Battle of the Bulge
Floor Speech
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Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, today's 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge presents an opportunity to honor the heroism of the Allied forces who fought in this last major German offensive in Western Europe during World War II. More than 650,000 troops from the United States, Great Britain, Belgium, Canada, and other countries fought in this battle to defeat Nazi Germany. These soldiers bravely fought for 38 days from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945, and their victory made possible the final defeat and surrender of Germany in May 1945.
More than 40 Senate colleagues joined in cosponsoring S. Con Res. 23, which my West Virginia colleague, Mr. Manchin, and I introduced and the Senate passed last week to remember the significance of this historic battle.
The Battle of the Bulge was an attempt by the Germans to split the Allied forces and pressure them to seek a negotiated peace. These troops, located in the Ardennes region of Belgium and Luxembourg, were greatly outnumbered by the German Army as they faced harsh weather conditions and treacherous and unknown terrain.
It is difficult to comprehend the massive losses incurred from this one battle--including 89,000 American casualties. Nineteen thousand American soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice, with another 47,500 wounded and more than 23,000 captured or missing in action. Other nations suffered great losses as well. Belgium lost more than 74,000 civilians, in addition to many more who suffered through other atrocities that come with war. They persevered through this dark time and rebuilt their lives the best way they could after the war ended.
In the decades since, the citizens of Belgium and Luxembourg have generously hosted thousands of U.S. veterans as they have kept the memory of the Battle of the Bulge alive through numerous memorials and museums. Among them has been one of North Dakota's most distinguished World War II veterans, Lynn Aas of Minot.
Mr. Aas enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1942 at the age of 21 and was called into service in March 1943. He was assigned to the 193rd Glider Regiment in the 17th Airborne Division. Arriving in England in August 1944, he mastered glider-use techniques and was deployed in France on December 24. He first went to Camp Mourmelon, followed by Charleville-Mezieres, where his division was attached to George Patton's U.S. Third Army. There, he was among those ordered to defend a 30-mile defensive position along the Meuse River whose mission was to prevent the German advance in the Belgian Ardennes area.
On January 5, 1945, Private First Class Aas crossed the Belgian border and settled in a wooded area near Bastogne. Combat ensued 2 days later as the Battle of the Bulge was raging. The fighting was so intense the area became forever known as Dead Man's Ridge. As he and his unit continued to advance toward Luxembourg, they pushed enemy lines back towards the Siegfried Line.
In February, after the battle had ended and after weeks of combat in exceptionally harsh conditions, he returned to France to Camp Chalons- sur-Marne. He was reassigned to the 194th Glider Infantry after his regiment disbanded because of heavy casualties Private First Class Aas helped prepare for the airborne operation Varsity. On March 24, he left Coulommiers and landed in Germany near Wesel to help capture Rhine bridges and secure towns to protect Allied ground forces. The following day he was wounded by shrapnel and was hospitalized in Belgium and then Paris, where he spent several weeks recovering.
Private First Class Aas returned to North Dakota following the war, earned his law degree from the University of North Dakota, and served in the State legislature for four sessions. To this day, he remains a community leader in Minot. He is one of the best examples of the thousands of World War II veterans we proudly call ``the greatest generation.''
For his valorous conduct in action, Mr. Aas has received prestigious distinctions, including the Purple Heart Medal, the Bronze Star Medal for heroic and meritorious service in Belgium, as well as the Luxembourg Medal of Honor and the honorific diploma of Citizen of Utah Beach--Sainte-Marie-du-Mont / Citoyen d'Utah Beach--Sainte-Marie-du- Mont. It was my honor in October 2017 to join French Consul General Lacroix, who made a special trip to Minot to present France's highest military recognition, the Legion of Honor, to Mr. Aas, who was then 96 years old.
Mr. President, as we remember this 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, let us once again remember and honor the heroism and sacrifices of our American soldiers, who paved the way for victory in World War II and for our freedom today.
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