They’d been at it for weeks, and it was the coldest winter anyone in that part of Europe had known. And yet the first thing the regimental scribes committed to the record was about how temperatures continued to fall. We only know that my great-grandfather served in the 137th Infantry Regiment. We don’t know which company, or even which battalion he was in, but the success we have had in digging up some details tells us that Tonice, a combat medic, was in Belgium on this day 70 years ago. And everyone was cold. Here is a glimpse into that unit’s history, and where he was, in the thick of it.

So, then, for Jan. 06:

The weather grew colder and the 137th Infantry continued its pressure for the second day on Villers, after capturing the all-important road junction. Heavy fire was received all along the Regiment’s front.

The 6th Cavalry Group relieved Company G in the Surre Woods and the unit assembled in the town of Surre … The 6th Cavalry Group moved into positions between the 3rd Battalion, 137th, and the positions vacated by Company G, 137th.

The organic and attached field artillery battalions continued to support the Division attack, firing TOT’s on all towns and roads in the Division sector. A heavy schedule of harassing fire continued throughout the day.

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 to be illustrative. Any errors are mine alone.

Join us as we slog through Belgium, revisiting my great-grandfather’s time in Europe through this map of his unit’s movements. Seventy years ago today the 137th Infantry Regiment was in close contact with Germans. We don’t know which company, or even which battalion he was in, so this is only a regimental overview with some movements down to the company level. This is just the roughest of overviews of what Tonice, a combat medic, might have experienced.

So, then, for Jan. 05:

The 137th Infantry struggled against the stubborn resistance, as the 1st Battalion moved from its position south of the Villers road junction to a position behind the 2nd Battalion, and prepared to follow the 2nd in an attack. The 2nd Battalion supported the 1st by fire and awaited its arrival in their rear before moving out. The 2nd Battalion cleared out infiltration parties and also mopped up the draw to its front. The 3rd Battalion secured positions vacated in the woods by the 1st Battalion after its move.

Heavy fire was received by the Regiment throughout the day. Three terrific barrages landed at 0720, just to the right of Company F positions. During the night, vigorous patrolling was conducted. Companies A and E turned back two enemy patrols. The Regimental listening post picked up several enemy armored vehicles moving in Villers during the night.

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.

A cold European winter, the coldest anyone could remember. The Battle of the Bulge was beginning to wind down, but Belgium was still a dangerous place on this day 70 years ago. My great-grandfather was there, serving as a combat medic in the 137th Infantry Regiment. We don’t know which company, or even which battalion Tonice was in, because he kept all of those experiences to himself, so this is only a regimental overview with some movements down to the company level.

So, then, for Jan. 04:

The 137th hurled an attack at the road junction west of Villers, captured and defended the position against heavy enemy counterattacks. The intense enemy artillery fire forced heavy casualties on the Regiment.

The attack was launched at 0800, and Company A was on the road junction by 1045. The 1st Battalion closed into an assembly area in the rear of the 2nd Battalion zone. The 3rd Battalion was assembled in Livarchamps, with Company I on the roadblocks. Company G was holding its 700-yard frontage in the Surre Woods, with its CP in Surre.

Please scroll around and click on the pins to catch up or read ahead.

This information is derived from the unit history, found here and here and from this unit overview. These markers are rough estimates, meant only to be illustrative. Any errors are mine alone.

This is the 70th anniversary of my great-grandfather’s service in Europe. Tonice was attached to the 137th Infantry Regiment, which fought in the famed 35th Division, as a combat medic. 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 Jan. 03:

The 137th Infantry attacked again, but was unsuccessful in taking the road junction west of Villers-la-Bonne-Eau. Enemy tanks thwarted the maneuvering of the 1st and 2nd Battalions. The 2nd Battalion had Companies E and F attacking west of Villers, and Company G on the defensive in the Surre Woods. Companies B, C, and A, in that order, were on the line below Villers. The 3rd Battalion was guarding the roadblocks on the Regiment’s front.

The 1st Battalion reported that the enemy was infiltrating up the road from Villers toward the road junction, and artillery checked this move. 2nd Battalion patrols reached the junction at noon, but were unable to take it. The 1st Battalion was under tank fire throughout the day, while both the 2nd and 3rd faced heavy artillery. The advance was stopped at 1700, and all units posted security and used patrols to keep contact with the enemy.

The second group of men from the 137th left this day for furloughs to the United States. The quota was one officer and 13 enlisted men from the Regiment.

You may have to scroll a bit to the north and west to bring Belgium into the frame to see today’s pin. Feel free to click around in the other thumbnails to catch up or read ahead.

This information is derived from the unit history, found here and here and from this unit overview. He never talked about the war and his quiet choice means that these markers are rough estimates, meant only to be illustrative. Any errors are mine alone.

My great-grandfather was in the war, but he would always carefully change the subject if we ever brought it up. Most of us learned more at his funeral than he told us during his life, he was a decorated combat medic. A few years ago I found his discharge papers, which put him in the 137th Infantry Regiment. It was Europe, then. We don’t know which company, or even which battalion he was in, so when I pulled all of this together in 2012 for his son, my grandfather, the descriptions were a bit vague. But at least we could name the towns and we had a timeline. And so here that is, a glimpse into that unit’s history, and where he was, in the thick of it.

So, then, for Jan. 02:

The 137th Infantry continued to attack the defenses about the town of Villers-la-Bonne-Eau as the 1st Battalion cleaned out the woods west of the town and then assisted Company F in clearing the enemy from the woods south of the enemy-held road junction west of Villers. Company E, pressing from the south, cleared enemy points. The 3rd Battalion assembled in the vicinity of Livarchamps, and Company I took over the roadblocks on the Regiment’s front. Company G remained in the Surre Woods. The enemy opposition continued to be strong. The weather was bitter cold.

The Division ordered operations to halt at 1755, the forward elements of the 137th dug-in and sent patrols to the front during the night. Regimental Headquarters was located at Honville, along with the 2nd Battalion CP, while the 1st and 3rd Battalion CP’s were in Livarchamps.

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 to be illustrative. Any errors are mine alone.