E-mail:

Rich,
The Dutch do know a good bit about keeping their feet dry. Unfortunately, a lot of that knowledge has been learned in the school of hard knocks. In 1953 there were major breaches in the south Netherlands’ sea dikes caused by a winter storm. This resulted in extensive flooding and the loss of some 1800 lives. The massive water control Delta Works in Zeeland and South Holland and the Oosterschelde Barrier were built in response to this disaster. A commemorative book I have on this disaster specifically mentions with gratitude the assistance of US military personnel in the flood relief effort.