partial map of the XVIII A/B Corps sector – December 21-23, 1944
(red lines > axis advance & penetration in the Bulge)
BATTLE of the BULGE - 16 December 1944
Excerpts from After-Action Report for December 1944, written by MG James M. GAVIN, CG 82d Abn Div, dated 9
Feb 45, and classified SECRET – these documents describe arrival, consolidation, and first combat action of the “All American” Division, from
December 17 > 31, 1944 (-ed)
17 December 1944
The Division, engaged in normal training activities near RHEIMS, FRANCE, was alerted at 1900 hours to move
into combat the following day (18 Dec 44) . At 2100 hours a movement order was received directing the
Division to move by motor at 180900 from base camps and to concentrate in the vicinity of BASTOGNE, BELGIUM,
where further instructions would be forthcoming . From general information available then, there appeared to be a serious GERMAN penetration
in the VIII CORPS sector .
18 December 1944
The Division’s leading serials left the base camps at SISSONNE and SUIPPES, FRANCE, at 0900 hours . Combat
team component march units met at SEDAN, FRANCE and proceeded toward BASTOGNE, BELGIUM . At SPRIMONT, BELGIUM, the head of the Division column
was directed to proceed to WERBOMONT . Higher Headquarters had then decided that the Division would hold the Northern flank of the penetration
and the 101st Airborne Division, the Southern flank at BASTOGNE . Roads were clogged with vehicles and
refugees . The location of the German advance breakthrough elements was uncertain . A screening force from the 119th
Infantry Regiment (30th Inf Div) was deployed in the vicinity of HABIEMONT to cover the assembly of the Division . The leading
serial arrived at WERBOMONT at 1730 hours . Defensive positions were organized without delay by each unit
upon its arrival . Security and reconnaissance measures were established at once .
19 December 1944
The Division closed in the WERBOMONT area by 1000 hours . Defensive positions were improved progressively .
325th Glider Infantry – the 3d Battalion established roadblocks in the vicinity of BARVAUX . F Company
occupied GRANDMENIL and MANHAY
504th Parachute Infantry – occupied RAHIER and relieved elements of the 119th Infantry
(30th Inf Div) in its sector
505th Parachute Infantry – occupied BASSE-BODEUX and relieved elements of the 119th
Infantry (30th Inf Div) in its sector
508th Parachute Infantry – H Company occupied a crossroad just north of FLORET
20 December 1944
325th Glider Infantry – the 1st Battalion occupied a defensive position in the vicinity of BRA . The 3d
Battalion was relieved in the BARVAUX area by elements of the 3d Armored Division . The 2d Battalion, less F
Company, was in Division Reserve . F Company continued to occupy GRANDMENIL and MANHAY
504th Parachute Infantry – the 1st Battalion, less A Company, attacked CHENEUX at 1400
hours . A heavy engagement ensued with a battalion of the 1st SS Panzer Division supported by tanks,
flak wagons, and artillery . A Company took positions in the vicinity of BRUME
505th Parachute Infantry – pushed out to the SALM RIVER along the line TROIS-PONTS – COURNAIMONT, south of
GRAND-HALLEUX and relieved elements of the 51st Engineer Combat Battalion at TROIS-PONTS . One Company held
the bridge at HOURT . One Platoon crossed the river near TROIS-PONTS . Another Platoon crossed at LA TOUR ;
508th Parachute Infantry – began moving by foot and by motor to the vicinity of GORONNE
21 December 1944
Division completely occupied the line TROIS-PONTS – SALMCHATEAU – HEBRONVAL and made contact with the 7th Armored
Division, 106th Infantry Division, 28th Infantry Division (112th Inf Regt), and
CCB, 9th Armored Division
325th Glider Infantry – closed in the area southwest of LIERNEUX and occupied the sector SART – HEBRONVAL .
One Platoon of F Company occupied REGNE . Patrols advanced as far south as BIHAIN
504th Parachute Infantry – 1st Battalion, less A Company, had cleared CHENEUX by mid-morning, capturing 14
flak wagons, 6 half-tracks, 4 trucks, 4 105mm howitzers, and 1 Mark IV tank . 3d Battalion, less G Company, attacked and captured MONCEAU
against strong enemy resistance and assisted 1st Battalion by swinging north of CHENEUX . The 1st Battalion, plus G Company, consolidated
positions in CHENEUX and then with the 3d Battalion, attacked and drove the enemy across the AMBLEVE RIVER and established positions on the
south bank of the river
505th Parachute Infantry – two Companies of the 2d Battalion crossed the SALM RIVER at TROIS-PONTS and
established a bridgehead
508th Parachute Infantry – closed in its area southeast of GORONNE and occupied the sector VIELSALM – GRAND
SART
22 December 1944
Troops of the 7th Armored Division, the 106th Infantry Division, the
28th Infantry Division, and CCB, 9th Armored Division began to withdraw
through the Division’s lines
325th Glider Infantry – 2d Battalion occupied FRAITURE . F Company occupied the main crossroad southeast of
MANHAY and contacted the 3d Armored Division . 5 enemy tanks and two enemy patrols were repelled in the vicinity of
JUBIEVAL by artillery . 125 enemy vehicles, including armor, were reported in OTTRE . Friendly artillery fired on the town . Two enemy
infantry attempts to form up for attack were both stopped by 155mm fire . OTTRE was a mass of smouldering ruins
504th Parachute Infantry – the 2d Battalion relieved the 1st Battalion . Contact with the
119th Infantry Regiment (30th Inf Div) was established
505th Parachute Infantry – 2d Battalion bridgehead across the SALM RIVER at TROIS-PONTS was attacked by a
battalion of the 1st SS Panzer Division, supported by armor and artillery . 2d Battalion forces were
consequently withdrawn and the bridge was blown . Two enemy squads infiltrated into TROIS-PONTS but were driven back across the SALM RIVER .
3d Battalion repulsed an enemy platoon attempt to cross the SALM RIVER at LA TOUR and another two-platoon effort in the G Company sector .
1st and 3d Battalion bridgeheads at GRAND-HALLEUX and LA NEUVILLE were established
508th Parachute Infantry – organized defensive positions from VIELSALM to SALMCHATEAU and to GRAND SART .
1st Battalion was placed in Division Reserve . Patrols reported German columns moving in a steady stream through PETITE LANGLIRE towards
OTTRE
307th Airborne Engineer Battalion – blew the bridge at ROCHELINVAL . An officer patrol dispatched to PETITE
LANGLIRE blew a vital bridge over the RONCE stream which was being used by the enemy
23 December 1944
Troops and vehicles of the 7th Armored Division, the 106th Infantry Division,
the 28th Infantry Division, and CCB, 9th Armored Division continued to withdraw
through Division lines
325th Glider Infantry – 2d Battalion drove back several enemy probing attacks . A composite force consisting
of F Company, 325th Gli Inf Regt, and tanks of the 3d Armored Division was attacked by a strong enemy force
at the main crossroad southeast of MANHAY . Two Platoons of the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion joined the
composite force . At 1630 hours, after a very effective mortar and artillery preparation, an estimated infantry battalion with tanks of the
2nd SS Panzer Division attacked . Enemy tanks shelled the crossroad with deadly effect, while enemy infantry
overran the defenders . F Company was forced to withdraw . 1st Battalion lost and re-established an outpost at JUBIEVAL . 3d Battalion
captured an enemy document in OTTRE that contained plans for the attack to LIEGE
504th Parachute Infantry – the 2d Battalion, relieved by the 1st Battalion, moved into position as Division
Reserve in the vicinity of LIERNEUX and the latter was moved southwest of MALEMPRE to meet an enemy threat . The 1st Battalion took over the
sectors of the 2d Battalion, 504th Prcht Inf Regt and the 2d Battalion, 505th Prcht Inf Regt
505th Parachute Infantry – the Regiment continued to defend the SALM RIVER line against determined, well
supported attacks of the 1st SS Panzer Division . Except for patrols, all elements of the 505th Prcht Inf Regt
were located on the west bank of the river
508th Parachute Infantry – repulsed an enemy attack directed towards SALMCHATEAU from the STE MAIRE –
PROVEDROUX area . Enemy forces were estimated as a battalion of infantry supported by Mark III tanks . The three bridges at SALMCHATEAU and
the railroad bridge at VIELSALM were blown . 1st Battalion reverted to Regimental control . The 3d Battalion, 112th
Infantry Regiment (28th Inf Div) was attached
307th Airborne Engineer Battalion – executed demolition of stone culvert 1 ½ miles south of SALMCHATEAU
after the last vehicle of the 7th Armored Division had passed
14th Tank Battalion (CCB, 9th Armd Div) – attached to Division . Company C established a roadblock at the
MANHAY crossroads
24 December 1944
The last elements of the 7th Armored Division were withdrawn through Division lines . Division was ordered
by XVIII A/B Corps to withdraw under cover of darkness to a defense line extending from TROIS-PONTS –
BASSE-BODEUX – EN BERGIFA – DRI-LE-CHESLIN . Regiments were ordered to delay enemy until 00400 December 25 with a covering shell
325th Glider Infantry – 2d Battalion with strong enemy pressure on both flanks withdrew from FRAITURE and
took up a position in BOIS HOUBI after killing at least 50 enemy and routing the remainder . One Platoon, holding REGNE, was overrun by enemy
infantry and armor . B Company, supported by a tank company of the 14th Tank Battalion (9th Armd Div),
recaptured the town and ejected the enemy
504th Parachute Infantry – the 3d Battalion, less G Company, moved into position southwest of LIERNEUX and
there repulsed a strong enemy attack
505th Parachute Infantry – the 2d Battalion moved north to intercept an enemy force estimated at 800 enemy
reported to be attempting a crossing of the SALM RIVER toward the east . I Company was attacked by an estimated enemy company who were trying
to withdraw across the river, most of them were destroyed . Initiated withdrawal as per plan
508th Parachute Infantry – the highway bridge at VIELSALM was blown / The covering shell was attacked by an
enemy battalion, strongly supported by artillery and mortar fire
307th Airborne Engineer Battalion – upon receipt of the withdrawal order, prepared extensive obstacles on the
defense line, mined approaches, and prepared bridges and culverts on the withdrawal routes for demolition
14th Tank Battalion – C Company was relieved at the MANHAY roadblock by elements of the
7th Armored Division . The enemy attacked in force and captured MANHAY
25 December 1944
All units successfully broke contact with the enemy and withdrew to the new defense line
325th Glider Infantry – the 1st Battalion filled the gap between the 504th Prcht Inf Regt and the
7th Armored Division by occupying DRI-LE-CHESLIN and VAUX-CHAVANNE . At 2200 hours an enemy infantry attack was repulsed . The 2d
Battalion as Division Reserve and the 3d Battalion as Regimental Reserve occupied positions near AU-HETRE
504th Parachute Infantry – 2d and 3d Battalions occupied new positions along the line EN BERGIFA – BRA –
VAUX-CHAVANNE . The 1st Battalion, in Regimental Reserve, vicinity of BRA
505th Parachute Infantry – the 2d and 3d Battalions now occupied new defensive positions between TROIS-PONTS
and BASSE-BODEUX . 1st Battalion occupied a position 3000 yards north of BASSE-BODEUX as Regimental Reserve
508th Parachute Infantry – occupied new defensive positions along the line HAUTE-BODEUX – EN BERGIFA with
all Battalions on the MLR . The 3d Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment (28th Inf Div) was relieved of attachment
to the 508th Prcht Inf Regt
307th Airborne Engineer Battalion – laid minefields, constructed abatis, and blew bridges to form a barrier
along the Division front
B Company, 86th Chemical Battalion, A Company, 703d TD Battalion, and
551st Parachute Infantry Battalion were attached to the Division .C Company, 563d
Antiaircraft Artillery, Automatic Weapons Battalion was relieved of attachment to the Division
26 December 1944
325th Glider Infantry – at 0630 hours one battalion of the 2d SS Panzer Division attacked and succeeded in overrunning a portion of the sector . B Company and C Company promptly counterattacked and restored all
positions, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy . The 1st Battalion was relieved by the 23d Armored Infantry
Battalion (7th Armd Div), and moved to an area northeast of DRI-LE-CHESLIN
504th Parachute Infantry – the 2d Battalion broke up two enemy attacks launched by the
9th SS Panzer Division from the vicinity of FLORET
505th Parachute Infantry – patrolled aggressively . Sector generally quiet
508th Parachute Infantry – 2d Battalion repulsed an enemy attack near road junction west of REHARMONT by an
estimated two companies of infantry, supported by 4 half-tracks . 3d Battalion outposts repulsed attack by enemy infantry
27 December 1944
325th Glider Infantry – the 2d Battalion, Division Reserve, moved to a position approximately 1000 yards
south of MOUCHENOULLE
504th Parachute Infantry – 3d Battalion extended MLR slightly to the southeast . The 2d Battalion knocked
out an enemy flak wagon near EN BERGIFA
505th Parachute Infantry – 3d Battalion received heavy artillery fire throughout the day . A Company and B
Company, moved to new areas in the rear of the 3d Battalion
508th Parachute Infantry – F Company and G Company were attacked by an estimated two battalions of infantry
of the 9th SS Panzer Division at 0120 . G Company was partially overrun . Enemy infiltrated to ERRIA . I
Company committed to aid G Company in destroying and ejecting the enemy . E Company, less 1 Platoon, mopped up the town of ERRIA and the
entire sector was cleared by 0430 . Enemy casualties were heavy
551st Parachute Infantry Battalion – attacked at 2300 towards limited objectives ODRIMONT and AMCOMONT
28 December 1944
325th Glider Infantry – improved defensive positions
504th Parachute Infantry – the 3d Battalion broke up an attack by an estimated 60 enemy and inflicted heavy
casualties . 2d Battalion fired on by enemy tanks . Friendly 4.2 mortar fire and artillery fire forced the tanks to withdraw
505th Parachute Infantry – improved defensive positions . 3d Battalion captured an entire 5-man enemy patrol
508th Parachute Infantry – improved defensive positions
551st Parachute Infantry Battalion – reached NOIREFONTAINE, killed an estimated 30 enemy and captured 5 .
