Another Hero Dies

Lt. Gen. Harry Kinnard–at the time a Lieutenant Colonel–was fighting for survival in the Battle of the Bulge. Two German pieces of crapofficers offered him a chance to surrender, or see his troops face destruction.

Kinnard handed the Germans the mother of all responses: “Nuts!”

This was his Christmas message:

What’s merry about all this, you ask? Just this: We have stopped cold everything that has been thrown at us from the North, East, South and West. We have identifications from four German Panzer divisions and one German parachute division. The Germans surround us, their radios blare our doom. Their commander demanded our surrender, and received the following reply… ‘NUTS!’ We are giving our country and our loved ones at home a worthy Christmas present, and, being privileged to take part in this gallant feat of arms, are truly making for ourselves a Merry Christmas.

The good General was 93.

Another Hero Dies

Col. John Ripley (USMC), whose troops in Vietnam were ordered to “hold and die”, singlehandedly blew up a bridge, setting the charges while hanging from the structure as the enemy took shots at his body. He was awarded a Navy Cross for the action. This year, he became the first Marine inducted into the Army Ranger Hall of Fame.

Like Thomas Smith, I support ugrading that to a Medal of Honor.

Oorah and Hooah!