americans. This is war." Harper then responded, "On your way Bud," he then said, "and good luck to you." Harper later told me he always regretted wishing them good luck.

[Fawnn]

Holiday bump!

[Tony in Hawaii]

This is for you.

I was crying in my beer when suddenly I remembered this.