Batte of the Bulge

H.W. "Bill" Butler

H. W. "Bill" Butler, Jr.
Headquarters Company
1st Battalion, 424th Infantry Regiment
106th Infantry Division

December 16, 1944

As I recall December 1944, we were dropped in 6 feet of water and waded ashore on the coast of France. We pitched pup tents in 6 inches of mud.  The next morning we loaded into GI trucks without canvas covers.    We arrived in Germany after crossing France and Belgium in open trucks. The weather was rain, sleet and snow.  This was the first week of December 1944.  Wet, cold and miserable. 



We unloaded in the Hurtgen Forest, which until then had been the worst battle yet.  We pitched our tents in a foot of snow.  Here we got to hear the noise of war.  Thunder and  lightening, man made. Trees bursting, cutting a forest down like a giant cutting with a sickle.  Then that battle was over so we packed up and rode on to Germany -- just across the Belgium border, a place called Steinebruck.  A few days and then came the morning of the 16th. All hell broke loose.  The greatest attack of any war came our way.  Five German divisions came thru us.  We were spread out 27 miles because we were in a quiet sector to gain experience.  Well, we gained it quick.  I was in the middle of it and yet I came thru with the Lord's help, I'm sure. 

We went into action without water, food, warm clothing and only basic load ammunition which was left over from World War I days -- 40 rounds per man. 
We moved around alot.  We would make a stand here and there as we had no organized resistance larger than a platoon.  Everyone had their own little war going on.  Sometimes rifles against tanks which was rough.   And sometimes rifles against a 88mm cannon which was really rough. 
We did this in the worst winter Europe had ever had.  Fog, rain, snow freezing sleet combined with someone trying to kill you and not being dry since you waded ashore in France weeks ago.  You had to be young to survive. 

For 12 days at least we had no comfort such as fire or hot food. We ate snow for water.  We didn't know what day it was, much less which week of December it was.  The fact that I was in a foxhole most of the time alone, I had no one to wish me a Merry Christmas even if I had known what day it was, Christmas had come and gone.  There were no decorations or Christmas carols but the Ardennes Forest was full of Christmas trees covered with snow and as daylight savings time hadn't been invented back then, it was dark almost 16 hours out of a day.  When it was day, it was covered by smoke, fog, cloudy weather and the noises of war which made our day. 

After the weather changed to clear, our Air Force came out to play havoc with the Germans and we started on the road back to victory. Someone found out what day it was and it was New Year's Eve.  I had a toast with an Officer who was killed a few days later. So ends his days and the worst month of my life. 
Thank the Lord I am here today to be reminded of the gallant stand and sacrifice that a few young men made for history in December 1944.  I feel the small part I played in the war is satisfactory for the peace on earth that we have had since. a rememberance

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a rememberance page to the Battle of the Bulge