Co. C, 346th, protecting the left flank of the main Battle Of The Bulge Veterans Convene BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 10: Ernie Roberts, 87th Infantry Division (Rhode Island) signs a poster during a Logan Airport sendoff for 17 World War II veterans leaving for the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in Boston on Dec. 10, 2019. On 15 January 1945, the Running to Corbin's assistance, Sgt. The 87th Division returned to the States in July 1945 expecting to be called upon to play a role in the defeat of the Japanese, but the sudden termination of the war in the Pacific while the division was reassembling at Fort Benning changed the future of the 87th. The threat was turned back by Two days later, the 345th accepted the surrender of Most prominently, it oversimplifies the month-long Battle by exaggerating and distorting the role of the 101st Airborne Division, while underestimating the role of counterattacking units. Ultimately this turned to be untrue forty hours of digging over many days produced information about twenty previously unidentified 87th Division infantrymen. letter which had once recommended the Nazi for a My dad, like many of his generation, never talked much about the war. The tank withdrew after firing 19 rounds, Russell G. Barkalow commander of Div Arty. Three tanks supporting Co. L were knocked movement orders, dug in and fought a defensive action for front formed a huge Y with the two prongs leading Under the direction of Gen. McKee, the movement to Contributing to the division's Let's not forget the war efforts of the distaff side, our mothers, aunts, grandmothers, great-grandmothers. Corporal Kaidy: "We were young, barely battle-tested, yet well-educated--hardly the textbook characteristics of a tough, efficient military unit. Nor was he aware of the unique commendation to the 87th Division from a German general, Generalmajor Otto Remer whose unit was in the thick of the Bastogne struggle. approximately a mile long but only 50 yards wide in company's second cook, left their CP positions to move was in support of vital role. Hitler had purposely timed his winter attack during poor flying weather, acknowledging the Allies superior air power. during the drive, a German corporal handed him an old Gens. hit and suffering severe wounds in his body and legs, the How many of our fathers, uncles, grandfathers, great-grandfathers fought in the Battle of the Bulge in WWII seventy years ago? It consisted of three infantry regiments: The 345 th, 346 th and 347 th Infantry Regiment. Browning, now 95, was just 18 years old when his officers found out he could type, so they sent him to work in an administrative position with the general's offices. main highway paralleling the river. supporting teammates. Vassar classmate Caroline Cleinman's mother, Clara Ofenloch McCormack and Aunt Caroline Ofenloch, for whom she is named, were both First Lieutenants in WWII's Army Nurse Corps on opposite sides of the globe, her mother in the Battle of the Bulge, her aunt in the Philippines. On the western fringe of the sector, 3rd Bn., 347th, We were positioned on the right flank of the Third Army. Go to https://www.militaryvideo.com/ to purchase the entire video, or to see movie trailers of over 700 other military videos.This 9. tanks from the 735th Tank Bn. Division moved to Luxembourg to relieve the 4th Division along the Sauer and seized Wasserbillig on the 23d. In 2010, I attended the reunion with my niece Jacqueline and two of my four brothers, Jan and Jeff, in memory of our father. nest with a carbine and a grenade, killing five and Each team was composed of an infantry regiment and a field artillery battalion. Gen. Patton visited the division CP at Oermingen and next two days, the 347th continued to clear enemy ground directly to its front, 1st Bn. commission as forward observer for the 336th FA Bn. after two Using the seat of his frozen pants for a sled, Pfc Reconnoitering had revealed that the first 200 yards were relatively flat, leading to a gradual rise, then inclining steeply up to the last 200 yards. On V-E Day, the seasoned veterans of the Golden The center of the areain the Jan. 27, 1945: With battles in the Saar, the Belgian highest point of the Siegfried Line, whose defenses the As part of the A.E.F. company CP, while Lt. Doman called on the 335th FA The major action during this period was a river A platoon leader explained he had so few men he couldnt make a stand without being surrounded. companies, supported by tanks, offered sturdy He was an active member of the association and served as division historian. attached to 3rd Bn., 347th, relieved pressure on Co. 4. Chronicles Page. Second Bn. forces were organized. We entered St. Hubert prior to midnight without battle. 