Guckenberger, George Allen.

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Guckenberger, George Allen, born 06-10-1922, in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, USA, to George Guckenberger (1877–1951) and his wife Bessie, born Trimble (1887–1982). George had two sisters, Jean Guckenberger Zwicker (1920–2001) and Anne G Guckenberger Delo (unknown–2018). Pfc George A. Guckenberger joined the United States Army   in 1942 and became a paratrooper in the 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division. Pfc George Allen. Guckenberger joined the United States Army in 1942 and became a paratrooper in the 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division. On the picture, you can see the young Pfc Guckenberger in his foxhole during the siege of Bastogne. Smoking his cigarette in his foxhole, this picture represents the hard conditions these men were facing fighting in extreme winter weather. This photograph is probably the last picture known of Pfc George A. Guckenberger as he was killed in action exactly 76 years ago, on 14-01-1945 at the age of 22, during the battle of the Bulge near the the undersnowed Bastogne.

The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during the Second World War which took place from 16–12-1944 to 25-01-1945 It was launched through the densely forested Ardennes region between Belgium and Luxembourg. The offensive was intended to stop Allied use of the Belgian port of Antwerp and to split the Allied lines, allowing the Germans to encircle and destroy each of the four Allied armies and force the western Allies to negotiate a peace treaty in the Axis powers’ favour.

The Battle of Bastogne in and around the Belgian town of Bastogne as part of the Battle of the Bulge. The battle began on 20-12-1944 and lasted until 27-12-1944. The offensive ended in an Allied victory. The battle caused many casualties, both on the Allied and German side.

According to those present when McAuliffe received the German message, he read it, crumpled it into a ball, threw it in a wastepaper basket, and muttered, “Aw, nuts”. The officers in McAuliffe’s command post were trying to find suitable language for an official reply when Lieutenant Colonel Harry William Osborne Kinnard

suggested that McAuliffe’s first response summed up the situation well, and the others agreed. The official reply was typed and delivered by Colonel Joseph. H “Bud” Harper, commanding the 327th Glider Infantry,    to the German delegation. It was as follows:

To the German Commander.  NUTS!  the American Commander and the German General Lüttwitz, Heinrich Diepold Georg Freiherr von. did not understand this “Nuts” answer.

Of the 13,112 paratroopers of the 101st, under command of Anthony Clement “Nuts” McAuliffe,

  dropped on September 17, 2356 are disabled on September 27. In 10 days, 373 are killed, 1436 wounded and 547 missing. 3511 German prisoners of war are taken. When the 101st is withdrawn on 28-11-1944, they have prevented a breakthrough by the Germans to Antwerp. Still unaware of what awaits them in the Ardennes, the men go to Mourmelon, France for rest and reinforcement.

George now rests in peace for eternity at the Henri-Chapelle Cemetery Belgium. Plot: E Row: 13 Grave: 1

Message(s), tips or interesting graves for the webmaster:    robhopmans@outlook.com

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