by Ian Gardner
The chapel at the Catholic Seminary became one of the first medical facilities to be established in Bastogne. (Reg Jans)
Abandoned tents belonging to 326th Airborne Medical Co near Herbaimont after the surprise German attack at Crossroad X. (Reg Jans)
German Commandos taking a break somewhere along the Belgian border next to an abandoned US M8 Greyhound Scout Car. (NARA via Donald van den Bogert)
Young German soldiers surrendering somewhere in the Bulge. (Joël Robert)
Stragglers from the 28th ID (Keystone Boys) at Sibret possibly being sent to support the 101st at Bastogne before the encirclement. (NARA via Donald van den Bogert)
Soldiers from the 501st PIR searching German prisoners outside the stables behind the Gendarmerie in Bastogne. (André Meurisse)
German prisoners burying bodies in the town cemetery opposite Caserne Heintz. (Reg Jans)
Stream where 2nd Lt Harry Begle (2 Ptn H Co) led his men. In the distance can be seen the railway embankment and Detaille Farm (3rd Bn CP). In 1944 everything right of the watercourse was woods and the area on the left open fields.
A mixture of American casualties gathered somewhere inside the encirclement, possibly Bizory. (John Gibson via John Klein)
Wounded arriving at the makeshift hospital in Caserne Heintz. The soldier on the stretcher appears to be German. (Reg Jans)
CO of Regt HQ Co Capt Gene Brown is pictured here during the winter of 1943 in his room at Littlecote House, England. (John Reeder via D-Day Paratroopers Historical Center, St-Côme-du-Mont)
1st Lt Chester Osborne, G Co, led 1 Ptn through Bastogne before being reassigned to HQ Co in late January 1945. (Dan & Laurie Uhlman)
Sgt Sam “Dud” Hefner, 3 Ptn H Co.
New Englander Pvt Mike Eliuk, 3 Ptn H Co, who was killed in action on December 21, 1944. (Alex Andros via Mark Bando)
This picture taken in central Bastogne opposite Hotel Lebrun shows two members of Combat Command B awaiting Team SNAFU deployment. (NARA via Donald van den Bogert)
Post-Christmas view looking north through the Bois Champay towards Route Madame and the 3rd Bn MLR. The battalion aid station was located foreground (right) just inside the tree line. (Currahee Scrapbook)
Bastogne’s devastated town square during the early part of the siege. (Reg Jans)
Lt Helmuth Henke from the Panzer-Lehr operations section was a member of the German delegation sent to discuss surrender terms with Tony McAuliffe. (Reg Jans)
Pathfinder 1st Lt Shrable Williams jumped with his stick on December 23 to help facilitate the relief operation of Bastogne. (Roger Day)
First air re-supply coming in on December 23, 1944. (Reg Jans)
Pathfinder Pfc Jack Agnew (Regt HQ Co) operating signal equipment for the next re-supply drop at the Brick Factory along Route de Marche, probably on Boxing Day. (NARA via Donald van den Bogert)
Paratroopers recovering equipment from a later supply drop. (Currahee Scrapbook)
Divisional medics recovering supplies from the DZ. (Reg Jans)
Drop on December 26 as seen from the parade ground at Caserne Heintz. Col Sink’s CP was located in the last block on the right. (NARA via Donald van den Bogert)
Members of 3rd Bn’s medical detachment celebrating Christmas Day outside the aid station in the Bois Champay. L to R (standing): Harold Haycraft, Talford Wynne, Walter Pelcher, John Eckman; (kneeling) Eugene Woodside, John Gibson, Robert Evans, Andy Sosnack. (John Gibson via John Klein)
Midnight Mass for walking wounded in one of the barrack blocks at Caserne Heintz. Moments after this photograph was taken a German air raid broke up the service. (NARA via Donald van den Bogert)
On Christmas Day the senior commanders took a few moments out to contemplate the festive season. L to R: William Roberts, Ned Moore, Gerald Higgins, Tony McAuliffe, Thomas Sherburne, Harry Kinnard, Carl Kohls, Paul Danahy, and Curtis Renfro. (NARA via Donald van den Bogert)
Christmas Day; Paul Danahy, Tony McAuliffe, and Harry Kinnard with a road sign that ended up on the wall outside McAuliffe’s CP. (NARA)
Abandoned GC4A gliders and “Stardust,” a C-47 that crash landed east of Savy being inspected by members of the 321st GFA who drained over 200 gallons of fuel from its tanks. (Don Straith via Reg Jans)
Troops from 10th Armored Infantry Bn, 4th Armored Division, on their way to Bastogne. (NARA via Donald van den Bogert)
Vehicle convoy moving up towards Bastogne. (John Gibson via John Klein)
A German Panzer V, also known as the Panther, abandoned by its crew somewhere around the perimeter. (John Gibson via John Klein)
Patton and Tony McAuliffe awarding the DSC to 32-year-old Steve Chappuis, CO 502nd PIR, at Château de Rolley for his incredible leadership during the German attack at Champs on Christmas Day. (Reg Jans)
Shortly after arriving in theater, Gen Taylor presented Silver Stars at Caserne Heintz to the CO of 705th TD Bn, LtCol Clifford Templeton, and Col William Roberts (standing rear), CO of Combat Command B. (NARA via Donald van den Bogert)
Cpl Jim Brown from 2 Ptn I Co had a premonition that he was not going to make it. (Bill Galbraith via John Klein)
Cpl Bobbie Rommel, MG Ptn, was injured on January 9 in the Fazone Woods.
