WWII Battle of Bastogne Veteran Claud W. Creech
Ranked #6,240 in Culture & Society, #129,038 overall
A Veterans Day salute to a real American Hero
Though he had four sisters he was the only son of Rosa Lee Barnett, his father died and left him orphaned during the depression.
Under these circumstances, being an only son & man of the house he would never have been drafted to war but volunteered to fight for his lady as he called her "America". He volunteered not once but twice.
My Grandfather Claud W. Creech, born and raised in Harlan County Ky, served this country from July 1942 to February 1947. He was a member of the 10th Armored division known as The Fighting Tigers. He served under General George S. Patton during WWII and was one of many who were trapped for days in Germany during the Battle of Bastogne. Most people remember that the 10th Armored division were the ones who rode in to get the 101st Airborne out of Bastogne. After doing research and studying this I found that certain portions of the 10th Armored division were with the 101st while trapped in Bastogne through Christmas. My grandfather was among this group.
He received many more awards and medals than I can even count, some of which included:
The Purple Heart, WWII Medal of Victory, Army of Occupation Medal (Germany), European, African & Middle eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, The Bronze Star Medal of Valor, and many others.
My brother has spent the better part of 18 months tracking down records, medals, and data. This has been a long and difficult road for him. It appears that most of his recoreds were burned in the 1973 fire at The National Personnel Records Center in Saint Louis, Mo.
My grandfather graduated and retired from this world in 1984.
Under these circumstances, being an only son & man of the house he would never have been drafted to war but volunteered to fight for his lady as he called her "America". He volunteered not once but twice.
My Grandfather Claud W. Creech, born and raised in Harlan County Ky, served this country from July 1942 to February 1947. He was a member of the 10th Armored division known as The Fighting Tigers. He served under General George S. Patton during WWII and was one of many who were trapped for days in Germany during the Battle of Bastogne. Most people remember that the 10th Armored division were the ones who rode in to get the 101st Airborne out of Bastogne. After doing research and studying this I found that certain portions of the 10th Armored division were with the 101st while trapped in Bastogne through Christmas. My grandfather was among this group.
He received many more awards and medals than I can even count, some of which included:
The Purple Heart, WWII Medal of Victory, Army of Occupation Medal (Germany), European, African & Middle eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, The Bronze Star Medal of Valor, and many others.
My brother has spent the better part of 18 months tracking down records, medals, and data. This has been a long and difficult road for him. It appears that most of his recoreds were burned in the 1973 fire at The National Personnel Records Center in Saint Louis, Mo.
My grandfather graduated and retired from this world in 1984.
More about Claud W. Creech
Getting to know my Grandfather
I barely knew my grandfather. He died in a Cincinnati OH Veterans hospital when I was still in Elementary School. I was too young at the time to understand what the man had been through in his life. I didn't understand why he got so upset if someone on the news put down our country or desecrated our beloved flag.What I did know of my grandfather were the trips to his home in Ohio. He lived in a trailor park, which I thought was beautiful. It had a small fishing lake in the center where he would let us kids fish for bluegill. He loved Cincinnati Reds almost as much as he loved to fish. He even went fishing with Pete Rose once. He would talk about those things for hours. However, If you wanted to hear about the war you had to wait until all the children were supposed to be asleep and sneak behind the door to listen. After listening you quickly wished you hadn't.
My Grandfather believed as many other soldiers that if Hitler were not stopped there would be no end to his tyranny. His cancer would spread eventually to the U.S. My grandfather believed that 'we are our brothers keeper' and that the genecide taking place had to be stopped at all costs. He like many before him and many after believed that Freedom is always worth the price.
Grandpa in Germany, notice the sign on the building just next to his right elbow.
Lest we forget those who bravely gave all for others!
These young men gave all to fight the very face of evil. Many gave thier lives, limbs and health. They did this in conditions that would break the average person.
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Battle of Bastogne (Battle of the Bulge)
Hosted by Oliver North for the Weather Channel series When Weather Changed History. This is probably one of the very best documentaries on The Battle of the Bulge I've ever watched. I have kept a constant watch to find this available for sale. However thanks for the feed below you can watch the entire episode from your computer. God Bless these heroes!
This documentary also gives details as to why it was called The Battle of the Bulge. If you do not watch another video on this page, please watch this one.
This documentary also gives details as to why it was called The Battle of the Bulge. If you do not watch another video on this page, please watch this one.
- When Weather changed History
- Here is a link to the full episode. I apologize that you couldn't watch it directly on this page but believe me its worth the time to watch.
