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.

The Battle of the Bulge was basically over on this day in 1945. German troops withdrew from the tip of the “bulge.” Their losses were critical. The last of the German reserves were gone, the Luftwaffe had been broken, and the German army in the west was being pushed back. (Things were no better for the Third Reich on the Eastern Front.) Defeat was just a few months away.

American casualties were listed as 70,000 to 81,000, British casualties numbered 1,400. German casualties were slated between 60,000 and 104,000 and more than 100,000 German soldiers were taken prisoner. But, still, the fighting continued.

And check out this picture:

Unit history caption: Medics of the 137th remove the wounded from Lustremange (Bastogne), Belgium, shortly after the town was shelled by artillery.

Tonice, a combat medic, could have been the guy on the left, or another medic just out of frame. Most likely he’s not there, but he might have known one or two of them a bit.

So, then, for Jan. 08:

Active patrolling was conducted against the enemy and harassing fire was delivered throughout the day, as the 137th Infantry maintained its pressure on the enemy in the vicinity of Villers-la-Bonne-Eau.

The 1st Battalion relieved elements of the 28th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron with Companies B and C. Company G was relieved at noon by Company A, and then assembled in the rear of Company B. The 2nd Battalion continued to occupy its original positions on the right flank of the Regiment with E and F, as Company G moved from Surre to its battalion in relief of Company F. The 3rd Battalion continued to occupy positions southwest of Villers until it was relieved by elements of the 6th Cavalry Group, at 0915. The Battalion then assembled in the vicinity of Livarchamps. Company C, 735th Tank Battalion, and Company D, 3rd Chemical Battalion, were attached to the 137th.

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. And this is the anniversary of the day that Hitler agreed with his staff to pull back most of his forces from the Ardennes, thus ending all offensive operations. I’m guessing it didn’t feel like that to many of the men on the ground. Tonice, a combat medic attached to the 137th Infantry Regiment, was one of them. 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. 07:

The 11th day the 137th Infantry struggled against the well-defended town of Villers. The Regiment continued to put pressure on the village as it was being ripped apart by thundering artillery. The 137th’s front was cut down to approximately half its previous width as the 6th Cavalry Group took over the right portion of the Regiment’s sector. The 137th was flanked on the left by the 134th Infantry and on the right by the 6th Cavalry Group. Within the 137th zone, the 1st Battalion, with Companies A and C on the line, held down the left flank, and the 2nd Battalion, with E and F, was on the right. Company G remained in the Surre Woods, and the 3rd Battalion was assembled south of the 2nd Battalion. The 1st Battalion had moved its Command Post from Livarchamps to Halt.

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.