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The Ardennes Battle (Poem)
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| The Western front was quiet and soldiers were at rest |
| They took time out from battle having done their very best. |
| The tired and the wounded, now at recreation time |
| As replacements troops arrived, to fill the battered line. |
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| The skies lit up one early mor, from the blasts of German guns |
| The Panzer Troops were breaking through, or another Blitzkrieg run. |
| It was operation CHRISTROSE, Hitler's hidden secret pawn |
| The sixteenth of December, a cold DECEMBER DAWN. |
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| The Outposts were alerted on the thin defended front, |
| Brave soldiers stood their ground but soon were over-run. |
| It was the beginnings of a battle, hereto not divulged |
| It was "A TIME FOR TRUMPETS" - THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE |
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| Peiper and his KAMPFGRUPPE led the foe's attack |
| The Tiger tanks and Grenadiers drove the Allies back |
| Model and Manteuffel let the Wehrmacht on a ruse |
| It was Rundstedt's Last offensive to reach the river Meuse. |
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| Now Eisenhiower's Lieutenants rushed to halt the German flow |
| There was Middleton and Hodges and the Corps of Len Gerow. |
| There were armored tanks with infantry fighting by their side |
| And bridges blown by Engineers to stern the rushing tide. |
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| The noise of battle sounded throughout the dark ARDENNES |
| The purrs of churming motors and the tramp of marching men |
| Armor clashed with armor on the roads to gain the towns |
| The GIs met the Grenadiers to hold the frozen ground. |
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| Winter days were harsh that year, with temperatures so low |
| The bitter cold that claimed the troops became a soldier's woe. |
| Hip-deep snow and ice slick roads proved the Army's bane |
| But non-the-less with Stamina the GI staked his fame. |
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| The battle raged from town to town, to Stavelot and St Vith. |
| The armored columns turned their tanks to face the Nazi myth. |
| This was the German "Waterloo" as Peiper turned about |
| His Kampfgruppe columns shattered and Panzer tanks en route. |
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| On Christmas day in Bastogne, McAuliffe's troops prevailed, |
| The "Battered Bastards" held the town while help was on the trail. |
| Armor-men and infantry came to join the bloody fray |
| The hurrying Fourth Armored arrived to save the day. |
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| The clouds above cleared that day, Our planes were in the skies |
| Supplies and ammunition dropped - A Christmas Gift surprise. |
| Now Patton's Best came from the West to end the German thrust |
| The Bulge was closed by Stalwart men who gave their very best. |
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| A liberated people, now toast thoses Battling men |
| Who paid the price for Freedom in the woods of the ARDENNES. |
| The Battle won by Stamina of youth who stood so tall |
| Winston Churchill said it, "The Greatest of them all". |
