The day we’ve dreaded. The one your family, back home, doesn’t want to read about in a telegram or the papers in the next few weeks. But, because I found a copy of my great-grandfather’s discharge papers, I know this was the day his war ended. We’re in Belgium, this is an abbreviated version of the 137th Infantry Regiment and this was the day that Tonice, a combat medic, was wounded in battle. He never talked about it to us later in life, but it was enough to send him back to England and ultimately on a cruise back to the States.
So, then, for Jan. 09:
The entire III Corps was to launch an attack into the Belgian Bulge on the morning of January 9. The 3rd Battalion moved from Livarchamps and assembled between the 1st and 2nd Battalions.
With the 1st Battalion working on the left flank and the 2nd Battalion on the right, the 137th Infantry launched an attack on January 9, to take Villers and the ground to its north, but the enemy checked the thrust. The Regiment jumped off at 1000, supported by Company C, 735th Tank Battalion, along with Company B and one platoon of Company C, 654th TD Battalion, and was to attack in its zone until it was pinched out by its adjacent units.
The 1st Battalion stepped off, with B and C leading the attack, and Company C striking to the right of Company B. Supported by a company of tanks, the 2nd Battalion hit toward Villers and also protected the right flank of the Regiment’s zone. E and G Companies were on the line while Company F was in battalion reserve. The 3rd Battalion occupied a position to the left of Company A and maintained contact with the 134th Infantry.
The 137th Infantry suffered heavy casualties as the enemy stopped the attack.
The 1st Battalion was hit at 0230 by a heavy enemy patrol, which drove into the OP line. The stab was repulsed and casualties were inflicted upon the enemy. The OP line was re-established and reinforced at 0330.
The 2nd Battalion was heavily shelled, at 2335, by artillery and mortar fire.
This information is derived from the unit history, found here and here and from this unit overview. These markers are rough estimates and are meant only to be illustrative. Any errors are mine alone.
