The Supreme Court ruling about sending troops to Chicago gave me more relief than I’m willing to admit. If he had the green light to send federal troops to any Democratic city he deemed a threat, that would certainly encourage the coup attempt. Naturally, three justices were all for it. But still, very significant in avoiding what might’ve been.
He should’ve said he would never do that in a million years because that was wrong. But he would absolutely enjoy seeing it if it somehow did happen. Which is likely what he actually meant before his eighth beer.
There is literally nobody who loved Christmas more than my late father. His 9th Armor unit defended the crossroads town of St. Vith during the Bulge from 16 December until Christmas Eve, when Monty told them to find their way west to the 82nd airborne, who were creating an escape pocket.
Staying inside a Sherman for eight or nine days in that cold was not pleasant according to dad. Something about conduction. But finally arriving safe behind Allied lines on Christmas Eve - and enjoying a hot Christmas dinner the next day when you’ve been convinced for a week you had to hold on until you died - made an indelible mark on his appreciation of Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all. My Christmas miracle was I woke up in a soaking wet bed with no fever or blinding headache for the first time in four days. My dog had been staring at me, wondering why I suddenly hated him and refused to walk him.
*not my dad‘s tank, but 7th armored Shermans at St. Vith. The seventh was at the northern end of the fortified goose egg, the 9th defended the southern end. Something about that photo relays just how cold it was.