Pictured here in September 1945, T/4 Robert Webb from Communications Ptn was badly affected by the shelling in the Fazone Woods. (Bob Webb Jr)
1st Lt Peter Madden, CO of 81mm Mortar Platoon, seen here in May 1944 with Peter and Anne Mills at their home in Ramsbury where he was billeted before and after D-Day. (Peter Mills)
A paratrooper, probably from the 82nd Airborne Division, poses for a publicity picture while guarding German POWs. (NARA via Donald van den Bogert)
German prisoners being marched along the N30 above Foy close to the 3/506 MLR on January 13 in the direction of Bastogne. (Joël Robert)
A Panzer IV disabled by Pvt Al Cappelli (2 Ptn I Co) at the crossroad outside Jules Koeune’s house in Foy on January 13, 1945. (Joël Robert)
Foy, January 14/15, 1945: the clean up begins. Note the edge of the chapel (left) and the Gaspard house on the right. The soldier in the jeep (right foreground) is from HQ Co 502nd PIR. (John Gibson via John Klein)
M7 Priest SPG in action supporting the 506th PIR at Noville and beyond. (Reg Jans)
View north towards Foy from Joseph Collard’s house around January 14, along the N30, showing an M18 Hellcat from 11th Armored Division. (Currahee Scrapbook via Reg Jans & Robert Remacle)
Bastogne jammed with vehicles heading for the northern perimeter; note the seminary in the background. (NARA via Reg Jans)
Divisional meeting outside Noville Church, January 15. L to R: Maxwell Taylor, Dick Winters, Gerald Higgins, and Bob Sink. Higgins was one of the youngest brigadier generals in the US Army. (Reg Jans)
Silver Star Ceremony, Bastogne, January 18, 1945. L to R: LtGen Troy Middleton, Maxwell Taylor, BrigGen Charles Kilburn, Gerald Higgins, and Bastogne’s Mayor Leon Jacqmin stand at attention. (Reg Jans)
Capt Derwood Cann took command of G Co at Mourmelon on February 28, 1945. (Currahee Scrapbook)
Fred Bahlau pictured here shortly after being commissioned as a second lieutenant and posted to 1/506. (Reg Jans)
2nd Lt Roy Gates joined 3 Ptn E Co at Mourmelon in early April 1945. (Joe Muccia)
Sgt Lou Vecchi (right) and S/Sgt Gordon Yates (H Co Communications Ptn) strolling along the seafront on Promenade des Anglais, Nice, French Riviera, March 1945. (Lou Vecchi)
1st Squad H Co, Nievenheim, Ruhr Pocket April 1945. L to R (standing): Pvt Frank Parker, Pvt Carl Henson, Sgt Hank DiCarlo, Sgt Bob Hoffman (DiCarlo’s assistant), Pvt Vernon Timm; (kneeling) T/5 Jack Grace, Pfc Jimmy Igoe, Pvt Joe Novak, Pfc Wilber Johnson. (Hank DiCarlo)
Bob Hoffman, Pvt “Charlie” Kier, and Pvt Bob Willis from 1 Ptn H Co, constructively passing the time in between doing the laundry. (Lou Vecchi)
A photograph that appeared on the front cover of the March 1945 edition of Yank Magazine, showing Sonny Sundquist (center) a few weeks b
efore he deserted. (NARA via Donald van den Bogert)
One corner of KZ-IV (Camp 4) at Hurlag shortly after it was liberated. (NARA via Gerhard Roletscheck)
Troops from either 42nd or 45th ID. The same boxcars lined with bodies witnessed by 2nd Lt Ed Shames and Pfc Carl Fenstermacker from 3 Ptn E Co when they first arrived at Dachau. (NARA via Geoffrey & Gregory Walden)
Tanks and troops from 3rd ID were among the first American forces to reach Berchtesgaden and are seen here at the town square opposite the World War I Memorial. (NARA via Geoff Walden)
The 506th PIR in their DUKWs en route to Berchtesgaden. (Currahee Scrapbook)
Hitler’s Berghof, May 5, 1945: bombed by the British, burned by the SS, and then looted by the French. A soldier from 30th ID stands awestruck. (NARA via Geoff Walden)
Surrendered German troops near Munich. (George Koskimaki)
Two men from the 81st AA Bn toasting the end of hostilities at the World War I Memorial with a bottle of wine probably liberated from Göring’s cellar. (NARA)
