| von Schwartz | 05 Sep 2019 4:49 p.m. PST |
I know that there are some vets from the 101st out there and I have a question that you, or some other astute student of history may be able to answer. Everyone knows about General McAuliffe's famous response to the German's surrender offer, "NUTS". But there was also a lesser known quote that he made after Patton's armor relieved the 101st. I don't recall the wording but I think he made the statement to Stars and Stripes. He was asked how he felt about being rescued by Patton's Third Army and his response was something to the order of "Who said we needed to be rescued?" Does anyone recall that alleged incident more accurately, and the exact quote? |
| Korvessa | 05 Sep 2019 7:25 p.m. PST |
Who was in the movie Band of Brothers. But it was not said by the general. It was said by Sergeant Toye |
| Legion 4 | 06 Sep 2019 6:06 a.m. PST |
AFAIK being a former member of the 101, '80-'83[Not WWII!] that story about McAuliffe is supposedly true. It is in the Division's history and lore. I also have heard quotes from members of the 101 at the Bulge saying something about not needing to being rescued by elements of Patton's 3d Army. The 4th AD IIRC ? But I can't give you the direct quotes. |
| MajorB | 06 Sep 2019 10:41 a.m. PST |
Band of Brothers was a made-for-TV series. |
| von Schwartz | 06 Sep 2019 4:39 p.m. PST |
I've also heard of another, my memory is better on this one, I think it was in a cartoon at some point. Two Paras talking and one says to the other, "Well, they got us surrounded again….poor bastards." |
Marc33594  | 07 Sep 2019 3:10 a.m. PST |
Actually the quote is credited to Creighton Abrams during the Battle of the Bulge:
"They've got us surrounded again, the poor bastards".
It should be noted this has never been definitively proven. Ambrose in Band of Brothers credits a very similar quote "They've go us surrounded--the poor bastards" to an unknown Army medic. |
| Legion 4 | 07 Sep 2019 6:51 a.m. PST |
Paratroops can be known as a cocky bunch … A Leg Major called me than at least once.  |
| von Schwartz | 07 Sep 2019 4:47 p.m. PST |
Thank you Marc, I just manage to pick these odd bits and pieces from various obscure sources but can never recall from whom or where. |
| Mad Guru | 11 Sep 2019 12:50 a.m. PST |
Just a note that during the Battle of the Bulge, Creighton Abrams was a Lt. Colonel commanding the 37th Tank Battalion in the 4th Armored Division, which often served as the spearhead for General Patton's Third Army, not an officer of the 101st. |
| Legion 4 | 11 Sep 2019 6:46 a.m. PST |
Yes … I knew that ! As I said I was with the 101 … Not in WWII … but '80-'83. |
