This is the 70th anniversary of my great-grandfather’s service in Europe, so I’m bringing back this map I put together two years ago. Tonice was a combat medic, but he never talked about his service, so it was always a mystery to most of his family for decades. Key help from the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and further research helped bring 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. 8:
The 137th Infantry Regiment moved by foot to approximately nine miles east, in the direction of Sarreguemines.
Regimental Headquarters, Anti-tank Company, and the 1st Battalion located themselves in Hambach. The 2nd Battalion moved into the Foret de Sarreguemines, just south of Siltzheim The 3rd Battalion closed into Neufgrange and the Service Company was located in Gueblange. The 1st Battalion then moved to Sarreguemines, to occupy the town and patrol the south bank of the Saar River.
All was quiet in the towns occupied.
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.
