Honoring the Legacy of the Battle of the Bulge: A Leadership Experience in Bastogne

Quick answer: What was the Bastogne Applied Leadership Exercise?

For the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, The World War II Foundation hosted current 101st Airborne Division soldiers, about 130 participants, on a battlefield tour and leadership exercise in Bastogne, Belgium, sponsored by Onebrief. They walked Easy Company's foxholes near Foy, Marvie's glider infantry positions, and a resupply drop zone.

For the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, The World War II Foundation hosted an Applied Leadership Exercise and battlefield tour in Bastogne, Belgium, for current soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division, walking the same ground their predecessors fought on. Foundation Ambassadors Georges Strachan-Heyes and Joe Donato and Board Director Joseph Ivanov led the program, sponsored by Onebrief. It began at the Bastogne War Museum with a briefing on the European Theater. Then the group went to the forests near Foy, where Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment held its ground in freezing conditions and the foxholes are still visible. From an observation point over Foy, soldiers studied how terrain shaped defense and assault. Near Marvie, they examined how glider infantry held against German tanks. At a resupply drop zone, they discussed how aerial resupply sustained troops through extreme shortages and what that teaches about supply chains today. The program ended with lunch alongside World War II veterans at Brasserie 1900.

Why it matters for leaders: Walking the ground where leaders were tested turns history into usable lessons in resilience, adaptability, and logistics.

Q: Who led the program?

A: World War II Foundation Ambassadors Georges Strachan-Heyes and Joe Donato and Board Director Joseph Ivanov.

Q: What themes did it emphasize?

A: Resilience, adaptability, determination, command flexibility, and lessons in logistics and resupply under extreme shortages.

Read the full article on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/honoring-legacy-battle-bulge-leadership-experience-bastogne-fenzel-cf9he

By John Fenzel, founder and CEO of Heroes' Path Foundation