Augusta Chiwy went to Bastogne to visit her father for Christmas. After a long difficult trip, which warfare severely hampered, she found herself among American troops in the town as Nazi forces besieged it. She volunteered to nurse the wounded in the first aid station of the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion, 10th Armored Division.
Chiwy’s role during the siege had largely been forgotten by historians. Another volunteer nurse, Renee Lemaire, was killed when the first aid station building collapsed during a German raid. Lemaire went on to become known as the “Angel of Bastogne.”  Mr. Bryan Gatchell (IMCOM)

101st honors WWII Belgian nurse who saved Americans

By Capt. Luke Bushatz, 1st Brigade Combat Team December 20, 2011

The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, flew to Brussels Dec. 8 to celebrate the 67th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge on what is referred to as “Nuts Day,” complete with tours, parades and awards.

In ceremonies two days later, Lady Augusta Chiwy, a Belgian nurse who saved hundreds of Soldiers during the battle, was awarded the Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service from the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman.

During the Battle of the Bulge, Chiwy treated Soldiers at the 10th Armored Division’s aid station and even out on the battlefield.

“A black face in all that white snow was a pretty easy target. Those Germans must be terrible marksmen,” Chiwy was quoted as saying during the battle.

Chiwy was also given a Letter of Appreciation from the Department of the Army and the 101st Airborne Association for services rendered as a civilian nurse giving aid to U.S. Soldiers during the Battle of the Bulge.

In June, she received Belgium’s highest honor, the “Knights Order of the Crown,” which is why she is addressed as Lady Augusta Chiwy. Men who earn the title of Knight are addressed as Sir, before their name.

Representing 1st BCT was Col. Joseph P. McGee, brigade commander, Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin R. Benson, brigade command sergeant major, and retired Army Sgt. Maj. Joe Bossi, the honorary regimental sergeant major.

“It was an honor to be part of the presentation to a Lady who was committed to support and assist our wounded Soldiers,” said Benson.

“As all Soldiers know, there is a bond that is forever embedded in those that have been to combat in the same organization. Being in the Bastogne brigade and having the opportunity to thank and decorate an incredible Lady will forever be one of my finest military memories.”

During the Battle of the Bulge, the largest battle of World War II, it was a cold, winter night when then Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe, acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division, received a letter from the German forces Dec. 22, 1944, requesting the surrender of all American troops under his command near the town of Bastogne, Belgium.

McAuliffe replied to the German commander with one simple word: “Nuts!”

To this day, the country of Belgium still honors McAuliffe and the 101st Airborne Division.

While in Brussels, the U.S. and brigade representatives toured the National Military Museum where the museum was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for its support of the 101st Airborne Division.

Also present for the ceremonies were U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg Robert A. Mandell, Brig. Gen. Michael A. Bills, the operations officer for U.S. Army Europe command, and Maj. Gen. Michelle Johnson, the deputy operations officer for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe.

“Part of being a Soldier is understanding the past, knowing the importance of the battles that have been fought and understanding the long term ramifications of how we conduct ourselves in combat,” said Benson.

“In the years to come, those that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan will receive the same thanks from the grateful population of those nations,” he said.

“We are all true ambassadors as we conducted Operation Iraqi Freedom and continue to succeed and accomplish our mission in Operation Enduring Freedom,” Benson added. “Every Soldier, rank irrelevant, has a lasting impression and lifelong historical imprint during combat operations and the proper conduct and respect of the population is paramount to what an American Soldier is all about.”

Also on Dec. 10 at the Bastogne Barracks, certificates of appreciation were presented to the city of Bastogne and Jonny Bona, curator for the 101st Airborne Museum, for continued support of the division.

Later that afternoon, a patriotic procession reached the Patton Monument, where a wreath-laying ceremony preceded “TAPS” played by Belgium’s Royal Air Force Band.

A wreath was also placed at McAuliffe Monument, followed by “TAPS” and speeches by McGee.

“You just saw a city of Belgium’s stand at attention during the playing of the U.S. National Anthem and render honor to the sacrifices of a nation that is not their own,” said Bossi.

When the procession reached Town Hall, citizens, re-enactors of the Battle and visitors entered into the courtyard, where the nuts were tossed into the air.

“The Nuts Day Celebration was very well done and the whole town of Bastogne seemed to come out for the event,” said Benson. “Units from Germany as well as Veterans, a Belgium Unit, and school children marched with Colonel McGee and me to lay wreaths on the General Patton Monument as well as the Brigadier General McAuliffe Monument.”

