H434 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 21, 2015 the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. BLU- 70TH ered, exactly what Hitler had counted MENAUER) for 5 minutes. ANNIVERSARY on, as the winter would only add to the Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, The SPEAKER pro tempore. The element of surprise. last night for the State of the Union Chair recognizes the gentleman from The German 5th and 15th Panzer Ar- address by President Obama, my guest Pennsylvania (Mr. PERRY) for 5 min- mies, 6th SS, and 7th Army attacked was a Portlander, Cheryl Strayed, the utes. the U.S. in a line between author of the best-selling book, Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I wish to Aachen and with a plan to go ‘‘Wild,’’ who is currently being por- remind everybody about a real-life as close as possible down the seam be- tween American, Canadian, and British trayed on the big screen by Reese story of being outnumbered 10 to 1, a forces to split them. Witherspoon. This epic story is about story of courage, will, discipline, suf- After crossing the Meuse River, the how a young woman, reeling from the fering, immense sacrifice, and success, attacking Panzers were to turn north loss of her mother and the cascading a tale of two great militaries, surprise, and capture the port city of Antwerp, challenges of her life, undertook a weather, overwhelming force, and sheer thus collapsing the supply lines and journey 1100 miles along the Pacific resolve. It is marked with the graves of thousands and exemplifies the struggle the alliance. Coast Trail. It was 96 days of an amaz- The timetable established by the ing struggle, overcoming all sorts of for the very future of freedom in our world. German general staff and German high difficulties, adversities, as she helped command called for the capture of the work out her own challenges and The story ends with the 101st Air- borne and Patton’s Armor being vic- entire 28th Division sector early in the issues. torious in January and February of morning of 16 December and the cap- I invited her because I thought the 1945, and I think it is important to rec- ture of Bastogne by the same evening story that she portrayed, the experi- ognize the accomplishments of all the of that day. Bastogne was a major road ence that she had, was an interesting units who struggled and suffered great- junction which was needed by the Ger- metaphor for the sorts of things that ly under the German siege of a small mans for armor and resupply units. we should be doing here. Perhaps we town in Belgium named Bastogne. This In the early morning hours of 16 De- might be able to come together as a January and the recent December cember, the 28th Division received a Congress, supporting legislation that marks the 70th anniversary of the Bat- message telling them to hold at all would help protect some of those spe- tle of the Bulge. costs. Keystoners, as they were known, cial places that are portrayed in her Most people know of the 101st Air- were dug in and began the slow and powerful book and in the excellent borne, nicknamed the ‘‘battling Bas- painful art of trading space for time, movie. tards of Bastogne,’’ and the plight of trading space for time and life. The 110th Regiment was soon sur- In the course of her visit, another Patton’s Armor, as chronicled in so rounded and fought to the last round. thought has made its way to me as I many stories and movies now bur- From 0530 that morning of the 16th watched her interact with dozens of nished into the collective conscious- until sometime late in the afternoon of young people in a variety of meetings ness of our Nation, and rightly so. However, Mr. Speaker, on this 70th the 18th and early on the 19th in some on Capitol Hill, fellow Members of Con- anniversary, I want to remind us of an locations, men of the 110th Infantry gress, and many other people who were often untold story of the other heroes Regiment fought and held, giving touched by the story of her journey and of the Battle of the Bulge and the little ground only when forced out, but all it made a profound effect on them. She but critical town of Bastogne. It is a the while buying precious time for continues to receive hundreds of emails story of the American soldiers of the General Eisenhower to find and move a day from people who were inspired by 28th Division from Pennsylvania, who reserves forward from deep inside that effort and her magnificent book. held at all costs. France. It occurs to me that it is an appro- In late October to mid-November of The other two regimental combat priate metaphor for what our challenge 1944, the battle of the Hurtgen Forest teams of the division, the 109th and is as Members of the 114th Congress, was described as a meat grinder. The 112th Infantry Regiments, did only because this, after all, is a 2-year jour- 28th Division was in a fierce battle slightly better. The 110th Regiment ney on behalf of the American people. with the German 73rd Corps. For the stayed in place as they were assigned The question for us is: If we can strug- 28th, the battle losses were 248 officers the center sector of the division. The gle with that heavy pack, navigate and 5,452 enlisted men. After the bat- regiment alone fought elements of five areas where sometimes the trail is a tle, the weary division needed a rest. German divisions, of which it was out- little obscure, can we put our trust in The Ardennes Forest was thick and numbered at times 7 to 1. strangers who help us along this dif- seemingly impenetrable. It was known I must abbreviate due to time. ficult journey? Can we be resolute in as a quiet sector in which the 28th While there are many things that putting one foot in front of another on could reequip, reorganize, and assimi- come to mind when we think of the behalf of the American public? late thousands of new replacements Battle of the Bulge like the 101st Air- Mr. Speaker, it was a very profound into the ranks while