Battalion only sustained very light losses
29 December 1944
There were NO major attacks along any of the Regimental fronts . All units improved their defensive positions and patrolled aggressively to
the front . The 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion placed additional minefields . The
740th Tank Battalion was attached
30 December 1944
There was very little enemy activity along the Division front . All units maintained and strengthened their defensive positions and patrolled
vigorously to the front . Division Artillery fired on enemy concentrations . 2d Battalion, 325th Glider Infantry
Regiment closed into new positions east of TROU-DE-BRA . The 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion
continued to place more minefields . The 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment conducted combined
infantry-tank-tank destroyer-engineer training in the vicinity of CHENEUX
31 December 1944
Enemy activity was again very light along the Division front . The Regiments patrolled vigorously to the front and contacted the enemy in the
vicinity of FLORET and XHOUTE-SI-PLOUT . The 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment continued their combined
training . The 740th Tank Battalion sent two patrols, each consisting of 3 tanks and Division Reconnaissance
Platoon men to reconnoiter south of the DRI-LE-CHESLIN, ERRIA, and TROIS-PONTS; 2 enemy soldiers were killed and 9 captured
NOTE :
In January 1945, the Division with the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment attached, regrouped in preparation for
offensive attacks to protect the left flank of VII Corps . The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, the
508th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the attached 517th Prcht Inf Regt assumed responsibility for the
entire Division front . The 325th Glider Infantry Regiment and the 505th Parachute
Infantry Regiment closed in forward assembly areas in preparation for the attack . The 628th Tank Destroyer
Battalion is attached to Division, relieving the 703d TD Bn which passes to Corps control . Meanwhile the 75th
Infantry Division assumes tactical control of the 504th Prcht Inf Regt . The attack, to be launched as from January 3, 1945 will
also include the 80th Airborne Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion as well as the 307th
Airborne Engineer Battalion . Other elements also involved, and attached at a given period of time, were the
551st Parachute Infantry Battalion, B Company, 86th Chemical Battalion, B
Company and C Company, 643d Tank Destroyer Battalion, the 32d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron,
and the 740th Tank Battalion … followed by additional temporarily attached units, such as the
629th Tank Destroyer Battalion, and the 634th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons
Battalion …
XVIIIth AIRBORNE CORPS – originally constituted from the II Armored Corps October 9, 1943,
at Cp. Bowie, Texas . Redesignated as HHC, XVIII Corps and activated at the Presidio of Monterey, Calif., hence relocated to Cp. Bowie, Texas . Relocated
to FCt. Dupont, Delaware in 1944 . Deployed overseas August 17, 1944 to Ogbourne St. George, England . Redesignated as XVIII Airborne
Corps . Campaigns Rhineland-Ardennes-Alsace-Central Europe, no D.I. authorized, Commander Major General Matthew B. RIDGWAY
August 1944, special shoulder patch (blue/white dragon with Airborne tab in same colors) . Reorganized as Headquarters & Headquarters Co. and
subsequently assigned to the First Allied Airborne Army, it provided logistical and technical planning expertise for “Operation
Market” (i.e. the airborne phase), Forward Headquarters relocated to Epernay, France, and later to Werbomont, Belgium, during the
Battle of the Bulge, back to France for preparation and coordination of the Rhine crossing “Operation Varsity”,
Wesel, Germany, including units as the British 6th Airborne Division and the US 17th Airborne Division . Assigned to First Army, with operational command
of 8th, 78th, 86th and 97th Infantry Divisions + 13th Armored Division, later briefly attached to British Second Army, with command of the British 6th
Airborne Division, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the 8th Infantry Division . Redeployed to the ZI in 1945 . Inactivated from 1945 to 1951 . Reactivated
as XVIII Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg, N.C., May 21, 1951, under command of General John W. LEONARD, and assigned to the U.S. Army Strike Command …
TESTIMONY (Battle of the Bulge – BELGIUM – December 1944)
… “tidying up the battlefield” … ?
My outfit, I Company, 3d Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
, (CO > Captain Archibald A. McPHEETERS, Jr., later KIA at Fosse, 3 Jan 45) part of the 82d Airborne Division (the
most experienced Airborne outfit of WWII), normally consisting of approximately 8 officers and 140 men, came into the
“Battle of the Bulge” as a well-trained and experienced Parachute Infantry combat unit ! “OKITE”,
(> I Co’s radio callsign) was not at its full strength (about 15% down in personnel) when it occupied Rochelinval, Belgium, and took up
defensive positions along the railroad pit by the Salm River the night of December 20, 1944 . While I Co, had
not sustained too heavy losses in Sicily (July 43) and Italy (September 43), it lost two-thirds of its men, either killed or wounded, during
the 33 days of severe fighting in Normandy (June-July 44), from Sainte-Mère-Eglise to La-Haye-du-Puits . The casualties suffered during the
Holland campaign (September 44) were light . It can be fairly stated that about 90% of I Company’s troopers
had had at least one previous combat experience …
 Major General James M. "Slim Jim" GAVIN, CG 82d Abn Div, visiting the 508th PIR near Erria, Bulge, Belgium, Dec 44 ... Click image to enlarge |
 Sgt. William "Bill" H. Tucker, I Co / 505th PIR, taken around end July - early August 44, upon return to England from the Normandy Campaign ... Click image to enlarge |
The 3 Squad Leaders of Second Platoon, were Sergeants Charlie Matash, Larry Leonard, and myself, Bill Tucker – the former 2 were original
members, and I got assigned to I Co, after the Sicily jump, back in 1943 . We were hurriedly rushed into
Belgium, as part of the 82d Abn Div, because of the surprise German Counter-Offensive (which started December
16, 1944), and were supposed to help hold the battle line along the eastern side of the Salm River (roughly running from Trois-Ponts-
Rochelinval-Grand-Halleux-to Vielsalm) . The main objective was to stop the German westward advance ! (a later American occupant of
Rochelinval would be the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion, temporarily attached to the “
All American” during the Battle of the Bulge) .
 men of the 505th Prcht Inf Regt (I Co ?), brewing coffee in the railroad pit, near Rochelinval, Bulge, Dec 21, 44 Click image to enlarge |  505th PIR in the Bulge, I Co's action at Rochelinval, Bulge, Dec 44 Click image to enlarge |
On December 21, Kampfgruppe Hansen’s First SS Panzergrenadierregiment and elements of the
Ninth SS Panzerdivision “Hohenstaufen” attacked the 505th Prcht Inf Regt’s Second Battalion
at Trois-Ponts, but were repulsed after hard fighting . The Hansen Battlegroup then went north, but elements of the Ninth SS swung south from
Wanne, heading for “OKITE’s” river crossings … Our rifle squads were well dug in on the west bank and
maintained outposts on the east bank of the Salm River . The steep hill going up from the railroad to the village was also busy, a dirt road
connecting Rochelinval to Bergeval and Dairomont was used to bring in supplies – a 57mm antitank gun with full crew (pertaining to the
80th Abn AA Bn) was dug in at the first house – the 60mm mortar crew was at the top point of the village itself where it could
fire on sight (this however involved constantly hiking up and down the hill for me) . As I got back to the CP, the afternoon was turning to
darkness, I stopped to check the .30 caliber LMG position (about 50 yds across from the river, and some 75 yds from a bend in the road coming
from the east), when suddenly we heard the rumble of tanks, and men yelling – several black-clad Germans came around the bend, in front of a
huge enemy tank . They quickly picked up our Atk mines and threw them aside – then, our machinegun crew opened up – the German tank swung its
turret toward it and while I dove into the nearest depression, the shell exploded nearby, missing me but badly wounding the gunner (Pvt
Maglothin), and his assistant (Pvt Augustine) .
 57mm antitank gun of the 80th Abn AA Bn in action, during the Battle of the Bulge, Belgium, Dec 44 Click image to enlarge |  "All American" troopers moving out on patrol in the Ardennes Forest, Belgium, Dec 44 - Jan 45 Click image to enlarge |
After this first skirmish with I Co, the enemy wasted no time in making a rush for the wooden vehicle bridge
– which, luckily was blown up along with a German tracked vehicle ! Firefights followed across the River, from one side to the other . The
Germans tried to find ‘soft’ spots along I Company’s Second and Third Platoon defenses above the Salm River.
“OKITE’s” 60mm Mortar Squad being located on top of the hill at Rochelinval, allowed us to watch the attack
develop, and from our shed we had a good field of fire and fair visibility – we had already calculated targets and had plenty of ammo
available – we then poured it on as soon as the attack began and moved our firing target points from bridge to bridge across the River . The
German tanks could see our mortars’ sparks and flashes and tried to annihilate us by cannon fire, the elevation was not high enough from
their position, although they could pound the house where our 57mm gun was firing . Instead they fired a steady stream of 40mm shells
directly at us and mangled our shed – I had only one man slightly wounded – we kept firing inside the woods where the enemy tanks had stopped,
with rather good results, and felt pretty safe up there on the hill – but, finally we had to quit, when the Company runner came up and told
us the Major and Captain ordered us to cease fire, before the German 40mm guns totally obliterated the Company’s CP and everyone up on the
hill, except my own mortar crew !!!
Spasmodic firing continued along the River at night, and the Germans again attempted to cross it, without success . We found out just how
‘thin’ our Division’s lines were, when we learned that our Regimental Commander (> Colonel William E. EKMAN)
had given orders to gather up all HQ personnel, supply people, cooks, clerks and to form them into a ‘combat group’ to fill in where needed …
as the days faded toward Christmas,I Company had held fast and secured Rochelinval for 4 days already . By
Christmas, Rochelinval was I Co’s village, but it was soon to become a targeted crossing point for Jochen
Peiper’s SS Kampfgruppe, and it would later become a final battle site for another crack unit of Paratroopers (551st
Prcht Inf Bn) ...
 'happy faces' - 60mm Mortar Squads get Christmas packages, near Basse-Bodeux, Bulge, Belgium, Dec 44 Click image to enlarge |  German PWs captured by the 82d Abn Div - for them the war is over ! , Bulge, Dec 44 Click image to enlarge |
During late morning of December 24, 1944, Captain Archie McPHEETERS, Jr. received the order to pull back from the Salm
River, all the way to Basse-Bodeux . Word ‘came down’ that despite protests from Generals M.B. RIDGWAY and
J.M. GAVIN, Field Marshal B.L. Montgomery had ordered a major pullback of the 82d Abn Div
to ‘tidy up the lines’ – We were furious ! We held a secure, almost impregnable position, centered at Rochelinval along the
Salm River, and had beaten off major elements of a German SS Panzer Division ! All our 3 Platoons held the high ground … the idea of giving
up captured ground to ‘tidy up the battlefield’ was never accepted by the ranks of the 82d Abn – it was outrageous ! But orders are orders,
and they are meant to be carried out ! It was planned to move the main body of I Co, assisted by 2 trucks (for ammo
& supplies) at about 2000 on Christmas eve . Part of Second Platoon (about 10 men) was to provide a rearguard at both the River line and the
Railroad until first light – the three 60mm Mortar Squads were ordered to be united into one sole operating group (as in Holland, and despite
narrow roads and thick woods) . I was to supervise all 3 mortar gunners, hoping that the radios would work in case a fight developed, and
that they would remain fully operational in this hilly and wooded terrain … With everything in place, I Company
moved up the road in the direction of Basse-Bodeux in good order – with about 8 miles to go, they crossed the open area thru the snow and
started over the backside of the first hill in the deep woods – when suddenly firing started up front and on both sides of the column .
Captain Archie McPHEETERS, Jr. left me with the mortars and moved ahead . I was called by radio and asked for mortar fire
to hit 300 yds ahead on each side of the road . The mortars did the job and pulverized Jochen Peiper’s people ahead . Our CO kept moving the
column forward, while the 3 mortars kept firing at each stop, even though limited to forward firing in order to clear the trees . The column
took some hits from the flank, but luckily without too many casualties . The fight didn’t last long, I Company
knifed thru what was left of the main elements of Kampfgruppe Peiper trying to get back to the Fatherland . In the process,
“OKITE” picked up several prisoners . The escaped Major Hal D. McCown (
2d Battalion Commander, 119th Infantry Regiment / 30th Infantry Division, captured near Stoumont, Dec 21, 1944), being taken
back with the Germans, took off in the fighting and later joined up with I Co .
As the retreating column cleared the woods near Basse-Bodeux, it set up a line of strong points on the snowy hills around the village – the
snow continued to fall steadily, and the troopers hoped they would see their rearguard again . That proved to be the case, but not without
some losses and hardships – in falling snow - over the railroad bridge - and up the hill toward Rochelinval – amidst desperate enemy troops …
As a beautiful white Christmas day dawned, I Company, now with its reargard back from the Salm defense line,
settled along the snowy hills around Basse-Bodeux . We all thought, our Company might at least have a few days of peace and rest before it
had to go back to retake the ground it never wanted to give up !
 Column of "GOYAs" (551st Prcht Inf Bn) on the road ... en route to Ster, Bulge, Belgium, Dec 21, 44 Click image to enlarge |
 Mixed bunch of 82d Abn Div Paratroopers, somewhere in the Bulge, Dec 44 Click image to enlarge |
By the way, the 551st Prcht Inf Bn was to fight its very last bloody battle on the bluffs of Rochelinval,
Jan 7, 1945, thereby sustaining heavy casualties and also losing its CO, Lieutenant Colonel Wood G. JOERG, O-20793
!
(William H. TUCKER Jr, Sgt, I Co, 505th Prcht Inf Regt, 82d Abn Div, USA, 11087454, recollections)
"...cold and hungry..."
… I joined the service February 23, 1942, and after receiving Basic Training, volunteered for the Paratroops ! It looked
attractive, sounded interesting, and provided for extra pay ! I got my "wings" in July 1942 . I was part of all the major combat jumps made
by the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and participated in 6 Campaigns,
making 4 Combat Jumps – I joined the "All Americans" for the Assault against
Sicily (July 1943), the Jump over Salerno (September 1943), the Normandy Operation (June 1944), the Holland Jump (September 1944), and also
took part in the fighting during the Battle of the Bulge (December 1944-January 1945) . I was a member of I Company
and served as a Rifleman, got started as a private, then promoted to Corporal, followed by Sergeant, and became the Regimental Sergeant-Major after the
Holland Campaign . I retired a First Sergeant, but on returning to the US in 1945, I got reassigned as Regimental Supply Sergeant, 505th PIR !
While in Normandy, the guys from my Company already hated my guts, and thought I was a real s.o.b., I kind of have a
rather powerful voice and shouted a lot; but I still think my job was to care for the men and the equipment, and that’s just what I did !
When stationed in the Belgian Ardennes my main concern was cold and hunger … sometimes we were lucky and found some
temporary shelter in an old barn, or abandoned houses, where bits of food might be available ... we had to wear different layers of clothing
to keep warm, and
some of us managed to scrounge for warm clothing . I at one time I was wearing woolen underclothes, a woolen shirt, a woolen sweater, topped
by an M-43 field jacket combined with long johns, woolen trousers covered by mountain trousers, woolen socks, thick ski socks and
double-buckle boots, I never saw neither overshoes nor shoepacs during that cold and bitter winter …
(Howard P. MELVIN, 1st Sgt, I Co, 505th PIR, 82d Abn Div, USA, 12061240, recollections)
 Howard P. MELVIN Picture taken in 1945 | Howard P. Melvin continued serving his country after 1945 . He became a WO in 1949, followed Quartermaster Training, graduated from Rigger School, and received several assignments in the United States, Korea, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam . He made his 5th combat jump with the 173d Abn Bde at Katum, RVN in 1967 . He received numerous awards, both national and foreign . I had the privilege of meeting ‘Mel’ several times, from 1992-1999, while participating in the annual hike “In the Footsteps of the 82d Airborne Division”, organized by the C-47 Club, Belgian Chapter in the Ardennes – Sgt Melvin always seemed to continue playing his never-ending rôle as Regimental Sergeant-Major, trying to keep the hikers together, keeping track of his comrades, and ready to holler the necessary commands at the various ceremonies, with his well-known heavy voice … ‘Mel’ made his ‘final’ jump on July 5, 2002 - he’ll always be remembered ! Airborne … all the way ! |
"...fighting on the Salm River..."
… G Company Commander, Capt Jack ISAACS, 22-years old, was responsible for the sector of the Salm river
south of Rochelinval . One platoon was defending Grand-Halleux, while the other two platoons were holding
positions in Petit-Halleux . Our defensive positions were on high ground . To strengthen our defense, we had
two TDs placed on a road leading west of Petit-Halleux, between some houses, and an abandoned quad-fifty mount was set up to the north where
it covered Grand-Halleux and part of the Salm river . On call, if needed, were my own three 60mm mortars, Battalion’s
81mm mortars, and Division artillery . I reported to G Co, December 21
(after having been released from hospital in England, and brought over to the continent), where I now was a T/Sgt in
charge of 1st Squad, 3d Platoon . My men were dug in about a couple of hundred yards west of and running parallel to the railroad,
up the hill was the 60mm mortar squad, and a little further north was a machinegun position from Third Battalion Headquarters Company .