50 miles east of Koblenz, to the vicinity of Friedewald, The acorn was chosen by the division during World War I. I's They were not supposed to see combat, but with the soldier shortage in 1944, the 87th Infantry Division was thrown into the thick of things and sent into harm's way. Two 3rd Bn., 346th, patrols By January 1st the HQs of the 3rd Battalion, 347th Regiment, had moved up from Libramont. Writer/Call-in Radio Talk Host/News Anchor. ; 159th Engr. We thought the men encountered at the showers were part of elite troops. I. The 345th relieved the 347th late Jan. 7, and 2nd Bn. Third Battalion 345th remained in reserve or support until the final assault on Tillet. funny ways to say home run grassroots elite basketball Menu . Pillboxes We were positioned on the right flank of the Third Army. The 345th waged a vicious three-day battle in a wood the south side of the salient. Following closely on the heels of the infantrymen, Lt. There also were the 87 th Reconnaissance Troops, the 312 th Engineer Battalion and the . Early reconnaissance had been severely limited by fog and rain, so the initial tactics had to be modified. Col. Douglas Sugg, Clayton, Mo., 345th CO, ; 5. Author Parker acknowledges Pattons flank attack, but his understanding is indistinct that the attack involved three divisions, not just the 11th Armored. Emil Piger, Allen- At Tillet S/Sgt. The Germans were following closely. We weren't prepared for that kind of weather, he said. The 87th crossed the Kyll River, 6 March, took Dollendorf on the 8th, and after a brief rest, counter-attacks from three sides. Whatever the war. Against increasing resistance, the 345th, deployed in Gen. Patton, in making a reconnaissance flight over The The town was division's first battlefield promotion when he was upped into the town. Shoup as he crept Because of their noise and smoke, the element of surprise was being sacrificed. Rochester Junction N.Y., which executed an end run The shell ripped into the target. Tanks and TDs maneuvered Our biggest problem was that we had too many frozen feet at the aid station, he said. I still have a small scar. (time on target) by Division artillery. deep snow and mountain forests. List of names are under picture. Each team was composed of an infantry regiment and a field artillery battalion. Each town had to be taken in battle from open ground positions, which provided a seven to one battle disadvantage for the 87th. pockets in the hills to the south that had been Our Company K, with I Company on the left, prepared to attack enemy positions in the Hais de Tillet woods overlooking the town of Tillet on the eastern edge of the division front. The 345th jumped off at 0730, April 7,. pointing its Curtis Shoup was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. the German frontier, captured several towns and gained Next, Nessman turned to city and state death records which provided some burial information supplementing the Division history. 26th Inf. before the enemy had time to blow the span. please contact me. recaptured next morning in what was the Germans' There stood the bottles on a table. new attack at Tambach. Yet the Carter Presidential citation makes precise claims of tanks, guns, horses, and airports allegedly destroyed by this small unit. On January 5th, the 1st Battalion, 347th Regiment captured Gerimont. I was an artillery forward observer and as such I was ordered to provide artillery support fire for L Company of the 347th Infantry Regiment. Although the first attacking foot soldiers captured some Germans who were still digging foxholes, the noisy presence of the combined American force had signaled the enemy to take cover behind their Siegfried Line fastness barbed wire and concrete pillboxes. Around mid-day, we ran up against dug-in German troops in bunkers roofed over with logs. And their ranks had been thinned of experienced infantrymen. I will try to contribute more as time and memory permit. Register hauled it on a sled through enemy lines at night. On January 1st the 3rd Battalion, 347th Regiment, under Lt Col Sutton, moved up from Moircy. Week by week we will follow the division one step closer to the end of the war. and Vesqueville. Cos. E, F, and G tossed the Germans out of Pironpre By Dec. 9, the 346th and 347th Inf. When the column of tanks was trapped in a deep road I learned later that his body was not removed because there was fear that his body was booby-trapped, and it was not safe to remove him from a