the division rest- borne, Patton’s Armor, or Easy Com- experience to watch those interactions, ed. pany from the Band of Brothers, please Greatly weakened by the previous after having seen the movie, and hav- also remember the names and places battle, the 28th Division was spread out ing been entranced by the book. I am familiar to those others who held at all over some 25 miles along a front which absolutely convinced that this is our costs: the 103rd, the 109th, 110th, 111th, was more than double that which was moment, our journey into something 112th of the 28th. These are the echoes recommended in standard practice by that doesn’t necessarily have to be of the 28th Division and the men who any division at the time. ‘‘Wild,’’ even though there is a roller held at all costs and traded space for On the morning of 16 December 1944, time so that the 101st and Patton’s coaster of legislative activity. I am the peace was shattered by the opening convinced there ought to be enough Third Army could get into position in barrage of the Germans opening up one time to defeat the German offensive. common interest, common commit- of the largest displays of artillery bom- ment, common goals that we ought to bardment ever, signaling the start of b 1015 be able to tease out elements that en- Hitler’s last great offensive on the Mr. Speaker, we can learn a lot from able us to be successful in our journey. Western Front in World War II. these dedicated soldiers who refused to I hope, Mr. Speaker, that people will For the next 4 days, without any surrender but fought on for what they reflect on that experience of this young sleep, often without food, elements of believed in. I just wanted to remind ev- woman who was able to overcome ad- the 28th Division and their affiliates eryone and to offer my salute to these versity and open up an amazing chap- fought continuously, often until the finest Americans. ter in her life and beyond. I hope we last bullet and life, to deny the enemy Mr. Speaker, I wish to remind everybody will be able to do the same for the peo- success. It was exceptionally cold, about a real life story of being outnumbered ple we represent. foggy, damp, and, of course, snow cov- 10 to 1.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:49 Jan 22, 2015 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K21JA7.003 H21JAPT1 rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with HOUSE January 21, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H435 A story of courage, will, discipline suffering, them. After crossing the Meuse River, the at- were killed where they stood at Malmedy on immense sacrifice and success. A tale of two tacking Panzers were to turn north and cap- direct orders from German Colonel Joachim great two militaries, surprise, weather, over- ture the port city of Antwerp, thus collapsing Peiper. whelming force and sheer resolve. A story the supply lines and the Alliance. The time- On 19 December, 6000 Allied Troops sur- marked with the graves of thousands, and that table established by the German General Staff rendered to the encircling German Army at exemplifies the struggle for the very future of and High Command called for the capture of Schnee Eiffel. freedom in our world. the entire 28th Division sector early in the On 20 December, the 101st Airborne Divi- The story ends with the 101st Airborne Divi- morning of 16 December, and the capture of sion at Bastogne completely was encircled by sion and Patton’s Armor victorious in January Bastogne by the same evening. Bastogne was the German 47th Panzer Corps and the US and February of 1945. a major road junction that was needed by the 10th and 19th Armored Divisions completely We must recognize the accomplishments of Germans for armor and resupply units. were encircled by the German advance. After all the units that struggled and suffered greatly In the early morning hours of 16 December holding on to Bastogne for a full week while under the German siege of a small town in the 28th Division received the order to ‘‘Hold encircled, the 101st repelled the final German Belgium named Bastogne. at all costs!’’ thrust with the arrival of the 4th Armored Divi- This past December 2014 through the end ‘‘Keystoners’’, as they were known, were sion. of January 2015 marks the 70th Anniversary dug in and began the slow and painful art of On 25 December, the 2nd Panzer Division of the one of the most significant and deadly trading space and lives for time—time enough was stopped by a combined force of British battles of World War II—the Battle of the for the 101st Airborne and Patton’s Armor to and American armor made up of General Bulge. get into the fight, and win it. Montgomery’s 29th Armored Brigade and the We must also remember the German units The 110th Infantry Regiment soon was sur- American 2nd Armored Division. and the actions of their Soldiers committed to rounded and fought to the last bullet. From 7 February 1945 marked the end of the bat- their nation’s cause. We must recount their ac- 0530 hours on 16 December, until sometime tle where the German casualty count was a tions as well—the cause of their leadership, late in afternoon of the 18th and early on the staggering 82,000 men, matched only by the the unfortunate actions that occurred in those 19th in some locations, men of the 110th In- 77,000 casualties suffered by the American desperate hours and learn from that history so fantry fought and held—giving ground only Army. that we may never again have to re-endure when forced out—but while buying precious While many things come to mind when we them. time for General Eisenhower to find and move think of the Battle of the Bulge—like the 101st, Most people know of the 101st Airborne reserves forward from deep inside France. Patton’s Armor or Easy Company (made fa- (nicknamed the ‘‘Battling Bastards of Bas- The other two Regimental Combat Teams of mous by the book and movie, ‘‘Band of Broth- togne’’) and the plight of Patton’s Armor