Learning from the voices of war: Honoring the 80th anniversary of the final major battle of WWII

Photo courtesy of Library of Congress Veterans History Project

American troops pull back with wounded during World War II's Ardennes Offensive in December 1944.

Family Features- The Ardennes Offensive, commonly known as the "Battle of the Bulge", stands as the single bloodiest battle fought by the United States during World War II. Waged in the bitter cold of mid-December 1944, it took the Allies a month to secure victory. The cost was staggering: nearly 20,000 Americans were killed in action, close to 50,000 wounded and another 20,000 captured.

In honor of the 80th anniversary of this pivotal battle, the Library of Congress Veterans History Project has launched an online exhibit to commemorate the milestone. While the battle itself is etched in the annals of history, the personal stories from those who endured it remain one of the most powerful testaments to its impact.

The online exhibit, "Serving Our Voices," features accounts from 12 Battle of the Bulge survivors, part of the thousands of narratives preserved by the project. These stories ensure future generations can gain deeper understanding of veterans' service and sacrifice.

One such story includes Eliot Annable, a 20-year-old radio operator serving with the Army's 106th Infantry Division. Just days after arriving at the western front, Annable found himself under German artillery barrages on. Dec. 16, 1944. He recalled the assault in his oral history, describing the intensity as "almost enough to knock you on the floor."

The following five days became the most harrowing days of Annable's military service. While on a communications mission, he became stranded behind enemy lines and spent nearly a week evading the enemy in the Ardennes Forest without food, shelter or appropriate winter clothing. After traveling more than 30 miles, he eventually safely rejoined the remnants of his unit.

Photo courtesy of Library of Congress Veterans History Project

Back home, Annable's parents were gripped by uncertainty. On Dec. 31, 1944, his father wrote a letter expressing the family's anguish and love for their son, regardless of what happened. The moving letter, coupled with Annable's oral history, provides an intimate view into one soldier's Battle of the Bulge experience.

Another featured veteran in the exhibit, Guy Martin Stephens, also served with the 106th Infantry Division. Unlike Annable, Stephens was captured by the Germans during battle. In his oral history, he recounted the surreal feeling of combat, the relentless hunger he endured as a prisoner of war and the lingering effects of his time in captivity.

"It's hard," Stephens said. "It's something you can't ever ... your mind is just like a video, or camcorder, I guess. You put it in there. You get busy and get married. You get home, and you get an education, and get a job, and raise your family and everything like that. You can kind of gloss it over or try to push it back, but it's always there, you know?"

Veterans who served during the 20th or 21st centuries are invited to establish a collection, including interviews (video or audio), letters and original photographs, even if they did not see combat. Families can also submit collections posthumously to honor their loved ones. To explore more veterans' stories and learn how you can contribute to the program, visit loc.gov/vets.


Guest Commentary | The world is facing the highest number of violent conflicts since WWII

by Sangita Bora
Guest Commentator


In the chronicles of human history, one unsettling truth remains unchanged: the world continues to be trapped in a vicious cycle of conflicts, disease, and disasters. Each one driving the other in a grim dance of misery where humanity is relentlessly caught in the events of self-inflicted suffering. Despite the scars of battles that run deep, we still lead ourselves in a world ravaged by conflicts, big and small, in almost every corner of the globe.


The world continues to witness heart-wrenching scenes from war-torn zones...

Earlier this year, in the 9250TH Meeting of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, briefed that “Six out of seven people worldwide are plagued by feelings of insecurity, the world is facing the highest number of violent conflicts since the Second World War and 2 billion people — a quarter of humanity — live in places affected by such conflict.” A harrowing truth derived out of years of conflicts, fueled by greed, arrogance, and division along lines of race, religion, and ethnicity.

The world continues to witness heart-wrenching scenes from war-torn zones demonstrating how conflicts disrupt societies, displace populations, and leave behind the ruins of once-thriving communities. Meitei vs. Kuki-Zo conflict in Manipur, Russia vs. Ukraine, and Israel vs. Palestine, all show nothing but exemplify this destructive pattern. These conflicts across zones are creating fertile ground for the spread of disease, as healthcare systems crumble, sanitation deteriorates, and access to clean water becomes scarce.

While we have now let our guard down against COVID-19 pandemic which cost millions of lives, let's not rule out the possibility of another deadly pandemic breaching into our lives again. Because, "This will not be the last pandemic, nor the last global health emergency" said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization in a press release from October 1, 2020.

Amidst all eyes and talks currently on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, a stance observed in all other past crisis. The question we should be asking is, are we fated to react only after a situation has descended into complete chaos? Have we conveniently ignored the proverb - "Prevention is better than cure"? Sadly, yes and we have already laid the foundation for our extinction.


A world at war cannot hope to control the deteriorating state of the environment.

As humanity aspires for greatness while standing on a fragile foundation, another existential threat quietly looms: the environmental catastrophe. Many detrimental human acts add to it, and military operations during conflicts are one of them, leaving a profound ecological impact that extends beyond the mere emissions of greenhouse gases. The destruction wrought by warfare is multifaceted: from soil and water contamination, air pollution, toxic waste, nuclear hazards to ultimately contributing to climate change. In times of war, nature often becomes an unintended casualty, suffering grievous wounds that echo long after the guns fall silent.

