Political Quotes

“Today I join with my constituents in recognizing the brave men of the 66th Infantry Division. Sixty years ago on November 15, 1944, the soldiers left from New York Harbor on the USAT George Washington without knowledge of their destination. It turned out the USAT George Washington brought the soldiers to England, where they were stationed at Southampton Harbor until Christmas Eve 1944. On Dec. 16, 1944, the Nazis launched a desperate offensive in Belgium intended to split the Allied Forces. The fierce struggle became known as 'The Battle of the Bulge.' As part of the allied response to this threat, on Christmas Eve 1944 over 2,000 American soldiers of the 66th Infantry Division stationed in England were rushed to Southampton, where they boarded the troopship SS Leopoldville. The troops were then transported across the English Channel, but just 5½ miles from their destination, Cherbourg, France, the vessel was torpedoed by the German submarine U-486. Some of the soldiers were killed instantly, some went down with the ship, some safely jumped from the ship's rail to the rescue craft that pulled alongside, while others missed the jump, plunged into the waves and were crushed as the two vessels came together. Some drowned, some froze to death in the frigid 48-degree waters of the English Channel. In all, there were 763 American soldiers confirmed dead, representing sons, husbands, and fathers from 47 of then 48 States.”