Washington, D.C.– Congressman David B. McKinley, P.E., (WV-1) introduced a Congressional Resolution to recognize the “Wereth 11,” an all African American unit who fought at the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. One of the members of this fighting group was Mineral County resident, Technical Sergeant Fourth Grade James Aubrey Stewart.

After being separated from their battalion in December 1944, T/4 Stewart and ten other men stopped at a farmhouse in Wereth, Belgium and were sheltered by a sympathizer to the Allies. After a neighbor informed a local German unit of their whereabouts, the eleven soldiers surrendered to protect the family that was housing them. Nazi soldiers later ruthlessly murdered these eleven men and their bodies were found in a field behind the farmhouse.

“It is an honor to introduce this resolution and recognize the courageous service of these brave men. This matter was brought to my attention by two constituents who wanted to make sure these soldiers were remembered for their valor. We must never forget the sacrifices made by America’s warriors and this resolution will make sure the heroic acts of the ‘Wereth 11’ are not forgotten,” said McKinley.

Background on the “Wereth 11”

In 1949, a subcommittee of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate conducted an investigation in connection with massacres and other atrocities committed by German troops during the Battle of the Bulge.  For unknown reasons the “Wereth 11” were omitted from that report.  This resolution corrects that error.