106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. J. RES. 65
JOINT RESOLUTION
Commending the World War II veterans who
fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and for other
purposes.
•HJ 65 EH
Whereas the Battle of the Bulge was a major German offen-
sive in the Ardennes forest region of Belgium and Lux-
embourg which took Allied forces by surprise and was in-
tended 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;
Whereas 600,000 American troops, joined by 55,000 British
soldiers and other Allied forces, 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
and 1,400 British casualties, of whom approximately
19,000 American and 200 British soldiers were killed,
with the remainder wounded, captured, or listed as miss-
ing 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, British, and other Allied forces overcame
great odds throughout the battle, including most fa-
mously the action of the 101st Airborne Division in hold-
ing 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;
•HJ 65 EH
Whereas the success of American, British, and other Allied
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 and Luxembourg
in the years since the battle to honor their fallen com-
rades who died during the battle;
Whereas the peoples of Belgium and Luxembourg, symbol-
izing their friendship and gratitude toward the American
soldiers who fought to secure their freedom, have gra-
ciously 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, Belgians, and Luxembourgers; and
Whereas the friendship between the United States and both
Belgium and Luxembourg is strong today in part because
of the Battle of the Bulge: Now, therefore, be it
•HJ 65 EH
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That Congress—
(1) commends the veterans of the United States
Army, the British Army, and military forces of other
Allied nations 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;
(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
both Belgium and Luxembourg.
Passed the House of Representatives October 5,
1999.
Attest:
Clerk.