This day in 1944: Bastogne resupplied

Art:
I really enjoy reading your stories about the war years. I wish more
veterans would do the same. It won't be very many more years where much
of
this first hand information will no longer be available. This era in our
history should never be forgotten. Thank you for your efforts.
Ed

Thanks for the kind words Ed. Actually all posts up to this point got
little or
no responses and I have the feeling that there is very little interest in
this
subject on this NG. I had planned on stopping with this last post. But
with
your encouraging post, I think I might continue a while longer . Thanks
again.
I appreciate your coming forward.

Best Regards,

Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

Let me add to that, please don't stop posting.

And there must be many more like me who read but don't post very often.

- Michael

I too enjoy these stories.
Thank you,
VL
(Can't wait to hear about your recollection of the Windmill Girls "Revudeville"
with Vivian Van Damm visiting the base............!!)

ArtKramr wrote:

Thanks for the kind words Ed. Actually all posts up to this point got little or
no responses and I have the feeling that there is very little interest in this
subject on this NG. I had planned on stopping with this last post. But with
your encouraging post, I think I might continue a while longer . Thanks again.
I appreciate your coming forward.

Art,
Though I haven't come forward before, I would still add my voice to
those above and ask you to keep posting your memoires. It is always
important to be able to balance "official histories" against the
memories of those individuals who were there and did that. Most
especially, the small things - how you felt going up against the foe,
and how it felt to see friends go down - helps us all to put a feeling
against the text-book phrases such as "casualties were heavy". We don't
truly understand what that means.

The reason we don't truly understand that is that you and your comrades
along with us British, the Empire and our allies defeated the Axis
powers and extinguished the New Dark Age. We haven't been tested,
because you were, and were victorious.

Now, I don't agree with you all the time, but as a Briton born in 1952
you have my respect and gratitude for what you did. It is true to say
that I owe my existance to you all.

So, keep telling your story. Like other personal accounts (Spike
Milligans war memoires, George Macdonald Frasers 'Quartered Safe Out
Here', Pierre Clostermans 'The Big Show' etc etc) you are a unique,
personal window into times that we must not forget.

Subject: This day in 1944: Bastogne resupplied
From: Alan Dicey
Date: 12/23/03 12:41 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

ArtKramr wrote:

Thanks for the kind words Ed. Actually all posts up to this point got
little or
no responses and I have the feeling that there is very little interest in
this
subject on this NG. I had planned on stopping with this last post. But with
your encouraging post, I think I might continue a while longer . Thanks
again.
I appreciate your coming forward.

Art,
Though I haven't come forward before, I would still add my voice to
those above and ask you to keep posting your memoires. It is always
important to be able to balance "official histories" against the
memories of those individuals who were there and did that. Most
especially, the small things - how you felt going up against the foe,
and how it felt to see friends go down - helps us all to put a feeling
against the text-book phrases such as "casualties were heavy". We don't
truly understand what that means.

The reason we don't truly understand that is that you and your comrades
along with us British, the Empire and our allies defeated the Axis
powers and extinguished the New Dark Age. We haven't been tested,
because you were, and were victorious.

Now, I don't agree with you all the time, but as a Briton born in 1952
you have my respect and gratitude for what you did. It is true to say
that I owe my existance to you all.

So, keep telling your story. Like other personal accounts (Spike
Milligans war memoires, George Macdonald Frasers 'Quartered Safe Out
Here', Pierre Clostermans 'The Big Show' etc etc) you are a unique,
personal window into times that we must not forget.


Well I can only tell you the small things because I nver did any big things. I
did what we all did. I flew my misisons and did what I was trained to do. And
kept doing it until the war ended then I went home. And over the years the
memories came slowly flooding back. But I never did anything heroic. I never
knew a hero. Just a bunch of 19 year olds doing what we were trained to do.
But I guess that in the end, that may well be what it takes to wins wars. Now
the guys of the 101st at Bastogne, they were real soldiers. I was not a soldier
in thet sense. I was just a 19 year old kid who was pretty good with a Norden
bombsight.

Regards,

Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

Alan Dicey wrote:

Most
especially, the small things - how you felt going up against the foe,
and how it felt to see friends go down - helps us all to put a feeling
against the text-book phrases such as "casualties were heavy".

I have to add, having reread my post, that I don't for one minute mean
that those things were "small" to you - I meant that they are the kind
of detail that gets lost in analyses of strategy and tactics, that most
histories dwell on.

"Band of Brothers" had a good section on the defence of Bastogne. Did
it stir old memories for you?

Subject: This day in 1944: Bastogne resupplied
From: Alan Dicey
Date: 12/23/03 1:09 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

Alan Dicey wrote:

Most
especially, the small things - how you felt going up against the foe,
and how it felt to see friends go down - helps us all to put a feeling
against the text-book phrases such as "casualties were heavy".

