Joy, sadness at Battle of the Bulge reunion

About 40 Battle of the Bulge veterans gathered in Columbia, S.C., on Labor Day weekend to share stories, interact with the public and honor the 19,000 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice during the battle.

On Christmas Day 1944, soldiers battled not only the subzero temperatures, a blazing snowstorm and waist-deep snow, but ducked for cover from German warplanes overhead, said retired Col. Douglas Dillard, president of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Ardennes.

Many soldiers were stuck with summer clothing during the coldest winter in Europe in decades. Dillard and others were able to trade German flags and other collectibles to tank crews for their warm tanker outfits. “Some people didn’t have that much (warm clothing). None of us had snowshoes or anything like that.”

For Dillard, keeping the memories of those left behind is a personal mission. “My battalion was destroyed,” said Dillard, a member of American Legion Post 5 in France. “I was with those people from the beginning, the alpha and the omega of that battalion. The story is something that needs to be told. The general public needs to know what the soldiers, paratroopers and others did when they were there, what they had to go through just to survive. I think the people who survived were just lucky. I really do.”

The battle was the largest land battle of World War II and served essentially as Germany’s final desperate offensive effort to halt the Allies movement.

During the reunion, the veterans made it a point to share their stories with the public. More than 500 people packed the South Carolina State Museum foyer, where they met with and received autographs from the veterans.

This is the second time that Columbia has hosted the reunion, which is unprecedented. “It’s a true honor that these guys and gals chose to come back to Columbia,” said Barbara Mooneyhan, event co-coordinator and daughter of James Mooneyhan, a late Battle of the Bulge veteran. “Columbia is a community that is very friendly to the military.”

Among those attending was Linda Beatty Thompson Sexton, a Columbia resident. She was hoping to find someone who served with a member of her extended family, Elton Gracy Hogan, in Gen. Patton’s 3rd Army.

“You just can’t ignore the fact, that you are in the same room with people who fought so very hard, endured terrible things … and they are smiling,” Sexton said. “They shake your hand, and say, ‘Thank you for coming.’ When I should be the one saying – and I did say – thank you very much.”

During the weekend festivities, American Legion Post 6 in Columbia provided flag lines. “There is nothing more important than being out here for our veterans to honor their sacrifice, honoring their cause, and being able to be here for them to take care of whatever they need,” said Marc Carroll, third vice commander of the post.

The reunion weekend also included a special patriotic church service at the United Methodist Church, a wreath-laying ceremony and tour of Fort Jackson, and visit to FN Manufacturing.

Maj. Gen. Bradley Becker welcomed the Battle of the Bulge veterans to Fort Jackson. “It is truly an honor to share this 70th anniversary with you today,” he said.

Battle of the Bulge veteran Chris Carawan of Columbia laid a wreath, honoring those who have passed.

“In this moment you are remembering your friends who did not return from that battle,” Army Deputy Chief of Chaplains Charles Bailey said. “Remember those who died since then in the walk of life that you are going to miss by your side. It’s a sad time at one point. But it is a joyful time to stand here, to observe this moment in which we see the joy of what we are all about. Remember those who stood by our side and stand by our side today.”

The group will meet again in Washington, D.C., for an annual memorial service Dec. 16 to commemorate when the battle began. “It’s a service to remember and honor those who lost their lives there. Those are the heroes,” Dillard said.