SS-Obergruppenführer Gottlob Berger (left) seen here leaving the Berchtesgadener Hof Hotel. The white armband worn by the other officer signifies that permission had been granted by the 101st for him to carry a sidearm for protection. (John Gibson via John Klein)
2 Ptn G Co investigating a remote ski lodge northwest of Berchtesgaden. (Jim “Pee Wee” Martin)
2nd Lt Bahlau and members of C/506 enjoying the sunshine in the foothills above Bruck in Austria. (Fred Bahlau)
2nd Lt Alexander Hamilton and 2nd Lt Ed Shames (3 Ptn E Co) pictured here in the garden of the doctor’s house at Saalfelden. (Karen McGee)
Bob Hoffman enjoying a stein of Bavarian Beer at Zell, July 5, 1945. (Lou Vecchi)
Saalbach, H Co officers. L to R (standing): 1st Lt Willie Miller, 2nd Lt Don Barlow, 2nd Lt Harry Begle; (kneeling) 1st Lt Bob Stroud, Capt Jim Walker, 1st Lt Ed Buss, 1st Lt Alex Andros. (Lou Vecchi)
US soldiers visiting the remains of Hermann Göring’s house at Obersalzberg during the summer of 1945. (NARA via Geoff Walden)
Gathering of 3rd Bn officers June 1945. L to R (first row kneeling): 2nd Lt Bausman, 1st Lt Buss, 2nd Lt Bjorkman, 1st Lt Sutfin, 2nd Lt Berger, 1st Lt Walker, 1st Lt Replogle, 1st Lt Rowe; (second row kneeling) Hollbrook, 2nd Lt Wilkinson, 1st Lt Southerland, 1st Lt Raduenz, Bryant, Capt Walker, 1st Lt Albrecht; (third row standing) Capt Anderson, 1st Lt Miller, Capt Hollstein, 2nd Lt Barlow, Col Sink, LtCol Patch, Capt Cann, 2nd Lt Sardis, 1st Lt Osborne, 2nd Lt Schaefer; (fourth row standing) Capt Harrell, 1st Lt Heggeness, 2nd Lt Schroeder, Fortier, Holland, Lang, Harrington, Capt Doughty.
On September 3, 1945 a contingent from the 101st Airborne Division took part in a victory parade through Brussels to mark the first anniversary of its liberation. (NARA via Patrick Brion)
* In military terms, this refers to human annihilation, and is derived from the traditional depth of a grave: 6ft.
7
“Hell night”
Clearing the Fazone Woods – January 9, 1945
Since the siege was effectively broken on December 26, the regiment had been preparing for an all-out assault on the enemy lines. For the past week, Gen Patton’s Third Army had been working hard to widen the main arterial road and clear the route. During the epic advance, 4th Armored had inflicted over 2,000 enemy casualties, and it was reported that the road to Bastogne from Neufchâteau was littered with .50cal cases that in some places were over 3in deep. By January 5, the 506th PIR had begun to step up its patrolling and small-unit activity in a determined effort to regain control of the hills and woods surrounding Bastogne. Over the next few days, in order to keep up with the fluid tactical situation, Col Sink relocated his CP several times. Firstly Sink went to Sonne Fontaine Farm (where 3/502 also had their HQ) and then Hemroulle, before moving to Col Patch’s CP in the Bois Champay.
After being relieved by 3/501 at 0500hrs on January 9, 3rd Bn moved through the Bois Champay southwest from the MLR to an assembly area near Sonne Fontaine. At the time, Guy Jackson (3 Ptn H Co) was on OP duty in Foy at the Dumont house. “For some reason the signal to leave my post never arrived. Later in the afternoon an enemy tank began firing at my location from the north. As the shelling became more accurate I decided to abandon the property and return to the MLR where I discovered, much to my horror that the battalion had already pulled out. Not really knowing quite what to do, I walked south along the main road toward Bastogne.” A couple of hours earlier, 2nd Bn had advanced north, accompanied by tanks from Task Force Cherry. Their mission was to clear and occupy the woods at Fazone and the ground southwest of Vaux, in preparation for their forthcoming attack on Noville. The northeastern edge of Fazone was already part of the 506th MLR. This area of woods had previously been the domain of 1/506 but they were withdrawn during the early afternoon, and placed in mobile reserve behind 2nd Bn.
