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106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 65

Commending the World War II veterans who fought in the Battle of the

Bulge, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AUGUST 5, 1999

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. STUMP, and Mr. EVANS) introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee

on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on International

Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in

each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

JOINT RESOLUTION

Commending the World War II veterans who fought in the

Battle of the Bulge, and for other purposes.

Whereas the battle in the European theater of operations

during World War II known as the Battle of the Bulge

was fought from December 16, 1944, to January 25,

1945;

Whereas the Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive in the Ardennes forest region of Belgium which took

Allied forces by surprise and was intended to split the Allied forces in Europe by breaking through the Allied

lines, crippling the Allied fuel supply lines, and exacerbating tensions within the alliance;
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Whereas 600,000 American troops participated in the Battle

of the Bulge, overcoming numerous disadvantages in the

early days of the battle that included fewer numbers,

treacherous terrain, and bitter weather conditions;

Whereas the Battle of the Bulge resulted in 81,000 American

casualties, of whom 19,000 were killed, 33,400 were

wounded, and 2,000 were either captured or listed as

missing in action;

Whereas the worst atrocity involving Americans in the European theater during World War II, known as the

Malme ́dy Massacre, occurred on December 17, 1944,

when 86 unarmed American prisoners of war were

gunned down by elements of the German 1st SS Panzer

Division;

Whereas American forces overcame great odds throughout

the battle, including most famously the action of the

101st Airborne Division in holding back German forces

at the key Belgian crossroads town of Bastogne, thereby

preventing German forces from achieving their main objective of reaching Antwerp as well as the Meuse River

line;

Whereas the success of American forces in defeating the German attack made possible the defeat of Nazi Germany

four months later in April 1945;

Whereas thousands of United States veterans of the Battle

of the Bulge have traveled to Belgium in the years since

the battle to honor their fallen comrades who died during

the battle;

Whereas the people of Belgium, symbolizing the friendship

and gratitude toward the American soldiers who fought
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to secure their freedom, have graciously hosted countless

veterans groups over the years;

Whereas the city of Bastogne has an annual commemoration

of the battle and its annual Nuts Fair has been expanded

to include commemoration of the legendary one-word

reply of ‘‘Nuts’’ by Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe

of the 101st Airborne Division when called upon by the

opposing German commander at Bastogne to surrender

his forces to much stronger German forces;

Whereas the Belgian people erected the Mardasson Monument to honor the Americans who fought in the Battle

of the Bulge as well as to commemorate their sacrifices

and service during World War II;

Whereas the 55th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in

1999 will be marked by many commemorative events by

Americans and Belgians; and

Whereas the friendship between the United States and Belgium is strong today in part because of the Battle of the

Bulge: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 That Congress—

4 (1) commends the veterans of service in the

5 United States Army who fought during World War

6 II in the German Ardennes offensive known as the

7 Battle of the Bulge;

8 (2) honors those who gave their lives during

9 that battle;
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1 (3) authorizes the President to issue a procla2 mation calling upon the people of the United States

3 to honor the veterans of the Battle of the Bulge with

4 appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities;

5 and

6 (4) calls upon the President to reaffirm the

7 bonds of friendship between the United States and

8 Belgium.

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