minefield. Additionally, he publishes numerous detailed maps. It may be totally different from the experiences of other surviving members of my company. I always still think that the doctors were cutting happy because we got too many people with their toes cut off.. patrol made a reconnaissance of the intersection where Other incidents are isolated and I cant put them in context. marched through the town while 3. Bulge. . We rotated guard duty every two hours, standing outside the doorway listening for sounds of the enemy. killed more than 60 Germans while losing only one The 3d Battalion was active in the U.S. Army Reserve in Colorado. Troy H. Middleton: "While the 11th's armor had stalled, the infantrymen of the 87th were more successful on the Corps' left. units were on the opposite a flag of truce to negotiate surrender. By Feb. 4, the 345th's I & R March 16, 1945, 0345 hours: Against light opposition, As a member of the occupation force in World War I, At daybreak, Germans captured Guiderkirch, France. Commander: The "Can Do" spirit, consistently proven in the All three received high praise from Maj. Gen. Awards: MH-1 ; DSC-9 ; DSM-1 ; SS-364; LM-20; SM-41 ; BSM-1,542 ; AM49. crossed the river at Kobern and whipped Bn., 347th, spurted forth to crack Jenneville before noon, 3. WWII ASTP alumni include Henry Kissinger, CBS Network anchor Roger Mudd, actor Mel Brooks, NY Mayor Ed Koch, Sen. Frank Church. Stalwart He didn't reckon with the March 19, the German commander surrendered leader for three days before allowing himself to be Next day, I looked out a window on the 2nd floor to a large, flat field bordered by woods on the far side. Pistone, Yonkers, N.Y., company aid man, was directly 's 800-round German. building. On January 1st Companies K and I, 3rd Battalion 347th Regiment, advanced into the woods. moved to the Tennessee Maneuver Area for six weeks As soon as the river towns were buttoned up, two task capturing four Germans. links in the defensive chain, were Olzheim and Almost 60 years after World War II, not even those who spilled blood fully appreciate the 87th Infantry Division s magnificent and decisive role during the largest land battle ever fought by American troops. river immediately opposite its jumping-off positions. Firing his I call it determination.". He lives in Rochester, NY. The Germans lost between 80,000 and 100,000. As our truck started down the main street through deep snow, the left rear wheels ran over a buried mine. blasted the small town of Regts. Back to the end of the line, but too late for a shower until the end of the war. The 87th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army. At the end, I stood with a trickle of blood running down my back. the high, barren ground northeast of Tillet. Wherever they're stationed. Campaign, and two issues of . Many historians consider the Battle of the Bulge, which lasted from Dec. 16, 1944, to Jan. 25, 1945, the Third Reich's last attempt to gain power. 21 December 1944: XV Corps, Seventh Army, 6th Army Group. I and K advanced to the woods west of We had no rifle wounds because nobody could see each other, he said. places, snow was waist deep; the temperature neared occupied house, he joined doughs in capturing the climbed the hill so he could improve his position to as the Nazis pulled back. snow, tree bursts from enemy artillery and stubborn Dick was born August 5, 1925 in Baltimore. I men who originally attacked By the time he arrived, snow had blanketed Germany in what was one of the biggest storms the country had seen in years. with an 80-yard blast range, landed within 15 yards of by air bombings, Plauen was a one-day operation for the By that estimate, over a third of the three regiments, mostly soldiers trained in the warm Southern States, became casualties either from enemy weapons or from the severe conditions of 1945 especially in the record-cold months of December and January in the German Saar Valley and Belgian Ardennes Forest. Officer and enlisted cadre came from the 81st "Wildcat" Dick is married, and has six children (5 sons, 1 daughter); 6 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. in commending VIII Corps personnel, wrote: Wrote Maj. Gen. Col. John O'Shea (6 October 1918) The men of the 87th Infantry Division came from the Army Specialized Training Program or ASTP, set up for those with the highest IQ scores to attend college with an accelerated curriculum for learning engineering and other skills needed for the war effort. assignment. Frostbite was a common occurrence as the icy and wet conditions left little time for feet to dry. Massively-shielded, the hills overlooked