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On October 16, 2016 Agawam High School is doing a great thing.
They are inducting Eddie Nielsen from the Class of 1940 into their Sports Hall
of Fame. Eddie was a hero in high school in both football
and basketball for Agawam High School, pre World War II era. He was a star
quarterback on the football team, and a high scoring guard and leader on the
basketball team.
Yes, a great athlete but few know about his acts of heroism in World War II. He fought in the decisive Battle of the Bulge in the forests of the Ardennes, Belgium, under General George Patton's Third Army. Within this Battle was the Battle for Bastogne. The 101st Airborne Unit, the all African American 969th Artillery Battalion and a Command from the 10th Armored Division were surrounded on all sides by German troops and were running out of supplies and food. The Germans called for a surrender in a note sent through a German courier. Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe response, however, was but one word...."NUTS". Yet the Americans were still trapped in Bastogne, surrounded by German forces. Access to help them was shut out since a bridge would be needed to get to them and the Germans would never allow this, they were watching carefully from the local forest.
Somehow, some way, Eddie's unit was able to not only sneak through enemy lines, but build a bridge right under their noses! This enabled Patton and his tanks and other forces to break through and save the 101st Airborne and the other American Units. This led to one of the most decisive victories of World War II. Eddie was a big part of that and should be recognized for it.
Eddie is 94 years old!
We need to recognize and show appreciation for Eddie. We are free today because of people like him. It is never too late to thank somebody. Western Mass and North Central Connecticut are VERY proud of you. Thank you, Eddie !
Alfredo DiLascia
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