Anthony McAuliffe - The General Who Answered With One Word and Meant Everything

Anthony McAuliffe - The General Who Answered With One Word and Meant Everything

I have been learning about the men who served in the Second World War, and in particular the men in Band if Brothers. Today I want to turn my attention to Anthony McAuliffe.

Anthony Clement McAuliffe was born on the 2nd of July 1898 in Washington, D.C. He grew up in a family with Irish heritage and he started his military life during the final stages of the First World War after he had trained at West Point. Although he did not see major combat in that conflict, it was the beginning of a long career in the US Army.

Between the wars he served in artillery roles and continued his education at senior military colleges. During the Second World War he played a role in developing important military equipment, including the bazooka and the jeep, before moving into active command.

He later served with the 101st Airborne Division, taking part in D-Day in June 1944 and Operation Market Garden. But it was in December 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, that his name became unforgettable. His division was surrounded at Bastogne and they were facing overwhelming German forces. He received a demand for their surrender. His reply was just a single word, “Nuts!”, it captured his defiance, resilience, and his refusal to give in. 

The siege at Bastogne  continued. The conditions were unimaginably harsh. His leadership earned him the Distinguished Service Cross. His other awards included the Army Distinguished Service Medal (twice), Silver Star, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star (twice), alongside several international honours.

After the war, he continued to serve, eventually becoming a four-star general and Commander of United States Army Europe before retiring in 1956. He passed away on the 10th of August 1975 at the age of 77.