The Battle Of The Bulge
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The Battle Of The Bulge
by Cpl Bez Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:05 am
Hi All,
Me and Shorty thought it'd be good to keep the history of the Regiment way up top of the Priorities for the group, its important we all know what the unit did, where, when and why, so that when asked at events we can without looking like berks. I thought i'd start with something appropriate to our first impression, that being what the unit did in the Battle Of The Bulge.
The Battle Of The Bulge for the 517th PRCT
In Late November the 517th PRCT went into a reserve for the first time since they had entered combat in Italy in July 1944. They, along with all Airborne forces in operations in the ETO were finally given the freedom to spend time in R&R whilst winter set in and the lines became stagnant. The US lines were thinly held, but the fighting had almost stopped and Eisenhower saw it as the ideal time replenish his Divisions in time for the Spring Offensive and for that reason all of his Airborne forces were put in reserve. The 509th and 551st were billeted in camps near Laon, the 101st to a camp in Mourmelon and the 82nd and 517th PRCT to Soissons.
They were moved in 40and8 boxcars from Eastern France to their new camp.
Elements of the 460th PFAB in a break in the Journey to Soissons
And here elements of the 460th prepare to hit the town at Soissons
The 596th PCEC are informed of the breakthrough and prepare to move out
The Regiment was moved out in order of Battalion, with the 460th and the 596th split between them. Colonel Grave, the Commanding officer of the 517th, was ordered straight to General Matthew Ridgeways HQ in Werbomont. Ridgeway had been promoted and lost command of his beloved 82nd Airborne Division to Major General James Gavin, and now commanded XVIIIth Airborne Corps, under which fell all of the American Airborne units in the ETO.
Graves rushed to Ridgeways HQ where he was briefed on the situation and informed that the Germans had made a massive puncture in the US lines further East and were rushing West to reach Antwerp. Graves was informed that his Regiment would most probably be split, and sent to wherever it was needed. Ridgeway was right, and not until January 1945 did the 517th operate as a complete Regiment. Ridgeway told Graves to order the Commander of the first Battalion to reach the area to report to General Rose commanding the US 3rd Armored Division in Manhay to receive further orders. That Battalion was Major William "Wild Bill" Boyles 1st Battalion, who were to find themselves in operations clearing the woods between Hotton and Soy in Belgium of elements of the 116th Panzer Grenadiers and 560th Volks Grenadiers. For this action they received the Presidential Unit Citation and PFC Melvin Biddle of B.Company received the Medal Of Honor for single Handedly killing 19 Germans and scouting our Armour which aided the 517th assault.
Members of A.Company 517th PIR after detrucking North of Soy before making the assault towards Hotton.
PFC Melvin Biddle receives the Medal Of Honor from president Truman who said "People don't beleive me when i say i'd rather have one of these than be president.
During their assault they aided they escape of Task Force Hogan, an Armored task force in the 3rd Armored who were forced to abandon all vehicles and escape North to Soy. Thanks to the 517th relieving pressure, the escape was succesful.
Members of TF Hogan rest by the Church following their grueling march to escape entrapment by the Germans
The only unit of the 1st Battalion to miss combat near Soy and Hotton was C.Company who had been lost in transit trying to reach Soy. They were eventually redirected to Freynuex where they were ordered to attack Dochamps. Their attack was unsuccesful, as they faced elements of the 2nd SS Panzer Division with overwhelming forces. C.Company retreated North, and spent a week in defence of Lamorenil with elements of the 509th PIB, successfully defending the town despite viscious enemy attacks and protecting the western Flank of Manhay allowing more US forces to move into the area.
G.Company of the 517th was tasked by Ridgeway to set up a semi-circular defense around the Eastern side of Werbomont and act as his HQ Defence, where they remained for the Entire Bulge, suffering virtually no casualties throughout the whole campaign.
