A Bridge Too Far??

Arnhem is a typical Dutch town. It has a train station, is surrounded by many dairy farms, grows tulips, has a Van Gough museum, and has its own Red Light District. In fact, it is a law that every township in Holland must have at least one brothel that is regulated by the state, which, in their opinion, keeps organized crime out of the world’s oldest profession.

My wife, youngest daughter and I traveled to Arnhem 1 ½ years ago. The company I work for has the main European offices there. And now, I am traveling to Arnhem again. Unfortunately, I have a 12:30 p.m. flight on Saturday to Amsterdam, and will miss the Auburn – Arkansas football game. I HOPE I get a good internet connection when I arrive, so I can read about the game.

You may remember the book, or movie “A Bridge Too Far”. This is the story of the Allied attempt to push back the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands and liberate Holland at the Rhine River. The town was Arnhem. On September 17, 1944, 10,000 Allied paratroopers descended from the sky by parachute or glider behind enemy lines. Their goal: to secure the bridges across the rivers in Holland so that the Allied army could advance rapidly northwards and turn right into the lowlands of Germany, thereby skirting around the Siegfried line, which was the German defense line, and set up their own defense line. If all carried out as planned it should have ended the war by Christmas 1944. In order to succeed, the Allies had to put forth the best defense they had up to that point in the war. Unfortunately this daring plan, named Operation Market Garden, didn't have the expected outcome. The bridge at Arnhem proved to be 'a bridge too far'. After 10 days of bitter fighting the operation ended with the evacuation of the remainder of the 1st British Airborne Division from the Arnhem area.

Auburn faces a tremendous task on Saturday. The Hogs rushing game will be fierce. Auburn’s defense will need to control the line in order to secure a victory, and continue the liberation of its season. Fayetteville is a long way from Auburn, and the going will be tough. But it isn’t “too far”. To stop the rushing game of Arkansas is the primary factor needed for Auburn to secure a victory. Pull for them to do that while I am away.

War Eagle,

WJLaneSr.