After a few incoming enemy mortar shells, which caused no harm, our outpost, across the river, was suddenly attacked by Germans running
downhill . In the darkness, we still hadn’t been able to properly locate the enemy, and I peered across the river for signs of the 1st
Platoon withdrawing . About this time there was a tremendous explosion, indicating the bridge at Grand-Halleux had been blown ! By then we
knew the exact location of the enemy, screaming and yelling to the top of their lungs, charging downhill, and attempting to wade the river .
Artillery and mortar fire rained down on the Germans and together with our quad-fifty, the enemy advance was brought to a halt at the river’s
very edge ! G Co remained on alert for the rest of the night, but the enemy did not attempt another crossing, they were busy attending and
evacuating their wounded .
When the order came to ‘tidy up the lines’, we had to withdraw from our positions on the west side of the Salm river during the night of
December 24 > 25 …
(Wheatly, ‘Chris’ CHRISTENSEN, T/Sgt, G Co, 505th PIR, 82d Abn Div, USA, 33154656, recollections)
 picture taken in 1944 |  picture taken in 1945 C.Christensen (right) |
"...bitter fighting in the Bulge..."
… I was born July 17, 1918 in Waterloo, IL . After graduating from AROTC (Army Reserve
Officers’ Training Course) at the University of Illinois, ‘Class of 1940’, I joined the Army on January 26, 1942 . My
combat background includes the Parachute Assault against Sicily, the one against Salerno (Italy), and while being in Italy, I served with
the 504th PIR Liaison Team, which was the link between Fifth US Army and Eighth British Army during the
mountain fighting north of Naples, October-December 1943 . I also landed at Anzio Beachhead January 22, 1944 by means of an LCI . I later
jumped over Holland, where I spent 58 combat days, and trucked into a place called Werbomont (Belgium) December 18, 1944 where we were
temporaly attached to V Corps to fight the Battle of the Bulge . I finally got relieved February 18, 1945 .
My military ‘career’ went from private in F Company, to Platoon Leader, then to Commander of F Company, I then
became S-2 (Intelligence) for Second Battalion, and subsequently S-1 (Personnel) for the 504th PIR, being ultimately appointed Regimental
Adjutant of the 504th (our CO at the time was Colonel Reuben H. TUCKER, III) . When stationed in Werbomont,
where we detrucked after being thirteen hours on the roads, the Regiment initially established a defense perimeter on the highgrounds
surrounding Werbomont, which was a vital junction, without really having any knowledge of what was at stake . The first movement was toward
Rahier, and I think our first action was to prepare an attack against Cheneux,
where we met the enemy for the first time (SS-troops) . The 504th was responsible for the area running from Cheneux to Trois-Ponts, and our
initial strength was approximately 1800 to 1900 men, mostly youngsters (the Regiment had suffered many casualties in Italy, and could
therefore not take part in “Operation Overlord”) around 18 years of age . It was also there that I met my brother Richard, for the first
time since the outbreak of WWII - he was a member of C Co, 395th Inf Regt, 99th Inf Div, and was part of a
group of soldiers being returned to the rear - he luckily made it thru WWII …
The Field Map I always carry with me (during our Battlefield visits, and the 82d Abn Div Commemorative Hikes in winter) was obtained from an
Officer, whose positions were relieved by the “All Americans” – if I do remember well, he was a Lieutenant
who had served with the 106th Inf Div . The document came in very handy, since we had almost no information
about Allied and German positions, and the notes and indications he had made on the map, were of enormous help to me as an Officer …
(survivors of both the 7th Armd Div and 106th Inf Div which had been overrun by the Germans were being
evacuated via a route leading to the Salm River, and terrain occupied by the 82d Abn Div)
(Louis A. HAUPTFLEISCH, Capt, Regt’l Adj, 504th PIR, 82d Abn Div, USA, O-394787, recollections)
 picture taken in 1944 |  picture taken in 1945 |  picture taken in 1997 |
I met Captain Louis Hauptfleisch for the first time on February 20, 1988 – at the occasion of one of the Commemorative Marches
“In the Footsteps of the 82d Airborne Division”, organized by Emile Lacroix (C-47 Club, Belgian Chapter) .
Our first conversation took place in a little hotel in Werbomont, Belgian Ardennes where I often stayed overnight; a dwelling place
where many an “All American” Vet spent a few days each February . I was immediately attracted to the
person, a perfect image of an Officer and a Gentleman !
We kept on meeting each other in the Bulge, and talked a lot during the annual hike, and also after the journey at the hotel . We even
started corresponding, exchanging ideas and comments about the “Battle of the Bulge” and its impact on
American servicemen …
Lou told me quite a few stories about WW2, and about his personal resentment having had to stay behind with the Regiment (504th PIR) in
Italy, and consequently not being able to take part in the June 6, 1944 D-Day operation ! We did not tackle “Operation Market-Garden”
very much, but he was prolific when discussing the Bulge campaign with me .
We kept seeing each other for the next years, until February 22, 1997; and afterwards reverted to writing; however my very last letters
(2005) remained unanswered . I finally learned thru my contacts with the C-47 Club (of which I am a
regular Life Member), that Captain Louis A. Hauptfleisch, 88 years, made his last jump on December 14,
2006 . I will always remember and respect this fine man, a true Officer and a Gentleman ! Airborne …….. all the
way !
"...almost killed at Fosse..."
… I joined the 82d Abn Div early 1944, coming from the Army Air Forces (8th USAF), while being stationed in
Britain . I was looking for more ‘action’ since my own job was boring . The Airborne were still looking for volunteers and replacements
after the Sicily and Italy Operations … I got transferred to France, and later became a private in the 505th PIR
. I was a Medic, assigned to I Co, just before our new offensive started and got wounded for the first time
(this was my first combat) during our attack against Fosse, January 3, 1945 … we were pinned down by enemy
fire, our guys were yelling, and suddenly I hear someone hollering “Medic, Medic ”, I slipped thru a fence and some bushes, and run across
this open field, figuring my Geneva Convention brassard would protect me, I cut right across the field, crouching down, trying to keep both
medical pouches from slapping against my legs, I could see the bullets hitting all around, but I didn’t get hit while I was running and
reached the top of the field . There were four of our guys lying there, so I knelt down alongside the man I figured needed the most attention
. Suddenly I felt my legs go from underneath me, it felt like something hot plowed right into me and knocked me flat on my face …
I tried to raise, but got hit in the back now, so I just lay there . The other three guys somehow got away, and I was now lying in this
snow-covered field, the guy next to me dead . Since I couldn’t stand up, I started crawling backwards, helping myself along with hands and
elbows, I kept pushing and pushing, dragging my useless left leg so it wouldn’t get caught, I thought I could get away, but the lead would
keep slamming into me . I caught another bullet in my elbow and got hit in the heel too, a terrible experience . I kept thinking about the
Germans lacking all respect for medics and the Geneva Convention, because they just kept firing at me ! So, I played dead, for some long,
very long minutes, God knows how long ! I then started to try and move a little again, but got fired at, it looked like the enemy was using
me for target practice – a real sitting duck I was … in the end I managed to reach the hedgerow, where I’d started from, and my buddy
Rocky Rubino, also a Medic, grabbed me by the leg, I almost fainted and let out a yell, it hurt like hell;
he then pulled me back thru the fence and behind the hedgerow . Fosse was heavily fortified, the enemy had dug in well, and going uphill was
murder, for there wasn’t much cover … I was evacuated by jeep to Basse-Bodeux … ‘Item’ Company lost thirteen men at Fosse .
(Patsy PASSERO, Pfc, I Co, 505th PIR, 82d Abn Div, USA, 32580085, recollections)
 picture taken in 1944 |  picture taken in 1945 |  picture taken in 1995 |
"Bazooka gunner...at risk"
… I joined the service in 1943 and participated in the D-Day Normandy Assault June 6, 1944 as a private in H Co, 508th PIR
! While standing and looking at some German positions, I got blasted by a German mortar round which impacted behind me, and
wounded me in the left leg, crotch and back, this happened on June 20 . I was consequently evacuated to England for further treatment .
Because of the multiple wounds received in Normandy, I did not participate in Operation Market-Garden, Holland, September 17, 1944 .
I arrived by truck, together with other “All American” Regiments, in the region of Werbomont, second half December, right after the German
breakthrough ! I was now a Pfc in G Co, 508th PIR and my specialties were Bazooka Gunner and Radio Operator .
The 508th had remained in reserve until the evening of January 6, when it received new orders to capture the Thier-du-
Mont ridge (from which the Regiment had withdrawn on Christmas eve) . Our troopers had to march thru snow-covered roads from
Odrimont, Arbrefontaine, toward Menil and set up a CP northwest of the hill . Supply vehicles and 81mm mortar support were in position for
the attack . G Co was to lead the assault followed by the rest of the Battalion . Jump-off came shortly
after first light with the 319th Gli Fld Arty Bn laying down a barrage . We however had to cross several hundred
yards of open ground before being able to reach cover at the base of the hill . My Company pushed out across the open, when suddenly one of
our scouts pointed at something, about 500 yards away was the well-camouflaged muzzle of a German 88mm gun ! (there were three of them) . In
a matter of seconds the first shell burst among our guys, and others followed fast . That’s where I got injured (Jan 7, 1945), I received
shrapnel in my left arm and shoulder, with fragments tearing into my private Missal tucked away in my left breast pocket of the M-43 jacket –
it probably saved my life – and I still have it !
During the attack, and although wounded, I raised myself, and fired a bazooka rocket at extreme range against one of the enemy guns, it
detonated on its protective shield wounding the servants and driving off the rest of the enemy crew . Meanwhile our tanks were being called
up and shot at, and additional artillery fire was requested . We realized that we were sitting ducks in the open, and our
CO > Capt Russell C. WILDE told us to move forward, and drive the enemy away … fierce fighting
took place, and the 1st and 2d Battalions were called in to help capture the ridge . Recapturing the hill cost G Company
67 men …
We were relieved by the 75th Inf Div January 10, 1945 . Due to my injuries, I was medically evacuated to
France first, then to England, and finally to the USA, where I was discharged December 24, 1945, just in time for Christmas !
(Warren C. WILT, Pfc, G Co, 508th PIR, 82d Abn Div, USA, 37497812, recollections)
 picture taken in 1944 |  picture taken in 1995 |
"night operation"
… the 551st PIB CP was at Rahier, and it was there that General Gavin called on our CO >
Lt. Colonel Wood G. Joerg, O-20793 to organize an attack, in order to determine whether conditions to start
an Allied counteroffensive were right ! There didn’t seem that much German pressure on our frontlines, and this might just be a good
opportunity to have a night operation against the German forces at Noirefontaine … thus the 551st PIB was to
become the initial spearhead in the XVIIIth Abn Corps sector (northern shoulder) for the first American counter thrust of the Battle of the
Bulge . This was also going to be a good opportunity to capture prisoners for our intelligence people .
The night raid started around 2100, December 27, when our men assembled on the road from Rahier, we were supposed to walk the few miles to
Basse-Bodeux, which we reached by 2300 . The 551st Prcht Inf Bn was to advance thru the lines of the
508th PIR and reach Noirefontaine thru the dark snow-covered forest . Before the attack, the men dropped their overcoats (only
those few men who had any) M43s and Mackinaws, and any extra gear (they wouldn’t need) and moved quickly thru the 508th PIR’s lines, off the
road, and into the wooded area . A Company got spotted early and came under heavy enemy small-arms fire, followed by incoming artillery –
German tanks and halftracks joined the fight and even a 20mm flak gun started firing into our men … at one time, our 60mm mortar crews got
fired at by trigger-happy 508ers who mistook them for the enemy . I remember, it was so damn cold, our bazookas wouldn’t fire, but good for
us, German mines sometimes also failed to explode ! We then got help from our 81mm mortars and soon the place was ablaze, with Germans running
everywhere, resulting in total confusion . By 0230, December 28, the enemy started withdrawing, the farmhouse complex was ours, and … the
551st brought back approximately 25 enemy prisoners ! Our losses were rather light, although B Co was hit
several times and suffered the highest losses . A Co, my company was lucky, but … this was unfortunately not
going to last …
(Dick W. DURKEE, 1st Lt, A Co, 551st PIB, 82d Abn Div, USA, O-1325809, recollections)
 picture taken in 1942 |  picture taken in 1944 |  picture taken in 2000 |
"FIX BAYONETS"
… we were to “Fix Bayonets and Charge” ! This was the order we received from 1st Lt. Richard W. DURKEE O-1325809,
CO, A Co, 551st PIB (attached to the 82d A/B Div) – it was about 1600 hrs, January 4, 1945 – we charged across
the field and wooded area into the German positions in support of B Co (during the attack against
Dairomont) . Everybody charged like crazy, we were yelling and screaming like madmen, as we moved upon the enemy . We could now
see the Germans’ breath and flashes of their two machineguns – as we approached the enemy positions . Lt. Durkee knocked one German down with
the butt of his carbine; the Germans in the first row who had been firing in another direction, now turned around trying to run from their
foxholes – but as we were on top of them, they didn’t have time to do so, our men leaped everywhere thrusting their bayonets into the startled
Germans, Lt. Dick Durkee went from one to another, using the butt of his M1 carbine and shooting like hell … at the time I was close behind
our leader and tried to fire my Thompson SMG which was frozen solid, so I couldn’t fire, nevertheless the Lt. killed those 6 or 8 Krauts in
the foxholes all by himself …we bagged 64 in total . Our losses were to become heavy too, after the attack against
Rochelinval and its subsequent capture January 7, 1945 . The GOYAs had started the
counteroffensive in the Salm River sector January 3 with 643 men, and when the 551st PIB was relieved January
8, only 14 officers and 96 EM were still alive … fighting conditions were absolutely terrible during winter, trenchfoot and frostbite were
common, since almost no one had overcoats or overshoes to wear !
(Douglas C. DILLARD, Sgt, A Co, 551st PIB, 82d Abn Div, USA, 12148638, recollections)
 picture taken in 1944 |  picture taken in 1945 |  picture taken in 2001 |
Baraque de Fraiture crossroads, Belgium, December 1944 – from L to R : Capt William F. HALL (Regt’l Adj), Lt Col Charles W. MAJOR (CO 2d Bn / 325th GIR) Lt Col Teddy SANFORD (XO 325th GIR) Col Charles W. BILLINGSLEA (CO 325th GIR) Capt Raymond KNUCKLES (S-3 / 325th GIR) Maj Richard M. GIBSON (XO 2d Bn / 325th GIR) Capt Junior R. WOODRUFF (CO F Co / 325th GIR)
"...always volunteering..."
