TOWER CITY - They're the guys they wrote about in history books, according to retired Sgt. Maj. Warren Parks.
Parks, Lebanon, served as master of ceremonies Jan. 29 during a special program connecting veterans from World War II and the Battle of the Bulge with Williams Valley students.
The event allowed students in the 21st Century Learning Program an opportunity to hear of the sacrifices veterans endure in foreign lands and on the home front.
"You should feel very honored to be in the presence of these World War II veterans," Susan Diegert, 21st Century Learning site coordinator, said.
Veterans joining for the World War II Federation's 69th World War II Battle of the Bulge Living History Commemorative Education Program were: Richard R. Pilon Sr., 1948-49, Berlin Airlift; Emmett T. Lang, 1942-45, 84th Infantry, Army, author; George Watson, 1942-45, 87th Infantry, Army; John E. McAuliffe, 1944-45, 87th Infantry, Army; George Shenkle, 1942-45, 508th Parachute Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division; and Warren Horn, 1948-52, Marine Corps.
Offensive
Parks, of the World War II Federation, gave a brief history of The Battle of the Bulge. He said Hitler knew he had to go on the offensive at that point in WWII and he developed a secret plan, called "Watch on the Rhine." His objective was to drive through Belgium to Antwerp because he knew he needed a supply port.
"History's an important thing. If you don't know your history, you will do the same 'dumb' thing again," Parks said.
He said the Germans moved into the heavily forested Ardennes area quickly at night, and a long list of "clues" presented to the U.S. that the Germans were on the move was largely ignored. He compared the Germans' tactical feat to moving all the vehicles and people in San Diego, Calif., without anyone else from California knowing that they were moved. The attack advanced deep into allied territory, creating a "bulge" - but not a break - in the American line.
Parks asked students if they had ever written a book report for school. He pointed to the veteran guests in the front row.
"These are the guys they wrote the books about," Parks said.
Insight
Veterans had an opportunity to answer questions and share their experiences.
"Children like you made a great contribution," McAuliffe said of the war effort. He said children collected scrap metal and rubber tires. They took the labels off cans, flattened the cans and then men came in trucks to collect the metal, which was used to make airplanes.
Meanwhile, Lang addressed the questions about the trauma in battle.
"My battalion had the honor of closing the bulge," Lang said. He said that an 18-year-old soldier had been on the forward slope of a hill, instead of the reverse slope where Lang had directed his men to go. The soldier was hit with enemy fire twice - once while on the battlefield and once when Lang was still holding onto him during a horrific blast.
"One of the hardest things I ever had to do was write a letter to his wife and mother," Lang said.
Some questions revolved around leaving family and maintaining communication with them while in battle.
Shenkle said he was 21 years old when he joined the military. Due to the impending fear of losing their loved ones, sometimes parents didn't get too close to their children, he said. It was an era of "big boys don't cry," he said.
"I'm glad that dads can show emotions now," he said.
Re-enactors
Students also had the opportunity to learn from veteran re-enactors with the WWII Federation. Historian Major Martha Smith spoke on the role of women during WWII, while Titania Lyn and Judy Mitchell portrayed Rosie the Riveter and a combat photographer.
Reaction
"I liked when they were putting the flags in," fifth-grader Elyssa Yeagley said about the presentation of the colors by the Civil Air Patrol Squadron 307 Cadets of Lebanon.
Yeagley, along with fellow student Alexandra Bogle, lead the 21st Century After School program students in giving thanks to the veterans. The group recited from a poem, "Remember" by Father Denis O'Brien, USMC. They stood before the veteran guests on stage and displayed signs depicting each branch of service. Afterward, students greeted their guests, shared private words of appreciation and passed out copies of the poem.
Yeagley said she understood when some veterans said they had to spend up to two years away from their family. Her own father, Sheldon Yeagley, has served in the Army and was away from his family when Elyssa was just 1 year old. She said her uncle, Shane Yeagley, had also been in the military and had served stateside and in Japan, although she wasn't sure in what branch.
"I wanted to thank them (veterans) for all they did for us and tell them that I'm very grateful for everything they did," Yeagley, 11, of Lykens, said.
Fifth-grader Andrew Welker said he also had a relative active in the military - his cousin, Tia Gototweski, is a Marine.
He said he had learned a little bit about the Battle of the Bulge in school but liked seeing the veterans during their visit.
"I thought it was very important to be here to hear them. I liked when they gave us their own stories," Welker, 10, of Wiconisco, said.
History
According to information presented in the program, the Battle of the Bulge was from Dec. 16, 1944, to Jan. 25, 1945, and was the largest land battle of World War II in which the U.S. participated.
More than a million men fought in the battle, including about 600,000 Germans, 500,000 Americans and 55,000 British. The German military force consisted of two armies with 10 corps (equal to 29 divisions). While the American military force consisted of a total of three armies with six corps (equal to 31 divisions). At the conclusion of the battle, the casualties were: 81,000 U.S. soldiers with 19,000 killed, 1,400 British soldiers with 200 killed and 100,000 German soldiers killed, wounded or captured.