Minn. Congregation Puts on Play Recalling How Christmas Carols Saved Some U.S. Lives in Deadly WWII Battle
- Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:49am by
Christopher Santarelli
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PBS Newshour aired a report Friday on a Minnesota congregation joining together this holiday season to recreate a true story of events during the Christmas Eve attack on the SS Leopoldville troop-transport ship during World War II’s infamous Battle of the Bulge. In the story, which was put from page to stage by Pastor Tim Hart-Anderson based of the experience of his father veteran Hank Anderson, the Westminster Presbyterian Church recreates the night before Christmas 1944 in the style of 1940s radio dramas. The story centers around the experience of Anderson Sr. on that night at the decisive Battle of the Bulge, where he and a small group of American soldiers avoided the same tragic death as 800 of their brave comrades thanks to their inclination to sing Christmas Carols on the cold Christmas Eve night:
PBS notes that the torpedo strike killed over 800, and was the deadliest incident in the bloodiest battle of the war for the U.S. Army.
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momsense
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 6:43amWhy shoulld it have ever been a question in the first place——some ultra Lib Atheist get a knot in his knickers?
Report Post »TAXEVERYONE
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:02amAnd this happened in the Liberal enclave of Minnesota ?
Report Post »ITHINKTHEREFOREIWAS
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 10:24pm@TAXEVERYONE: yes, we’re a little bipolar here. The whole half-winter and the worst Senator in the history of the United States being OUR GOVERNOR proves it. Time for me to move to ND…:)
Report Post »brian88
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 6:43amthe interviewer looks really enthused. he looks like the enemy we’re fighting.
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 5:46amI am an atheist who does not hate religion, rather I believe in goodness and goodwill. Nasty things have beeen done in the name of God, but there have also been things that can truly be described as miracles.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/10/98/world_war_i/197627.stm
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 6:11amAnd a merry Christmas to all.May your God walk beside you through the coming year.
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 1:50amMy grandfather was there ..Capt.Joseph G O’donnel..Known to his men as Capt.J God…ARE there any vets out there still living who remember him….If so please reply
Report Post »MellonCrib
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 12:52amMerry Christmas everyone !!!
Report Post »MellonCrib
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 12:50amMerry Christmas everybody!!!
Report Post »scout n ambush
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:59pmThere are so many stories that deserve to be told before those who lived them are gone,During this season take the time to listen to the older generations stories while you can. Merry Christmas everyone .
Report Post »mario
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 3:09pmSpeaking of the Battle of the Bulge, here is another heart warming story;
African Nurse Saved GIs at Battle of Bulge.
She said; “A black face in all that white snow was a pretty easy target. Those Germans must be terrible marksmen.”
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=62883
Report Post »bullcrapbuster
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 6:08pmInspirational story. We owe soo many unknown heroes for our freedom. May God bless all who bravely do their duty.
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 3:06pmWe mustt get back our Christmas traditions.. I am so tired of the wicked ruining our ‘peace and joy’! God help us!
Report Post »mario
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 3:05pmNot in todays world;
What Christmas truce? Carol service for our troops on the Afghan frontline ends with a blast of reality from the Taliban.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1100768/What-Christmas-truce-Carol-service-troops-Afghan-frontline-ends-blast-reality-Taliban.html
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:28pmThis also reminds me when Longfellow wrote the poem “Christmas Bells” on Christmas Day 1864.
Listen to this song by Casting Crowns, although it is not the first time it was set to music, I think this is the best one today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7670CXvPX0
Report Post »Hopefulone
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:52pmCasting Crowns’ version, with half of Longfellow’s words cut out, keeps only a fraction of the soul. What’s left is a loud pop tune. To really “get it” I’d like to hear a soloist with the original melody by John Calkin. Sure, the CC version is peppy and pretty but it misses so-o-o much. (…as with most anti-contemplative “spiritual” variations on Kumbaya filling hymnals these days. I do hope that it won’t take hundreds of years for Christianity to recover from the pop/chant stuff and get back to adult, thoughtful, and inspiring music.)
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:34pmThank You. Thank You, for some of the most beautiful moments I’ve had today. The song is truly inspirational and soul searching. :)
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:53pmInteresting and inspiring, too. But isn’t it a little misleading to say that the Leopoldville was sunk during the Battle of the Bulge? That was a land engagement, 200 miles from the nearest salt water.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:20pmWhat is misleading? The Battle of the Bulge was waging during the time the Leopoldville was sunk. It is giving a time line to the sinking and what other battles were being fought. Didn’t confuse me, but I guess that is because this woman has logic.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:27amsame thing happened Christmas Eve in the trenches, in WW1.
Report Post »truthseekerusa
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:26amThank you to the Blaze for sending this story to those of us who had family that served in WWII. They ranged from medics to one that was a prisoner of war in a German camp after being shot down over the English channel while on a bombing mission.
Report Post »Countrygirl1362
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:49amWhat a wonderful stroy. God truly does work miracles.
Report Post »JBaer
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:37pmAmen to that!
Report Post »owdi
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:28amI always amazed at the power of Jesus Christ and HOPE HE manifests CHANGE in this dismal era. Change we all can believe in and prosper in.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:45amUh oh, this is gonna really upset the Secular Progressives……They don’t want us worshipping anyone but Fuhrer Obama and big government.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:28amTruly, the greatest generation ever ! And may God bless our troops wherever they may be on this Christmas Eve…
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 8:29pmyep….a generation that produced Tojo, Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini. Ponder that…..
Report Post »woodyb
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 4:31pmI hate to burst your bubble, Republic, but the gentlemen (?) whom you named were from the PRIOR generation. The Greatest Generation was made up of the teens and ‘20-somethings who were serving in OUR MILITARY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:23amIf I remember correctly… about 50,000 American Troops lost their lives… during the Battle of the Bulge.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 8:37pmAn official report by the United States Department of the Army lists some 108,347 casualties including 19,246 killed, 62,489 wounded and 26,612 captured and missing. The Battle of the Bulge was the bloodiest of the battles that U.S. forces experienced in World War II.
Report Post »JP4JOY
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:59amThere is also the peace on earth that occurred during WWI in the trenches when they laid down their arms and celebrated Christmas Eve by singing carols across the frontier of the French trenches.
Peace on Earth and Merry Christmas to All. Especially to All You Blazers!!!
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:12amAnd a game of soccer! That was a wonderful story that I’d really like to see in a movie.
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:59pmThe 1914 Christmas truces primarily were between German and British troops. Something about the British love of fair play, sportsmanship and respect for a valiant foe, I suppose. Also a lot of Christmas traditions in the English speaking world–the Christmas tree, many of the old hymns and carols–were German in origin: the truces supposedly began when Tommies heard Germans in the opposing trenches singing “Stille Nacht.” The truces for the most part did not involve the French, whose Christmas traditions were less German-influenced, and whose country, after all, the Germans had invaded!
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