IA
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) intro-
duced 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 jurisdic-
tion 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 offen-
sive in the Ardennes forest region of Belgium which took
Allied forces by surprise and was intended to split the Al-
lied forces in Europe by breaking through the Allied
lines, crippling the Allied fuel supply lines, and exacer-
bating 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 Euro-
pean 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 ob-
jective of reaching Antwerp as well as the Meuse River
line;
Whereas the success of American forces in defeating the Ger-
man 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 Monu-
ment 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 Bel-
gium is strong today in part because of the Battle of the
Bulge: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That Congress—
(1) commends the veterans of service in the
United States Army who fought during World War
II in the German Ardennes offensive known as the
Battle of the Bulge;
(2) honors those who gave their lives during
that battle;
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(3) authorizes the President to issue a procla-
mation calling upon the people of the United States
to honor the veterans of the Battle of the Bulge with
appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities;
and
(4) calls upon the President to reaffirm the
bonds of friendship between the United States and
Belgium.
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