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On June 6th, 1944 at around 6:30 in the morning, members of the 299th Combat Engineer Brigade would make their way as some of the first men on Omaha and Utah beaches. On Omaha beach companies “A” and “C” would work the entire day under heavy fire while clearing obstacles and mines. Company “B” landed on Utah beach where they would clear mines and obstacles in order to allow tanks to travel up the beach. Company “B” would also be under direct and indirect fire, however, company “B” did not have any infantry support in front of them. The company was supposed to land on

A few trips to the ranges and the National Training Center were all the Soldiers needed to hone their already sharpened skills. As their mission evolved, they learned that the bulk of the battalion would deploy as motorized infantry and that Delta Battery would be detached to provide convoy security for the Division Support Command. They also were informed that Foxtrot Battery, 202nd Air Defense Artillery, Illinois Army National Guard, would be attached to secure a large portion of terrain west of

They realized they had a problem since no other units were up to the line with them; they had to wait this out. They were ordered to lie down in the tall grass. The fighting started to break out in front of them at a small skirmish line. Many of the men had never seen battle, so some of the men stood up to watch what was going on. Maj. John D. Musser of the 143rd wrote: "… a few shells came booming over our heads, making many of the uninitiated dodge muchly and now and then a wounded skirmisher was brought in from the skirmish line and taken to the rear, all of which had a tendency to make us nervous and uneasy…" (Tomasak,

However, the Marines failed to scout the woods. As a consequence, they missed a regiment of German infantry dug in, with a network of machine gun nests and artillery.[7]

I remember the day that it all happen. The day the battle for Yahya Khel started, the first major offensive operation for 3rd Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment (Black Knights), 172nd Infantry Brigade. I was in my rack on Forward Operating Base Super (FOB), in the early morning, I was awoken by a member the Operation Detachment Alpha (ODA) team that we shared the FOB with. He asked me “You the mortar guy?” I said I was. “Grab your gear. We have to go, we loaded your 120mm mortar and all the rounds into our vehicles. I’ll explain the situation on the way.” He said

This period saw multiple thrusts and counter attacks from both sides. Most of the time the allied troops were restricted to their battle positions due to German harassing fires. This called for extreme versatility of the artillery units to place accurate indirect fires on enemy lines to allow for the allied troops to regroup and push counter attacks after the Germans were beaten down with fires repeatedly. The artillery commanders requested a dozen observers with forward elements to be provided for designation of targets of opportunity. At the time the maneuver commanders were only able to provide three, however these three observers successfully facilitated in dropping 48,190 rounds during a 12 day span. Towards the end of the “see-saw” period fires shifted from solely destruction missions to screening friendly movements and allowing for successful operations, due to the effectiveness of smoke in conjunction with attacks by the maneuver

On 18 December, Patton meets with General Omar Bradley, Commander of 12th Army, to discuss the developing situation in the Ardennes Forrest. Bradley shows Patton a map of the bulge. Patton’s intuition is reinforced. He foresees the Germans plan to head west to the Meuse River

The noise of the tracks carried at night, there was no traffic anymore, not many people out at this time of night – too dangerous, the normal post event noise levels that could be found in your average American city that might have masked the noise of the tracks was gone. It was warm night and the Tank commanders and drivers traveled with hatches open or standing within the turret. They were the only lights on the roads and they could be seen from quite a ways. They took the I-495 north, then merge onto the I-270 and continue onto the US-40 W into Frederick, and hoping there were no issues there. From there continue onto US-15 N into Pennsylvania and exit onto secondary roads and secure an area to conduct reconnaissance operations from. They did have a shortwave radio which would allow them to communicate with the rear echelon and give and get SITREPS (situation reports).