… October 22, 1942 – my birthday, I was 20 years old . I went to the ‘Draft Board’ and inquired about the next quota for the draft, and got
eventually called up December 5, 1942 . Somebody mentioned a series of odd jobs in the Army, but then I
heard talk about ‘Airborne’ and opted for this unknown and special branch …
I arrived at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, this was February 19, 1943 – my first unit was the 326th Glider
Infantry Regiment (assigned to the 82d Abn Div since March 25, 1942, and designated 326th Gli Inf Regt August 6, 1942)
, and that’s the unit in which I took basic training . The Regiment was later assigned to Airborne Command
, Feb 43, and eventually transferred to the 13th Abn Div, Dec 43 . I further trained at
Cp. Mackall, North Carolina (Airborne Center), it was already January 1944 . One day a call came for
‘Airborne Pathfinders’, and I volunteered – meanwhile they also called for volunteers for overseas duty, and I again volunteered …
The physical for Pathfinders was passed without problems (they didn’t even ask about my color blindness) . While waiting for my orders to
return to Ft. Bragg, a call came for those men who had volunteered for overseas duty ! As you might understand, there was hardly any time
left for ‘Pathfinder’ school now, this one had priority – and in less than a week, I was on my way overseas, destination unknown !
I joined the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division in England, somewhere course of July
1944; the “All Americans” had just returned from their Normandy operation . I became a member of
Headquarters & Headquarters Company, Second Battalion, and joined the 81mm Mortar
Platoon (the same job I had with the 326th Glider) . My first real combat experience took place in Holland, where I almost twice
got killed by incoming 88mm shells, luckily for me they were duds !
We trained and trained again, while stationed in France, and missed several Airborne operations which were cancelled, because of the rapid
advance of the Allied Armies in Western Europe . Then it suddenly came; Hitler had launched a massive counter offensive in the Ardennes … and
the Germans had broken thru our lines !
… 180900 December 1944 – departure from Cp. Sissonnne . We were trucked out of France via Sedan, then
crossed into Belgium, and continued thru Recogne, Sprimont, Houffalize, to end up in an unknown place called Werbomont, traveling in open
trucks and semi-trailers, and suffering from the bitter cold and rain . The first troops arrived around 181730 the same day, while the tail
of the convoy reached Werbomont 191000 December 1944 . No winter equipment ever arrived, and the weather became worse and worse, rain, snow,
wind, and negative temperatures …
 … enjoying a Belgian beer, during R & R, after the heavy fighting in the Bulge – from L to R (standing) Lester Schwarm, Donald McDonald, (kneeling) from L to R Willard N. Jackson, William R. Lepar Jr, Fred Schwab Jr - January 1945 (winter) |  Col Charles W. BILLINGSLEA CO > 325th Gli Inf Regt (Aug 44 – Sep 46) |
The Parachute Regiments, 504th , 505th and 508th were deployed and were supposed to defend and contain the
northern shoulder of the Bulge . My unit, the 325th GIR was placed at the southern base of the main line of defense of the 82d, where we
occupied Barvaux (Dec 19), Grandmenil (Dec 19), and Lierneux (Dec 20-21) – unfortunately, there were large gaps between the isolated
positions, and men were constantly shifted and moved, in order to plug threatened areas, where the enemy were trying to break thru . Moving
at times thru deep snow, in wet, foggy, and dark weather was tricky, and we had to proceed with caution to avoid enemy patrols who were also
constantly on the move . Climatic conditions were horrible, it was bitter cold, and our inadequate field uniforms (not truly winter clothing)
were quickly soaked and difficult to dry . Being overloaded with the 81mm mortar parts, tube, tripod, baseplate, and the appropriate
ammunition, each man had to struggle thru hilly terrain, foggy valleys, small creeks and rivulets, when conducting patrols or changing
positions . I remember one particular occurrence . Our 81mm Mortar Platoon was moving up to Fraiture on a dark and cold night . Squad Leader
Sgt Frank IVANCIC would pass orders back thru the group as we wound our way single file thru a valley . The last man in
the squad, an ammunition bearer, was never satisfied with the information passed back to him . He would always push forward until reaching the squad
leader to get the order firsthand . The temperature was near freezing, it would rain, then it would snow, far from a pleasant journey . At the bottom of
the small valley was a creek about four feet wide . The Sergeant passed the word back to the men, "Run until you reach the creek, then jump to clear it!" .
The gunner and assistant gunner went down the path one at a time, and disappeared in the darkness . I was next in line carrying the heavy base plate . So
I proceeded down the path as well, picking up speed to make the jump, but upon reaching the creek, there was the ammo bearer, stopped in the trail, trying
to ascertain what the Sergeant's order was all about ... I couldn't check my speed anymore, tried but in vain to stop, and hit the guy from behind,
toppling both of us into the ice cold water of the creek . With our clothes freezing on our backs, the two of us and the rest of the squad made haste to
find a house on the outskirts of Fraiture, where we could build a fire and dry our clothes . Needless to add, we felt miserable, always trying to find
some personal comfort, far from being easy in this type of weather ! Between December 22 – 31, 1944, our positions covered places such as Hébronval
(Dec 22), Règné (Dec 22), and Fraiture (Dec 22-24), this was along the MLR running from Trois Ponts to Manhay, jointly defended by the 505th, 508th, 504th
and 325th . As Christmas drew near, all frontline troops were supposed to have real turkey on this ‘special’ day ! It sounded great, and around 251600
December, kitchen staff brought the works – I was one of the first in line for chow . There was ice on the bean kettle, the mashed potatoes were frozen,
I saw a drumstick and took it, I took a bite, but the turkey too was frozen solid, so I threw it away ! I reached into my pocket and ‘enjoyed’ a cold
K-Ration ! So much for this supposed Xmas treat !
We then went on the offensive, with air cover available, and new divisions on the line, the 82d Airborne was
pushing the Germans back now ! Things were looking better, and our glidermen and troopers had done a fantastic job, we were at last pulled
off the line, it was January 12, 1945 (in the meantime, the 517th PIR also joined the battle) ! The 75th Infantry
Division took over our area .
 1st Lt William E. Kotary, Supplies Officer for the 2d Battalion / 325th GIR |  destroyed M4 Sherman tank, in front of Capt Junior R. Woodruff’s (CO > F Co) CP |
We were transferred to Pépinster for a much deserved rest, and replacements were brought in, since we had lost quite a number of guys during
the heavy fighting in the Bulge . We had beaten the enemy, lived thru one of the worst winters in Europe, without adequate clothes, hot food,
often without armored support, but now being billeted in an abandoned schoolhouse, we got hot showers, hot food, this was real luxury !
At the end of our fighting, I was just 4 points short to be sent home, and I really got worried about a possible redeployment to fight the
Japanese in the Far East – Luckily I ended up in Berlin, and after Thanksgiving, I was told the Army was going to ship me home ! I was back
in the ZI by New Year’s eve of 1945, disembarking at New York P/E . I was officially discharged January 6, 1946 …
(Lester W. SCHWARM, Pfc, Hq & Hq Co, 2d Bn, 325th Gli Inf Regt, 81mm Mortar Pltn, 82d Abn Div, USA, 36288080, recollections)
 51st Field Hospital, located between Grandménil and Bomal picture taken in winter - January 1945 … |  picture taken in 2001 |
Notes :
80th AIRBORNE ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLERY BATTALION
Activated September 5, 1942 at Cp. Claiborne, Louisiana . Embarked for Europe from New York P/E April 28, 1943 . The Battalion reached North
Africa May 10, 1943; it then arrived in Sicily July 9, 1943 crossed into Italy September 10, 1943 and then transferred to Northern Ireland
December 9, 1943, and only moved into England February 15, 1944 for preparation of the Invasion of France . It took part in the D-Day Assault
Landing June 6, 1944, and returned to England July 13, 1944 . It again participated in another Assault in Holland September 17, 1944, and
was rushed into the Belgian Ardennes, to help counter the German attack during the Battle of the Bulge December 1944 . The 80th Abn AA Bn
finally returned stateside via New York P/E, where it arrived January 3, 1946 .The Battalion participated in the following E.T.O. Campaigns;
Sicily - Naples-Foggia - Normandy – Rhineland – Ardennes-Alsace – Central Europe .
551st PARACHUTE INFANTRY BATTALION “GOYAS”
In June 1942, the first 84 men who had completed their 5 jumps at Ft. Benning, volunteeed for Panama duty to fill slots of the original
501st Prcht Inf Bn stationed there . Six months later, new trainees and assorted Officers would join the Panama bunch to form the 551st Parachute Infantry Regiment (Separate) . December 27, 1942, the 551st left the United States with 450
men for Panama aboard the liner USS Dickman . Officially activated at Ft. Kobbe, Panama Canal Zone November 26, 1942 (although the 551st
only arrived in January 1943) . Never stronger than one Battalion, the 551st (now redesignated Battalion, in lieu of Regiment) was alerted
to prepare for an invasion of Martinique May 13, 1943 – but the project was cancelled, by an internal coup on the island . On August 20, 1943
the “Goyas” boarded the Transport Etolin in Balboa and left Panama westward bound into the Pacific, via the port
of San Francisco, for what looked like combat against the Japanese . The trip however would go to a new Training Base, called Cp. Mackall in
North Carolina . There, they would conduct the first experimental and especially dangerous mass paratroop jumps from gliders ! The
experiments began late October 1943, and the tests, if succesful, were meant to avoid loss of expensive transport planes (C-47) and troops,
and also to increase the chance of closely-packed landings instead of widely scattered ones (as occured in Sicily), the method was however
abandoned after a last series of test jumps November 23 . After a change of command, the Battalion only transferred to Europe April 22, 1944,
leaving Hampton Roads on three ships, arriving at Oran, Algeria May 12, it further journeyed to Naples and Bari, Italy May 23, 1944 . In
Sicily the “Goyas” learned of the Normandy Assault, continuing their own training, and setting up a Parachute
School for French, Polish and Italian partisans at Trapani . Early July, the Battalion received orders to move to Rome, and were later told
they would soon be in on a special mission . The 551st PIB assaulted Southern France August 15, 1944 in full daylight, under the 1st Airborne
Task Force, and managed to capture Draguignan August 17 ! They then even captured Nice too August 29 . The “Goyas”
later spent some time in the French Maritime Alps suffering from the severe cold and running ski patrols along the French-Italian
border . After 96 days of combat duty, the 551st was finally withdrawn November 18 to Antibes for R & R; then it boarded 40 X 8s
heading for northeastern France December 7 and 8, 1944 . The Battalion reached Laon after a 400-mile trip from the Riviera . It was there,
they were told they would be attached to the 82d Airborne Division . December 18, 1944 (2 days after Hitler’s counter-offensive exploded in
the Bulge), the Battalion’s destination would be Bastogne, Belgium … it left on December 19 bound for Neufchâteau, then suddenly detoured to
St. Hubert and Givet, continuing on to Dinant, Marche, Barvaux, Basse-Bodeux, to end up at Ster where it bivouacked from December 20 to 26,
before getting thru to Werbomont (where both the XVIIIth Abn Corps and the 82d Abn Div were headquartered) . Its first skirmish with German
Fallschirmjäger took place December 21 . From December 26, 1944 to January 13, 1945, and again from January 21 to 27, 1945 the Battalion
would remain attached to the “All Americans” . The 551st would undergo six attachments to various American
units, before it would be taken apart,and the men began to feel like firemen . The 551st Prcht Inf Bn would in fact become the initial
spearhead in the XVIII Airborne Corps sector on the northern shoulder of the Bulge, for its new counter-offensive – it started with a night
raid against Noirefontaine December 27-28 . and battles to seize Mont de Fosse, Dairomont and Rochelinval . Almost decimated after the Battle
of the Bulge, which for the “Goyas” culminated in their last attack against Rochelinval on January 7, 1945 –
the last German bridgehead on the Salm River, in the 82d Abn Div sector . Relieved on Jan,uary 9, 1945, losses were counted – of 643 Officers
and EM who went into the American counter-offensive on January 3, only 14 Officers and 96 men were left ! The 551st was to be disbanded, and
most survivors would be going to other 82d Abn units, the XVIIIth Abn Corps, and the 17th Abn Div . On February 10, 1945, the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion was officially inactivated ! The 551st Prcht Inf Bn
participated in following Campaigns; American Theater w/o Inscription - Rome-Arno – Southern France – Rhineland – Ardennes-Alsace .
Remark : the “Presidential Unit Citation” for Extraordinary Heroism
during the Battle of the Bulge was finally awarded to the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion, at an official
ceremony at the Pentagon, which took place February 23, 2001 .
AIRBORNE COMMAND
Constituted in the Regular Army as Headquarters, Provisional Parachute Group, and activated at Ft. Benning,
Georgia, February 25, 1941 . Reorganised and now designated Airborne Command, March 23, 1942, under Colonel
William C. LEE, the command now included the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (- 1 Battalion), 502d Parachute Infantry
Regiment, 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment (- 3d Battalion) and 80th Airborne Infantry Battalion, thus becoming the overall
Headquarters for US Army Parachute and Glider units and Schools . This Command was to provide the required trained personnel for all five of
the US Airborne Divisions, including a total of 16 Parachute Regiments and 12 Glider Regiments, also supporting the artillery and combat
service units .
The Parachute School at Ft. Benning, previously operating under the Infantry School, was now also activated
under the Airborne Command, with expanded facilities . Cp. Mackall, North Carolina, was selected as location for the establishment of a
training camp for the exclusive usage of Airborne troops . It was completed in early 1943 . On April 9, 1942 Headquarters was moved from Ft.
Benning to Ft. Bragg,North Carolina, and Col W. C. Lee added some extra key officers to his command such as Lt Col Eldridge G. Chapman Jr
(XO), Lt Col Charles L. Keerans (G-4), Lt Col James M. Gavin (G-3), and Capt Hugh P. Harris (Asst G-3) . Activation of new units followed in
rapid order; the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, effective May 1, The Parachute
School, effective May 15, the 3d Battalion / 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, effective June 8,
A Battery / 215th Field Artillery Battalion, effective June 15, the 700th Coast Artillery
Battery, Separate (AW), effective July 27, the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, effective July
6, and both the 506th and 507th Parachute Infantry Regiments, effective July 20, 1942 . On July 30, 1942
AGF ordered the activation of two Airborne Divisions – the
82d (MG Matthew B. Ridgway) and 101st (MG William C. Lee) – effective August
15, 1942 ! Meanwhile Brigadier General E. G. Chapman Jr was now in charge of Airborne Command as from August 16 . Additional units were to be
activated, i.e. the 11th Airborne Division (effective, February 25, 1943 – MG Joseph M. Swing), and the
17th Airborne Division (effective, April 15, 1943 – BG William M. Miley), to be followed by the
13th Airborne Division (effective, August 13, 1943 – MG George W. Griner) . A growing and expanding
Headquarters Airborne Command was officially activated at Cp. Mackall, April 4, 1943 . Course of 1943 the First Airborne
Infantry Brigade (Col Leo Donovan) was activated, followed by the Second Airborne Infantry Brigade
(Brig Gen George P. Howell) . BG Leo Donovan took over command from Maj Gen Joseph M. Swing on November 16, who had temporarily replaced Gen E.G. Chapman during his ETO visit . Further expansion followed in the months of August and September . The
464th and 466th Parachute Field Artillery Battalions were activated August 1; the 597th
Airborne Engineer Company, activated August 1; the 541st Parachute Infantry Regiment, activated
August 12; the 407th Artillery Artillery Group, activated August 5, and the 542d Parachute
Infantry Regiment, activated September 1, 1943 . The Airborne Command was finally reorganized and
redesignated The Airborne Center, March 1, 1944 . The
ABC sent a Detachment on temporary duty in the E.T.O. for ninety days (comprising 4 Officers and 20 EM) to Headquarters,
First Allied Airborne Army, they arrived on September 28, 1944 and their work and commitment proved
beneficial and essential to that Command . In April 1945, the ABC was requested by the US Treasury Department
to provide 3 War Bond Airborne Demonstration Teams (each consisting of 4 Off & 28 EM) to organize tours in 54 of the largest cities in the
United States, with the aim to bolster the Sixth and Seventh War Loan Drives …
13th AIRBORNE DIVISION
Activated August 13, 1943 at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, this new Airborne unit moved to Cap. Mackall, North Carolina January 17, 1944 . The
13th Airborne Division staged at Cp. Shanks, New York January 20, 1945 until it departed N.Y. P/E on January 26,
1945 . It arrived in France February 6, 1945 and only stayed in the European Theater of Operations for a few months . The 13th Abn Div was
not used for “Operation Varsity”, the airborne drop east of the Rhine River, because of insufficient airlift capacity . It never entered into
combat and remained in France (Auxerre) until August 1945 . The Division was supposed to be reassigned to the Pacific for the war against
Japan, this was however cancelled after V-J Day ! The Division then returned to New York P/E August 23, 1945 and moved to Ft. Bragg, where it
was finally inactivated February 26, 1946. Commanders : MG George W. Griner (Aug 43), MG Eldridge G. Chapman Jr (Nov 45) .
