He was very excited and interested on what was going on like most of the men around him. He states what he was feeling and what the people around him felt as he told me, "Nothing much to say to one another because we all thought the same thing we just did not know how to express what we were feeling." He says he was thinking of how this could be an adventure because of the new places he was going to visit and the new people he was going to see. He says that a lot of the men were patriotic about the situationand they knew they were doing something right. Most of the Americans in the war believed that the war showed a great deal of patriotism in the states because of all the men and women that wanted to help in the war.
When in the face of combat, my grandfather says, "most of the men and I didn't have any idea what was going on. We just acted when we were told and did what we were told to do." Most of the people in the Stateshad no idea what was going on in the war or in the combat where the men were fighting. They had to wait for a long time for the information they needed to come in. They only acted as they were told to do so.
He believes that he handled World War II well. He believes he adapted to the situations well and became very responsible. The men who were fighting around him handled it quite well also. There were some cases though that resulted in the men coming home from the war and not being able to take the pressures of what they went through and committed suicide to relieve the pain. My grandfather believes he became more responsible during the war just like the men around him did. Most of the women and men that went through World War II, lives were changed dramatically with responsibility , patriotism and knowledge of what could happen in the future.
My grandfather believes that he matured greatly with the passing of the war. He says he matured from a young child to a man and that childhood could not be filled with all the times that he missed. When the war ended he went home and finished his high school career and went on to college. A lot of men and women that came back from the war finished what was not finished when they left to serve the country. His full view on the war was that he knows it was a necessary thing to do but he says, "War was a useless thing and there are better ways to solve problems without killing each other." His perspective on the war has no changed. He says he is still an American and willing to fight for his country. Most Americans would agree.
My grandfather fought in the Battle of the Bulge located in eastern Belgium of Germany.
Facts of The Battle of the Bulge
- Over 500,000 Germans, 600,000 Americans, and 55,000 British men fought in this battle.
- 100,000 Germans killed, captured or wounded.
- 19,000 Americans killed. 81,000 casualties or wounded.
- 200 British killed. 1,400 casualties.
The Battle of the Bulge accured in December 16, 1944 and lasted until January 25, 1945. Recognized as one of the most bloodiest battles in WWII. Recognizes that the highest loss of men for the Americans. Is one of the battles with the highest German losses as well.
The retreat of the Germans of The Battle of the Bulge.
Links to the Historical Sites
This concludes my Junior Project of WWII and the Battle of the Bulge and the Interview with my Grandfather. Thank you Pawpaw.
