Anthony McAuliffe#"NUTS!"

{{redirect|Nuts!|the book about Southwest Airlines|Nuts! (book)|other uses|Nut (disambiguation){{!}}Nut}}

{{Infobox military person

| name = Anthony Clement McAuliffe

| image = GEN Anthony C. McAuliffe.jpg

| caption = McAuliffe in 1969

| nickname = "Old Crock",{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-7MwvwL5UR0C&pg=PA487 |title=American military leaders: from colonial times to the present, Volume 2|author=Fredriksen, John C.|pages=487–488|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=1999|isbn=1-57607-001-8}} "Nuts"

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1898|7|2|df=y}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1975|8|10|1898|7|2|df=y}}

| birth_place = Washington, D.C., United States

| death_place = Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., United States

| placeofburial = Arlington National Cemetery

| allegiance = United States

| branch = United States Army

| serviceyears = 1918–1956

| servicenumber = 0-12263

| rank = General

| unit = Field Artillery Branch

| commands = {{ubl|United States Army Europe|Seventh United States Army|Chemical Corps|103rd Infantry Division}}

| battles = World War II

| awards = {{ubl|Distinguished Service Cross|Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)|Silver Star|Legion of Merit|Bronze Star (2)}}

| alma_mater = USMA at West Point, Class of 1919

| spouse =

| relations =

| laterwork =

}}

General Anthony Clement "Nuts" McAuliffe (2 July 1898 – 10 August 1975) was a senior United States Army officer who earned fame as the acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division defending Bastogne, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. He is celebrated for his one-word reply to a German surrender ultimatum: "Nuts!"

After the battle, McAuliffe was promoted and given command of the 103rd Infantry Division, which he led from January 1945 to July 1945. In the post-war era, he was commander of United States Army Europe.

Early life and military career

File:Anthony Clement McAuliffe (1898–1975) in the 1921 West Point yearbook.png

McAuliffe was born in Washington, D.C., on 2 July 1898, to a family of Irish heritage.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PmVmyDRsgUYC&pg=PA2071 |title=Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. From Its Establishment, in 1802, to 1890 |first=George Washington |last=Cullum |author-link=George Washington Cullum |editor-first=Wirt |editor-last=Robinson |volume=VI-B: 1910–1920 |publisher=Association of Graduates, United States Military Academy |page=2071 |year=1920 |access-date=2022-12-19 |via=Google Books}} He attended West Virginia University from 1916 to 1917. He was a member of the West Virginia Beta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity during his time at West Virginia University. He enrolled at West Point in 1917. McAuliffe was part of an accelerated program and graduated shortly after the end of World War I, in November 1918.

During this time, he visited Europe for a short time and toured several battlefields. Assigned to field artillery, he graduated from the Artillery School in 1920. For the next 16 years, McAuliffe carried out typical peacetime assignments. By 1935, he had been promoted to the rank of captain. Later, he was chosen to attend the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. In June 1940, McAuliffe graduated from the United States Army War College. Just before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, he was promoted again, temporarily becoming a lieutenant colonel with the Supply Division of the War Department General Staff. While in this position, McAuliffe supervised the development of such new technology as the bazooka and the jeep.

World War II

File:Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe, artillery commander of the 101st Airborne Division, gives glider pilots last-minute instructions in England for Operation Market-Garden on September 18, 1944 on D plus 1 of operations.jpg

Brigadier General McAuliffe commanded the division artillery of the 101st Airborne Division when he parachuted into Normandy on D-Day. He also landed by glider in the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden.[https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/35018/McAuliffe-Anthony-Clement.htm Article from Traces of War site] Accessed on 29 March 2022

In December 1944, the German army launched the surprise attack that became the Battle of the Bulge. Major General Maxwell D. Taylor, commander of the 101st Airborne Division, was attending a staff conference in the United States at the time. During Taylor's absence, McAuliffe commanded the 101st and its attached troops. At Bastogne, the 101st was besieged by a far larger force of Germans under the command of General Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz.{{cite web|last1=McAuliffe|first1=Kenneth Jr.|title=The story of NUTS! reply|url=https://www.army.mil/article/92856|website=The story of NUTS! Article The United States Army|date=8 December 2013 |publisher=United States Army|access-date=28 June 2017}}

="NUTS!"=

On 22 December 1944, von Lüttwitz dispatched a party, consisting of a major, a lieutenant, and two enlisted men under a flag of truce to deliver an ultimatum. Entering the American lines southeast of Bastogne (occupied by Company F, 2nd Battalion, 327th Glider Infantry), the German party delivered the following to Gen. McAuliffe:

{{blockquote|To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.