Organization :
326th Gli Inf Regt, 515th Prcht Inf Regt, 517th Prcht Inf Regt, 458th Prcht Fld Arty Bn, 460th Prcht Fld Arty Bn, 676th Gli Fld Arty Bn,
677th Gli Fld Arty Bn, 129th Abn Engr Bn, 222d Abn Med Co, 713th Abn Ord Maint Co, 513th Abn Sig Co, 13th Prcht Maint Co, 153d Abn AA Bn
(189th + 190th Gli In Regts disbanded 4-8 Dec 43 and replaced by the 88th Gli Inf Regt and the 326th Gli Inf Regt, 515th Prcht Inf Regt
replaced the 513th Prcht Inf Regt 10 Mar 44, 460th Prcht Fld Arty Bn assigned 22 Feb 45, 88th Gli Inf Regt disbanded 1 Mar 45, and 517th
Prcht Inf Regt assigned 1 Mar 45) . Campaigns : Central Europe w/o Inscription .
326th GLIDER INFANTRY REGIMENT
Organized at Cp. Claiborne, Louisiana as the 326th Infantry Regiment and assigned to the
82d Division . Redesignated 326th Glider Infantry Regiment August 6, 1942 and transferred to Ft.
Bragg, North Carolina October 4, 1942 . After having been relieved from assignment to the 82d Airborne Division
(4 Feb 43), the Regiment was assigned to the Airborne Command and moved to Alliance Army Air Base, Nebraska on February 25, 1943 . The 326th
Glider returned to Ft. Bragg on December 3, 1943. It was then assigned to the 13th Airborne Division
(8 Dec 43) and relocated at Cp. Mackall, North Carolina January 1944 . The Regiment staged at Cp. Shanks, New York on January 16, 1945 and
departed N.Y. P/E January 26, with destination Europe . It landed in France February 6, 1945, where it stayed for the rest of the war . It
returned to the ZI and arrived at N.Y. P/E August 27, 1945 and moved back to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, where it was inactivated on February
25, 1946 .
The 82d Airborne Division was located at Camps Suippes and Sissonne, France, undertaking normal ground divisional training when, on December 17, 1944, FIRST orders were received to move to the east . Major General James M. GAVIN (CG > 82d A/B Div) received a phone call from XVIII A/B Corps, while at dinner with his staff, stating that SHAEF considered the situation at the front critical, and that the Airborne Divisions were to be prepared to move 24 hours after daylight, the following day, December 18 !
" I made it..."
On December 17, C Battery (my outfit), was sent to Laon Airfield to take our glider ride requirements . About noon
a jeep drove up, the officer shouting : “Training is cancelled ! Load up on your trucks, the Division is called to the front, the Germans have broken thru our lines !” .
Arriving back in Suippes, it looked like a beehive with commotion . Three of us with a ¾ Ton Weapons Carrier made 2 trips to Reims to pick up badly needed supplies . Near
midnight I was packing my A and B bags, then making up my bed roll . The night was to be short ! So, 31 days after arriving at Cp. Suippes, our unit was alerted for a new
mission and prepared to move out by truck convoy at 0955 December 18, 1944 . With barely a few hours to sleep, all men were fully awakened to
handle last minute details, and got ready to move the next day . The weather was foggy, cold, and a light rain was falling, it was to be a long and miserable day .
The Division was alerted, unit Commanders assembled with the Divisional Staff in the War Room (Cp Sissone) at 2100 hours, the situation was outlined, and a tentative plan for
rapid movement to Bastogne issued . At about 2130, there was a call from the CofS, XVIII A/B Corps with orders to move without delay in the direction of Bastogne, where
further orders would be received … the units were to be attached to the First United States Army (CG > Lt Gen Courtney H. HODGES) .
MG James M. Gavin already left at 2330, accompanied by Lt Col Alfred W. Ireland (G-1), and
Capt Hugo V. Olson (Aide) for Spa, where the First US Army CP was located . Road conditions were difficult, due to rain and fog, and the absence of bridging
facilities at certain highways . Nevertheless, the General and his limited Staff reached Spa at about 0900 hours, December 18 . After staff discussions and briefings, it
was decided to attach the “All American” to V Corps, and to close in an area in the vicinity of Werbomont, while the “Screaming Eagles (101st A/B Div) would be attached to
VIII Corps, and assemble in the area around Bastogne . The boss then travelled to Werbomont, where he arrived approximately mid-afternoon, in time to make a reconnaissance
of the area . Another visit was then made to Bastogne, where General Gavin reported to the VIII Corps CP, subsequently meeting with Major General Troy
H. Middleton (CG >VIII Corps) and Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe (CG > DivArty + acting CG 101st A/B Div) . He was back
at Werbomont at approximately 2000, when the first large group of 82d A/B vehicles started arriving …
The Division’s leading elements left their French Base Camps on 180900, and arrived in the area of Werbomont the same evening . It was a cold ride to Werbomont, arriving
after dark . Days are short in winter . Distance was about 115 miles . By 1000 hours, December 19, all elements were in place !
On our way, it was after dark, we came to a Bailey Bridge where MPs were rushing the traffic thru . The truck and gun in front of us picked up speed, but the gun hit a
chuck-hole, in the road, and the gun’s wheels started bouncing up and down to one side, whereby one of the wheels dropped between the two rails of the bridge . This caused
an immediate stop for the entire convoy; we quickly jumped off our truck and tried to get both wheels back on the bridge’s rails, by prying and sheer manpower, we managed to
do the job …
Between 182000 and 182100, the majority of the “All American” Division and the 80th Airborne Antiaircraft Artillery
Battalion arrived in the Werbomont area . About two hours after daylight December 19, the complete Division closed in the area . Initially, setting up anti-tank
defenses along the southern flank of the Division’s assembly area was the assignment of most of the Batteries, i.e. A, B, and C . As billets were limited, men crawled under
their vehicles, some pitched individual tents, while others found refuge in barns, to sleep . Fearing possible strafing by the Luftwaffe, the AT role of the .50 cal MG
Batteries, D and F, was changed and the men set up antiaircraft positions in and around Werbomont, awaiting further orders on December 19 . Later that afternoon, it was 1630,
Lt Col Raymond E. Singleton (CO > 80th Abn AA Bn) and Airborne Regimental Commanders met with MG J.M. Gavin to be briefed on the general
situation and missions . Assignments were as follows : A Btry was to reconnect with 505th PIR, B Btry was detached to the 508th, 1st Pltn, C Btry was
back to support the 1st Bn of the 504th, while D and F Btries were to continue their role as AA defense for Headquarters and Artillery protection, E Btry’s 8
57mm AT guns would remain with the Division reserve .
December 19, the 504th PIR occupied Rahier, where we joined them, and relieved elements of the 119th Inf Regt / 30th Inf Div in its sector .
Our gun was positioned on the main road to Cheneux, while we just took over a small shed across the road . The next day, 1st Bn, 504th PIR (less A Co) attacked Cheneux at
1400 . A heavy engagement ensued with troops of the 1st SS Panzer Division, supported by tanks, flak wagons, half-tracks, and artillery . Without armor and artillery
support, the lightly armed parachutists were in no position to eliminate the German mobile Flak batteries ; the always resourceful airborne troopers, however got the idea
that they could put a captured enemy half-track with 75mm cannon, to good use . 5 men were needed to operate the vehicle . A clerk of the 504th Regimental staff offered to
drive the vehicle, while 2 men belonging to C Btry, Pfc Harold Kelly and Pfc Harry Koprowski, volunteered to
operate the enemy gun, although neither had any experience of the weapon . The makeshift crew took down the road, engaged the Germans, and took pressure off B Co, 504th PIR .
For nearly three hours, the armored vehicle patrolled the road searching and engaging 7 enemy 20mm guns and MG nests in very low visibility of barely 100 to 200 feet .
Often firing blindly or in the direction of tracers, the crew could never be sure about results, until an enemy infantry column advanced in their direction – the gun raked
and scattered the enemy, halting the attack . Later, a German half-track neared the crossroad into the men’s sight, the 75mm gun found its mark and sent the vehicle going up
in flames . During the engagement, a 20mm shell hit the brace of Pfc Kelly’s gun projecting hot shrapnel into his lower lip and jaw . With the gun now out of ammunition, and
Kelly in need of medical help, the captured half-track returned to the 504th CP . The same evening, with a promise of artillery and 2 Tank Destroyers for support, B and C
Companies were ordered to take the town . Despite the unexpected success of Privates First Class Kelly and Koprowski
, the Germans had still plenty of firepower left . After a 10-minute artillery barrage, B Co moved up on the right of the road and C Co on the left, both with support
of the 504th Hq & Hq Co’s Machine Gun Platoon . After a series of lengthy firefights, and fierce combats, during which individual troopers assaulted German SP guns and flak
wagons with bazookas, handgrenades, rifles and knives, First Battalion / 504th PIR (less A Co) cleared Cheneux by mid-morning December 21 capturing 14 Flak wagons, 6
half-tracks, 4 trucks, 5 105mm Howitzers and one Mark VI tank . The 504th suffered over 200 casualties (out of 300 men) during the attack . But it was clear that the action
taken by our two C Btry men had considerably helped win the battle for Cheneux . Pfc Harold Kelly was cited for bravery by Lt Gen Courtney H. Hodges,
CG First United States Army !
German Half-Track captured in Cheneux and painted with white stars to identify it as a friendly vehicle – Capt. Louis A. Hauptfleisch, 504 PIR Regtl Adj stands in front of the enemy vehicle (read above story)
All the evening and night, we heard nothing but shelling, rifle fire, and 20mm bursts, some of which even came over our heads too ! Early next morning, our
gun squad moved to last night’s battle area (i.e. 1st Bn / 504th PIR) to set up our gun on the shoulders of the road and edge of the wooded area . There were many dead
troopers in the fields on both sides of the road, and there was still some distant fire on the northern side of Cheneux . A few hours later, 2 jeeps drove up the main road
coming from the village and stopped by our gun . There were four men in each vehicle and a captain in the lead jeep . The captain spoke good English, and questioned Cpl.
Boteler : “Is your Officer here, Corporal ?” Lt. Stark was not here . The jeeps then drove off . I was sitting on the trails of our 57mm AT gun, and the first thing I
noticed, looking at the vehicles, were the jeeps’ bumper markings, they identified them as pertaining to the 99th Infantry Division . What
I remember of the men is, that they were clean shaven, they were wearing tanker jackets, and they held a M1 rifle in their lap, in a ready-to-fire position . I almost stood
up to go and talk to the men in the second jeep, and wanted to ask them where the 99th Infantry was located, and when they had arrived from the States . I had a close
friend who was a member of the “Checkerboard” Artillery, and this might have been a nice way to maybe learn of his whereabouts … but both jeeps drove away to our rear . I
did wonder many times over the years, in case I had tried to have a conversation with them and they had not spoken English, we could have had a close encounter with the
enemy … I stood approximately 5 feet away from the vehicle, and I would certainly not be writing this story now … A few hours later, the same 2 jeeps drove by, at a fast
speed . As they entered the village a 504th trooper tried to stop them, to tell them the village was still not cleared of enemy troops . They however revved up the engine
and kept on going . Several authors have written about those two jeeps with Germans operating behind American lines .
body of dead German soldier, next to a captured American jeep – probably killed by MP personnel looking for possible infiltrators in U.S. uniforms and gear
About midday, we moved our gun up about 150 yards to have a better field of fire, and to cover the road coming out of the village . At this position, we
took advantage of a German halftrack that had been KO’d the night before, by an NCO armed with a Gammon No. 82 grenade . He ran up to the enemy vehicle, tossed his grenade
inside, killing all 5 Germans . This was a halftrack with a mortar mounted in it . As I mentioned, our 57mm gun was set up right next to the above mentioned vehicle, while
additional protection was provided on both flanks, left and right, by a 3 foot high berm . By late afternoon, Cheneux was cleared by what was left of B and C Companies and
with help from 3d Bn / 504th PIR . We then got on the move . From thereon, until the morning of December 24, there’s not much I can recall about our movements .
On the morning of December 24, we were in a wooded area . The sun was up that particular morning, the skies were blue, and the day turned out to be swell for our Air Forces .
The first planes that flew over dropped foil (called ‘windows’) to disrupt the enemy’s radar, and for the rest of the day we saw nothing but
friendlies; fighters and bombers, heading east by the hundreds !
We then moved out to support our friends of the 505th PIR near Grand-Halleux and Vielsalm . About 2200, we received orders to pull out . We thought we were in for a quiet
and comfortable night, but it turned out quite differently . The night was cold and the roads covered with ice . We traveled slowly even though the moon occasionally showed .
About midnight we stopped, we had reached the village of Bra, and this is where we positioned our gun . This area was to become the new MLR . Christmas eve created a story .
About 25 feet from our gun was a house, the home of Joseph Fourgon (12 years old in 1944) . Returning to our battlefields in 1987, I found Joseph, still living in Bra . We
met about 12 times since then, and have become very close friends .
… The 80th Airborne Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion also completed the ‘Montgomery’ voluntary withdrawal on Christmas Eve of
1944, some Batteries attached to the various “All American” Infantry Regiments straggled in early Xmas morning only, having operated as rear guards . Others like those men
of A Battery, supporting I Co, 505th Parachute Infantry, had a brief but intense firefight near Rochelinval with Jochen Peiper’s SS troops .
After Christmas, the 628th TD Bn, with 3 companies of 12 M36 Gun Motor Carriages replaced the 703d, while
the 643d TD Bn reported in the next day to beef anti-tank protection for advancing paratroopers and glidermen . This was indeed critical,
since the offensive capabilities of the 57mm AT gun squads would be limited by mobility, set-up time, and firepower against the best panzer armor !
