Rep. Smith Introduces Bill to Mark 75th Anniversary of World War II's Pivotal Battle of the Bulge

Statement

Today, on the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) introduced a bipartisan resolution, H.J.Res. 81, to commend the veterans who fought in one of the most pivotal battles in World War II, which lasted from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945.

"The Battle of the Bulge was a critical turning point in the war, and today we honor the men and women who served in the fight and endured or succumbed in this horrific attack," said Smith, former chairman of the House Veteran's Committee and author of 14 laws to help veterans. "It was a terrible battle, in bitter cold against superior numbers, with 19,000 Americans killed, 45,000 wounded and 23,000 captured or missing."

The Battle of the Bulge, which took place in Belgium and Luxembourg, was a surprise attack on the Allied troops and the Germans last major offensive against the Allied forces. Some 600,000 American troops, joined by 55,000 British, Belgian, Canadian and other Allied forces, fought a protracted bloody battle against Germany.

"We must never forget those Americans who left their schools, farms, and factories--to fight and sometime die to make the world a safer place for democracy and freedom. My dad was a combat veteran in World War II, and sometimes I think of him leaving his home in New Jersey as a young man and heading out overseas to fight terrible battles to defend democracy and freedom for themselves and future generations. They're not called the "Greatest Generation' for nothing," said Smith.

Smith is also the author of similar legislation introduced on August 5, 1999. Signed into law (PL 106-142) on Dec 7, 1999, H.J.Res.65 commended the World War II veterans who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. In the 107th Congress he introduced H.R. 5055 to authorize the placement of a memorial honoring the World War II veterans who fought in the Battle of the Bulge in Arlington National Cemetery. This bill was included in section 204 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2002 (38 USC 2409) and was signed into law on Dec 6, 2002.

H.J.Res.81 is co-led in the House by Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) and is endorsed by Battle of the Bulge Association, Inc.

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