Over at Sonne Fontaine, Cpl Jim Brown (2 Ptn I Co) visited 3 Ptn looking for Harold Stedman, who recalls:
He sat down beside me, opened a packet of sweets, and began to talk. Jim had a bad feeling about the forthcoming attack and that he wasn’t going to make it. I told him not to be so ridiculous and focus on the job. After a few minutes of soul searching he shook my hand and returned to his own lines. Turning to leave, Jim said “Goodbye” and then insisted on thanking me for my friendship and always looking out for him when things got rough. “Don’t worry,” I reassured him, “Everything is gonna be just fine – I’ll be right there; now get the hell out of here.” Like most of the guys in our outfit we knew everything about each another – flaws and possible weaknesses and even families who, for the most part, we had never even met.
Meanwhile back on the western MLR, E and F/501 were in the process of attacking and reclaiming Recogne, and by 1230hrs had reached a line with the Château d’Hoffschmidt, which had been reoccupied by the Germans in early January. During the assault, crossing open ground west of the Bois Champay, the commanding officer of the 501st PIR, Col Julian Ewell, was seriously wounded.
A fresh fall of snow around 8in deep lay on top of the frozen crust, as 3rd Bn moved out toward Fazone at 1110hrs on January 9. 2/506 had crossed the first phase line 10 minutes earlier, and within half an hour had overrun a German OP, capturing a small number of enemy troops. During the 1½-mile move, 3rd Bn were to advance in a wide parallel maneuver, pivoting on the left flank as part of a limited objective assault, as Capt Jim Morton recalls: “After veering northeast, we headed toward Noville with 2/506 to our right and the 502nd supposedly on our left. As the battalion began to make its way into the Fazone Woods, HQ Co came under intense and accurate mortar fire.”
The initial shelling killed Pfc Len Lundquist (MG Ptn) and seriously injured 2nd Lt Ken Beard (battalion S2), who was hit in the arm by shrapnel. At the time, company mail clerk, Pvt Richard “Swede” Stockhouse, was temporarily attached to the MGs and became inconsolable after witnessing the death of Lundquist. Doc Dwyer grabbed hold of Stockhouse (who was only 5ft 2in) and marched him through the mortar fire to the nearest aid station. “Swede” had good reason to be in shock – Lundquist was his first cousin and they were extremely close.
During the barrage, Morton was blown over twice and his runner, Pvt Charles Coppala Jr, badly wounded in the knee. “The poor guy was in a lot of pain and lying in a very exposed position,” recalls Morton. “Upon retrieving his helmet, I carried Coppala (who was short but stocky) toward a nearby culvert which was the nearest protected place I could find.” Here a drainage ditch runs into the woods from an open field and continues on through a concrete pipe underneath a logging track before widening into a deeper basin. “As we moved towards the ditch another shell exploded into the trees, knocking us to the ground. Although the blast tore off my helmet and sunglasses, I wasn’t aware that it had also ripped away my entrenching tool. During this short space of time, the company took another six or seven casualties so we couldn’t hang around. As we were leaving, I came across a shattered bazooka with blood all over the ground.�
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Earlier, while Morton had been attending to Coppala, Bob Webb was at the end of his tether trying to maintain radio contact when all four SCR310 backpacks being used by the battalion ceased to work. A soldier was crying out for his mother as Webb and Leroy Vickers frantically tried to re-establish communications. Nearby, a young replacement holding a bazooka took a direct hit and was blown to pieces. At that point Bob’s nervous system went into overload, bringing on a form of Neurogenic Shock. For a moment, everyone thought Bob had lost his mind, but Vickers and T/4 Ed Sokolosky managed to calm him down to a point where he was once again able to function and continue forward.
The Germans had booby-trapped most of the main pathways along which the battalion were now advancing. 1st Lt Alex Andros recalls: “We were constantly stopping to carefully step over tripwires. The temperature had dropped off the scale and I don’t remember it ever being quite as cold as it was that day.” As 3/506 moved closer toward its final objective (a crossroad west of Noville at Cobru) they passed through several open areas, as medic Johnny Gibson remembers: “The group I was working with stopped along a small track on the edge of a wood to let a jeep pass by. Moving slowly through the snow, the vehicle struck a landmine with its left front wheel and parts of the engine and dashboard hit the driver in the chest. I was 40ft away and went over to help. Moments later, the driver, whose name was Herbert A. Derwig, died, but luckily his passenger whom I treated for shock escaped unharmed.”