Veterans Stories
These are great reads for any American.
- Pattons Christmas Prayer
- The Christmas Prayer of General Patton told by the Chaplain who wrote it.
- The fighting Tigers at Bastogne
- 10th Armored division credited for part in Battle of the Bulge.
- A Veterans Journal
- BASTOGNE December 1944 White Christmas Red Snow!
- John Mccain a hero
- First hand account 5 years in a POW Prison written in 1973.
- Harlan County Ky
- The town where my grandfather was born and raised.
- Kentucky's last surviving WWI Vet
- Dies in 2009 at the age of 108
What if Hitler had not been defeated
Have you ever considered what the world would be like today if Hitler had not been defeated. If America had pulled out or never went to begin with?
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Other material well worth watching
The men who were there
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Monument dedicated in Bastogne
Short video shows how much the 101st Airborne and the 10th Armored division meant to the people of Bastogne.
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My Grandfather
My Grandfather is a hero to me as are all of the other men and women who have fought for the basic freedoms that we so often take for granted.My grandfather lost part of his leg in Germany during the WWII, he spent several months in a military hospital in England.
He once said how his unit had been trapped and without food for days and the only food they could find was some graham crackers. The crackers had been soaked in Gasoline and couldn't be eaten so they ate snow in order to hydrate thier bodies.
The day of this writing is the eve of Nov. 11, 2008 Veterans Day. If your a praying person please take a moment to thank God for these brave souls who have long defended our freedoms and bought them with a price. Many are still defending those basic freedoms today. Pray for blessings and safty on all who have served and currently serve in the line of duty.
Growing up in depression
When boys become men
My grandfather was orphaned during the great depression. At this time no form of public aid was available. His mother had to care for 5 children the best way she could so she worked the small amount of land that she had. She grew most of the food, canned and raised chickens. What food they didn't have to keep would be sold for other needs. She was a remarkable woman (but that is another lens coming soon). My grandfather became a man at the age we call a tween today. He learned to work the land, faith and dependence on God, and became a very well known mechanic and garage keeper. After his return from war he opened a small garage for a few years in Evarts Ky. Then moved to Hamilton Ohio where he had a prosperous business maintaining and painting cars. Some of his regular customers included players for the baseball team he loved so well, The Cincinnati Reds.I've always regretted that I never got to spend more time with him and that I was so young when he died. Now that I'm older, I look back at the principals and strong patriotic beliefs that he held so dear, and I'm grateful that he cannot see what the country he bled for has become.
My hope is that someday he will get the opportunity to enjoy his great grandchildren he has never met in heaven.
Ways we can help our heroes
There are many ways we can help our warriors & heroes and thier families. Please check out some of the worthy sites listed below.
- Wounded Warrior Project
- The Greatest Casualty is being forgotten.
- Cars for Charity
- Here you can donate cars and proceeds go directly to the WWII Museum.
- Disabled Veterans Charities
- Disabled Veterans Charities is to assist the disabled and needy veterans, their widows, and their dependents.
- Disabled American Veterans
- Building Better Lives for America's Disabled Veterans
General Goerge Patton on CafePress
Flag Rules, Regulations and Folding
Fold the flag in half width-wise twice. If done by two, then the blue field should be facing the bottom on the first fold. Fold up a triangle, starting at the striped end ... and repeat ... until only the end of the union is exposed. Then fold down the square into a triangle and tuck inside the folds.
Reader Feedback
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aj2008
Jan 18, 2011 @ 2:39 pm | delete
- Congratulations on your Purple Star for this beautiful tribute to your Grandfather :)
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mysticmama
Nov 19, 2010 @ 12:13 am | delete
- Wonderful tribute! :)
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poddys
Nov 18, 2010 @ 3:25 pm | delete
- Great lens about a great man. It's good to research your family history. I am also researching my Grandfather, but working on a story from 1904 where the information is sketchy to say the least. I am waiting on information from several museums as well as searching digitized newspapers.
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skiesgreen
Dec 17, 2009 @ 2:27 am | delete
- What the soldiers went through in the trenches in Germany is something we should never forget. Your granddad is someone to whom we owe a great debt and the cost to him and others like him is too much for anyone of us to repay. Well done lens 5* and fave
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amandascloset0 Dec 17, 2009 @ 8:20 am | delete
- Thank you for your comments! It's always encouragement to me to find others who feel so moved by those sacrifices as I do. Their sacrifice was not in vain!
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by amandascloset0
When Claud W. Creech was young I understand that women were drawn to him. But, until his daughters came along the only true lady for him was his count... more »
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