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I always enjoyed the story of Gen. Anthony McAuliffe who, during the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, told the Germans where to go, basically. Lifted in whole from Military.com. Asked to Surrender at Bastogne, Surrounded Commander Said "Nuts" By Bethanne Kelly Patrick Military.com Columnist Gen. Anthony Clement McAuliffe is best remembered for uttering a single word -- no mean feat, considering that even the shortest Bible verse has two. Commanding the U.S. Army’s beleaguered and surrounded 101st Airborne Division during World War II’s Battle of the Bulge, McAuliffe received a German surrender ultimatum. "Nuts!" he replied, and became a lasting symbol of American courage and determination under fire. A 1918 West Point graduate, McAuliffe held various field artillery positions before World War II. On the eve of D-Day, McAuliffe jumped with the first wave as a commander of division artillery, although he had never received formal parachute training. In December 1944, during the siege of Bastogne, Belgium, McAuliffe was acting commander of the 101st in Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor’s absence. The Americans had been holding the Belgian town "at all costs," and on Dec. 22, Gen. McAuliffe received the encouraging news that the 4th Armored Division was beginning its drive north to relieve the 101st. Later that morning, members of the division’s glider regiment saw four Germans coming up the road carrying a white flag. Everyone hoped they were offering surrender. Instead, they presented two pages demanding the Americans’ surrender: "To the USA Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne. . .There is only one possibility. . .the honorable surrender of the encircled town." McAuliffe glanced at the message and said, "Aw, nuts!" When he told his commanders he didn’t know what answer to send, Lt. Col. Harry Kinnard said ‘That first crack you made would be hard to beat, General." Everyone laughed as a sergeant typed up the succinct response: "To the German Commander: Nuts! The American Commander." Between this stoic reply, Patton’s troops from the south, and a change in the weather that allowed air reinforcement the following day, the 101st was able to hold Bastogne. Their victory resulted in the first full-Division Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation. McAuliffe’s actions at Bastogne helped assure the final defeat of the Germans. Gen. McAuliffe continued to serve on active duty, including assignments as Head of the Army Chemical Corps, Commander, 7th Army, and Commander-In-Chief of the U.S. Army, Europe, until his 1956 retirement. He died in Washington, D.C. in 1975 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. ------------ In general (and in my opinion), what America accomplished in World War II is one for the ages.
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May 20, 2005 18:15
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Michigan and Ohio have always been fierce rivals - and the reason for that dates back to Michigan's founding. One of the little tidbits of history where I grew up is referred to as "The Toledo War," a border dispute that basically amounted to no real "war" but is still an interesting story anyway. I am recalling this from memory, mostly, with a little assist from Google, so bear with me. The dispute of the southern border of Michigan with Ohio stemmed from the fact that early maps of the area - based on The Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which established an east-west line drawn from the southern tip of Lake Michigan across the base of the peninsula - placed the tip of the lake much further south than originally realized. The difference was about 450 square miles, and included the present-day city of Toledo (in fact, in western Lucas County, there's a road named Old State Line Road, which marks the boundary). After surveys, there was an Ohio line, and a Michigan line - a difference of about eight miles. In 1833, when Michigan lobbied to join the Union, Ohio successfully blocked the acceptance of Michigan as a state until they accepted the "Harris Line," the Ohio boundary named after its surveyor. This angered Michigan no end. Ohio's governor, Robert Lucas, refused to negotiate with Michigan, and created Lucas County out of the disputed area. Upon hearing this, Michigan Territory Gov. Stevens Mason mobilized troops. It was up to the newly appointed officials to hold session in Toledo, which they did by candlelight one evening, which added to the validity of the Ohio claims. The minutes were stealthed out of town, thereby proving Ohio had exercised its rights in the disputed area. No, there was no actual shooting, although a fellow named Two Stickney got into it, and I believe stabbed, a Michigan sheriff. He was the son of a Major Stickney who numbered his sons (he had a brother named One). Eventually, President Jackson intervened, and removed Gov. Mason from office, and Congress pretty much forced Michigan to agree to Ohio's claims (when Michigan became a state in 1837, the first thing it did was elect Mason governor again). Here's the punchline. Michigan felt it had lost. Ohio got its 450-odd square miles of swampy land at the mouth of Lake Erie. So, Congress worked out renumeration. Michigan got the Upper Peninsula - 9,000 square miles of the richest timber, iron and copper deposits in the country. As an Ohioan, it makes me wonder who won, exactly. (pretty much recalled from memory) Chasie fucked around with this message at 19:59 on May 20, 2005 |
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May 20, 2005 19:54
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