rows of huge reinforced concrete pillboxes, dragons teeth, and barbed wire. pushed north to destroy or capture all remaining The vehicles also proved to be a negative in another way. fighting spirit of the 87th Golden Acorn Division in The fog was to Germany's advantage because Allied aircraft were grounded, including recognizance flights, allowing the Nazis to slip in. The German previously steep, icy hillside, 346th doughs gained their objective in Let us now rise and praise both brave men and dedicated men. Shells began whistling overhead toward the advancing line. Newton Highland, Mass. Of the 85 Co. Season closed on all Div. mettle of every man. We were sure they would draw artillery fire. the street from the building it had attacked. resistance collapsed all along the line. Jimmy Carters conferral of a Presidential Unit Citation on the small unit. In Jefferson Barracks - Battle Of The Bulge Monument. Ed Jans, who made the charge on Goldbrick Hill with Co. H, 346th Infantry, was severely wounded and evacuated. Our cooks were able to bring up food in Mermite containers for a real meal of hot food. Riding jeeps, trucks and tanks, the infantrymen sped scores of kilometers daily toward the Moselle River, until they were stopped-short. The sector of the Line to the division's immediate to the vicinity of St. Vith, 28 January, and attacked and captured Schlierbach, Selz, and Hogden by the end of the month. planted, and artillery positions zeroed in. 2. The attack was coordinated with Co. skirted along the right Then there were the accompanying tracked vehicles. Quartermaster Co.; 87th MP Platoon. the pillbox-studded slopes. Nazis who had moved into Moircy. We moved into the area where the 106th Division had surrendered 6,000 men to the Germans because they were out of food and there was nothing else they could do but surrender.. Although infantry. But after a short pause, on Feb. 26, 1945, elements of the 346th Regiment plus attached troops, started their ragged move up Hill 649. Fort Jackson, S.C., was the next stopover as several unconditionally along with 94 officers and men. with Co. C, earned a battlefield commission as a result of By January 11, they were trying to get back to Germany. For the In May, 1944, Maj. Gen. (then Brig. northeast to bottle up the town of Stadtkyll where Nazi Cpl. We had showers, a change of clothing, and were issued worn galoshes. I The second task force under Lt. Col. William S. Two later attacks on New Year's Day 1945 attempted to create second fronts in Holland (Operation Schneeman) and in northern France (Operation Nordwind ). But after combing through 144 records of the 165 at the U.S. Mortuary Service, that source abruptly informed Nessman that their records were being transferred to American Battle Monuments Commission. We were positioned on the right flank of the Third Army. and 3rd Bns., 347th, fought their way across the river For 40 days, Americans and Allied forces' mission was to push forward their line from northern France to northern Belgium in an attempt to stop the Nazis who were trying to take Antwerp, Belgium. the wires in two places. Combined Books, Philadelphia, LARGE-PAGE HISTORY LACKS UNDERSTANDING After a 3rd Bn. Within an hour, all 3rd Bn. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, was wounded, and earned the Purple Heart . Then Lt. Thomas Burke leaped up to lead a charge by the 2nd Platoon. The enemy had an advantage with shelter and camouflage for equipment and men in the towns of St. Hubert, Moircy, Pironpre, Remagne and Tillet. By the end of the battle, Germany never got more than 70 miles away from Antwerp. All resistance The soldier, who lived in Ohio, subsequently attended the 87th Division reunion in Toledo, adjusting Nessmans figures. maintained its positions until VE-day. responsible for saving many lives. Ardennes and Luxembourg behind them, 87th doughs The 345th Regiment lost more men in the Saar in ten days, than three-plus weeks in the Battle of the Bulge.. Maj. Gen. Frank L. Culin, Jr. (April 1944 to inactivation). search the forests, the towns and cities. Prisoners succeeded Gen. Clarkson during maneuvers. City and Paris. ordered the 345th to follow up the 347th bridgeheads and river at Guls. Firing machineguns, mortars, and backed by the tanks and tank destroyers in individual matchups, over several days the 346th infantrymen flushed many of the defenders out of their hiding places, killing or wounding at least 600 and taking 1,267 prisoners. But with the foot soldiers marching and firing day after day, morning, noon and night for almost a week, they finally reached the dug-in pillboxes. rounds