|
I was in Stavelot
|
| I was a Corporal (officially, T/5 - Technician, Fifth Grade). I hated the T/5 stripes because being a "Technician" in an Infantry Battalion did not sound correct. If I had been back at the rear, to repair weapons, or radios, or military vehicles or similar duty, the "Technician" rank would be OK. Thank God, the fellow G.I.'s called me Corporal. Incidently, prior to his commission, in France during World War I, my father was also a Corporal in the Infantry. |
| |
| I joined the 30th Division, 4 August 1944 from the replacement pool. Just in time to be in the Battle of Mortain. My "baptism-of-fire" was very impressive. |
| |
 |
| As mentioned above, I was Corporal in the communications Platoon of the 1st Battalion, HQ Company, 117th Infantry Regiment. Aside from operating the radio and telephone I was Battalion Code Clerk. The daily password would arrive from Regiment, as I recall, in four letter groups of code. I decoded the message and it was passed on to the Companies by runner. For most of the time I was to the rear at the Battalion Command Post, however once for a while I had to accompany the Battalion Staff to the forward observation post. I went with Colonel Frankland several times while in Stavelot and other places during the Bulge. Usually there were two radio operators (for one radio); at times we had a field phone. I continue to get away from the historical events. |
| |
| 17 December: We traveled via truck convoy from the Aachen area, at night through Eupen to Malmedy. When we arrived in Malmedy we heard that there were no Americans in front. Everyone in Battalion HQ joined the other units in defensive positions. I remember a warehouse type group of buildings. |
| |
| 18 December: I don't think we were more than an hour or so in Malmedy when we received word to get on trucks, we are moving. I did not know it was 1st Battalion only. We rode through a small town, I now know it was Francorchamps. A few miles further the trucks started up a small hill and stopped, we climbed out. Why did we stop? I expect the lead vehicle met the troops who were retreating from Stavelot. Next, I have a vivid memory of our line companies spreading out on either side of the road to advance, in attack, over the small hill and down toward the small town. We had not traveled far until we came to the mass of "JerryCans" that had been a gasoline dump. There were still several "hot spots" as we walked through the thousands of 5 gallons cans. As I recall there was no artillery or mortar fire. Small arms were active as our troops arrived in town. |
| |
| The Battalion CP was set up in a small house on the left, I think about 500 yards from town. We were in this house most of the Stavelot Battle. |
| |
 |
| Battalion HQ in this house first few days in Stavelot, December 1944 |
| |
| Germans, with tanks were reported in town. Companies "A", "B", "C" and "D" were under severe pressure from the German troops, but they never retreated from town. It might have been the first day, a prisoner was brought to the Battalion CP wearing a U.S. uniform. (At this time, we heard about them riding into town on American vehicles). |
| |
| I remember the prisoner very well. He showed no fear, in fact he was a young (perhaps 18) defiant, bold, I suppose "Nazi". I volunteered to escort him to the rear. I know he would have been shot trying to escape. This first day we had no armor support or artillery, I believe they arrived by morning of the second day. 81mm mortars of "D" Company, along with "D" Company Command Post were across the road from our CP. They were very active. |
| |
| As the companies were attacking all along the Battalion front, through town, toward the river, five jeeps with Germans in American uniforms attempted to rush across the bridge into town. Four jeeps were knocked out, one escaped. "This was the incident I tried to illustrate." |
| |
 |
| I understand it was "A" Company troops who were on the right side of the bridge who destroyed the German charge. The only visual reference I had of the location were the photos in my unit's histories. They show the bridge from the left, I chose to show a view from the right side of the bridge because Company "A" was on the right. I believe they shot up the German convoy. The position of the GI's and the location with a low wall are as I imagined it might have been. |
| |
| 20 December: The following day, our front line troops were using so much ammunition in destroying Germans attempting to wade the river, we, in the battalion rear were sending our own bullets to them via runners. It may have been on the night of December 19 or December 20, Lieutenant William O'Neill and others from his ammunition and pioneer platoon placed antitank mines near a German tank that was a threat to company "A". The mines destroyed the tank. |
| |
| 21 December: Aside from occasional small arms, mortar and artillery fire, the immediate area of Stavelot was not directly involved with the German effort… It was happening elsewhere. |
| |
| Just prior to moving the Battalion Command Post down into Stavelot we were receiving (infrequent) artillery. We all scrambled for the basement, almost all made it. One of my friends was about three leaps from the front door when he was hit in the foot with a small fragment. We all laughed with him for getting "A million dollar wound". This had to be a day or two after sharing a good Christmas dinner. |
| |
| Probably around the first of the year the Battalion CP was moved into town. It was at this time, (while we were in town) that I remember the V-1, buzz bombs passing overhead I know there was more than one; I do not recall the total count. |
| |
| A week or so into the New Year the 1st Battalion boarded trucks and traveled back to a small town, Sart, for rest and relaxation. Many of us were lucky enough to get to Spa and there bathed in the Mineral Springs resort. |
| |
| Our next objective was St Vith. During our hike south we saw the Quartermaster Troops loading the frozen bodies of "The Malmedy Massacre". |
| |
| La Gleize, 15th September 1999 |
 |
|
Left: Henry M. Stairs, 117th Infantry Regiment
Right: Victor R. Neiland, 117th Infantry Regiment
Center: Henri Rogister, webmaster
|