December 25, 1944 – the bright and cold Christmas morning brought fresh traditional turkey with some trimmings, but because of the situation, few of us ate it hot . Our
squad nearly missed the ‘special’ food ! The Germans spoiled it all by sending over a mortar barrage in the early afternoon . On shell hit the window sill of the house
where the cooks were preparing our dinner, and the explosion sent glass and plaster flying thru the kitchen and into the pots filled with food . So, the squad finally only
got its Christmas dinner after dark, that is, only the left overs ! I’ll never forget Xmas Day 1944 ! PX goodies reached the individual batteries later the same day . I
almost forgot, but December 25 had yet another interesting event . Some time in the afternoon I was on guard duty, at our gun, when I noticed six or seven men coming up the
road, as they came nearer, I recognized GI helmets . When they were close by, I asked them what unit they were from, and they said : “C Company, 290th Infantry, 75th
Infantry Division” . I really became excited, I told them, that while being in the States, I was with the 290th Infantry Regiment’s AT Company ! They then told me, the 75th
Inf Div was sent overseas to the ETO in November 1944, and took up defensive positions in the Belgian Ardennes, along the Ourthe River, as from December 23 . The Germans
attacked them, and being disorganized their Platoon broke into three groups, and subsequently retreated without any maps or compass, heading away from the firing, which was
north . I was the FIRST American they ran into, and it made them happy that they were in friendly territory, moreover even meeting a guy, who had formerly been a member of
their own Regiment !
A day or two later, we received one man as a replacement . None of us ever remembered his name . About 24 hours later, he was put on guard at the gun . A short while later,
a GI from a .50 caliber MG position, near by came to our shelter and told us, the medic just evacuated the man from the 57mm AT gun position . The story we later received
was that this new guy was on guard with a Thompson SMG . Apparently the gun fired, and hit him in the leg above the ankle and traveled between his boot and the leg bone .
He suffered foot damage, and we never did learn what really had happened to him .
On December 28, 1944, the .50 caliber MG Squad (F Btry) was positioned near our Platoon up on the hill, southwest of Bra . The area was continuously shelled by the enemy,
whenever the Germans had nothing else to do . So, on that particular day, they must have spotted their position, and dropped a few mortar shells on them . They killed two
men and wounded another two . In 2003, the village of Bra-sur-Lienne erected a Memorial Plaque in honor of the 2 men who got killed : Pfc Jesse L. DILLON,
ASN 35136306 and Pvt Andrew A. MATSKO, ASN 35291667 (KIA 29 Dec 44) . From December 29, up to January 9, my mind is blank to most
events, other than taking a wonderful shower outdoors . An engineer unit had set up this facility, on a concrete pad, with wooden boards to stand on . The installation was
a 25-foot overhead pipe with 10 nozzles, and 2 men were to stand under each nozzle . When ready, hot water would be turned on for about 30 seconds only, when shut, you
lathered yourself, then rinse water was turned on for maybe about 1 minute ; Then it was time to get out, dry yourself, pick up a clean set of underwear and socks. This
entire cycle was done stark naked in a temperature just above freezing point . I took part in two such episodes, and yet loved every one of them !
Meanwhile, the Anti-tank CP moved from Basse-Bodeux, to Bra, then to Habiémont, to Chevron, and back to Basse-Bodeux, all within a week, as the defensive posture taken by
the 80th Abn AA Bn for the 82d A/B Div and attached units soon reverted to one of offensive action by early January 1945 .
Over that time frame, i.e. the very last days of December 1944, the Battalion lost more men by incoming enemy artillery fire, both at Bra (area occupied by F Btry) and in
the area of Erria, (location of B Btry) . Meanwhile, the 703d TD Bn (CO > Col Showalter) was temporarily attached to the 80th which received
a couple of reinforcements, Lieutenants Dannis (A Btry) and Wolchik (B Btry) . Combat was constant, by December 28, 1944, the 703d TD had knocked out several German tanks,
half-tracks, and artillery pieces . While enemy activity was very light along the “All American” front, the New Year brought a downpour of Allied artillery and aerial
firepower on the German positions, in order to prepare for the big push, i.e. the new Allied Offensive ! Although the Battalion log indicates that counter-battery fire was
negligible, F Btry lost a .50 cal MG to a direct hit, and B Btry had a 57mm AT gun destroyed ! Limited numbers of PWs were taken by D and A Btries . During January 1 and 2,
1945, Division regrouped in preparation for an attack with the 551st PIB and 517th PIR attached . The 82d
then attacked 030830 January, pushing ahead and also maintaining defensive positions . Gains were consolidated January 3, and only limited objectives seized . The aim was
to try and dominate all crossings of the Salm River, and continue seizing high grounds to control enemy movements .
At first heavy snow, then rain made roads slippery as the AT guns and .50 caliber MGs moved along with the doughboys as best they could, the 505th Parachute slugging their
way into Arbrefontaine by January 5 . The 628th TD knocked out 2 half-tracks and 2 88mm guns along the way . The morning of January 6, 1945,
proved considerably colder than the previous few days . Lt Telford, 80th AA Bn Communications Officer, went searching for a new AT CP in the
neighborhood and settled in an abandoned house with barn, together with a 508th radio team and wire section . Most buildings were wrecked, missing windows and doors, and
anything still with a partial roof was considered prime real estate .
crew of a 57mm AT gun of the 80th AA Bn defend one of the roads along the “All American” perimeter in the Bulge …
Under heavy snowfall, D Btry’s 2d Lt Henry G. Coustillac, O-1051916 (KIA 7 jan 45), got orders to advance his platoon
together with 2d Bn, 505th PIR (code name < CHALLENGE / WHITE), which was to capture the town of Goronne, defended by Volksgrenadiers with
tanks . A gun section of A Btry was also assigned the job, just to bolster the assault, though some people were just wondering what they and their peashooters could do to
get the paratroops past those German Tigers . As a matter of fact, some heated discussions were exchanged among commanders about being sent on a ‘suicide’ mission . The
505th Parachute Infantry trudged thru heavy snow on January 7, D Co advancing upon German foxholes and positions overlooking Goronne and Thier-du-Mont (508th PIR sector) .
E and F Co, 505th, were to attack along the road with Sherman tanks in support, but the German Tiger tanks knocked them out in short order, bottling up the advance . Being
unable to communicate with D Co, Lt Col Benjamin H. Vandervoort, O-22715 (CO > 2d Bn / 505th PIR) sent Lt. H. G. Coustillac and a 57mm AT gun
crew to D Co’s position (CO > Lt James Joe Meyers) explaining the situation, and telling him, should D
Company take the hill, he would come up with a 57mm gun and try to get a flanking shot at one of the Tigers … With a close-in firefight in progress, Lt H. G. Coustillac
moved up with his fellow officer, Lt J. J. Meyers, when enemy mortar fire landed on them, instantly killing Coustillac ! Down below, Lt Col Benjamin H. Vandervoort, was
discussing the situation, and preparing to reinforce D Co with Hq personnel . He was also subjected to enemy mortar fire . An 80mm shell exploded nearby, and white-hot
shrapnel hit him in the face, he would eventually lose his left eye in the process, thereby ending his further career as 2d Bn Commander of the 505th PIR, a huge blow for
the Regiment . At that time, the resumed American mission was to advance to a line Grand-Sart – Salmchâteau – Vielsalm – Grand-Halleux – Trois Ponts .
Meanwhile orders followed for the 57mm gun to set up, but to hold its fire, until a Tank Destroyer came up . Two hours later, it arrived, and both 90mm and 57mm guns
trained their sights on the unsuspecting enemy tank . The commanders let loose and then jumped for safety, should they have missed the behemoth . Returning a bit later for
a look, they found out that both weapons had scored hits . The enemy crew had abandoned the armored vehicle, and the second tank was seen retreating to the Thier-du-Mont
hills . It was later knocked out in the 508th area . The attack started, and D company reached the hilltop, overrunning a battery of horse-drawn artillery limbering to
retreat, while E and F took Goronne the same day, with few casualties . The Germans counterattacked on January 8 and were beaten back, but the 505th took a lot of
casualties, including many suffering from bad weather conditions . That very day, the 80th AA men got their A bags (sent from Cp. Suippes, France), and this started the
rumors that our men were going to pull line duty as regular leg infantry, in the future . Luckily, this was not to happen, as the 75th Infantry
Division, finally relieved the 82d A/B a few days later … starting January 10 … The Division meanwhile consolidated its positions along the Salm River, and
contacted the 3d Armored Division .
On January 11, 1945, relief completed, everyone moved to Corps Reserve, in the area bounded by Xhoffraix – Malmédy – Baugnez . Plans were made to move the Battalion to a
rest area, a village called Creppe, just outside the famed Belgian resort town of Spa . Here we were allowed to rest and re-outfit for approximately ten days, being housed
with local inhabitants . Of course training was part of daily routine, and upgrading vehicles and equipment also took place . Men now had a chance to shower, wash properly,
change clothes, and take advantage of civilian homes as billets ! All batteries were trained to fire the German Panzerfaust, realizing that this rocket launcher could be
more effective than the 2.36inch Bazooka, and even the 57mm AT gun in close range firing . The pampering however didn’t last long, for preparations were under way to move
into Germany, and the 80th Abn AA Bn was to be part of this move . Orders were received January 26, 1945, to attack thru the lines of the 7th Armored
Division, toward the northeast with the mission of piercing the Siegfried Line !
On or about January 25, we were marching thru St. Vith, when I stumbled upon the body of a dead German SS trooper, I searched the man and found a wallet with personal
documents, his name was Stephan Platz . What really troubled me, was that this German had a War Savings Stamps booklet belonging to Sgt. Robert J.
SNYDER, ASN 33421105, member of B Battery, 285th Field Observation Battalion, a man who had been murdered during the ill-famed Massacre at Baugnez, Malmédy .
Had this German been involved ? I’m still trying to find out what happened to him, and have meanwhile contacted the German authorities to that effect …
centerfold view of United States War Savings Bonds Stamp Album belonging to Sgt Robert J. Snyder …
The second day, I developed a kind of flue, I had the shakes, a high fever and no appetite . After two or three days, Cpl. Boteler, my Squad Leader,
reported my condition to a Medical Officer, who made a
house call to check my condition . His decision was to send me to a Field Hospital . I begged him not to send me back, and just give me another day or two, I just might
get better . When he left, the lady of the house prepared a vegetable broth for me . The following day, I was already feeling much better ! In 1994, during a return trip
to Belgium, I purposely went to Creppe to thank this fine lady . I did find the house, the daughter remembered me (she was only 11 years old at the time), but told me that
her mother had sadly passed away 5 years prior to my visit . Since leaving Creppe, another blank period comes up, until some time around mid February 1945 . We then moved
to a place called Rott, and I remember we were shown a movie in a barn . It was welcome, for it took one’s mind away from the cold, the rain, and the misery we went thru …
Finally word came down that we were going back to France, to Cp. Suippes . On February 21, the Battalion began moving by motor convoy to Suippes . Late March, I and 6 other
men left on furlough to England for 7 (or maybe 10) days . When we returned to the Cp. Suippes tent area, all tents were empty ! Two days later, we left the Camp by truck
to rejoin our fellow Battery men on the Rhine River . On April 2, 1945, the 80th AAA Bn moved to Lovenich, Germany, where the Division was to receive orders for its next
mission . In Lovenich, we were positioned on the west bank of the Rhine River, across from Cologne . A few days later, our Battalion was given the mission to police four
villages in
order to locate PWs and remove all German and American military equipment, primarily weaponry . We were ordered to enter homes and make a thorough search . Most Germans
cooperated with our search, they were accustomed to man searches conducted by the German Army at the end of Hitler’s regime . Guards were provided for camps housing DPs,
while bridges and ammo dumps were equally guarded .
From April 18 until April 25, the 82d A/B Division carried on occupational duties in the Cologne area . On April 28, the Battalion left Lovenich, heading east, toward the
Elbe River, which was crossed the next day . The German Army seemed to be disintegrating rapidly, and the continuous Allied drive was of utmost importance until the enemy
was completely destroyed or overrun ! May 2, all units had moved ahead so aggressively that enemy resistance seemed negligible . CCB of the 7th Armored Division and elements
of the 2d Bn / 325th GIR captured Ludwigslust, thus effectively cutting off and surrounding many units of the German XXIst Army . The German commander, Lt. General
Tippelskirch finally surrendered his Army unconditionally to the 82d Airborne Division – this took place on May 2, 1945 at 2100 hours – this surrender involved 144,000
enemy troops . If I remember well, first contacts with the Russians forces took place during May 3 . On May 6 or 7, 1945, a few of us went to visit the German Concentration
Camp, near Ludwigslust (KZ Wöbbelin) . What an unbelievable sight, human beings, barely alive, looked like living skeletons . On May 7, word came down the line that the
German Armed Forces officially surrendered to the Allies . May 8, 1945 became the end of the War in the E.T.O..
The war’s end brought on some serious questions such as, “What do we do now ?”, “Go home, and then what ?” . The thousands of captured German PWs probably
asked themselves the same question, the only difference being that their homeland was in ruins … but, as they say, time heals all problems … The dramatic termination of
WWII in the E.T.O. was further emphasized by the implementation of the Army Readjustment and Redeployment Program . Those with high ASR
scores were selected to be sent home, while for the rest of us, the Army had plans . The Division was selected to go to Berlin to represent the United States in the former
enemy capital . Our own train convoy reached Berlin on August 16, our mission consisted of guard duty in the city, protection of bridges, businesses, housing, official
buildings, warehouses, railyards, etc. Occupation duty by “America’s Guard of Honor” ended by end November, and by December 1945, the “All
Americans” had been relieved of occupation duty in Berlin, and were preparing to return to the ZI .On December 26, we departed France bound for Southampton, where we boarded
the Queen Mary, with destination New York . We reported to Cp. Shanks (Staging Area for N.Y. P/E) and were honored to participate in the Victory Parade, on Fifth Avenue,
January 12, 1946 . Since all of our heavy equipment was still in Europe, we borrowed some jeeps and 57mm AT guns from Ft. Bragg . A couple of days later, we were on our way
to the Separation Centers to be discharged . My home State being Indiana, I was sent to Cp. Atterbury, Columbus .
I was inducted into the AUS as an Enlisted Reservist, no. 12, at Detachment 1511th Service Unit, Armed Forces Induction Station No. 3, 2015 South
Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, March 16, 1943 . I just completed 2 years, 10 months, and 1 day of adventurous life . I took 9 glider flights in total, of which
1 was a combat ride ! Foreign service included the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany . Today, I wish it were possible for me to personally thank my two
WWII leaders who made it possible to survive the war, and live a complete life . Thank you Lt. Marshall STARK and Sgt.
Roland BOTELER .
(Ray E. FARY, Pfc, C Btry, 80th Abn AA Bn, 82d Abn Div, USA, 35098928, recollections)
“ … final tragedy, the end of a Battalion … “
On November 18, 1944, my unit, the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion, was ordered to move from the Maritime Alps, France,
south to Saint-Jeannet (near Antibes), and board a train with destination northeastern France, via Rheims to Laon . The GOYAs
had logged 96 straight days of combat duty (from the 15 Aug 44 drop on La Motte, southern France) . But before leaving the sunny Riviera, it was back to
individual pup tents in the hills above Antibes, with a relaxed training program and some free time .
On December 8, we boarded the famous 40x8 boxcars and started on our 400-mile journey . Coming into Laon Station, we were welcomed by
Major General J. M. Gavin himself ! 1st Lt Richard “Dick” Durkee (A Co), who had been General Gavin’s jumpmaster at Ft. Benning in 1941, saluted
smartly . Near Gavin, stood Lt Col Wood G. Joerg, O-20793 (CO > 551st PIB) gone ahead of the Battalion the week before to
report to XVIII Airborne Corps Headquarters at Rheims, where he had been told that our Battalion was to be attached to the 82d
Airborne Division !
Once in Laon, we looked forward to a busy training period the coming winter and a probable airborne assault into Germany by the next spring . Enjoying
warm beds and decent food at the Caserne Foch, we went thru routine barracks’ life once more, and some of us went to Paris on three-day passes . Alas,
this was not going to last …
On 170730 December 1944, Lt Dick Goins, the Battalion Duty Officer received a very important call from the 82d A/B Div Chief of Staff to alert Lt Col W.
