Remember us!

By Brian Livingston / staff writer

December 16, 2007 12:27 am

— Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part story chronicling just one man's involvement in one of the most intense battles of World War II.

Mingling with the scores of men assembled at a gathering center in Louisville recently, Lyle Fulton, 82, of Meridian, couldn't help but notice how many moved with a certain degree of limp.
He knew exactly why their once youthful gaits had been permanently changed. He couldn't help but ask some of the men, now many in their 80s, why they walked like they did. Inevitably one would shoot back a joke, something along the line of chasing too many women when they were younger. But Fulton knew better. He had been there when these men had endured extreme physical hardships in order to fight one of the most pivotal battles in American history.
Today marks the 67th anniversary of the German winter offensive commonly known as the Battle of the Bulge. The reunion Fulton attended was made up of men who served in all sorts of units who were involved in the struggle to halt Hitler's offensive gamble toward Antwerp, Belgium in hopes of dividing and conquering Allied forces on the western front. German historians state the overall goal was to force the Allies to negotiate a peace treaty in favor of the Axis powers.
Fulton firmly believes had it not been for the men he served with in the 75th Infantry Division and those represented at the reunion from the other divisions, life in the United States may be entirely different.
"We might be speaking German right now," said Fulton, sitting comfortably in a chair inside his Briarwood Estates home. "It struck me the young people of this nation should not forget what we went through in order to keep this country free of tyrants."
Fulton admitted he was very hesitant to do an interview that recounted much of what he saw as a very young draftee into the US Army in November 1943. His grandchildren have been asking that time honored question, "What did you do during the war?" Giving in to their curiosity, Fulton has opened up more and more.
"We have to do a better job of informing the younger generation of what the costs are in remaining the country we are today," Fulton said. "I enjoyed having a great job after I got back from the war and now am enjoying my retirement. I'm thankful for a lot of things such as my family. There were several weeks in 1944 when that life I just told you about would've been just a dream."
Fulton said every man in his outfit knew their backs were against the wall when they arrived in Belgium in November of 1944. Having gone through extensive training at Fort Bragg, N.C. and Camp Breckenridge, KY, Fulton's comrades in the 730th Field Artillery of the 75th Infantry Division felt a definite sense of urgency and dread.
They had received new combat packs, rifles and equipment for their 155 mm Howitzers prior to being deployed but that was before anyone could have forecast one of the worst winter storms in European history.
"We were young and untested," said Fulton. "This was our first action. The 75th was unofficially dubbed the "Diaper Division" because of all the young men."
The average age of the division was 19 years old.
"Mostly made up of men from the northern United States," Fulton said. "I and just a few other southerners were always reminded of the Civil War outcome. It was all just for fun. As it turned out, the 75th was filled with a bunch of great guys."
That unity would become very important as the division was called into action on Dec. 23 near Bastogne to plug the gap in the Ardennes Forest left open when the 106th Division collapsed under the weight of the German assault that began on the morning of Dec. 16, 1944.
In the coming weeks fighting to eliminate the bulge in the Allied lines, and the months marching into Germany toward Berlin, the 75th Division would lose their unofficial moniker. Their baptism of fire in sub zero temps through deep snow, thick forests and wide open meadows would forever change the men who would survive.
Fulton can see the changes to this day.

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