European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 11, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 % u cover Story Dahlbergh a Rush to Battle and survival n Christmas 1944, As far As Mel Dahl m m Berg was concerned his pfc rank i i meant a praying for  j it did no to necessarily mean that he hoped for the squad leaders rank but just that he might live Long enough to achieve it. Dahlberg does not usually mention the Battle of the bulges deep freeze. He a from Minneapolis after All. But when he retells the Story about that last world War ii Christmas what he remembers esp i daily is the cold. He was with the 517th Parachute inf regt. That Long night the air grew clearer Darker colder. He and a few buddies were on a scout patrol when they saw the lights to a Cabin. Quot it was a wooden one made of logs. The people there must have heard us coming or something a a he said. A when we got there they were  a the mid december German offensive Westward into the allies freshly earned territory had surprised the liberators. The 517th Guys did not need anymore surprises. They like their brother units thought the allies had the germans on the run after the Normandy summer landings. Dahlberg had made the aug. 15 jump into the South of France a Les arcs and be Muy. Operation Dragoon they called it. Quot we liberated the whole Cote do Azur clean to the italian  Dragoon was a French picnic compared to june �?T44 in the mountains of Tuscany in Italy. A that was my baptism by fire a Dahlberg said. By the time the concussion from a German 88 my gun at Belgium a trois Ponts River crossing knocked him out of it Dahlberg had counted 94 Days in combat. That was three countries and three Days into 1945. A amps Effie Bathen Mel Dahlberg at Bastogne ceremony in june. Now a retired Bank examiner Dahlberg pointed to the unit Patch stitched to his jacket. A collector had told him Quot hang on to that one. Its really Worth something.�?�. After Dahlberg was injured he woke up in a Hospital in England. The rest of his unit fought on until the German surrender in May. Half occupied Berlin and the others went on to Battle in the Pacific before the War ended in August �?T45. Last june while joining other veterans in Bastogne Belgium he looked out across the Meadows that edged up to the dark Forest. He tipped his head Back so his eyes would not Well up. Quot i get kind of broke up about it a he said. Quot it just boggles my mind that the americans did it. They actually did  Effie Bathen the official memorial Day of the Bat tie of bulge will include events at Bastogne Belgium. Civilian and _ military authorities will be present As Well As veterans of the 101st airborne div which held the City against overwhelming Force. Saturday a morning mass and ceremony at Malm Day Belgium will be held in Honor of the american victims of a massacre by German is troops 50 years earlier. Perhaps More than 100 american prisoners were gunned Down in a Snow covered Field. Next sunday the Convoy of remembrance consisting of world War ii Era vehicles will arrive in Bastogne from Luxembourg. The Convoy will Mark the Bond of Friendship Between Belgium and Luxembourg. Dec. 22 a morning mass and tribute to civilian victims of the bombardment will be held in Malm Day. Dec. 23-26 ceremonies in Verdenne Belgium will include guided Tours and the unveiling of a memorial. Dec. 24 a reception in Bastogne will Honor the veterans of the 101st airborne div and the 501st Parachute inf regt. Dec. 24 a Midnight mass in Houff Alize Belgium will commemorate the bulge. Dec. 24 a Monument in Celles Belgium will be unveiled. Participating will be veterans of the 2nd army div and the British 1st inf regt. Jan. 16 a ceremony in Houff Alize will commemorate the joining of the 1st and 3rd armies of the United states. A reception will Honor veterans of the 2nd army div the 11th army div the 17th airborne div and the 84th inf div. For More information Call country code 32 2513-7484.a soldiers Battle against germans and cold by Jon Connor staff writer this year like so Many before Jerome Var Rato will share Christmas with friends and family at his Middletown conn., Home. But 50 years ago Varrato found himself fighting to stay alive against the German army in the Countryside just outside Bastogne Belgium in the Battle of the bulge. Varrato now 71, remembers  before the offensive that some units might be going Home soon. But then the germans attacked. The Winter Battle was the last major offensive launched by the third Reich. It was a valiant last ditch Effort that failed and paved the Way to a Quick end to the european phase of world War ii. Varrato arrived in the Bastogne area on dec. 16, 1944. Six months earlier he crossed Omaha Beach at Normandy France on june 7. Besides the constant fighting against the germans Varrato said the cold weather at Bastogne was also an enemy that  Back Down. Quot we wrapped ourselves in newspapers and dug a Hole in the Snow in the fight against the cold the former artillerymen said. A Varrato recalled Bastogne being hit hard by the it so desc it it 4 k Quot f to. Is amps Ken George Jerome Varrato at bulge museum in Bastogne. Germans on Christmas eve. The next Day Varrato and his comrades ate a rations and were he said Quot Happy to be  he called that a Christmas present in itself. Varrato visited Bastogne this summer with his belgian born wife Denise whom he met during the War and her cousins. They toured the historic City and visited other places along the Allied invasion route from Normandy. A a half Century ago Varrato was a technical sergeant assigned to the 1st army a 110th anti aircraft atry b in. It was an anti aircraft unit usually firing 90 my guns. A a in their visit of �?T94, the Varrato checked out the basement of the three level Maison Matheline museum known As a the tears of Freedom a which is heavily stocked with world War ii Memorabilia. The museum offers a realistic setting of what life and survival were like in a Bastogne basement during the Battle. A Small window offers the Only outside glimpse of the War duplicated through an electrical show of Aerial bombardment exploding bombs and smoke. A it reminded me of the Buzz bombs a Varrato said of the re enactment. The Battle was Quot very devastating and  on a softer note the big band sound of Glenn Miller whose music epitomized the mood of americans during the War played throughout the museum. A a that a our favorite a Varrato smiled. A few Days into 1945, the tide changed in favor of the americans. A we thought we were going to be a overrun a but then the germans ran out fuel he said putting a halt to their Campaign. In 1948, Varrato left the army and eventually made his livelihood in a silverware factory. Asked How Bastogne has changed since the War Varrato said the City was a fall rebuilt compared to the rubble he knew. A the land is More prettier today a he  thing that Hasni to changed is the Peoples immense respect and thanks for the the american soldiers who fought to preserve Bastogne. A they treat us like we Are god to them a Varrato observed. Sunday december 11,1994