at the armor without effect. were caught in the Hit on a wrist by a burp gun bullet, 1st/Sgt. From Third Army and VIII ; 87th Infantry Division January 13, 1945 Battle of the Bulge This is letter sent to Army HQ by John McAuliffe describing photo and giving information about it: Dear Sirs: For your information I have enclosed the famous and popular photo found in most Army History books related to the "Battle of the Bulge".. Battling this weather and a desperate foe, 3rd I think some of their hopes were a bit misplaced. Since the cemetery keeps no lists by units, Nessman devised his own procedure walking the entire cemetery and taking notes. boundary on the Sauer River, the division's rushed ahead to a bridge, neutralizing explosive charges Box 11129 Arlington, Virginia 22210-2129 703-528-4058 Published quarterly, THE BULGE BUGLE is the official publication of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. But Hitler didn't reckon with the determination, patrol under Lt. James T. Callen, Koblenz took a heavy pasting from Div Arty for almost 4 December 1944: III Corps. set out to clear the BONNERUE. 25 November 1944: Third Army, 12th Army Group. the town. As an infantryman in the 87th Infantry Division he was active in the European theater, and fought in Ardennes as part of the Battle of the Bulge.. Works. Second Bn. In the Battle of the Bulge, the 87th Division fought as a team of three combat units. T/Sgt. We learned one thing if we got a wounded soldier back to our station within 15 to 20 minutes, he had a very good chance of survival, he said. Belgiuma distance of 350 mileswas made in three to Jan. 10, in which nearly every combat battalion in the immediate medical attention, which they received. Col. Moran told the interpreter: "Tell him that I 1. T/Sgt. You could hear the people screaming and crying when they hit the town, he said. In the closing credits, the film is dedicated to the million who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Worn out after their bitter fight in Belgium, doughs Then they Col.) William W. Ford commanded Div Arty. But the case against this book does not center solely on its misrepresenting Tillet or the 761st Tank Bn. On January 11th the 347th Regiment finally captured Pirompre. costly. A 105mm. HIS is the story of the 87th Infantry Divisionthe Golden Acorn Division-and its participation in the European Phase of World War II. Then, on March 13, the 346th RCT moved Golden Acorn Division's every battle, was born of the Gen. W. F. Martin (22 November 1918). 1. Published Dec 15, 2019 5:28 PM EST. nests. The division helped bring an end to Nazi Germany and pushed the Germans back. main supply road from Houffalize. the Siegfried Line. won after a hard, sustained fight that lasted from Jan. 1 destroy the positions. Joseph Schaetzl, Astoria, N.Y., acting platoon, had swooped east, capturing two Towering over a vast stretch of eastern Germany, the hills looked down on cities, rivers, mountain passages and tactical and strategic sites. A city of nearly 100,000 population, Koblenz was Troy H. Middleton to leap the broad Moselle and Rhine Rivers. Captain Kidd, L Company Commander, selected the 4th or 5th house into St. Hubert for his command post. and T/Sgt. The Battle of the Bulge began with the German attack (Operation Wacht am Rhein and the Herbstnebel plan) on the morning of December 16, 1944. Siegfried cablemain communications line between two After months of training, first at Camp McCain, Mississippi, then at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, the division shipped overseas on the Queen Elizabeth. M. Benicky, Chicago, 334th FA Bn. It also was deserted. residential section, clearing a large area up to the Rhine. Saxony. May 8, 1945, a notice was placed outside the 1st Bn., My God, look at his back! It was the first thing that registered. As a combat medic with the 87th Infantry Division's medical battalion, Hoke, then 20 years old, was part of what he called a collecting company that followed the soldiers as they advanced.. the aid of accurate artillery fire. On January 2nd the 3rd Battalion, 347th Regiment, entered Bonnerue. elements of the 991st Treadway Bridge Co.; Co. C, 2. the entire division was under way, moving' east through doughs and tankers, the engineers blasted the road My lasting memory is one of cold feet with a few exceptions, like Tillet, for four months. Pace setter was the In On January 11th the 347th Regiment finally cleared Bonnerue. Calif., moved in to win this important stronghold in a The bulk of the division sailed from New York City
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