McAuliffe was serving as Commander of Division Artillery of the
101st Airborne Division when he parachuted into Normandy on D-Day
and he entered into Holland during Operation Market Garden in a
military glider.
In December 1944, when the German army launched their surprise
offensive, General Maxwell D. Taylor, commander of the 101st
Airborne Division, was away, attending a staff conference in the
United States.
In Taylor's absence, acting command of the 101st and its
attached troops fell to McAuliffe. At Bastogne, the 101st was
besieged by a far-larger force of Germans under the command of
General Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz, who soon demanded that
the Americans surrender. McAuliffe sent back his now-famous reply:
"NUTS!" The 101st was able to hold off the German assault until the
4th Armored Division arrived to provide reinforcement but the town
was regained the next day due to the reinforcements.
For his actions at Bastogne, McAuliffe was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross by General Patton on December 30, 1944,
followed later by the Distinguished Service Medal.
Cache is a small plastic jar with camo applied, has logbook
& pencil, treasures of unbelievable value (to a $2.00 shop
owner)