103-year-old veteran on surviving World War II’s bloodiest American battle

Last Man Standing

To witness this year’s Veteran’s Day, Herb Stern had to live at the age of 103 and survive World War II’s bloodiest American battle. 

In the winter of 1944, Stern’s division had just crossed into Germany when Hitler launched a last-ditch counter-offensive against the Allies. This broke through American lines, creating the Bulge, giving the six-week battle its name. 

Stern was an artillery officer and his unit had just been issued shells fitted with a new fuse. It was a savage battle neither he nor any of his fellow cadets in the West Point class of 41 could ever imagine when they graduated. 40 of them died in that war, while time has taken the rest. Hern Stern is now the last man standing.