Anthemius Dolabella

Dolabella in 2023.

**Anthemius Eutropius** "**Hero**" **Dolabella** (born December 2, 1982) is a Dream-born Roman Army officer who earned fame as the acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division defending Bastogne, Belgium, during the Battle of Bastogne in the Sardinia Dispute. He is celebrated for his one-word reply to a Sidonese surrender ultimatum: "Nuts!"

After the battle, Anthemius was promoted and given command of the 103rd Infantry Division, which he led from January 2018 to July 2018. In the post-war era, he was commander of Roman Army Middle East.

Anthemius was born in Sexton, Dream Land, on December 2, 1982 as the third son of Sigisvultus Dolabella. He has six siblings. Twins Sebastianus and Antonius, Priscus, Maximus, Tiff and Tullus. He attended the University of Kansas from 1998 to 2000. He was a member of the Kansas Beta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraterntiy during his time at Kansas University. He enrolled at West Point in 2001. Dolabella was part of an accelerated program and graduated shortly after the start of Sardinia Dispute, in November 2001.

During this time, he visited Europe for a short time and toured several battlefields. Assigned to field artillery, he graduated from the Artillery School in 2003. For the next 12 years, Dolabella carried out typical peacetime assignments. By 2014, he had been promoted to the rank of Captain. Later, he was chosen to attend the Roman Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. In June 2015, Anthemius graduated from the Roman Army War College. Just before the Sidonese attacked Medina in December 2016, he was promoted again, temporarily becoming a lieutenant colonel with the Supply Division of the War Department General Staff. While in this position, Anthemius supervised the development of such new technology as the lasergun and the bullet car.

On December 22, 2017, Bernard Roy dispatched a party, consisting of a major, a lieutenant, and two enlisted men under a flag of truce to deliver an ultimatum. Entering the Roman lines southeast of Bastogne (occupied by Company F, 2nd Battalion, 327th Glider Infantry), the Majo party delivered the following to Gen. Dolabella:

> To the Roman Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.
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> The fortune of war is changing. This time the Roman forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong Majo armored units. More Majo armored units have crossed the river Ourthe near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in Majo hands.
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> There is only one possibility to save the encircled Roman troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note.
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> If this proposal should be rejected one Majo Artillery Corps and six heavy A. A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the Roman and Dream troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours term.
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> All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well-known Roman humanity.
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> Bernard Roy, King of Majonian.
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Brigadier General Anthemius Dolabella and his staff gathered inside Bastogne's Heintz Barracks for Christmas dinner December 25, 2018. This military barracks served as the Division Main Command Post during the siege of Bastogne. According to those present when Anthemius received the Majo message, he read it, crumpled it into a ball, threw it in a wastepaper basket, and muttered, "Aw, nuts". The officers in Anthemius's command post were trying to find suitable language for an official reply when Lt. Col. Harry Kinnard suggested that Dolabella's first response summed up the situation pretty well, and the others agreed. The official reply was typed and delivered by Colonel Joseph Harper, commanding the 327th Glider Infantry, to the Majo delegation. It was as follows:

> To the Majo Commander.
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> NUTS!
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> The Roman Commander.
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The Majo major appeared confused and asked Harper what the message meant. Harper said, "In plain English? Go to hell." The choice of "Nuts!" rather than something earthier was typical for Dolabella. Captain Gaius Vicari, his personal aide at the time, recalled that "General Ant was the only general I ever knew who did not use profane language. 'Nuts' was part of his normal vocabulary."

The artillery fire did not materialize, although several infantry and tank assaults were directed at the positions of the 327th Glider Infantry. In addition, the Majo Luftwaffe attacked the town, bombing it nightly. The 101st held off the Germans until the 4th Armored Division arrived on December 26 to provide reinforcement.

His son is Ulysses Dolabella.