A world at war cannot hope to control the deteriorating state of the environment. As nations grapple with disputes, territorial ambitions, and ideological conflicts, the health of our planet at large continues to deteriorate. "The era of global warming has ended, the era of global boiling has arrived", declared UN Chief António Guterres on 27 July. On September 14, 2023, NASA announced that Summer 2023 was the hottest on record. Record breaking climatic events have become the 'New Normal' for us. Question is until when? Doom looms upon us, ever nearer, as the day approaches when our survival will be at stake.

Breaking the world's persistent cycle of conflicts and crisis lies in a holistic approach where world leaders don't just talk the talk but walk the walk. This approach involves strengthening diplomacy and cooperation, conflict prevention and sustainable development to mitigate poverty and inequality. We are well behind schedule in realizing that our existence as a species hangs in the balance, dependent on the choices that we make today – choices that will either safeguard our world and humanity's legacy or jeopardize our very survival.


Sangita Bora, the nomadic wordsmith, hailing from the scenic landscapes of Assam whose quest for knowledge and opportunity keeps her on a perpetual journey, city to city, experience to experience. Currently in Delhi, thriving as a Senior Associate Technology at Publicis Groupe, where she combines her innovative spirit with her technical expertise. A passionate thinker and an aspiring writer, Sangita weaves her experiences and insights into thought-provoking narratives that resonate with readers from all walks of life.

Letter to the Editor | It is imperative to recognize an existential threat to our society

Dear Editor,

A keen observer of political results and a lifelong Republican until an individual face to face discussion with my congressman clearly revealed the party had become merely a shill for the Fourth Reich to only promote talking points for the 1%’s benefit. Reading The Rise and Fall of Adolph Hitler by William L. Shirer in jr. high school enabled recognition of the Fourth Reich checking off every subversive step of Joseph Goebbels propaganda playbook refined to a high art for over 40 years. Witness we ignored history and are repeating it as our condemnation.

Throughout history hundreds of thousands of the greatest Americans ever have been willing to fight and die to secure and preserve the freedoms, rights, and privileges they bestowed upon our succeeding generations in this country. Now, we are witnessing thousands of Fourth Reich disciples who are willing to kill hundreds of thousands of Americans to destroy that inheritance and our country in the worship of someone who emulates Adolph Hitler, Joseph Goebbels, and Jim Jones.

It has always been and will always be harder and take longer to create and build a civilized unified society though a shared belief in mankind’s highest ideals and potential, than to internally subvert those goals through destruction and death through division, merely to usurp power from the good citizens who have failed to defeat those who employ propaganda, misinformation, and lies, the foundations of the traitors in their treason to destroy any power great enough to oppose the subjugation of everyone to their evil plot.

Through the masterful use of the power of projection, the Fourth Reich misleads their followers by accusing their opponents of what they themselves are actually doing to magically distract their followers from realizing the truth. ABTT! (Anything But The Truth!) is the gospel to which they must adhere religiously to prevent the end of their masquerade and reign of terror.

Failure to recognize the Fourth Reich masquerading behind the once proud and honorable Republican Party name will soon lead to our country’s inevitable end as is their ultimate goal.

WE MUST DECIDE, IF THE FOURTH REICH ALLOWS IT!

The above article was previously published as a cautionary warning “Letter to the editor”. But, due to the current state of our union it seems imperative that it be reinforced now as an observation of historical facts lest the union be lost by the lack of recognition and the immediately necessary response to our existential threat.

Our nation was founded on the premise “Consent of the governed”. But, as observed by the Fourth Reich’s response to the “governed’s vote” in the last election they have no intent to allow that consent to be voiced in future election voting by denying that constitutional right to as many citizens as they can imagine might object to imposition of their fascist dictatorship. The culmination of actively subverting our country for the last 40 years, of which we were warned by Hollywood in 1960, has been tragically witnessed by all of us and disingenuously denied by the members of the Fourth Reich as was the case with the Third Reich in Hitler’s 1930’s Nazi Germany. They had to wait until the “Greatest Generation” who had sacrificed and died to save the world and preserve freedom were no longer here, because our fathers would have easily recognized their familiar enemy and would have slapped that treason down not tolerating it for a second.

“All in good time. We’ve got to learn patience in this country. The Americans don’t like to be pushed. That’s what the others were never able to understand. That’s why they failed. And, that’s why we’ll succeed’” Fade Out on Nazi Pamphlet titled “America’s Golden Future”. Frederick Marion St. John (Karl Swenson) Stowaways plan to enter the United States on board the Fortuna and once there spread pro-Nazi literature.

Actions have consequences, inaction forfeits your rights and freedoms to the decisions of others. If it is not already too late, do not fail our last chance to save our country and preserve our democracy. VOTE!, like our lives and any future depend on it, BECAUSE THEY DO!

John Kenneth Young
St. Joseph


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