Battle of the Bulge U.S. veteran David Marshall salutes during a ceremony in Bastogne, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2024, to mark 80 years since the famed World War II engagement. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Eighty years ago the Battle of the Bulge started, Germany’s last big offensive against the U.S. and Allies during World War II. That holiday season saw fierce combat in the Ardennes Forest of Belgium and Luxembourg.
At the same time, a father in Belgium wrote an open Christmas letter to “General Eisenhower and his brave warriors” thanking Americans for their heroism and generosity. The Associated Press reported how American soldiers “cheerfully shared tidbits from their ration kits with pale Belgian children begging gum and candy.”
The Belgian father appreciated the Americans’ generosity, but did not want the soldiers to think the kids were beggars. The father explained how hard it was for kids in Belgium to go through years of war, struggling to even get the most basic things. To hungry Belgian kids, American soldiers were like Santa Claus.
As published in The New York Times, the Belgian father wrote “that is why all of them go out to you in full confidence, as if to Father Noel — because Father Noel never regarded them as beggars.”
It was American generosity that liberated Europe from the enemy of hunger, which always accompanies war. Right before the Battle of the Bulge started in December 1944, the U.S. was building up food supplies to feed hungry civilians in the Netherlands.
When the surprise Battle of the Bulge occurred, the fighting caused major food losses in Belgium. The U.S. had to divert food supplies from the Netherlands to relieve Belgium and then replenish those supplies. This was done in time to save the Netherlands from famine toward the end of the war in 1945. These were some of the quiet, behind the scenes heroics of World War II.
It was American and Allied food assistance that saved many children and families from starvation during the war. On the home front Americans rallied to donate to the National War Fund, which saved more lives from hunger.
We should remember that generosity in sharing food with the hungry children. For even though WWII is in the history books, child hunger is not. There are millions of children starving across the globe right now because of wars and climate change. They look to Americans for help too.
There are desperately hungry children in war-torn Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gaza, Syria, Yemen, Mali, and many other nations. War is causing the biggest hunger emergencies as well as drought. Haiti is suffering extreme hunger. The U.N. World Food Program and partner agencies like Catholic Relief Services, Save the Children, CARE and UNICEF are struggling to reach every hungry person in need. They need more support. The world needs more food and peace.
The charity Mary’s Meals works in impoverished and war-torn countries like Ethiopia, trying to provide basic school meals to children. For many children a school lunch is their only chance at a daily meal. Every child should be able to get these meals.
In the new year we can’t let hunger and chaos spread around the globe. We cannot let children suffer hunger, which will stunt them physically and mentally for life.
If we had not helped Europe overcome food shortages caused by WWII, millions of people would have starved to death. Think of all the children that would have been lost without American food aid.
Eighty years ago, during the Battle of the Bulge, Americans were fighting under terrible winter conditions against Nazi German forces. We should remember the bravery of American soldiers and allies in winning the Battle of the Bulge and ultimately defeating Nazi Germany to end the war.
Even amid the hardship of the Battle of the Bulge and WWII, American soldiers were generous and helped feed children. At that same time Americans kept up an offensive against hunger, which saved many lives in Europe.
We should remember this history, for it can help guide us in the new year as we face numerous challenges and uncertainties abroad. But one thing we can count on is our humanitarian spirit, which is vital to building a lasting peace.
William Lambers is an author who partnered with the U.N. World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.” His father, Vincent, was with the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II and recounted how hungry children asked the soldiers for food, which they always shared.