The 2nd and 3rd Battalions remained in reserve whilst the 1st Battalion went into battle, but soon the 3rd Battalion would also face the enemy. The Manhay Crossroads was very important. It offered routes to Leige (passing Werbomont, Ridgeways HQ) and Marche and its security was important, but on Christmas day and Boxing day increasing pressure from the 2nd SS Panzer Division on Manhay finally saw it fall into Enemy hands. Ridgeway immediately ordered it's recapture, and took the 517ths 3rd Battalion (Under major Paxton) out of reserve and gave it the task. On the 27th the 3rd Battalion attacked and succesfully re-captured Manhay from enemy Armour in the space of an hour, but had suffered badly at the hands of the Enemy and Friendly fire incidents from Artillery and an attack by P-38 lightnings on their defensive positions. The 3rd Battalion set up defences with elements of the 7th Armored Division and Manhay did not fall to the Enemy again.
Members of H.Company, 517th PIR in Manhay near the main crossroads. The old lady they are looking after was born on Manhay, and was the only inhabitant who refused to evacuate the town during the fighting. Her house was destroyed.
The 3rd Battalion HQ (Left) and Aid Station (right) in Manhay.
A Panther knocked out on the Northern approach to Manhay.
This Panther was knocked out when attempting to push west towards Grand-Menil, it is still there today, 200 yards from where it was knocked out.
Just before new year the 517th was consolidated as a Regiment and moved into positions prepare for offensive operations in which it would help retake lost ground attached to the 82nd Airborne Division. It retook Trois Ponts, Mont De Fosse, Sainte Jacques, Bergeval, before wheeling East across the Salm and pushing towards St.Vith. It helped in the recapture of St.Vith before being withdrawn and pushed north into the Hurtgen Forrest.
The Regiment had suffered terribly, but had achieved all objectives it was tasked with and performed admirably, helping to crush the German Offensive.
Me and Shorty thought it'd be good to keep the history of the Regiment way up top of the Priorities for the group, its important we all know what the unit did, where, when and why, so that when asked at events we can without looking like berks. I thought i'd start with something appropriate to our first impression, that being what the unit did in the Battle Of The Bulge.
The Battle Of The Bulge for the 517th PRCT
In Late November the 517th PRCT went into a reserve for the first time since they had entered combat in Italy in July 1944. They, along with all Airborne forces in operations in the ETO were finally given the freedom to spend time in R&R whilst winter set in and the lines became stagnant. The US lines were thinly held, but the fighting had almost stopped and Eisenhower saw it as the ideal time replenish his Divisions in time for the Spring Offensive and for that reason all of his Airborne forces were put in reserve. The 509th and 551st were billeted in camps near Laon, the 101st to a camp in Mourmelon and the 82nd and 517th PRCT to Soissons.
They were moved in 40and8 boxcars from Eastern France to their new camp.
Elements of the 460th PFAB in a break in the Journey to Soissons
And here elements of the 460th prepare to hit the town at Soissons
The 596th PCEC are informed of the breakthrough and prepare to move out
The Regiment was moved out in order of Battalion, with the 460th and the 596th split between them. Colonel Grave, the Commanding officer of the 517th, was ordered straight to General Matthew Ridgeways HQ in Werbomont. Ridgeway had been promoted and lost command of his beloved 82nd Airborne Division to Major General James Gavin, and now commanded XVIIIth Airborne Corps, under which fell all of the American Airborne units in the ETO.
Graves rushed to Ridgeways HQ where he was briefed on the situation and informed that the Germans had made a massive puncture in the US lines further East and were rushing West to reach Antwerp. Graves was informed that his Regiment would most probably be split, and sent to wherever it was needed. Ridgeway was right, and not until January 1945 did the 517th operate as a complete Regiment. Ridgeway told Graves to order the Commander of the first Battalion to reach the area to report to General Rose commanding the US 3rd Armored Division in Manhay to receive further orders. That Battalion was Major William "Wild Bill" Boyles 1st Battalion, who were to find themselves in operations clearing the woods between Hotton and Soy in Belgium of elements of the 116th Panzer Grenadiers and 560th Volks Grenadiers. For this action they received the Presidential Unit Citation and PFC Melvin Biddle of B.Company received the Medal Of Honor for single Handedly killing 19 Germans and scouting our Armour which aided the 517th assault.
Members of A.Company 517th PIR after detrucking North of Soy before making the assault towards Hotton.
PFC Melvin Biddle receives the Medal Of Honor from president Truman who said "People don't beleive me when i say i'd rather have one of these than be president.
During their assault they aided they escape of Task Force Hogan, an Armored task force in the 3rd Armored who were forced to abandon all vehicles and escape North to Soy. Thanks to the 517th relieving pressure, the escape was succesful.
