European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 17, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday december 17, 1994 Battle of the bulge the stars and stripes Page 5 veterans clearly recall foggy Days of death by Carlos Bongioanni staff  Belgium Fig shrouded this old Bat the site thursday morning As it did 50 years ago when american troops endured freezing cold hunger and foreboding of certain death. Back then a mysterious fog cloaked the City for two solid weeks. This year however the fog lifted by Early remember one time i Felt go touch me on the shoulder. He said Hamm 4a a a k a to. A. M -. K y afternoon revealing the Fields and wooded areas Wner nazi troops once waited to attack. The fog probably saved our lives said Joe Jara Offort Worth Texas a world War ii Veteran who re turned Here for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the bulge. None of us thought we d get out alive. The Ger mans had us surrounded and each of us were Down to our last four  he said the fog prevented . Planes from dropping separately needed food and munitions. But it also kept the germans from making an All out attack. When i got Down in the Hole i d say my prayers Roget ready to die said Jara. Morale was so Low at times we did t care if we died of not. I remember one time he continued slowly As he choked Back tears i Felt god touch me on the Shoul Der. He said you re going to be All right " Jara said he never expected to revisit the sight where he saw so Many of his War buddies die. But after watching the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Normandy invasion last june on television his wife Lola persuaded him to come Back for years he wanted to forget what happened there said Lola Jara. One time shortly after the War at our Home in fort Worth Texas he hit the ground after a Flash of lightning lit up the sky. I turned around and said what Are you doing Dow there " such a response was a natural reaction he developed after seeing so much mortar fire during his stay in Bastogne. Known As the battered bastards of Bastogne the sergeant then 20, and his fellow soldiers had to think of elaborate ways to survive. One time we were so hungry we wanted to kill a cow that we saw in the Field. We could t shoot it though because we did t want the germans to know where we were Jara said. One Guy hit the cow on the forehead with the Buttof his gun to Knock it out while another Guy sliced its Throat Jara said he still has a 1944 copy of the stars an stripes with a picture depicting an Airdrop of supplies on Christmas Day. He said it was one of the bes Christmas gifts the troops Ever received. Jara s Friend Ray mares of Chicago also returned to Bastogne for the commemoration. Both said they Learned to fight As infantrymen even though they were part of the 755th Field arty regt. The germans got so close to us at Bastogne that we were forced to use our carbines mares said. It was probably the first time i actually saw the person i was firing at. Usually we never saw where our rounds went because we launched them from Long  mares said he also expected to die or get captured in Bastogne. We were All told to save our last round Touse on ourselves or on one last German he said. The germans used deceptive tactics to lure Uris us is Carlo Bong Mannl Battle of the bulge veterans Joe Jara left and Ray mares embrace thursday in Bastogne Belgium where they travelled to help commemorate the Battle s 50th anniversary. Petting american troops into their hands Jara said. One time an officer drove up to us in a jeep an told us to move out. So when we started packing Pur things another officer asked us what we were  we told him he ordered us to stay put. We later Learned that the officer was a German impostor who spoke excellent English. He was dressed up in a . Colonel s uniform recalled  prior to one bloody Battle Jara said they saw hundreds of germans advancing with a White Flag. The lieutenant said hold it this Doest Loo right then he went out to talk with the germans when he turned around to say something they shot him in the Back. That s when All hell broke lose,-1 Jara  and Jara both said the troops in Bastogne re failed Hope once they Learned that it. Gen. George  and elements of his 3rd army were on the Wayto relieve Bastogne the first thought that came to my mind was that Ofa Guy Riding on the front of a tank shooting at the enemy with Nis Pearl handle revolver Jara said. Town sings praises of band Leader Vailler by Nancy l. Torner  Bedford England fifty years have passed since big band Leader Glenn Miller disappeared one Stormy afternoon on a flight bound for France from a military Airfield just outside the town of Bedford. Despite the passage of time the town never has forgotten Miller. Miller was honoured during a special ceremony in Bedford on thursday the 50th anniversary of the band Leader disappearance. A Bronze bust of former Mai. Anton Glenn Miller was unveiled by Derek Jones Bedford s mayor and . Air Force col. Edward j. Atkins base commander at nearby Raf  unveiling Vas a final tribute to the band Leader during a Glenn Miller festival that has been going on in the town since july. The festival which included Miller style concerts dance Sand exhibitions marked the exact period that Miller performed in the town during world War ii. The festival will become an annual event in the town Jones  Miller was a great musician Jones said. There can be no doubt that his music lifted the spirits of the troops during world War ii prior to unveiling the bust about 50servicemembers from Raf Chicksands marched through the streets of Bedford along with the Bedford boys brigade band. The Parade dubbed the Friendship March was significant in that foreign troops rarely Are granted permission to March through British streets Jones  s Only appropriate that Chicksands be invited to March through the streets to add an american flavor 313 Davat Edlo air Force col. Edward j. Atkins left commander of Raf Chicksands helps Bedford mayor Derek Jones unveil a bust of band Leader Glenn Miller on thursday. ".". ,. Vav Jones said. It certainly has Given us stylish Start to the  to show the town s appreciation Jones presented Atkins with a painting of the Corn Exchange a Bedfor entertainment venue where Miller s band performed during the War. The bust which stands about 18 inches Talland Cost the Bedford Borough Council about 6,000 British pounds about$9,600will be installed permanently in a recess in front of the Corn Exchange Jones said. In turn Atkin presented Jones with an american Flag folded in the traditional Triangle and enclosed in a wooden Frame. It was quite an Honor for us to be asked to participate in the Parade Atkins said the Bonds of Friendship that had been formed during the War Between the americans and the British continued far beyond be Day and Leto Many Anglo american successes on the world stage. These Bonds Are a Strong today As they were 50 years ago when Glenn Miller was making wonderful  Atkins said that by participating in the Parade the base was allowed to go out in  Chicksands will be returned to the British defense ministry next year As part of the . Draw Down. Following the unveiling of the bust the bbl radio 2 big band with strings gave a sell out performance of Miller s music in the Corn Exchange. The concert was taped and will be broadcast at 7 30 . Today on by radio 2. So much attention is being paid to Miller s memory because of his connections to the town Jones  and his band arrived in the United kingdom on june 28,1944, apart of a morale building program for the troops and the musicians ultimately were settled in the Bedford area. The band s primary Mission was tract As the Cornerstone of a new radio service the Allied expeditionary forces programme. The service Waslauk Cedon bbl under the associate direction of British actor David Niven who was lieutenant colonel at the time according to information from Raf Chicksands Public affairs office. The band s first radio broadcast was performed from the Bedford Corn Exchange. Miller wanted to bring his music directly to . Forces and betwee broadcasting schedules his band averaged about three concerts per Day accumulating a total of 956 performances in 13 months according to information from Chicksands. It was during a Jaunt to France to prepare for a series of concerts there that Miller disappeared. The band was to leave Bedford for Paris on dec. 16,1944, but Miller wanted to precede them according to information from Chicksands. On dec. 15,1944, a colonel offered the bandleader a ride in his single engine Norseman. The aircraft took off about noon from twin Wood farm Airfield just outside Bedford and never was seen again