I have to add, having reread my post, that I don't for one minute mean
that those things were "small" to you - I meant that they are the kind
of detail that gets lost in analyses of strategy and tactics, that most
histories dwell on.

"Band of Brothers" had a good section on the defence of Bastogne. Did
it stir old memories for you?



Well sort o, but remember I wasn't on the ground, I was in the air and had
none of the experiences the infantrymen had at Bastogne. You might say I was
just a "Flyboy" (grin)


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

"Alan Dicey" wrote in message
...
Alan Dicey wrote:

Most
especially, the small things - how you felt going up against the foe,
and how it felt to see friends go down - helps us all to put a feeling
against the text-book phrases such as "casualties were heavy".

I have to add, having reread my post, that I don't for one minute mean
that those things were "small" to you - I meant that they are the kind
of detail that gets lost in analyses of strategy and tactics, that most
histories dwell on.

"Band of Brothers" had a good section on the defence of Bastogne. Did
it stir old memories for you?

My father was a rifleman in the 101st Airborne 506 hq hq company at Bastogne
and the mini-series was good for his soul. Inside the City, where he was,
the fighting was a little more intense than depicted in the series.. My
father operated a 50 calibre, instead of his usual 30 calibre machine gun,
at Bastogne. He said there was not a blade of grass standing within a 100
feet of his hole and the Germans seemed especially afraid of the 50.

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 20:41:29 +0000, Alan Dicey
wrote:

ArtKramr wrote:

Thanks for the kind words Ed. Actually all posts up to this point got little or
no responses and I have the feeling that there is very little interest in this
subject on this NG. I had planned on stopping with this last post. But with
your encouraging post, I think I might continue a while longer . Thanks again.
I appreciate your coming forward.

Art,
Though I haven't come forward before, I would still add my voice to
those above and ask you to keep posting your memoires. It is always
important to be able to balance "official histories" against the
memories of those individuals who were there and did that. Most
especially, the small things - how you felt going up against the foe,
and how it felt to see friends go down - helps us all to put a feeling
against the text-book phrases such as "casualties were heavy". We don't
truly understand what that means.



Hello Art
I especially appreciate the personal view in your stories. I do read
a lot of history and there a lot of official and non official
accounts about on which day which division attacked where.
Definately interesting.

But the most interesting stories to me are the personal ones.
The stories like "December the xx. We wanted to fly to help our
friends but the damn wheather wouldn't let us . December xx Finally we
are go.".

Since it's such a long time ago more and more vets are passing away
and can't tell the first hand experiences anymore.
Please keep the stories coming and put them on your website so
generations after now kan still read them.

Greetz Martijn Uffing
P.S. My grandparents lived near the railroad Arnhem-Germany . Funny
way to communicate with someone who probably "buzzed" my grandparents
60 years ago

Subject: This day in 1944: Bastogne resupplied
From: (Mu)
Date: 12/30/03 5:47 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 20:41:29 +0000, Alan Dicey
wrote:

ArtKramr wrote:

Thanks for the kind words Ed. Actually all posts up to this point got
little or
no responses and I have the feeling that there is very little interest in
this
subject on this NG. I had planned on stopping with this last post. But
with
your encouraging post, I think I might continue a while longer . Thanks
again.
I appreciate your coming forward.

Art,
Though I haven't come forward before, I would still add my voice to
those above and ask you to keep posting your memoires. It is always
important to be able to balance "official histories" against the
memories of those individuals who were there and did that. Most
especially, the small things - how you felt going up against the foe,
and how it felt to see friends go down - helps us all to put a feeling
against the text-book phrases such as "casualties were heavy". We don't
truly understand what that means.



Hello Art
I especially appreciate the personal view in your stories. I do read
a lot of history and there a lot of official and non official
accounts about on which day which division attacked where.
Definately interesting.

But the most interesting stories to me are the personal ones.
The stories like "December the xx. We wanted to fly to help our
friends but the damn wheather wouldn't let us . December xx Finally we
are go.".

Since it's such a long time ago more and more vets are passing away
and can't tell the first hand experiences anymore.
Please keep the stories coming and put them on your website so
generations after now kan still read them.

Greetz Martijn Uffing
P.S. My grandparents lived near the railroad Arnhem-Germany . Funny
way to communicate with someone who probably "buzzed" my grandparents
60 years ago



Thanks for the kind words. I was one of the bombardiers that took out the
Arnhem bridge shortly after Market Garden failed. Maybe I'll tell that story
some day. And I'll keep stories coming.

Regards,


Arthur Kramer
344th BG 494th BS
England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany
Visit my WW II B-26 website at:
http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer

To Art Kramer: I have not said any thing so far, but I can vouch for the
fact that what you have been submitting has been of great interest to
me, also. Please keep up the effort.
Sfc.Ret. Vietnam Vet,
9th. Inf. Div.