Battle of Bulge vets share experiences with Expeditionary Center Airmen

Published Dec. 16, 2011
By By Tech. Sgt. Zachary Wilson
U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center was honored by the attendance of four participants in World War II's "Battle of the Bulge" for a panel hosted by Expeditionary Center leaders and attended by hundreds of Airmen in Grace Petersen Hall on Dec. 15.

"It was a necessary war, as there was a good chance the (Nazis) would have won over there and the war could have ended up on shores here," said former U.S. Army Sgt. Arthur Goldschmidt, who was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his heroic actions during World War II to include his actions during the famous battle.

The panel included Goldschmidt and three other local veterans of the campaign -- retired Army Col. John Maher, retired Air Force (formerly U.S. Army Air Corps) Lt. Col. Bob Hansen, and retired Army Master Sgt. Lloyd Orth. Maher and Goldschmidt served as infantry Soldiers while Orth was an ambulance driver and Hansen flew B-24 close-air support missions during the battle.

The German offensive took Americans in the Ardennes region completely by surprise when the attack was launched in December 1944. The invading American force made significant strides towards Germany after the D-Day landings in June of that year, but were significantly impacted by supply challenges and bad weather during the initial attack. The first few days of the attack led to a significant amount of cloud cover that did not initially permit allied aircraft to re-supply the fight on the ground or attack the German formations.

"(U.S. Army General George) Patton actually said a prayer to God to let the airplanes come over," said Orth. "The next day, the weather cleared."

Hansen, who was stationed in England and flew his bomber crew on more than 30 missions during the war, remembered being antsy during the weather delay and desperately wanting to get into the fight.

"We knew what was going on there and we were itching to get out," he said. "Once we did get cleared, it was different because we were used to bombing industrial areas up to that point. In the Bulge, we had to bomb troop formations and positions with 8,000 lbs of bombs."

Capt. Mark Phillips, a security forces officer with the 421st Combat Training Squadron and an organizer of the event, noted that logistical and supply challenges the Soldiers on the ground faced demonstrated the value of airpower, and specifically, air mobility.

"By not only airdropping supplies to some of the units who were out of ammunition and other critical supplies but also providing close-air support, airpower was what effectively turned the tide of the German offensive, which had been going well prior to the weather clearing," he said.

Phillips said the idea to host the panel came from Col. Patrick Owens, the Expeditionary Operations School commandant. Owens and other members of the Joint Base community here are active members in a local chapter of the Battle of the Bulge group and knew the four men from previous engagements.

Master Sgt. Jeffrey Dean, 421st CTS superintendent and another organizer for the event noted the reasoning for the Expeditionary Center's decision to host the panel.

"It is important because the manner in which warfare is conducted has changed and the challenges, struggles, and experiences these military members had are noteworthy. To have boots on the ground during such a historic battle and be here to share those experiences amplifies the importance of those experiences so we, the present day military, can appreciate our methods of combat in reflection of the methods 'The Greatest Generation' had to endure as our predecessors in the world's greatest military."

For the panel participants, the chance to come share their stories with the current generation of military members was worth the travel for the men, all of whom are in their late 80s or early 90s.

"I would like to express our appreciation to all of you here who are interested in this old war - we are very happy to be here" Maher said. "Of course, when you're 91, you're glad to be any place."

According to U.S. military historians, the Battle of the Bulge was the largest land battle of World War II in which the United States directly participated. More than a million men fought in the battle -- 600,000 Germans, 500,000 Americans, and 55,000 British.

Casualty estimates from the battle vary widely. American casualties are listed as 70,000 to 81,000, British as 1,400, and German casualties at between 60,000 and 104,000. More than 100,000 German soldiers were taken prisoner. In addition, 800 tanks were lost on each side, and 1,000 German aircraft were destroyed.

Winston Churchill, addressing the House of Commons following the Battle of the Bulge said, "This is undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war and will, I believe, be regarded as an ever-famous American victory."