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2022-01-28 Europe

The Battle of Lanzerath Ridge - How 18 American Soldiers Stopped the Entire 1st SS Panzer Division

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Posted by badanov 2022-01-28 00:00|| || Front Page|| [8 views ] Top

#1 Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, 394th Regiment, 99th Infantry Division (18 men);
Forward Observation Team, Battery C, 371st Field Artillery (4 men)

The Battle of Lanzerath Ridge was fought on December 16, 1944, the first day of the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, near the village of Lanzerath, Belgium, along the key route for the German advance on the northern shoulder of the operation. The American force consisted of two squads totalling 18 men belonging to a reconnaissance platoon and four forward artillery observers, against a German battalion of about 500 paratroopers. During a day-long confrontation, the American defenders inflicted dozens of casualties on the Germans and delayed by almost 20 hours the advance of the entire 1st SS Panzer Division, the spearhead of the German 6th Panzer Army.

Germans?
16 killed
63 wounded
13 missing[1]: 87
96 casualties
====================
The good guys
On October 26, 1981, after considerable lobbying and letter-writing by Bouck, the men of the unit were finally decorated. Fourteen of the 18 were present at the ceremony hosted by Secretary of the Army John O. Marsh. Every man was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Four received the Distinguished Service Cross, five the Silver Star, and nine got the Bronze Star with V device for their 10-hour struggle against a 500-man strong German battalion.[12]

All members of the platoon who received individual awards also received the Presidential Unit Citation. Platoon members and the citations they received were:[3][29]

First Lt. Lyle J. Bouck Jr. (DSC) °
Tech. Sgt. William L. Slape (DSC)
Pfc. William James Tsakanikas (DSC)
Pfc. Risto "Milo" Milosevich (DSC)
Pvt. Robert D. Adams (Bronze Star with V device for heroism)
Pvt. Robert D. Baasch (Bronze Star with V device for heroism)
Sgt. William D. Dustman (Bronze Star with V device for heroism)
Pvt. Clifford R. Fansher (Bronze Star with V device for heroism)
T/3 James Fort (Bronze Star with V device for heroism)
Cpl. Samuel L. Jenkins (Bronze Star with V device for heroism)
Pvt. Joseph A. McConnell (Bronze Star with V device for heroism)
Cpl. Robert H. "Mop" Preston (Bronze Star with V device for heroism)
Sgt. George H. "Pappy" Redmond (Bronze Star with V device for heroism)
Pvt. John B. Creger (Silver Star)
Pvt. Louis J. Kalil (Silver Star)
Cpl. Aubrey P. "Schnoz" McGeehee (Silver Star)
Pfc. Jordan H. "Pop" Robinson (Silver Star)
Pvt. James R. "Sil" Silvola (Silver Star)
PFC Carlos A. Fernandez (Presidential Unit Citation)
PFC John P. Frankovitch (Presidential Unit Citation)
T/5 Robert L. Lambert (Presidential Unit Citation)
Pvt. Vernon G. Leopold (Presidential Unit Citation)
PFC Elmer J. Nowacki (Presidential Unit Citation)
Pvt. Samuel J. Oakley (Presidential Unit Citation)

Posted by Woodrow 2022-01-28 02:17|| 2022-01-28 02:17|| Front Page Top

#2 Extremely difficult time in history. Black forest was difficult terrain and weather brutal. Magnificent efforts of like minded men.

Posted by Dale 2022-01-28 06:46|| 2022-01-28 06:46|| Front Page Top

#3 I imagine the FOT played a large part.....

Posted by Pliny Cleretch2093 2022-01-28 08:54|| 2022-01-28 08:54|| Front Page Top

#4 And they did this at great personal peril.

A from-birth super power of the USA has been the ability of its citizens to leverage assets and use them with beneficial ingenuity.

I hope this has not been lost.

Posted by Anomalous Sources 2022-01-28 21:35|| 2022-01-28 21:35|| Front Page Top

22:57 JohnQC
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