Joerg to join Division Headquarters on the double at Sissonne ! Some time after midnight, all Company Commanders gathered in the War Room for a briefing .
On 180400 the Battalion was informed that its marching orders were to travel to Bastogne, Belgium; then another order came in; we were now to proceed to
Stavelot and report to the CG of the 30th Infantry Division ! There seemed to be an emergency … on 191400 December 1944,
the GOYAs entrucked and left Laon for yet another place called Werbomont … the Battle of the Bulge was on !
For two days, we tried to reach Werbomont, clearing roads, avoiding traffic jams, listening to artillery fire, even being strafed by enemy planes . On
December 21, we marched toward Ster (in the vicinity of Francorchamps) to be attached to the 30th Inf Div . At Ster, we squeezed inside a ring of friendly
155mm howitzers firing in all directions . German and American dead lay in the snow, wrecked tanks were burning, this was our first scene of total
desolation . By December 25, it was Christmas, the skies cleared, it was damn cold, and we watched some dogfights from our foxholes – this was not without
danger – as we often got hit by friendly fire ! We could also follow some of the V-1 flying bombs the Germans fired against some of the large towns in
Belgium . We were supposed to have turkey, but as it was frozen solid, not really edible, we chipped away at frozen C Ration cans, or reverted to standard
K-Rats !
By late afternoon of Christmas day, we received orders to move to Rahier (A Co CP) and hook up again with the “All American” . At that
point, we already began to feel like firemen . After withdrawal from the Salm River front, every possible unit, including the GOYAs, was to be ready to
back up the Division’s MLR !
On December 27, General Gavin came down in person to Rahier to inform the 551st that it was being chosen to mount a night raid against a German CP at the
Noirefontaine farm . It was not only meant to test the German strength and gather intelligence, it was also to become the spearhead for an Airborne
counteroffensive on the northern shoulder of the Bulge, and the GOYAs were to be part of it … jump off was at Basse-Bodeux . Our commander received six
hours to do the job . Movement was thru the lines of the 508th PIR, and neither vehicles, wheels or tracks, nor heavy guns would be used . What we didn’t
know at the time, was that apart from the 62d Volksgrenadier Division, elements of the 99th SS Panzer Division had joined the Volksgrenadiers in the night
of December 26 . Noirefontaine was in fact not much more than two large stone farmhouses with several outbuildings and barns converted to a command post
by the enemy (the 20-odd local inhabitants had been ordered into basements) .
 |
Cp Wolters, IRTC, Mineral Wells, Texas, picture taken during summer, July 1942 |
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| Map detailing the night raid against Noirefontaine |
B Company was to lead the raid, followed by C and A Companies . My Company (A) was spotted early and came under small-arms and artillery fire . Meanwhile
C Company charged the farmhouse complex, supported by three .30 caliber machine guns . A tank appeared on the road leading to the farm, but got knocked
out by a bazooka team; a half-track (a captured American vehicle) surprised our men, but it too was put out of commission . B Company got less lucky, they
lost quite a few men to enemy mines, which seemed to have been planted all over Noirefontaine . The GOYAs were now closing in on the buildings, the 81mm
mortars were set up about 800 yards from the farmhouse and opened up, their supporting fire putting the whole place ablaze and sending the enemy running
everywhere . We were astonished to see civilians come out of the basements, and run away to go hide in other places, such as Odrimont, La Chapelle, and
Lierneux . Our Battalion fought off two determined counter attacks and by 0230 the Germans were in total disarray, we managed to capture 25 of them, and
surprisingly suffered light losses, in total only 15 men were wounded, and 4 killed (all B Co personnel – Pvt Roy Rover, Cpl Carlo Intinarelli, Lt Lester
Kurtz, Lt John Ryan), while few men were missing . The 551st PIB walked back at 0500, exhausted after the night’s mission, and once safely behind the 508th
Parachute Infantry’s lines at Basse-Bodeux, were commended by General Gavin in person . A Company brought back 6 PWs and killed some 30 Germans, including
1 Officer .
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 American armor in a village of the Belgian Ardennes … Pvt Joe M. Cicchinelli at Ft. Benning, Georgia, August 1942 |
An overall Allied counter offensive was to take place between January 3 – 8, 1945 and the 82d Airborne, with its organic and attached
units started to draw ammunition for the great push; on the line all was relatively quiet . New orders directed the 551st PIB
to be attached to the 517th PIR (now attached to the 82d A/B Div January 1 > 11, 1945) in order to form a Regimental Combat Team, under direct command of
Colonel Rupert D. Graves (we had some bad memories, having once before been commanded by Lt Col R. Graves, 1 Sep 43 > 1 Feb 44) !
At 2130, this was January 2, 1945 Lt Col W. Joerg, after having reconnoitered the open terrain of Sol Mé which we would have to cross, and at the moment
barely invisible in a new snow blizzard, issued orders for the attack . A Company would lead on the left, C Co would be on the right, while B and Hq Cies
would remain in reserve . After crossing the open field of Sol Mé, we would have to tackle the ridge of the Hèrispehé woods, and then close onto Dairomont .
The snow meanwhile increased and the temperature dropped to zero . We received a last hot meal at 0300, beef stew and some good hot coffee . Rations were
issued, and canteens filled with water (this would cause problems, as the water froze, we would be very thirsty during the whole advance, and had to eat
snow) . I very well remember my being a scout for A Company . As in December at Werbomont, we were first told to shed overcoats and superfluous gear in
order to move faster during the operation . Many of us would never see this extra clothing again, and needless to add, the lack of proper winter clothing
was to exact a high toll of frostbite and trenchfoot !
On 030600 January 1945, the 643 men of the 551st began to walk down the road to the departing line near Basse-Bodeux, after slipping and sliding on the
ice, we then had to cross the icy waters of the Baleur River soaking boots (I was wearing 2-buckle boots) and pants; at the time we really thought we just
might have surprised the Germans, but were in for a gruesome surprise ourselves ! My Company (A Co) was suddenly hit by artillery and mortar fire before
we could get across a sunken road, the attached 60mm mortar squad was wiped out, and one of our Officers (1st Lt George Luening) killed . The enemy fired
away with impunity and friendly bodies piled up, then all of a sudden A Co left the snowy embankment and stormed into the open field . For about two
hundred yards we were allowed to progress thru the deep snow, then all hell broke loose, at least six enemy machine guns began traversing the charging
GOYAs, and we were pinned down in an open field like sitting ducks ! Two German tanks emerged and at barely 150 yards started firing their 75mm guns into
our men – it was pure slaughter, total annihilation, I could hear the cries and screams of my comrades as they went down . Enemy slugs just passed between
my legs, and a single bullet grazed my knee . I then heard some moaning, it was my partner, Sgt Don Thompson, whose left foot barely hung to his leg by
sinew . I left my modest protection at a barbed wire fence and crawled up to him . He seemed to have been partly crushed by a tank . I then got hit by
shrapnel, and my right eardrum got shattered by a 75mm shell exploding nearby . Nevertheless, I was fortunate enough to pull Thompson to safety (he
survived his ordeal) . Medics were trying to help everywhere, and as result more than one of those heroic men lost his life . Pvt Chuck Miller got himself
an enemy tank . It was Lt Dirk Durkee (one of only three A Co Officers left) who jumped up and led us to the right flank, organized some friendly machine
guns, which finally drove the enemy away and silenced him . Meanwhile the patrol sent out to keep contact with I Company, 505th PIR
, lost contact . Moreover after having fired only four rounds on the enemy-held ridge top, the 460th Prcht Fld Arty Bn
(75mm Pack Howitzers) had to quit firing because of a shortage of ammo, another loss was the destruction of the four-man forward observer party,
hit by an 88 . Then C Company (Lt Tims Quinn) went on the attack, making good progress on the right flank, reaching the Hèrispehé woods, and taking many
German (Volksgrenadier) prisoners . Halting to wait for A Co to pull alongside, C Company was subsequently subjected to a fifteen-minute barrage, and lost
45 men ! Then B Co, long committed from its reserve, followed up the slope behind C Co to bolster A Co too; it took a lot of sniper fire while advancing
uphill . The dead bodies of our men were strewn about where they had been cut down by the enemy, partially covered with snow, and frozen solid . Medics
Jack Affleck, Ed Henriquez, David Muñoz, and others had the grim duty of tagging and marking the casualties; Cpl Max Bryan (C Co) was one of the men
assisting Lt Ben Henry Brown, leading the GR people . Max Bryan (with knee wound, when his jeep hit a mine) got helped by Pvt James Bywaters (A Co), both
of them collected the frozen bodies, stacked them in a ¾-ton truck and evacuated them to the rear . Total losses for the 551st amounted to 18 Officers and
171 Enlisted (2 Officers and 29 EM KIA) .
Lt Durkee, leading the remnants of A Company (now down to a mere 45 men) that evening of January 3, 1945, decided not to try and capture Dairomont until
the next day ! Everybody tried to dig into the frozen ground of the Hamba woods for the night . I do remember it was extremy cold, so cold, we even lost
some men to acute hypothermia ! We were cut off from any friendlies – no trace of the 517th PIR ? no contact with the 505th PIR ! To make matters worse,
our radios had taken a severe beating, only 4 were left out of 38 . We all felt miserable, hungry, and cold – this was the Battalion’s overall condition
on the eve of the battle for Dairomont … |
 Engineer placing an M1A1 AT Mine in a road, in view of impending enemy armor attack ... Click image to enlarge |
 Whitewashed Sherman tank ready to support advancing infantry in the Bulge ... January 1945 ... Click image to enlarge |
About 15 minutes after sundown, it was January 5, Pvt Larry Poston and I were tending to several wounded and freezing A Company men in an abandoned enemy position, bolstering the efforts of a medic . We helped comfort the wounded massaging feet to keep them from freezing . Ordered to help prepare the wounded for evacuation, I had remarked to Lt Durkee, that we were probably still in enemy-controlled territory, and that litter bearers would have a difficult job trying to locate us in the woods in the dark, but orders were orders . Larry (Poston) took off his coat to wrap it around Salvador Corrillo’s legs and feet, when someone spotted a suspicious telephone wire . Poston was told to find out where it led; within minutes he noticed about fifteen Germans a few yards ahead; rifleless, he had no choice but to surrender . My buddy was led back to our position by the enemy with a gun pointing in his back, and totally taken by surprise, I had to surrender as well . On January 6, we were marched away, but the wounded were left unharmed (they all survived) . We marched all night, until reaching a small village, and a German Field Headquarters in an old stone house – for us, the war was over, but, not for the GOYAs !
By nightfall on January 6, 1945, the GOYAs’ strength was down to half ! After having been involved in almost all of the heavy fighting in the 517th PIR sector, the 551st was now attached to the 504th PIR . Next target was to be Rochelinval, situated on a bluff and strongly defended by the enemy ! Although Lt Col W. Joerg tried to convey to the 504th PIR staff the exhausted and depleted condition of his Battalion, the orders to be ready to attack and capture the village of Rochelinval were maintained ! The 551st had to be ready for kickoff early morning of January 7 . The assault was a tragedy, by 0830 A Company had been virtually wiped out as a fighting force – B Company pressed on its attack – and C Company was called in to help … by 1500 the fighting for Rochelinval was over, but the 551st PIB was no more … the Battalion had suffered 84% casualties in the Bulge, lost its Commander, and on February 10, 1945, it was to be deactivated and disbanded, any survivors would be absorbed into the Infantry Regiments of the 82d Airborne Division !
After reaching Germany, we were finally grouped together with 30 captured USAAF personnel and interrogated at the PW Interrogation Center
at Diez (near Limburg a.d. Lahn), located at Stalag XIIA, and after a stay of approximately 25 days, we got transferred to Stalag IVA (Mühlberg a.d. Elbe,
Wehrkreis IV-Dresden), where I arrived on February 4, 1945 . Liberated by the Russians April 23, we were evacuated to Leipzig . Held against our will, I
managed to escape with 3 other American PWs, we walked for 6 days to reach the Elbe River … found an abandoned cart and two old horses and crossed a
bridge (guarded by Russian soldiers) to reach American lines ! I was now a free man, it was June 24, 1945 . I was evacuated to France, and stationed at
Camp ‘Lucky Strike’ for further medical treatment . Back in the ZI, I was now assigned to the 82d Airborne Division (the 551st PIB had been inactivated,
after the battle for Rochelinval), I was officially discharged on October 5, 1945 .
(Joe M. CICCHINELLI, Cpl, A Co, 551st Prcht Inf Bn, 82d Abn Div, USA, 15078344, recollections)
" a White Christmas in the Belgian Ardennes "
Our Regiment settled in at the former French Army cantonment at Sissonne, France, about 30 miles northeast of Reims . For the first time, foxhole time
was computed to determine who would be entitled to the limited passes to Paris and the Riviera . a Thanksgiving dinner of turkey with all the trimmings
was served on Thanksgiving Day 1944 to the troops in their new quarters . Replacements arrived and were assigned to the various Companies to bring them up
to strength . Some of these men were jumpers, with parachute training coming directly from the States . They were downcast when they learned they would
have to serve in a Glider Regiment, and thought this would tarnish their ‘elite’ image . Once in combat, however, they learned that bravery under enemy
fire took more guts than jumping out of a plane in flight, and bullets from an enemy gun did NOT distinguish between a glider soldier or a paratrooper !
Early December 1944, Major Richard E. GERARD was transferred from the Division G-3 Section to command the
1st Battalion . An exceptionally fine Staff Officer, he could now show his leadership in a command position . Captain
Major RICHARDSON, a jumper with the 507th PIR, was transferred to the 325th to serve as Executive Officer of
the 1st Battalion . The infusion of paratroopers was made, in MG Gavin’s opinion, to raise the quality of leadership and to promote qualified paratroopers .
Numerous promotions were also made in the Enlisted ranks to fill the vacancies created by casualties . Lt Colonel Teddy H. SANFORD (XO >
325th Gli Inf Regt) arrived with troops, equipment, and supplies from our former Base Camp at Scraptoft, England, which was being closed down .
Orders came down from Division for our Regiment to be ready to move by 180900 December 1944 ! The information was sketchy,
but one thing was told and repeated: the Germans were on the move ! The enemy had penetrated American lines in the rugged terrain of the Belgian Ardennes,
and the 325th was moving up to help plug the gap … it was that simple . Men were angry, their peaceful existence had been interrupted, passes were revoked,
but they would FIGHT ! We were busy all the preceding night, drawing rations, ammunition, packing surplus uniforms and B bags and moving them to storage .
All excess equipment was turned in and at dawn, large 40-foot trailers and trucks arrived for the move . The Regiment was on its way to Bastogne … we were
so packed in these long ‘cattle trucks’ that it was difficult to sit down, roads were congested with military traffic, delays occurred frequently, and
although there was an urgent need for troops at the front, rations, gasoline, and ammo also had to be moved to the Ardennes sector . Wearing long johns
and undershirts, wool clothing, a combat uniform, and a long heavy wool overcoat, the men vainly tried to get a little sleep as darkness fell and the
trucks continued to jostle forward and stop . Nearing the turn-off to drive to Bastogne, the head of our column was stopped and directed to continue north
to Werbomont instead (the 101st A/B, following the 82d, would go to Bastogne) ! Prior to daylight, our unit unloaded from
the convoy at Werbomont . The 3d Battalion was immediately moved out to Barvaux, were they started digging defensive positions; F Company, 2d Battalion
was sent to Grandmenil and Manhay; Division Headquarters set up in Werbomont village; and the 1st Battalion started digging in for a perimeter defense .