Members of TF Hogan rest by the Church following their grueling march to escape entrapment by the Germans
The only unit of the 1st Battalion to miss combat near Soy and Hotton was C.Company who had been lost in transit trying to reach Soy. They were eventually redirected to Freynuex where they were ordered to attack Dochamps. Their attack was unsuccesful, as they faced elements of the 2nd SS Panzer Division with overwhelming forces. C.Company retreated North, and spent a week in defence of Lamorenil with elements of the 509th PIB, successfully defending the town despite viscious enemy attacks and protecting the western Flank of Manhay allowing more US forces to move into the area.
G.Company of the 517th was tasked by Ridgeway to set up a semi-circular defense around the Eastern side of Werbomont and act as his HQ Defence, where they remained for the Entire Bulge, suffering virtually no casualties throughout the whole campaign.
The 2nd and 3rd Battalions remained in reserve whilst the 1st Battalion went into battle, but soon the 3rd Battalion would also face the enemy. The Manhay Crossroads was very important. It offered routes to Leige (passing Werbomont, Ridgeways HQ) and Marche and its security was important, but on Christmas day and Boxing day increasing pressure from the 2nd SS Panzer Division on Manhay finally saw it fall into Enemy hands. Ridgeway immediately ordered it's recapture, and took the 517ths 3rd Battalion (Under major Paxton) out of reserve and gave it the task. On the 27th the 3rd Battalion attacked and succesfully re-captured Manhay from enemy Armour in the space of an hour, but had suffered badly at the hands of the Enemy and Friendly fire incidents from Artillery and an attack by P-38 lightnings on their defensive positions. The 3rd Battalion set up defences with elements of the 7th Armored Division and Manhay did not fall to the Enemy again.
Members of H.Company, 517th PIR in Manhay near the main crossroads. The old lady they are looking after was born on Manhay, and was the only inhabitant who refused to evacuate the town during the fighting. Her house was destroyed.
The 3rd Battalion HQ (Left) and Aid Station (right) in Manhay.
A Panther knocked out on the Northern approach to Manhay.
This Panther was knocked out when attempting to push west towards Grand-Menil, it is still there today, 200 yards from where it was knocked out.
Just before new year the 517th was consolidated as a Regiment and moved into positions prepare for offensive operations in which it would help retake lost ground attached to the 82nd Airborne Division. It retook Trois Ponts, Mont De Fosse, Sainte Jacques, Bergeval, before wheeling East across the Salm and pushing towards St.Vith. It helped in the recapture of St.Vith before being withdrawn and pushed north into the Hurtgen Forrest.
The Regiment had suffered terribly, but had achieved all objectives it was tasked with and performed admirably, helping to crush the German Offensive.
Cpl Bez- Posts : 66
Join date : 2007-12-30
Age : 37
Location : Leicester
Re: The Battle Of The Bulge
by samharris45 Sat Jan 03, 2009 8:37 am
Nice one Bez!
Good pics there. Where did you get this info from?
If you interested by the way I have a book called A Blood Dimmed Tide.
It's basicilly full of first account events by those who was there and mentions allot aboute the 517th and the actions.
Sam
Good pics there. Where did you get this info from?
If you interested by the way I have a book called A Blood Dimmed Tide.
It's basicilly full of first account events by those who was there and mentions allot aboute the 517th and the actions.
Sam
samharris45- Posts : 84
Join date : 2008-05-14
Age : 38
Location : Nottingham
Re: The Battle Of The Bulge
by Cpl Bez Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:05 pm
Hi Sam
Yeap, know the book well.
The information i wrote myself from all the info i've crammed in my head. Obviously its meant as a simple overlook of what they did in the Bulge.
Regards Bez
Yeap, know the book well.
The information i wrote myself from all the info i've crammed in my head. Obviously its meant as a simple overlook of what they did in the Bulge.
Regards Bez
Cpl Bez- Posts : 66
Join date : 2007-12-30
Age : 37
Location : Leicester
Re: The Battle Of The Bulge
by samharris45 Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:30 am
Have you got a copy of the book? If you don't your welcome to it as I have read it.
samharris45- Posts : 84
Join date : 2008-05-14
Age : 38
Location : Nottingham
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