Fought over the winter months of 1944 to 1945, the battle involved 600,000 who stopped the last major Nazi offensive. Of those, 81,000 lost their lives while the Germans lost 100,000 killed, wounded and captured.

(Both Capt. Luke Bushatz and Sgt. Jon Heinrich are members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team)

 

Historian screens film for USAG Ansbach to highlight heroism of WWII Bastogne nurse

By Mr. Bryan Gatchell (IMCOM)

A historian visited Ansbach Middle / High School and the theater at Bismarck Kaserne Tuesday to present a film on one of the civilian heroes of the Siege of Bastogne during World War II.

Martin King, producer of the film the film Searching for Augusta: The Forgotten Angel of Bastogne, talked with USAG Ansbach community members and screened the film, which was about Augusta Chiwy, a nurse of Belgian and Congolese descent who volunteered to aid American Soldiers while they were under Nazi siege in the Belgian town of Bastogne.

Chiwy went to Bastogne to visit her father for Christmas. After a long difficult trip, which warfare severely hampered, she found herself among American troops in the town as Nazi forces besieged it. She volunteered to nurse the wounded in the first aid station of the 20th Armored Infantry Battalion, 10th Armored Division.

Chiwy’s role during the siege had largely been forgotten by historians. Another volunteer nurse, Renee Lemaire, was killed when the first aid station building collapsed during a German raid. Lemaire went on to become known as the “Angel of Bastogne.” Chiwy piqued King’s curiosity while he watched Band of Brothers, a television miniseries based on a nonfiction book of the same name by Stephen E. Ambrose. In the miniseries, a character played by Rebecca Okot is credited as “Anna the Nurse,” and King wanted to know more about this other nurse.

King, who lives in Belgium, sought out Chiwy and found her in a nursing home. He began interviewing her and sourcing the history.

“I thought she was remarkable,” said King. “I thought her story was remarkable.”

Through King’s efforts, Chiwy received recognition for her efforts to provide aid during the siege. Chiwy was knighted by the king of Belgium and received the U.S. Army’s Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service in 2011 at the age of 93. Chiwy died in 2015 shortly after the filmmakers of Searching for Augusta had made the documentary.

“What I hope the movie puts across is that selfless dedication to duty, that sacrificial — almost — dedication to duty, that you’d give up everything for the people you’re with,” said King. “This lady exemplifies this. She is the embodiment of dedication. That’s what attracted me to the story.”

The film screening was part of U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach’s celebration of the Army’s 241st birthday.

American Legion Post 1982 at Ansbach, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9342 at Katterbach, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10708 at Illesheim, provided logistical support for King’s visit.

Angel of Bastogne’ not forgotten

By Mr. Donovan Abrassart (IMCOM)

The forgotten “Angel of Bastogne” died in her sleep Aug. 23, 2015, in Brussels at the age of 94.

Family members, military and civilian officials paid tribute to Lady Augusta Chiwy during a funeral service Saturday at the Mardasson Memorial in Bastogne.

Belgian Air Force Col. Serge Vassart, representing King Philippe of the Belgians, U.S. Ambassador Denise Campbell Bauer and the Mayor of Bastogne Benoît Lutgen joined the family and many other people in honoring the Belgian nurse who helped save hundreds of U.S. Soldiers during the Battle of the Bulge.

Emotions were running high as people had gathered in the WWII memorial to say goodbye to the, now, unforgettable WWII hero.
“Today, we are mourning the loss of an Angel and of one the biggest treasures Belgium gave us,” Bauer said. “During the worst days this city has ever seen, during the greatest hour of need, Augusta Chiwy risked her life to help save those fighting for freedom in Bastogne.”
With Augusta’s death, it is one of the last surviving witnesses and heroes of WWII who disappears.

“Through Augusta, I would like to pay tribute to all civilians, all the civilians who are popular heroes, notably those who, by their profession, treat people, sometimes risking their lives,” Lutgen said.
Chiwy had come to Bastogne to visit her family when she unexpectedly became involved in the Battle of the Bulge during the final stages of WWII.

“She was not involved in this conflict, she didn’t have to do anything but she was confronted with men belonging to the same humanity, and she considered that she had to have a human behavior that was well over the aspect of the conflict,” said Chiwy’s son, Alain Cornet.
On June 24, 2011, Chiwy received the medal of Knight of the Order of the Crown and on Dec. 12, 2011, she received the Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service by the United States Department of the Army.
After the funeral service held at the Mardasson, attendees headed to the cemetery in Bastogne where Chiwy was laid at her final resting place in a family plot.