Article

2006-11-11 Europe

Depot maintenance for M4A4 Sherman - Thank you Belgium!

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Slanter Snaimble1937 2006-11-11 06:03|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I did a route walk through the Hurtgen forest battle area. One part I will never forget was when US forces battled up the side of a mountain, on slick oil shale, through dense forest with artillery sending deadly showers of splinters down from the treetops. Their objective was well-defended positions on the top of the mountain.

They had to fight days for inches. Just looking at it made me want to throw up.

In the densest blanket of fog Europe had seen in over 200 years, one US battalion spotted another on an adjacent hillside. Thinking they were enemy, they called in artillery fires, slaughtering them.

In one place, where the Battle of the Bulge began in earnest, it looked as flat as a football field. Two small units met up there, and each side kept sending in reinforcements. For days there was a pitched battle on that spot, with knives and pistols. Visibility was just a foot or two, so men had to run up to each other to tell what uniform the other had, then to part or fight to the death.

There is now an obelisk memorial in that field. Some eleven Medals of Honor were issued for that fight alone.

The memorial at Bastogne is grander.

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-11-11 13:27|| 2006-11-11 13:27|| Front Page Top

#2 There is now an obelisk memorial in that field. Some eleven Medals of Honor were issued for that fight alone.

Where's that 'Moose?

Posted by Shipman 2006-11-11 16:06|| 2006-11-11 16:06|| Front Page Top

17:23 Frank G
23:44 SteveS
23:37 gorb
23:33 Red Lief
23:26 SR-71
23:21 trailing wife
23:20 Red Lief
23:18 trailing wife
23:15 gorb
23:09 trailing wife
23:06 Atomic Conspiracy
23:02 Bangkok Billy
23:00 Old Patriot
22:58 .com
22:46 Sgt. Mom
22:44 kilowattkid
22:44 mrp
22:39 kilowattkid
22:30 Zenster
22:26 Zenster
22:25 Frank G
22:23 Frank G
22:18 Frank G
22:18 Zenster