as the Division—the 109th and 112th—did only ers’’, please also remember the names and chronicled in so many stories and movies now slightly better, and the 109th ran out of ammu- places familiar to the others that held at all burnished into the collective consciousness of nition on the 18th. These scattered and bat- costs: our Nation—and rightly so. However Mr. tered units of the 28th Division held out in the The 103rd, 109th, 110th, 111th, 112th Infan- Speaker, on this 70th Anniversary, I’m re- face of overwhelming odds—delaying the Ger- try Regiments; the towns and grounds of minded of an often untold story of other he- mans as long as they was by any standard a Clervaux, Wilt, the Clerf River, Foy and roes of the Battle of the Bulge, in the little but miraculous feat because of the complete and Noville; and the other units like Combat Com- critically important town of Bastogne. It’s the massive confusion of the Battle. mand B, 48th Armored Field Artillery, Combat story of the American Soldiers of the 28th Di- However, the 110th Regiment stayed in Command R, 158th Engineer Battalion, 630th vision from Pennsylvania who held at all costs. place as they were assigned the center sector Tank Destroyer Battalion, 1278th Engineer In late October to mid-November of 1944, of the Division. This Regiment alone fought Battalion and the 299th Engineer Battalion occurred the Battle of the Huertgen Forest— elements of five German divisions, outnum- who suffered and fought to reconstitute and described as ‘‘the meat grinder’’—where the bering the Americans 7 to 1. support this brave endeavor. These are the 28th Division fought a fierce and deadly battle Overall the 28th Division would identify ele- echoes of the 28th Division and the men and with the German 73rd Corps. For the 28th, ments of 9 divisions in its sector before the units who held at all costs and traded space battle losses were 248 officers and 5,452 en- Battle was over. Early on, the force ratios for time so that the 101st and Patton’s 3rd listed men, after which the battle-weary Divi- reached 10 to 1 in the Germans’ favor, but still Army could get into position in time to defeat sion needed a rest and were moved to the Pennsylvania’s 28th Division valiantly held its the German offensive. Ardennes Forest, thick and seemingly impen- ground. Mr. Speaker, we could learn so much from etrable but quiet sector in which the 28th Divi- Small determined units, low on ammunition, these dedicated Soldiers who not only refused sion could reconstitute, reorganize and assimi- food, water, anti-tank weapons, and morale, to surrender, but fought for what they believed late thousands of replacements into the ranks continued to stand and fight until forced to re- in. while the Division recovered. Greatly weak- treat, captured or killed. I remind us all of this tale of heroism, tire- ened by the previous battle, the 28th Division The old 110th, which had served the Com- less and selfless service, and salute these was spread out over some 25 miles along a monwealth of Pennsylvania and the Nation brave Americans. front more than double that which was rec- since 1873, started to fight with just over 2200 f ommended in standard practice by any divi- Soldiers. When all was said and done, less MAINTAINING AMERICA’S sion at the time. On the morning of 16 Decem- than 750 officers and men could be found still INFRASTRUCTURE ber 1944, the peace was shattered by the fighting. Some unit strength reports have it just opening barrage of the Germans in one of the around 500 unit members still standing. The The SPEAKER pro tempore. The largest and most deadly artillery bombard- German Fifth Panzer Army was so ravaged by Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from ments ever—signaling the start of Hitler’s last the Keystoners that many say it ultimately cost Ohio (Ms. KAPTUR) for 5 minutes. great offensive on the Western Front in WWII. the Germans the battle. Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I wish to For the next four days without any sleep, and The Division held until it could hold no associate myself with the prior gentle- often without food, elements of the 28th Divi- more, and it never ordered a single retreat. It man’s commendation of those who sion and their Allies fought tirelessly—to the was a continuous fighting withdraw under fought on behalf of liberty at the Bat- last bullet in most cases—as well as to the fire—described as ‘‘We made the Germans tle of the Bulge. We bow before them. last life, to deny the enemy success. pay for every yard, every road junction, and They bequeathed liberty to this gen- The day and night were punishing—freez- fighting house by house, floor by floor, often eration. It is a heavy burden. Let us ing, wet, foggy and snow-covered—exactly hand-to-hand when the ammunition ran out.’’ hope that we can measure up to it in what Hitler had counted on, as the winter The 28th inflicted 11,700 casualties on the tribute to their valor. would only add to the element of surprise and enemy at a cost of 3850 Americans killed and At last night’s State of the Union Ad- exponentially increase his chances for suc- wounded, and another 2000 captured when dress, passing a transportation and in- cess. The German 5th and 15th Panzer Ar- they simply ran out of ammunition. frastructure bill to repair America and mies, 6th SS and 7th Army attacked the U.S. There are many footnotes to this intense build forward a new century, as we cre- 8th Army and aligned between Aachen and Battle: ate hundreds of thousands of jobs, got Bastogne with a plan to fight as close as pos- On 17 December, Allied prisoners of war the broadest bipartisan applause. You sible down the seam between American, Ca- were executed in cold blood by elements of could hear it on both sides of the aisle. nadian and British forces in order to split the 6th SS Panzer Army. Some 100 prisoners So I come to the floor this morning to

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