[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 23 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 23

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas the Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive in Western 
        Europe during World War II, designed to split the Allied Forces, regain 
        the initiative in the West, and pressure the Allies to seek a negotiated 
        peace;
Whereas, in the Ardennes region of Belgium and Luxembourg, more than 650,000 
        troops from the United States, Great Britain, Belgium, Canada, and other 
        Allied Forces defeated Germany in the Battle of the Bulge, which began 
        December 16, 1944, and ended January 25, 1945;
Whereas the Battle of the Bulge resulted in over 89,000 United States 
        casualties, including 19,000 soldiers killed, 47,500 wounded, and more 
        than 23,000 captured or missing-in-action;
Whereas the Allied Forces overcame formidable obstacles that included being 
        greatly outnumbered by the German Army, harsh weather conditions, and 
        the treacherous and unknown terrain of the Ardennes Forest region of 
        Belgium and Luxembourg;
Whereas, on December 17, 1944, during one of the worst atrocities of the war in 
        Europe, the Malmedy Massacre, 84 unarmed American prisoners of war were 
        shot by troops of the 1st SS Panzer Division;
Whereas 11 African American soldiers of the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion were 
        massacred by SS troops near Wereth, Belgium, and were identified as 
        James Stewart of West Virginia, Due Turner of Arkansas, Curtis Adams of 
        South Carolina, Mager Bradley of Mississippi, George Davis, Jr. of 
        Alabama, Thomas Forte of Mississippi, Robert Green of Georgia, James 
        Leatherwood of Mississippi, Nathaniel Moss of Texas, George Moten of 
        Texas, and William Pritchett of Alabama;
Whereas the impressive leadership of Lieutenant General George S. Patton of the 
        Third Army accelerated the success of the Allied Forces during the 
        Battle of the Bulge;
Whereas, the heroic defense of Bastogne by the 101st Airborne Division became 
        personified by General Anthony McAuliffe's reply to the German request 
        to surrender with one word: ``Nuts!'';
Whereas, although Belgium lost more than 74,000 civilians during the war, in 
        addition to many more having suffered through other atrocities that come 
        with war, the people of Belgium persevered through the difficult period 
        of time and rebuilt their lives the best they could after the war ended;
Whereas the success of the Allied Forces in beating back the German attack in 
        the Battle of the Bulge made possible the final defeat and surrender of 
        Nazi Germany in May 1945;
Whereas the citizens of Belgium and Luxembourg have generously hosted thousands 
        of United States veterans and kept the memory of the Battle of the Bulge 
        alive through numerous memorials and museums, including the Henri-
        Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial, the Ardennes American Cemetery 
        and Memorial, the Luxembourg American Cemetery, the Battle of the 
        Ardennes Museum, the Bastogne War Museum, and the Bastogne December 
        Historic Walk; and
Whereas, after the Battle of the Bulge ended, British Prime Minister Winston 
        Churchill said, ``This is undoubtedly the greatest American battle of 
        the war and will, I believe, be regarded as an ever-famous American 
        victory.'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That the Senate--
            (1) commemorates, on December 16, 2019, the 75th 
        Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II;
            (2) recognizes the valiant efforts of the various Allied 
        Forces; and
            (3) remembers the individuals who made the ultimate 
        sacrifice, which contributed to the Allied victory in the 
        European Theater.

            Passed the Senate December 12, 2019.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
116th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                            S. CON. RES. 23

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Honoring the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge fought during 
 World War II, recognizing the valiant efforts of the Allied Forces in 
 December 1944, and remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice, 
all of which contributed to the Allied victory in the European Theater.