DEC. 16, 1944

TODAY THE BATTLE HYMN WAS HEARD IN BELGIUM
WHEN THE GERMANS CAME ON THE RUN.
THEIR TANKS DESTROYED OUR LINES
AND WE HEARD THE SHELLS WHINE.
AND WE SAW THE HAND OF GOD
AS OUR MEN LAY CRUMPLED ON THE SOD.

DEC. 17, 1944

WE SAW OUR LINES SPLIT IN TWO
AS THE ARDENNES OFFENSIVE GREW.
TIGER TANKS WERE ALL AROUND
UNTIL AT LAST THE PANZERS FOUND.
THEY OWNED THE ROADS AND OPEN GROUND
AND TO BASTOGNE THEY WERE BOUND.

DEC. 18, 1944

AT MALMEDY THE YANKS FINALLY DID YIELD
AND WERE LINED UP IN A FIELD.
A PASSING SS TANK SHOT THEM ALL DOWN
SOME MURDERED LAYING ON THE GROUND.
SEVERAL ESCAPED INTO THE WOODS AROUND
THEY TOLD THE STORY WHEN THEY WERE FOUND.

DEC. 19, 1944

TODAY THE PARATROOPERS ARRIVED IN TOWN
THE PANZERS HAD TO GO AROUND.
THE SOFT COUNTRY SIDE GAVE THEM HELL
AND MADE THEM TARGETS FOR AMERICAN SHELLS.
AND RUNNING SHORT OF FUEL AS WELL
MADE HITLER THROW UP HIS HANDS AND YELL.

DEC. 20, 1944

THERE'S NO PLACE FOR US TO RUN
WERE TRAPPED BY THE HUN.
CLOUDY FOGGY WINTER SKY
THE PLANES COULDN'T ATTEMPT TO FLY.
WE NEED RATIONS WERE THE SOLDIERS CRY
OR WE WILL SURELY ALL SURRENDER OR DIE.

DEC. 21, 1944

THE BASTOGNE FIGHTERS ARE HUNGRY AND COLD
THEN THE SKY TURNED TO GOLD.
THE SUN CAME OUT THE CLOUDS FLY BY
AND THE USAF FILLED THE SKY.
RATIONS BEGAN TO DROP FROM ON HIGH
AND I SEEN FIGHTING MEN BEGIN TO CRY.

DEC. 22, 1944

THEN CAME THE NEWS THAT MADE THE DAY
GEN. PATTON'S TANKS WERE ON THE WAY.
THEY BROKE THROUGH THE CIRCLING RING
THE ENEMY FLED LEAVING BEHIND EVERY THING.
WE SWORE WE COULD HEAR THE ANGELS SING
AND WE WERE SAVED WITH GOD'S BLESSINGS.

~~~ Elmer H. Ake ~~~
1925 - 2007
©