I pulled this map together two years ago, but given that this is the 70th anniversary of my great-grandfather’s service in Europe it seemed like a good time to bring it back with daily updates. Tonice was a combat medic, but he never talked about his service, so this was all something of a mystery to most of his family for decades. Key help, after he passed away, came from the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and further research brought to light what we know, but even that is somewhat vague. He was attached to some element of the 137th Infantry Regiment, which fought in the famed 35th Division. We don’t know which company, or even which battalion, so this is only a regimental overview with some movements down to the company level.**
So, then, for Dec. 6 and 7:
The 137th Regimental Headquarters opened in Hirbach with the 1st Battalion in Helving and 2nd Battalion in Bettring. No enemy artillery fire was received during the day.
View Tonice in the Bulge in a larger map
View Tonice in the Bulge in a larger map
Because my great-grandfather always changed the subject about his time in the war the entire family learned as much about his experience in the war at his funeral — and later, through this project — as anytime in his life. This information is derived from the unit history, found here and here and from this unit overview. His quiet choice means that these markers are rough estimates and are meant only to be illustrative. Any errors are mine alone.