During the attack on the morning of December 16th, there were approximately 80,000 United States Army Soldiers in the Ardennes Forest. The Allied Forces had fewer than 250 pieces of armor and nearly 400 artillery guns laid across the 75-mile front. German forces were comprised of a combination of battle-hardened veterans who had fought along the Eastern Front and units filled with inexperienced young men and Soldiers who would usually be considered too old for service. Approximately 250,000 German Soldiers advanced along a 50-mile-long front of Allied Forces with the support of 100,000 tanks and assault guns, including the new 70-ton Tiger II tanks and 1,900 artillery guns. Germany’s 2,000 aircrafts would remain ready for deployment when permitted by weather.

The initial German attack force consisted of more than 200,000 men, around 1,000 tanks and assault guns (including the new 70-ton Tiger II tanks) and 1,900 artillery pieces, supported by 2,000 aircraft, the latter including some Messerschmitt Me 262 jets (Battle of the Bulge, n.d.). The German Soldiers were all battle-hardened and veterans of fighting in some of the tough battles fought in WWII. All that was located in the direct line of fire was four American divisions that were inexperienced and just looking for some rest; that unfortunately would have to wait. The 80,000 men had an estimated 400 artillery guns and 250 pieces of armor. During the course of the battle, the Germans lost some 100,000 men, killed, wounded and missing, 700 tanks and 1,600 aircraft, losses they could not replace (Battle of the Bulge). Allied losses consisted of 90,000 men, 300 tanks and 300 aircraft. Luckily, the Allied forces was able to replace their casualties.

There were no combat units on Quantico, not to say that the Marines and Sailors on Quantico couldn’t fight, they could, and all Marines like Soldiers were rifleman first. Alerts went out all over post to prepare for the arrival of an unknown military force. What security around post could be implemented was quickly activated, base commanders were prepared and had been working with the local community to pull them onto the base if they were under attack. At this point no one really knew what to do. Many had heard that the Army was very active around Washington D.C. but had never ventured this far out and now a train filled with them.

The men are pinned down in two directions. Ahead of them is German firepower; behind them is the fast moving tide. Pinned in the men are easy targets for the German gunners. Thousand of American solider is dead or wounded from German bombs as well as seasickness that weaken them before battle. The soldiers face incredible odds. The men continue their advance. They must pass two rows of barb wire before they can attack the German position. Getting through the first set of barbwire is relatively simple. The challenge is to cut through the second line 10 yards up the hill. The American Soldiers employ Bangalore torpedoes. The key for survival is speed the solider must bust through the wire quickly. They blow a hole through the barbwire and charge the hill. However waiting for them at the top of the hill are German gunners equipped with MG42 machine guns. The fearless men breakthrough German lines and neutralize the German gunners. This becomes the major turning point of the

The Marine flank on the right would attack and turn and head north and the other Marine’s would attack and turn south and eventually meet up with 3rd ID, then they both would mope up the rest. It was a kill, kill, kill plan, but with a bit more finesse. The Marines would move out at zero two-hundred the next morning, to be able to hit the 3rd Army Division’s flanks at the same time the 3rd ID started their Artillery bombardment. It had been a long day, after they had solidified their plans MG Romney returned to the 3rd ID, they had a lot to get ready for. It was going to be a busy morning, as far as they could tell the 3rd Army Division was still in the dark about what was getting ready to happen.

forces and allies) moved very quickly to make a massive attack on the “impenetrable tank barrier” that was very difficult to get through. He describes it as an “extraordinary move” for the troops to put themselves in a position to attack. They moved the troops out there but thousands of tools, ammunition, water, and food. They had enough supplies to last 60 days.

Progress had been slow that day. Supply trucks, fuel tankers, and other armored units had blocked their advance more than the enemy. Small groups had attacked the column in several places, but there hadn’t been any casualties in David’s division. Most ambushes were initiated by lone wolves popping up to fire an un-aimed RPG before disappearing again. A cannon blast and a hail of gunfire blast would rain down on their position afterward. Unless the assailant was determined to thwart the column’s progress suicide, the force didn’t stop to look for a body or pursue the retreating attacker.