10th AAMDC Soldiers explore Battle of the Bulge historic sites

Photo By Spc. Jasmin Flores | Capt. Christina Castillo shows commander of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Col. Gregory Brady a World War II artifact from a 105 mm howitzer round she found in the Ardennes Forest while on a staff ride April 22 to 24 to Belgium. Soldiers on the staff ride journeyed to Belgium to trace the Battle of the Bulge and used the opportunity to combine present day realities with historical knowledge.  

KAISERSLAUTERN, RP, GERMANY

04.29.2015

Story by Spc. Jasmin Flores 

10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command

RHINE ORDNANCE BARRACKS, Germany - Just before dawn on April 22, 40 Soldiers prepared to leave Rhine Ordnance Barracks for the rare experience to journey to Belgium, as part of a staff ride to trace the Battle of the Bulge. The U.S. military uses staff rides as an educational tool to further the professional development of leaders.10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command’s Soldiers traveled on this guided tour alongside military historian, and author Dr. Peter Caddick-Adams from April 22 to 24. Solders used this opportunity to combine present day realities with historical knowledge.

Under the dark, gloomy Ardennes Forrest, distant rounds from a nearby weapons range could be heard as 10th AAMDC Soldiers paced through the forest line. Some Soldiers jumped through the many scattered foxholes in solidarity with the U.S. Soldiers that once occupied them.

The Soldiers traveled around the Ardennes Forrest area of eastern Belgium to learn more about the Battle of the Bulge, a critical battle of World War II. In December 1944, Adolf Hitler launched his offensive attack with the hopes of splitting the Allied Forces in northwest Europe.

The courageous fighting of the American Soldiers in the frozen forests of the Ardennes and the Germans’ shortage of fuel and other resources resulted in a huge victory for the Allies.

While the Soldiers were able to get a greater understanding of the history of the Battle of the Bulge from the many presentations given, it was walking through the historical grounds that actually put the trip into perspective.

“When we were able to get into the foxholes and see the different artifacts we found. It made it so real,” said 1st Sgt. Melinda Alvey-Blackwelder of 11th and 13th Missile Defense Detachments, one of the Soldiers on the staff ride. “I could visualize the avenue of approach, the harsh conditions that they were in, and the snow. It is really humbling, a lot of the things we get comfortable complaining about, it put things in perspective,” she said.

The Soldiers were assigned a topic beforehand specific to their work sections and were responsible as it related to WWII. They then had to brief the group about that particular topic as the group walked through or stopped at different locations.

Although the trip was centered on a series of lectures and discussions, having Caddick-Adams as a tour guide gave today’s Soldiers a clearer picture of what it was like 70 years ago. While he has traveled these many battlefields hundreds of times to gather material for his books he still values the importance of these tours.

“The relevance of staff rides is all about triggering discussions,” said Caddick-Adams.

The journey finished with a solemn trip to the Luxembourg American Cemetery, where the Soldiers were able to pay respect to the fallen American Soldiers of World War II.

“My hopes for the staff ride was, to one, to give everyone an opportunity for team building across the unit, but also for us to get an understanding of lessons learned from these battles,” said 10th AAMDC commander, Col. Gregory Brady.

“I am hoping my Soldiers take away an appreciation that you can never forget your history. There are a lot of lessons learned that if we can learn them here we won’t repeat them in the future.”

• Date Taken: 04.29.2015
• Date Posted: 05.01.2015 09:38
• Story ID: 161910
• Location: KAISERSLAUTERN, RP, DE