On that topic of persevere against odds I note the passing of two anniversaries. Nearly sixty years ago a very few miles from here Americans withstood the final German counter attack of WWII. If you haven’t seen Band of Brothers yet, if you haven’t seen the postscript, where a legless man stands on crutches at the edge of the woods and surveys the land he made free, then you should. There was a commemoration of that battle held this past weekend. I’d have liked to have been there. Survivors from both sides, along with citizens of all nations, walk the battle lines and remember, or imagine. I’d have liked to have done that; to have felt a hint of that cold they felt. To have wondered at how they could have endured that cold with mortar rounds and shrapnel raining down among them.

And a couple weeks and 53 years ago, the First Marine Division and the Army’s 7th Infantry Division battled out from Chosin, fought free from 120,000 Chinese soldiers and lived to fight another day. (At least those with all their fingers and toes intact. Frostbite is an unforgiving foe.) If you’re not familiar with America’s war with China you can start learning here. Then here and here. If there’s a commemorative event at Chosin then no Americans will be taking part. There will be no joining of old enemies in peaceful times.

This year.

Here’s what Dad wrote in his unit history:

Colonel JOHN E. THEIMER replaced Colonel CONDER as Group Commander on the 12th of December. Twice during December the Group was required to transfer 5% of its Table or Organization strength to the Infantry.

When the enemy made his attack in the Ardennes the 274th and 695th Armored Field Artillery Battalions were taken from the Group and for the night 21-22 December the defense of the line between the rivers (the Saar and Moselle) depended on the 3rd Cavalry Group, one medium artillery battalion (689th) and the 5th Field Artillery Group Headquarters, and Headquarters Battery.