The 1st and 2d Bns would later occupy positions along the ridge running east and west between Grand Sart and Fraiture, while the 3d Battalion would fill
in the center of the line overlooking Regné . Stragglers from the 106th Infantry Division, the 28th
Infantry Division and smaller units passed thru our lines, but not before answering a battery of questions, as a warning had been issued that
the Germans had teams wearing American uniforms probing the line . All Regiments were now in the line in the order, left to right:
504th PIR, 505th PIR, 508th PIR, 325th GIR; the Division forward CP was established in Lierneux, at the railroad crossing on the northern edge
of the town . Divisional artillery was located in the Lierneux-Goronne-Vielsalm valley .
A TD unit, dislocated from its parent unit, came thru Sart and into the defenses of A Co . Some of the men soon made friends with the crew on one of these
SP 90mm guns and talked them into moving into a position to bolster their defenses . Then to make sure the tank crew would not change their mind, a few AT
mines were placed behind them . An often told story of the Battle of the Bulge happened at this time . A lone G.I. was digging a foxhole along the
Vielsalm-Fraiture road . An American Tank Destroyer was moving along the same road obviously trying to get away from the advancing German columns that had
penetrated the American lines . As the tank came upon this lone infantry soldier digging his foxhole, he stopped … the G.I., a Pfc from the 325th Glider
Infantry, looked up and said ; “Are you looking for a safe place ?” “Yeah”, said the sergeant on the tank . “Well, buddy”, the doughboy drawled, “just pull
your vehicle up behind me . I’m the 82d Airborne, and this is as far as the bastards are going !” This was the attitude of our glidermen; they were there
to fight, not to run, they would stand fast ! A German column with over 100 vehicles pulled into Ottré, about four miles from our front line . This column
was first sighted by a 325th GIR jeep patrol driving into the village and meeting the German lead elements head on . The patrol fired a few shots while
turning the jeep around, and then made a hasty exit . Later a unit of kraut infantry, with armor support (2d SS Panzer Division), made an attack up to the
road toward Joubiéval, where A Co was dug in, the attack was repulsed by the men in the foxholes with a heavy concentration of artillery support .
Meanwhile, the temperature dropped to about 20°F, the ground was frozen with a light snow falling in the area around Fraiture, as the weather got worse,
the sky was overcast for several days, grounding air support . Luckily artillery support was plentiful and was used lavishly, pounding enemy movements
sighted along the front . On December 24, B Company took possession of Regné driving the Germans out of town with armor support from the
14th Tank Battalion . Among the enemy PWs was an Officer (a Regtl Adj of the 2d Panzer Div) with maps and written orders
for the German units along the front . He was hustled back immediately to the 325th GIR CP where Major Michael K. BERKUT
sent him on to the Division G-2 for interrogation . As a result of this the 325th was ordered to extend its right flank to include the Fraiture ridge .
The afternoon of December 24, our Regiment received orders to withdraw about seven miles to a new XVIII A/B Corps defense
line extending from Trois-Ponts to Vaux-Chavanne . Although not everyone was aware of this, certainly not the troops, this was Field Marshal Montgomery’s
order to “tidy up the line, a bit” . It was the first time the All Americans would give up
any territory to the enemy and effect a ‘voluntary withdrawal’ … the Division was in fact facing 3 German Panzer Divisions, and the right flank was being
threatened near Manhay ! Each Rifle Company was instructed to prepare to withdraw at 2200 – a holding force of two squads was to be left in a strategic
location in each Company area – at 0200 (the following day), the holding group was to pull back via a designated route thru the village of Lierneux .
Lt Col Teddy H. SANFORD was designated as the Regimental holding force CO and would lead this group up the road toward Bra
and the new Divisional defensive location . While friendly artillery concentrations were fired into the German lines, a light snow began to fall around
midnight . Most men were being pushed physically to stay in the marching columns toting their heavy loads . As the Batallions reached the new defensive
line, they were given their orders and directed to their new positions . The 3d Bn occupied positions behind the MLR, manned several roadblocks and did
patrolling; the 2d Bn moved to Regimental Reserve; the 1st Bn was moved by truck three miles to the right flank, in the direction of Vaux-Chavanne . Back
on the line, Grand Sart to Fraiture, the holding force from the front-line Companies started its withdrawal promptly at 0200 . The urgency of moving
rapidly was understood by everyone – in fact this skeleton force would have been no match for the German juggernaut poised behind them . As this force
converged on Lierneux, Lt Col Teddy SANFORD started them on the road to Bra . He placed the 1st Battalion group at the tail end of the column, and ordered
me to take command of a rear guard force (I was acting XO, 1st Bn, in place of Capt Major RICHARDSON, who missed the departing
convoy, by opportunely turning himself in to the hospital for an undisclosed malady, December 17) . Since I was better acquainted with the men of C Co
(my own Company), I selected men from this unit to serve as rear guard . If the Germans had pulled up behind the withdrawing column, the rear guard was
prepared to take positions on each side of the road to ambush and delay the attackers . This group was expendable, but it would give the main column
precious time to reach the 82d line at the village of Bra . No one dropped out of the column, for the men knew that German Panzer units were now on the
roads behind them, and with death or capture dogging the heels of the column, men found the strength to push ahead …
As the main body of our troops moved thru the 82d lines at Bra, around 250200 Christmas morning (December 25), the
307th Airborne Engineer Battalion went into action . Evidently they had not been told about the holding force . Working
diligently to complete their job before complete daylight, the engineers moved out about two miles south of Bra and destroyed a bridge across the swollen
Salm River, laid minefields and established roadblocks . In the first dim light of Christmas Day, the head of the holding unit, about one half mile distant,
saw the bridge blasted into the air . Not a very comforting sight ! Battling fatigue and numbing cold, we would now have to negotiate the obstacles being
prepared for the advancing German forces . Abandoning the road, we plowed thru snow drifts in the ditches, moved into a farmer’s field and down to the
stream . We had to break thru the ice on each side of the river and wade in water that came almost to our knees . Our feet were soon encrusted with ice .
Approaching the new defensive line, we encountered another obstacle . The same engineers had created a vast tank barrier by blasting down large pine trees
across the road on a distance of 300 yards . It was an effective barrier for on one side of the road was a steep hill, and on the other a stream, both
being efficient tank obstacles . This row of abatis brought on wholesale abandonment of heavy equipment and ammunition by the holding force . The exertion
it took to climb over and push thru this solid mass of pine boughs was excruciating, unfortunately there was NO alternative route . The men knew they were
near their new positions and pushed ahead . Upon arrival, men were exhausted, they then sat down in the snow, unable to move . Some even immediately fell
asleep . Trucks finally arrived to transport the group to their units .
At the village of Dri le Chèslin, on the right flank of the Division MLR, the 1st Battalion started digging defensive positions, with B Co on the left,
tied in with the 504th Parachute Infantry and C Co on the right with an open flank . A Co, in reserve, occupied the
village itself, thus completing an all-round defense . Maj Richard E. GERARD Battalion’s CP was established in a house near the center of the village and
the Communications Section moved into a small out building . Mining and wiring were under way, with great difficulty, due to the hilly terrain . Sgt Larrie
GOURLIE, radio operator to Maj R.E. Gerard, went to one of the nearby barns, found a milk pail and proceeded to milk one of the cows; when he returned to
his group with warm fresh milk, a trasty treat for Xmas Day, his city-dwelling buddies wanted no part of it, for it was not pasteurized, so the men just
ate their cold K-Rations and dug foxholes in the frozen ground . With no sleep on Christmas Eve, everyone was thoroughly exhausted, but the men at least
knew the relative safety of a foxhole . December 25, 1944, contact was established with infantry pertaining to the 7th Armored
Division on our right, finally buttoning up our new overall defense . On our left, stood the 30th Infantry Division .
In the early morning hours of December 26 a German infantry unit of battalion strength (2d SS Panzer Div again) came up
the road from Manhay and moved thru the woods toward the village . In the darkness they opened fire as they came, pummelling Dri le Chèslin with their
machine guns . They advanced with confidence, overrunning the 325 outposts and moving into the outskirts of the village . Tracers lit up the sky as our B
and C Co glidermen held their positions against this onslaught . Martin Stahel, C Co, held his ground as the Germans swept toward him in the darkness .
With his M-1 rifle he was doing his best to hold the enemy in check . He turned quickly and looked to his rear as the distinctive sound of a BAR reached
him . He saw the shadow of a kraut soldier go down with a loud yell . Concentrating on the action in front of him, Pvt Stahel caught the flash of a gun
behind him and a searing hot dagger went thru his neck and shoulder . For a few minutes, he lay thinking he was going to die . As the warm sticky blood
began to run down his neck under his clothes, he decided that he must quickly obtain help . Twisting out of his pack and individual equipment, he crawled
from his trench and started back toward the village . As he stumbled along toward the village, oblivious to the death and destruction going on around him,
he realized he could not talk – the bullet had grazed his voice box as it passed thru his neck into his shoulder . Nearing one of the houses occupied by
other C Co men he croaked his name . A hand was placed on his arm and a voice said; “This is Townsend, I will lead you.” Moving around the house there was
a blinding flash and a loud bang . Townsend loosened his grip and the sound of a helmet hitting the ground was heard . Another set of hands then guided
Stahel to a basement stairway, he lay there on the dirt floor while a medic looked at his wound . The aidman started to give him a shot of morphine, but
Stahel shook his head and pushed him away, afraid he would choke to death on his blood, if he had morphine . As daylight finally arrived, the reserve
Platoons of C and B Companies pushed forward, eliminating or capturing the Germans still in the area . The 60mm Mortar Section of C Company, under command
of S/Sgt Samuel PITORAK, contributed much to stopping the enemy attack . They were well dug in behind a barn with a trailer load of ammo at their
position . From the start of the attack until daylight, these men fired almost 500 rounds of 60mm shells from their three weapons . At the the height of
the attack, Germans infiltrated the Dri le Chèslin, causing more confusion among the defenders . The next morning a German machine pistol was found
abandoned just outside the entrance to Maj R. E. Gerard’s CP … Our Battalion was then relieved by the 23th Armored Infantry Battalion,
7th Armored Division, we then moved to an area northeast of Dri le Chèslin .
The 325th Regimental “Chestnut” CP was located in a place called Au Hêtre . On December 27, 4 veteran Officers and 39 EM returning from pass came up from Sissonne, bringing in 370 needed replacements . These men, most of them fresh from the States, had been given a chance to attend a church service at Sissonne on Christmas Day . They were parceled out to the Companies to replace casualties, and had barely time to become acquainted before being thrown into the next attack . Some were seriously wounded and already on their way back to the States after only a few hours of combat under their belts . I remember some of these replacements, such as; Cpl Gregory Boyer, a paratrooper assigned to the 2d Bn AT Platoon, although he had not been trained on the 57mm AT gun, but once in combat, he learned fast ! Two other replacements, Robert Wesseling and Carl LeMier had volunteered for parachute training in Italy, when they joined us on December 27, Wesseling was assigned to the 3d Bn as a medic, LeMier went to B Co, and was wounded on January 3 . |
 Pfc Vernon HAUGHT, 325th GIR coming in from OP duty, near Odrimont, Bulge, Belgium – January 6, 1945 |
CLOTHING :
Arctic Overshoes (four-buckle, cloth top type) as well as high Shoe Pacs were issued to our men . The Shoe Pac, a one-piece leather top and rubber foot,
was an immediate favorite ! In the deep snow and cold weather, the men wore all the clothes they could – this included long underwear, wool shirt and
trousers, and over this the field jacket and corresponding trousers . If a man had a wool sweater, he wore that too, and when permitted, the full length
wool OD overcoat . Wool gloves were a luxury, if you had a pair . Under the helmet liner he wore a beanie cap .
On January 1, 1945 the Regiment assembled on a pine-covered ridge where they sought shelter under the pines out of the
snow and the cold, kitchens were brought forward and the overdue Christmas Dinner of turkey was served . We all enjoyed the first real meal since leaving
Sissonne, the morning of December 18 …
The 82d Airborne Division consolidated its positions along the Salm River and continued to eliminate enemy pockets . Contact was made with the
3d Armored Division . Relief by the 75th Infantry Division was on its way . It was
completed by January 11 and the entire 82d was now moved to Corps reserve in an area bounded by Waimes, Xhoffraix, Malmédy
and Boughez . Our Regiment was moved by trucks to the town of Pépinster, near Verviers for a well-earned midwinter break … where we were quartered in a
large textile factory . I returned to C Company as Commanding Officer on February 2, 1945 .
 Capt Wayne W. PIERCE (L) CO C Co + 1st Lt Robert KELLY (R) XO C Co – Sissonne France – March 1945 |
 Capt Wayne PIERCE being awarded the Silver Star by MG James M.GAVIN, at Ludwigslust, Germany – late May 1945 |
The first contingent of 60 men from the 325 left Ludwigslust for deployment stateside on May 17 . The group was headed by Lt Col
Teddy H. SANFORD and included a number of ‘high pointers’ . Glider flights were made to assure that all men were qualified for glider flight
pay . Early June, the Regiment moved by rail and truck back to Sissonne . A Division review was held on June 9, and General J.M. Gavin announced that the
Division would go to Berlin for occupation duty . On June 14 and 15 the Regiment moved by 40 x 8 box cars to Epinal, where we were quartered in large stone
French Army barracks . Records were reviewed and updated to determine every man’s ‘point status’ . All men with 85 points or more were slated for return
to the States; they would not join the Division in Berlin . All high-point men would be transferred to the 17th Airborne Division
for return to the ZI and an equal number of 17th A/B low-pointers would be transferred to the 82d A/B for duty in Berlin . High-point Officers, NCOs and
EM of the 325th GIR were transferred to the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division (located on the
outskirts of Luneville) where they were assigned the same position they had in the 325 . This took place the last week of June 1945 . With no more combat
missions to contemplate, time moved rapidly . Early August, a group of high-pointers (I was part of this group) were started on the way home on what was
known as “The Green Project” . The group, consisting of approximately 50 men, went by train to Marseilles . From there
they flew in B-17 bombers to Casablanca, then further by air to Dakar, across the South Atlantic to Natal (Brazil), and finally they headed north and
landed at Miami Beach (Florida) on August 19, 1945 .
I was officially discharged December 15, 1945 at the Ft. Sheridan, Illinois, Separation Center, with the rank of
Captain in the 17th Airborne Division . (I was drafted in the Army of the United States on June 22, 1941, and
was honorably discharged as a Corporal, ASN 36039694, at Ft. Benning, Georgia, on August 26, 1942; I re-enlisted, then went to Infantry-OCS and received a
Second Lieutenant commission on August 27, 1942, ASN O-1291691); I later got promoted to First Lieutenant on June 21, 1943, and to Captain on July 1, 1944 .
I was a member respectively of the 3d Infantry Division, the 82d Airborne Division, and the
17th Airborne Division .
(Wayne W. PIERCE, Capt, C Co, 325th Gli Inf Regt, 82d Abn Div, USA, O-1291691, recollections)
 Capt W.W. Pierce, Cp Sissonne, France, March 1945 |
 chow time, 325th GIR occupation duty, Germany (note new combat & cargo pack & unit insignia on steel helmet) |
