combat and a lot of chaos and intense close-quarters fighting. Over 80,000 U.S. casualties made it the most costly single battle of the war.

In the course of my business of buying and selling used books I once bought some books from a WWII veteran who had served in one of General Patton's tank battalions in the battle. He told me some harrowing and heart-wrenching stories of the battle and then told me that he had never told his wife or family these accounts.

He got emotional during his recounting of the battle and I have never forgotten that experience. My respect and gratitude goes out to all who have sacrificed so much to preserve our freedoms.