The fortune of war is changing. This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Ourthe near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands.

There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note.

If this proposal should be rejected one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A. A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours term.

All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well-known American humanity.

The German Commander.}}

File:Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe and his staff gathered inside Bastogne's Heintz Barracks for Christmas dinner Dec. 25th, 1944.jpg

According to those present when McAuliffe received the German message, he read it, crumpled it into a ball, threw it in a wastepaper basket, and muttered, "Aw, nuts". The officers in McAuliffe's command post were trying to find suitable language for an official reply when Lieutenant Colonel Harry Kinnard suggested that McAuliffe's first response summed up the situation well, and the others agreed. The official reply was typed and delivered by Colonel Joseph Harper, commanding the 327th Glider Infantry, to the German delegation. It was as follows:

{{blockquote|To the German Commander.

NUTS!

The American Commander.}}

The German major appeared confused and asked Harper what the message meant. Harper said, "In plain English? Go to hell."[http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/Bastogne/bast-14.htm S.L.A. Marshall, Bastogne: The First Eight Days] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902012543/http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/Bastogne/bast-14.htm |date=2 September 2019}}, Chapter 14, describing the incident in detail and sourcing it. The choice of "Nuts!" rather than something earthier was typical for McAuliffe. Captain Vincent Vicari, his personal aide at the time, recalled that "General Mac was the only general I ever knew who did not use profane language. 'Nuts' was part of his normal vocabulary."Pyle, Richard, report for the Associated Press (12 December 2004).

The artillery fire did not materialize, although several infantry and tank assaults were directed at the positions of the 327th Glider Infantry. In addition, the German Luftwaffe attacked the town, bombing it nightly. The 101st held off the Germans until the 4th Armored Division arrived on 26 December to provide reinforcement.

=Post-Bastogne=

File:Anthony McAuliffe and George Patton.jpg

For his actions at Bastogne, McAuliffe was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by Lieutenant General George S. Patton, commanding the Third Army, on 30 December 1944{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/mss35634.00309/?sp=30&r=-0.319,0.122,1.652,0.611,0|title=Image 30 of George S. Patton Papers: Diaries, 1910–1945; Annotated transcripts; 1943–1945; 1944, Nov. 30 – 1945, Mar. 22|website=The Library of Congress|date=30 November 1944 |access-date=27 May 2020}} with official orders processed on 14 January 1945.{{Cite web|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/23110#51552|title=Army Distinguished Service Cross|website=The Wall of Valor Project|access-date=6 December 2019}} He later received the Army Distinguished Service Medal twice, the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit.{{Cite web|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/23110|title=Anthony Clement McAuliffe|website=The Wall of Valor Project|access-date=6 December 2019}}

Immediately after Bastogne, McAuliffe was promoted to major general and given command of the 103rd Infantry Division on 15 January 1945, his first divisional command assignment, which he retained until July 1945. Under McAuliffe, the 103rd reached the Rhine Valley, 23 March, and engaged in mopping up operations in the plain west of the Rhine River. In April 1945, the division was assigned to occupational duties until 20 April, when it resumed the offensive, pursuing a fleeing enemy through Stuttgart and taking Münsingen on 24 April. On 27 April, elements of the division entered Landsberg, where Kaufering concentration camp, a subcamp of Dachau, was liberated. The 103rd crossed the Danube River near Ulm on 26 April. On 3 May 1945, the 103rd captured Innsbruck, Austria, with little to no fighting. It then seized the Brenner Pass and met the 88th Infantry Division of the U.S. Fifth Army at Vipiteno, Italy, thereby joining the Italian and Western European fronts.[http://www.milhist.net/mto/racealps.html "Fifth Army History • Race to the Alps"], Chapter VI : Conclusion "4 May; the Reconnaissance Troop, 349th Infantry [88th Division], met troops from [103rd Infantry Division] VI Corps of Seventh Army at 1051 at Vipiteno, 9 miles south of Brenner."

