Another American Hero Passes
By Wyatt Earp | January 12, 2009
Lt. General Harry Kinnard passed away last week. He manned a machine gun during the attack on Pearl Harbor, parachuted into Normandy on D-Day, received the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroism during Operation Market Garden, and pioneered the “airmobile” concept of deploying troops into battle using helicopters
While you may not know the name, you know the story:
Surrounded by the German army in late December, 1944, the men of the 101st Airborne were determined to hold the city of Bastogne at all costs. The commander of the German forces, confident he would achieve a quick victory, demanded the surrender of the city’s defenders. When confronted with this demand, the American commander at Bastogne, Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe, laughed and exclaimed, “Us surrender? Aw, nuts!” McAuliffe’s G-3, then-Lt. Col. Harry Kinnard, thought the remark was a perfect reply to the demand for surrender, and suggested it be sent immediately to the German commander. This one word, “Nuts!”, became the rallying cry for the defenders of Bastogne. Impressed with Kinnard’s wit, McAuliffe asked him to compose an address to be read to the men of the 101st on Christmas Eve, in order to keep their spirits high. The legendary address read in part:
“What’s merry about all this, you ask? We’re fighting—it’s cold—and we aren’t home. All true, but what has the proud Eagle Division accomplished with its worthy comrades…? Just this: We have stopped cold everything that has been thrown at us from the north, east, south and west…How effectively this was done will be written in history; not alone in our Division’s glorious history but in world history…” (H/T – Blackfive)
Unfortunately, we are losing World War II veterans at an astounding rate. If you know one, make sure you thank him or her for their sacrifices. They truly were the “greatest generation.”
Topics: The Troops | 7 Comments »
January 12th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Where have all the good men gone?
January 12th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
We owe these brave people more than we could ever repay.
January 12th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Between 1200-1700 a day average now… Not many are left, and most people don’t seem to care.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Deanna – They’re spending some much-deserved time with the Lord now.
Rick – Agreed.
Old NFO – It’s a travesty. PA native Dick Winters – of Band of Brothers fame – is one of my personal heroes. I cannot imagine how I’ll feel when he passes on. Same with Philly native Bill Guarnere. These folks should be on television every day, with interviews highlighting their honor and service.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Yesterday Britain lost one of the remaining 4 veterans from the First Worrld War, aged 108. One has moved to Australia, the other three laid wreaths from their wheelchairs on Remembrance Day.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1113464/Then-First-World-War-veteran-dies-months-surviving-trios-salute-Cenotaph.html
For the rest who died:
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
January 13th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Well done Wyatt.
January 14th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Alan B – World War I veteran. I didn’t know there were still some out there. God bless them.
Admiral – Thank you, sir!