My wife, Carol, and I went to Washington, D.C. on 12th of December, 2013. The trip had a two fold purpose. Our main reason for going was for Carol to receive the Belgium Fourragere 1940 from the Belgium Ambassador in honor of her father, Clyde E. Roller. During the “Battle of the Bulge” his unit, Company F, 12th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division was mentioned several times for their Heroic Actions while fighting the Germans.
In the early days of December 1944, the 12th Infantry Regiment was in fierce combat with the Germans in the Hurtgen Forest in Germany. The 12th moved back into Luxembourg along with the rest of the 4th Infantry Division. The Division had suffered over 7,500 casualties counting those lost to Trench Foot.
The 12th Infantry was positioned along the Sauer River which divided Germany and Luxembourg. Company F was stationed in and around the village of Berdorf. At first, the entire company was along a defensive position near the “Birkelt Farm”. Across the Sauer River was the 212th Volks Grenadier Regiment. The 212th was at full strength and considered the best German unit in the area.
On the 13-14 of December, the 212th and the 423rd Regiment
moved forward from their respective positions and married up with
the 320th along a line from Bollendorf and Ralingen, Germany. Due
excellent intelligence, the Germans knew that the 212th would only
be facing the 12th Infantry Regiment. On the 16th the Germans
began their offensive. Within hours three of the four Out-
Posts had been over run. The fourth outpost had stayed the course.
For four days, the 2nd platoon of F company, consisting of 21 men
and and two Artillery Forward Observers held off the Germans and
denied them access to the village of Berdorf.
The “Battle of the Bulge” lasted for six days. The Germans were
pushed back across the Sauer River and finally into submission.
The “Battle” was a costly one. The American troops that fought in
the southern section (including the 12th Infantry) lost over 2,000
Killed, Wounded or Missing.
Clyde made it through the “Battle” but was wounded on the 21st of
December. He had also been wounded in September of 1944 and
again the 21st of January, 1945. As many of the soldiers did, Clyde
came back with TB.
Clyde died in 1976. His daughter, Carol, stood proudly as she
accepted the Award.
The second reason we went was to meet other Veterans of the
“Battle of the Bulge”. This was a great honor for both Carol and I.
Most of these men and ladies are now in their late 80’s or early
90’s. I will put pictures at the end but let me just say that these are
the greatest people you want to meet. Carol and made an
immediate connection with a few of these Heroes. Francis Chesko,
and Hyman Slavin shared many stories. Two Army Registered
Nurses, Hope Kirkendall and Dorothy Barre were special ladies.
They had been assigned to a Field Hospital in Belgium in October,
1944. Both said as bad as it was they would do it again.
The Luxembourg Ambassador Jean-Louis Wolzfeld, Deputy Chief
of Missions, Olivier Baldauff, Belgium Ambassador Jan Matthysen
and his Lovely wife, Agnes, and BG Mike Delobel were the most
gracious hosts and Representatives of their respective countries.
The World War II Veteran is passing away at the rate of one every
90 seconds. There were and always will be our Greatest
Generation.
There are over 4,000 stars on this wall representing the more than 400,000 men and women killed during the war
Atlantic entrance to the World War II Memorial
[caption id="attachment_3638" align="alignnone" width="300"]
World War II Memorial
Battle of the Bulge Wreath laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Sergeant of the Guard preparing to render the Hand Salute to the Veterans
Wreath laying at the Official Battle of the Bulge Memorial
The original Battle of the Bulge Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery
Over 1000,000 wreaths were placed on graves at the Arlington National Cemetery
Wreath laying at the Official Battle of the Bulge Memorial
Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge.
Veterans placing their pictures on the tree
Carol placing a picture of her Dad on tree
Carol and Luxembourg Ambassador Jean-Louis Wolzfeld
Carol and Luxembourg Ambassador Jean-Louis Wolzfeld
Battle of the Bugle Map signed by over 150 men who served
Carol, Command Sergeant Major Schorr Me. This is the same uniform he retired in in 1963
Belgium Ambassador Matthysen, BG Delobel and Hyman Slavin
Belgium Ambassador, Jan Matthysen and his Lovely wife, Agnes
BG Mike Delobel, Military, Defense, Naval and Air Attache for Belgium
Olivier Baldauff, Deputy Chief of Mission, Luxembourg Embassy
Belgium Ambassador
Belgium Ambassador Matthysen, BG Delobel and Hyman Slavin
Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge
Carol, Belgium Ambassador Jan Matthysen, BG Mike Delobel, Hyman Slavin and me.
Carol and Francis Chesko
Hope Kirkendall, Dorothy Barre and Carol Bieneman
Belgium Ambassador presenting Carol with the Belgium Fourragere 1940
Battle of the Bulge Logo
Charlie Troop 1st Squadron 9th Cavalry Regiment 
generousgeorge
December 26, 2013
Thanks for sharing!
George Kalergis 936-697-2976 gkalergis@aol.com
patrickbieneman
December 27, 2013
George, Thank you.
Debby White Baker
December 26, 2013
Oh how neat is that! I have big ole goose bumps of you being there with those men and getting that honor for your Dad! Thanks for sharing with me.
patrickbieneman
December 27, 2013
Thank you Debby. It certainly was a proud moment for Carol.
Crae Carpenter
December 27, 2013
Thx for sharing! We owe these men and women a great debt. Glad you could be part of the remembrance. Especially Carol in remembrance of her dad.
Sent from my iPhone
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patrickbieneman
December 27, 2013
It was a special three days. The veterans of the Battle of the Bulge were outstanding. Carol was proud standing there and accepting the award and I was proud of her.
Larry Donaldson
December 27, 2013
`My Uncle Wade fought at the Bulge. He landed on Omaha, 6 June, 1944 and made it off the beach. Most of his men did not. They were in the 29th ID. He was wounded further inland on 8 June 1944…….and captured. He was taken to a German aid station and treated for his multiple shrapnel wounds. The German med unit was over run by friendly forces and Wade was transferred back to England to recover He arrived back on the Continent in December, 1944 and was assigned to the 9th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division. His unit was in some of the most violent fighting of the Ardennes. He survived unscathed and was with the 9th when they spearheaded the attack against the Siegfried Line. During that action he was gut shot and was given up for dead. A German medic came to him and dragged him back to their lines. He was a POW then until the end of the war after the Germans operated on him. His only life long hatred from the war was the German SS. Not the Waffen SS but the dedicated Nazi SS. As a matter of fact he founf the German doctor who operated on him and saved his life. They wrote each other untik Wades death. That is my story of the Battle of the Bulge.
patrickbieneman
December 27, 2013
Larry, you have a lot to be proud of.
edd hogeboom
December 30, 2013
Such Honor and Devotion shown by these Heroes of WWII, but it’s most important to remember that this Honor and Devotion is something that will never die! It is not just held in the hearts of the loved ones of our Heroes, but it is still there for those today that will step up for Love of Country, Family and God!!! May God Bless our Heroes, their families and this Nation that we all love and honor!!!
patrickbieneman
December 30, 2013
Edd, The memories of these heroes and what they did will never be forgotten by the peoples of Luxembourg and Belgium.