Post-war

File:Monument to General McAuliffe, Bastogne.jpg

Following the war, McAuliffe held many positions, including Chief Chemical Officer of the Army Chemical Corps, and G-1, Head of Army Personnel. He returned to Europe as commander of the Seventh Army in 1953, and Commander-in-Chief of the United States Army Europe in 1955.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OdqI9SOm8lEC&pg=PA2245 |title=Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the United States Congress, Volume 101, Part 2 |publisher=US Government Publishing Office |page=2245 |year=1955 |access-date=October 1, 2019 |via=Google Books}} He was promoted to four-star general in 1955.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_zliUu_2DUQC&q=Anthony+McAuliffe+West+Virginia+University&pg=PA108|title=Hell's Highway: The True Story of the 101st Airborne Division During Operation Market Garden September 17–25, 1944|author1=Antal, John |author2=Koskimaki, George E. |page=108|publisher=Quarto Group|year=2008|isbn=978-0-7603-3348-8}}

While still in the service, McAuliffe attended the premiere of Battleground in Washington D.C. on 9 November 1949.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114898917/battleground-despite-army-fanfare/ |title='Battleground,' Despite Army Fanfare, Honest Story of Infantryman in War |newspaper=The Gazette and Daily |page=15 |date=1949-11-14 |access-date=2022-12-19 |via=Newspapers.com}} The film did not depict McAuliffe directly, but did show a scene of the Germans presenting their surrender demands and their confusion on receiving McAuliffe's reply.

Retirement

In 1956, McAuliffe retired from the army. He worked for American Cyanamid Corporation from 1956 to 1963 as vice president for personnel. He began a program to teach employees to maintain contact with local politicians. The company subsequently required all branch managers to at least introduce themselves to local politicians.{{cite news| url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,873724,00.html?iid=chix-sphere | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222175734/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,873724,00.html?iid=chix-sphere | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 22, 2011 | magazine=Time | title=Executives: Business in Politics | date=August 10, 1962 | access-date=April 25, 2010}} McAuliffe also served as chairman of the New York State Civil Defense Commission from 1960 to 1963.{{Citation needed|date = December 2015}}

File:General Anthony McAuliffe gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery.jpg

After his retirement from American Cyanamid in 1963, McAuliffe resided in Chevy Chase, Maryland, until his death from leukemia Krebs, Albin. "Gen. McAuliffe, 77, Dead; Replied ‘Nuts!’ to Germans." New York Times, August 14, 1975. on 10 August 1975, age 77. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[https://books.google.com/books?id=ELDlCAAAQBAJ&dq=anthony+McAuliffe+arlington&pg=PT884 International Encyclopedia of Military History][https://ancexplorer.army.mil/publicwmv/#/arlington-national/search/results/1/CgltY2F1bGlmZmUSB2FudGhvbnkaAWM-/ Burial Detail: McAuliffe, Anthony C ] – ANC Explorer

Dates of rank

class="wikitable" ! Insignia !! Rank !! Component !! Date
align="center" \|No insignia	Cadet	United States Military Academy	14 June 1917
align="center" \|13px	Second lieutenant	National Army	1 November 1918
align="center" \|13px	First lieutenant	National Army	29 September 1919
align="center" \|13px	Second lieutenant	Regular Army	15 December 1922
align="center" \|13px	First lieutenant	Regular Army	20 May 1923
align="center" \|33px	Captain	Regular Army	1 May 1935
align="center" \|40px	Major	Regular Army	1 July 1940
align="center" \|40px	Lieutenant colonel	Army of the United States	15 September 1941 effective 18 September
align="center" \|60px	Colonel	Army of the United States	1 February 1942
align="center" \|33px	Brigadier general	Army of the United States	8 August 1942
align="center" \|40px	Lieutenant colonel	Regular Army	11 December 1942
align="center" \|66px	Major general	Army of the United States	3 January 1945
align="center" \|33px	Brigadier general	Regular Army	24 January 1948
align="center" \|66px	Major general	Regular Army	27 September 1949
align="center" \|99px	Lieutenant general	Army of the United States	1 August 1951
align="center" \|120px	General	Army of the United States	1 March 1955
align="center" \|120px	General	Regular Army, Retired	31 May 1956

Official Army and Air Force Register, 1948. p. 1174.

Official Army Register, 1949. p. 347.

Official Army Register, 1953. p. 483.

Official Army Register, 1956. p. 549.

Official Army Register, 1957. p. 1043.

