The Battle of the Bulge wasn’t just a clash of forces—it was a brutal test of grit and survival, fought in the dead of winter in the Ardennes Forest under conditions no one could’ve predicted. In December 1944, as temperatures dropped and Allied supplies ran thin, American forces faced off against a last-ditch, all-out assault by the Germans, determined to break our lines and shatter our resolve.

But what they didn’t count on was the unfaltering spirit of those U.S. soldiers, many barely out of high school, who refused to lose. The Ardennes Forest served as a proving ground, where troops dug in and defeated the Germans against overwhelming odds.

It’s a story of resilience, raw courage, and a reminder that when the stakes are highest, the American spirit is unbreakable. Here’s a closer look at just three stories from this 5 week campaign.

Vernon McGarity

On the morning of 16 December 1944, troops of the 277th Volksgrenadier Division attacked the outposts of the 99th Division. A young Staff Sergeant by the name of Vernon McGarity was severely wounded in an artillery barrage and was forced to find an aid station for treatment. Medical personnel attempted to have McGarity evacuated because of the severity of the wounds to his face and legs. But he refused.

McGarity left the aid station and returned, wounded, to the front lines. His men needed him, and he would not abandon them with the German Army bearing down on their positions.

Back on the line near Krinkelt, McGarity’s raw courage lit a fire in his men. Time and again, he put everything on the line to save his fellow soldiers. With no regard for his own safety, he took out a German tank with a bazooka and braved enemy fire to keep his squad stocked with ammo.

One GI recalled, “Under intense fire, McGarity stayed cool, took out a few snipers, and kept us in the fight.” His leadership was so sharp, his squad only suffered one additional casualty that day. They fought like hell, holding off the Germans until 17 December.

When the ammo ran dry, McGarity and his squad were captured, but their fierce stand bought crucial time for American reinforcements to hold the line. McGarity spent the rest of the war as a POW in Stalag VII-A, but his legacy of fearless leadership was already sealed. Vernon McGarity would later receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions that day.

Sam Lombardo

Sam Lombardo had no other choice. Crossing that snow-covered minefield in France took more courage than anything he’d done in the entire war. It wasn’t about bravery for its own sake—it was about expressing leadership, and as a young Lieutenant in the United States Army, he knew it was his duty. “I’m the leader,” he told himself.

His scout had fainted and collapsed, leaving him to make the call. He couldn’t let the men retreat, despite the fear that was starting to ripple through the ranks. Some were crying, and others, like a soldier who had just lost his leg, were screaming in agony in the middle of the minefield.

Unbeknownst to the men, the field was littered with “Bouncing Bettys,” German S-mines that had already wounded two soldiers from L and K companies. But someone had to step up.

“This is it,” he thought. At that moment, Lombardo knew he had to become the embodiment of the U.S. Army Infantry motto: “Follow me, men, but don’t step out of my footprints,” he ordered. Before taking that first step, he looked up and whispered, “Please God, help me.” Then, he moved.

Instead of following the others straight across the field, Sam angled left, stepping cautiously. Each footfall echoed with an audible “crunch,” but miraculously nothing happened. That slight change of direction might have saved him.

Every time he glanced back, his men were following directly in his footsteps. With each movement forward, Lombardo admitted that he felt like he was dying, but he kept moving.

He and his men made it across the minefield, a stretch that measured over 200 yards—roughly two football fields. When Sam finally reached the other side, he clung to a gnarled tree, overwhelmed with relief and gratitude. Turning around, he saw his entire unit, one by one, moving safely across the snow.

Before starting the crossing, he had told them, “If I go down, Sergeant Rosen will take over.” Fortunately Lombardo survived the advance and so did his men. That moment, etched into his memory forever, defined what it truly meant to lead from the front.

Ronald N. McArthur

Photo provided by Time Life Blog and added to this article under Fair Use.

At the onset of the Battle of the Bulge, McArthur’s unit was positioned several miles southeast of the breakthrough point. As the first gunner in a Heavy Weapons Company of the 45th Division, part of General Patton’s 7th Army, he manned a water-cooled .30 caliber machine gun.

Between Christmas and New Year’s, they were ordered to move out, traveling nearly 24 hours in a northwesterly direction to close the gap in the line. Their mission was to replace a rifle company’s light machine guns that had been destroyed in an attack.

They set up their heavy machine guns on high ground, flanking the enemy in the woods. Several tanks accompanied them, but the day remained relatively quiet. Aside from a few bursts of small arms fire, the afternoon passed without major incident. Then, at about four o’clock, all hell broke loose. A devastating artillery barrage rained down on them, the shells exploding in the trees, sending shrapnel down like deadly confetti.

As the machine gun bursts tore through the woods, he decided to fortify their position. Telling his assistant gunner to hold the line, he ventured about a hundred yards toward a knocked-out tank to cut down logs to reinforce their foxhole.

It was January 11, 1945. He had just cut four logs when a gunshot ripped through the silence. A German sniper, left behind as the enemy retreated, had shot McArthur through the face. The sniper had taken cover near the disabled tank.

Ronald fell face-first into 15 inches of snow, expecting the next shot to end his life. The bullet had shattered his jaw, passing through his left cheek and exiting out his right, ripping away most of his jaw.

Numbness spread through his mouth, and for a moment, he feared his tongue was gone. Tentatively, he put his hand to his face, relieved to find his tongue still intact, though the damage was severe. The wound extended from his right cheekbone to just below his eye, all the way to his right ear.

A medic rushed to his side, treating the wound with sulfadiazine powder. Within moments, the unit’s jeep arrived—each machine gun section had its own transport—and he, along with another wounded GI, were evacuated.

He was taken to an aid station and then through several hospitals before eventually making it to England. From there, he was finally sent home to the United States, the war behind him but the scars forever a reminder.

Honor Their Legacy

As the snow fell and the bitter cold cut through the Ardennes, the courage of men like Vernon McGarity, Sam Lombardo and Ronald McArthur shone like a beacon in the chaos of the Battle of the Bulge.

McGarity, though gravely wounded, demonstrated extraordinary bravery and selflessness, returning to the fight time and again to save his comrades. Lombardo’s strategic acumen and determination helped turn the tide, proving that a clear mind and resolute heart can overcome even the most dire circumstances. McArthur’s indomitable spirit led his men through relentless German assaults, embodying leadership in the face of overwhelming odds.

These men were not merely soldiers; they were symbols of the unyielding will to defend freedom, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Their actions remind us that courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it—legacies that endure and will inspire generations to come.

Join us in honoring the Allied troops whose courage paved the way to victory in Europe during World War II by conquering our Battle of the Bulge 5-Miler.

Accept the Mission