On the 60th anniversary of "the Bulge"...

[alexpgp]

From one veteran's recollection:

That evening we dined at the Gasthaus Zum Dom Stein, a lovely restaurant in Trier, Germany. During dinner Margot said "John, while we on the road outside Schönberg, you looked as if you were in a trance. Did it bother you that much?"  It did, for I was remembering the events of December 19, 1944. I was trying to recall what the area looked like then. I could see the soldiers on the battlefield. I could hear them calling for medics. I was sure I was near the woods where so many were killed. I could visualize Germans in white snow suits and camouflage. Because of the passing of time the forest looked different. The trees had grown, hiding the lightly covered slope I remembered. I was confused, uncertain and could not understand my emotions. I had to leave. I could not stay. In my anxiety I forgot to take pictures while standing at the foot of Linscheid Hill, southeast of Schönberg. Yet, during our three week journey I took over 600 photos, but none of the village of Schönberg or the battle area by the woods.

...

Some day I am going back to Schönberg. I now have more knowledge of the area and the battle.  I want to visit the Schnee Eifel. Then I want to take the roads to Halenfeld, Oberlascheid and Radscheid. Most important, I want to walk through the woods on Linscheid Hill. Maybe I can find that place in the woods, where I looked over the valley, listening to the cries of the wounded, the sounds of incoming artillery, and lived through Hell..........

An interesting account.

Cheers...