Here you will find a geniune piece of American history! A document of great historical value, signed by 3 US World War II Generals. Please look it over carefully, study it, and read what it has to say and when it is being said.
On December 16, 1944, at 5:30 in the morning the German 7th Army under the command of Field Marshall Walter Model attacks the American defensive lines in the Belgium Ardennes. The initial German assault of the 1st SS Panzer Tiger Tanks is lead by the ruthless Kampfgruppe Joachim Peiper. Peiper's men are equipped with the newest 70 ton Tiger II tanks, known as the King Tiger. They take 133 American prisoners and execute 88 of them via machine gun fire, in a clearing in the Ardennes Forest. Later to become known as the Malmedy Massacre. Word spreads amoung the US troops like wildfire. Fighting is fierce in the severe winter conditions, with temperatures at -20F! Many of the German soldiers are equipped with a new type assualt rifle, also. 400 German soldiers, dressed in US uniforms from captured or dead American GIs, wearing American dogtags are behind American lines, changing street signs, causing confusion, and hoping to assassinate high ranking American officers. The Germans penetrate deep into the American lines, causing a large bulge in the line (hence the naming of The Battle of the Bulge), on their way to the important shipping port city of Antwerp, hoping to cut the Americans and British forces into 2 seperate halves and recapture an important allied resupply site. The British under the command of General Omar Bradley attack the bulge from the north, and General Patton's US Third Army attack from the south. Both hoping to cut off the German flanks. On December 20, 1944 General Patton heads to Bastogne, where it is said "all roads lead to Bastogne". Bastogne is being held by the 101st Airborne, who are quickly running out of ammunition and supplies. Due to the severe winter weather and overcast, Allied troops are without air cover. On Christmas Day, 1944 the skies clear and Bastogne is attacked. With the air cover provided by the US 9th Air Force the German 7th Army is eventually pushed back to it's original Siegfried Line position. The Americans lose more men chasing Field Marshall Walter Model's army back into German than they did in the German Offensive.
This letter, signed by General Patton and dated 26 January, 1945 is the day after the official end of the Battle of the Bulge action. Sent to Brigadier General Otto P. Weyland Commanding General of the 9th Air Force, thanking them for their action and cooperative efforts in the most recent action. This is an authentic Patton signature, signed with his customary fountain pen, and on letterhead stationary of the THIRD UNITED STATES ARMY, Office of the Commanding General! The letter appears to have been passed down the chain of command from General Weyland to Major General Hoyt Vandenberg on January 27, 1945 (Vandenberg Air Force Base in California is named for him) And then on 29 January, 1945 General Weyland sends it down his chain of command, thanking all the P-38 and P-47 pilots of the 9th Air Force, and all the other men who kept them flying for their efforts during the Battle of the Bulge. Both General Weyland and General Vandenberg have appeared to have signed the document also.
I have taken pictures of both sides of the letter, letting you study it, read it, and draw your own conclusions. I urge you to use the zoom and enlargement features to view this grand old document. The 66+ year old letter is in fantastic condition! A bit yellowed with the top right corner creased very, very slightly and a small stain midway down on the right hand edge. It's absolutely amazing this could have survived in this great condition for over 66 years! Any questions, please ask! Guaranteed to be authentic or your money back! Free shipping and insurance to buyers in the 50 states. All others email me for shipping/insurance quotes. Remember this document is written/typed and signed on letterhead from the office of the commanding General of the 3rd United States Army on January 26, 1945!
HEADQUARTERS
THIRD UNITED STATES ARMY
OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL
APO 403
Does anyone know what the APO 403 represents? I just found out, it stands for Army Post Office.
