The 55th A.I.B. in Belgium in the Battle of the Bulge

The 55th A.I.B. in Belgium in the Battle of the Bulge

The 55th Armored Infantry Battalion of the 11th Armored Division of General Patton's Third U.S. Army ("Patton's Thunderbolts") entered the Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes) -- and the pages of history -- when it crossed into Belgium at Florenville, passed through Jamoigne and Neufchateau, and arrived at Ebly on December 29, 1944.  The Battalion moved to Vaux lez Rosieres on December 30, 1944, and to the vicinity of Magerotte on December 31, 1944.
 
The Battalion (less the First Platoon of "A" Company) then attacked northwest through the heavily mined Bois des Haies de Magery Woods, and seized the high ground southwest of Acul.  Due to the threat of hostile fire from the vicinity of Acul, "C" Company (less its Third Platoon) then attacked Acul against strong resistance from Colonel Otto Remer's Fuhrer Begleit Brigade, and secured the town.  Subsequent to reinforcement by "A" Company (less its First Platoon), "C" Company then withdrew from Acul to the Battalion's defensive positions on the high ground southwest of Acul.  Four tanks and 100 men from Remer's 3rd Grenadier Battalion then counter-attacked the 55th A.I.B's left flank in the zone of "B" Company, but this counter-attack was successfully repulsed and Remer's forces withdrew. 
 
The Battalion defended the high ground southwest of Acul against hostile artillery, mortar and sniper fire from Remer's troops on January 1 and 2, 1945, and was relieved by the 2nd Battalion, 194th Glider Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division on January 3, 1945.  The Battalion then moved to a position one-half mile north of Magerotte, where it prepared to function as a mobile reserve in support of the relieving unit. 
 
During this same period, the First Platoon of "A" Company engaged the Remer Brigade in near-by Tillet.  On December 31, the First Platoon advanced northwest via Magerotte-Tillet road in order to locate the German positions on the Battalion's left flank.  They entered Tillet and headed to the western outskirts of the town, where they came across elements of the Remer Brigade on the high ground.  The First Platoon attacked, Remer's forces retreated into the woods west of Tillet, and the First Platoon dug in for the night between the enemy and the town. 
 
On January 1, the First Platoon remained in their defensive positions and Remer's men remained in the woods.  On January 2, the First Platoon was ordered into Tillet -- but quickly headed back to their positions outside of the town when the enemy began shelling Tillet.  On January 3, the First Platoon was relieved by troops of the 17th Airborne Division, which passed through their positions and on toward Remer's troops in the woods west of Tillet.  The First Platoon then headed back to Magerotte -- where they joined the rest of "A" Company, and the rest of the Battalion. 
 
From 4 to 11 January, 1945, the Battalion remained on alert status in Magerotte, and maintained roadblocks and patrols in the surrounding areas.  On January 12, 1945, the Battalion moved northeast to its new positions in the vicinity of Hemroulle.  On January 13, 1945, the Battalion marched to the vicinity of Longchamps, where "A" Company relieved a battalion of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division.  The Battalion then attacked north against the 15th Panzergrenadier Division.  It bypassed Rouette, and secured Fays and Ferme de Menil. 
 
On January 14, 1945, the Battalion attacked Bois du Nom de Falize with "B" Company on its right, "A" Company on its left, and "C" Company in reserve.  The attacking elements encountered heavy enemy fire from the well-entrenched positions of the 26th Volksgrenadier Division, but pressed vigorously forward and accomplished their assigned mission.  On January 15, 1945, the Battalion attacked the 9th Panzer Division on the high ground four kilometers southeast of Bertogne, but halted 1000 yards south of its objective so that it could dig in and reinforce its position.  On January 16, 1945, the Battalion resumed the attack and seized its objective. It then reached the Bertogne-Compogne road and moved east through Compogne in pursuit of hostile forces.  The Battalion then halted its pursuit on order, and assembled in the vicinity of Mabompre. 
 
On January 17, 1945, the Battalion moved to the vicinity of Cobru to again relieve the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, and to establish a defensive position from Hardigny to Bourcy.  The Battalion maintained this position under enemy fire from the 9th Panzer Division until January 21, 1945, when it captured Wandebourcy and Boeur. T he Battalion remained in these towns, and sent patrols to near-by Buret, until January 23, 1945.  It then returned to Magerotte for eight days of maintenance and rest -- and for the awarding of Combat Infantryman Badges and other decorations to its battle-tested men. 
 
The Battalion was awarded the Ardennes-Alsace 1944-1945 Campaign Streamer in recognition of its role in the Battle of the Bulge.  And at a special ceremony in Rohrbach, Austria on May 30, 1945, the Battalion was awarded the Combat Infantry Streamer -- in recognition of the role of its Combat Infantrymen in the liberation of the people of Belgium. 
 
 
 
Patrick J. KEARNEY

"A" Company

55th Armored Infantry Battalion

11th Armored Division

Campaigns

Battle of the Bulge,

Belgium