{{cite web|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1949-pt10/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1949-pt10-18.pdf|title=Senate Congressional Record, September 27th, 1949|page=13294|website=GovInfo.gov|access-date=24 August 2023}}

Awards and decorations

McAuliffe's decorations include the following:

=Badges=

140px Basic Parachutist Badge with three combat jumps

140px Airborne Glider Badge

=Decorations=

{{ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=US-DSC-RIBBON.png|width=106}}

|Distinguished Service Cross

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Army Distinguished Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=Silver_Star_ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Silver Star

{{ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Legion of Merit

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|other_device=|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Bronze Star Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster

=Unit award=

{{ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=U.S._Army_and_U.S._Air_Force_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg|width=106px}}

|Army Presidential Unit Citation

=Service medals=

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|World War I Victory Medal

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|American Defense Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|American Campaign Medal

{{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|other_device=arrowhead|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead device and three bronze campaign stars

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|World War II Victory Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army of Occupation ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Army of Occupation Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|National Defense Service Medal

=Foreign awards=

{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Legion_Honneur_Commandeur_ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Legion of Honour (Commandeur)

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Croix_de_guerre_1939-1945_with_palm_(France)_-_ribbon_bar.png|width=106}}

|French Croix de guerre with Palm

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Oorlogskruis_with_Palm.jpg|width=106}}

|Belgian Croix de guerre with Palm

{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Neth_bronzelion_rib.PNG|width=106}}

|Netherlands Bronze Lion Medal

|Distinguished Service Order with clasp

{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=BEL - Order of Leopold - Commander bar.svg|width=106}}

|Belgian Order of Leopold (Commandeur)

{{ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Ordre_de_la_couronne_de_Chene_Commandeur_ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|Order of the Oak Crown (Commandeur)

Memorials

File:Bastogne, Shermantank op Place General McAuliffe met buste foto2 2014-06-13 13.26.jpg, Bastogne, Belgium]]

The central square of Bastogne, Belgium, is named Place Général McAuliffe. A Sherman tank, pierced by a German 88 mm shell, stands in one corner.[https://www.landmarkscout.com/bastogne-memorial-to-general-mc-auliffe-bastogne-belgium/ Memorial information at Landmarkscout.com] Accessed on 29 March 2022

A southern extension of Route 33 in eastern Northampton County, Pennsylvania, completed in 2002,{{cite web|url=http://www.pahighways.com/state/PA1-50.html#PA33|title=Pennsylvania Highways: Route 33|access-date=2009-01-02| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081225233924/http://www.pahighways.com/state/PA1-50.html| archive-date= 25 December 2008 | url-status= live}} was named the Gen. Anthony Clement McAuliffe 101st Airborne Memorial Highway.{{cite web|title=General Anthony Clement McAuliffe Airborne Memorial Highway – Designation Act of Jun. 19, 2002, P.L. 444, No. 66 Cl. 87 An Act|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/PDF/2002/0/0066..PDF|publisher=legis.state.pa.us}}

The new headquarters building for the 101st Airborne Division, which opened in 2009 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, is named McAuliffe Hall.{{cite web|title=Corps to complete 45 Projects at Fort Campbell|url=http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/Portals/64/docs/Military/News/Corps%20to%20complete%2045%20projects%20at%20Fort%20Campbell.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226104142/http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/Portals/64/docs/Military/News/Corps%20to%20complete%2045%20projects%20at%20Fort%20Campbell.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 February 2013|website=US Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District|access-date=26 August 2017}}

A room at the Thayer Hotel at West Point has been dedicated to General McAuliffe.{{cite web|url=http://www.thethayerhotel.com/mcauliffe.html | title=Thayer Hotel dedicated rooms | access-date=13 August 2017}}

Bibliography

{{Cite book|last=McAuliffe|first=Tom|title=Nuts! The Life and Times of General Tony McAuliffe|publisher=Next Stop Paradise Publishing|year=2022|isbn=979-8986451107

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MgyTzwEACAAJ}}

References

External links

{{Commons category-inline|Anthony McAuliffe}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20100314212756/http://www.thedropzone.org/europe/Bulge/Kinnard.html "NUTS!" Revisited]
[https://generals.dk/general/McAuliffe/Anthony_Clement/USA.html Generals of World War II]

{{s-ttl|title=Commanding General 103rd Infantry Division|years=January–July 1945}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commanding General 79th Infantry Division|years=July–August 1945}}