This post, albeit a bit delayed, is a return to my initial plan to blog about my travels..that being said, I am hoping to continue my posts on leadership when I get a chance to do some more research (new job don't ya know...have to keep focused).
Okay, back to the 'interesting' stuff. This post is about my latest trip, following the 506th PIR/101st AB during WW2. As the title states, this was to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. It was a bit of a last minute decision, given that I missed the 70th Anniversary of D-Day and Market Garden it was lucky that I managed to organise this trip! Those that know me will testify against my organisational skills which, given I am a PM, are diabolical at times. ;-)
So, started the trip early on the 13th of December with a drive to London Heathrow Terminal 1 which, by the way, was surprisingly quiet compared to the other terminals...a good start to the trip! We arrived in Luxembourg (Never been to Luxembourg before...very small airport but quick to navigate through immigration and customs) at 11am. Here is when my lack of organisational skills started to show...I made a snap decision to drive (Rented an A3 for the trip) to Bastogne to catch my friend Ian Gardner's launch of his latest book 'No Victory in Valhalla'. The drive took less than an hour (only 90kms) but, by the time we got to Bastogne, it had started to snow and the temp had dropped to about -1/-2c. The launch was at the Les Mess museum which, given its size, was pretty good and had a lot of displays.
Given it was a last minute decision to drive to Bastogne, I should not have been surprised by the huge number of people visiting the museum, attending the book launch and meeting with a number of vets. I decided it was best to say hello to Ian, tour the museum and return to Luxembourg city and check-in at the hotel (The Hilton-Double Tree).
After check-in we decided to go to the hotel restaurant for dinner. It was during dinner that a number of Bulge vets walked into the restaurant. It turned out that the hotel was hosting 20 vets who were part of an anniversary tour being run by John Riedy. I decided to approach two of the vets, one of whom was Capt James Morgia who won the Silver Star, Bronze Star and earned the Combat Infrantrymans Badge (CIB) during WW2 in Europe. It was an honor to talk to James and his 'roommate' one that I'll never forget...
On Sunday the 14th we drove back to Bastogne to take part in Ian Gardner's NVIV tour. We met up with Ian and about 20 others at the sports center in Bastogne..just around the corner from the Bastogne barracks. From the sports center we drove to Les Ferme Des Bisons in Recogne.
The farm is slightly Southwest of Recogne and played a pivotal role in the battle. Apparently, the owner managed to save a lot of momentos from the war including an M1 Garand. The main house is beautiful and, despite damaged during the warm, remains impressive especially in the December mist.
Leaving the house, we walked Southwest along the Route Madame. The route was the Main Line of Resistance (MLR) for 502PIR during a large part of the battle. We followed the route Southwest then curving Southeast through the Bois Champay. The woods have been cutback by the land owners so the perspective is much different from 70 years ago. However, you can still get a feeling for the lay of the land while walking the route.
..and there are real bisons!
Walking through the cold and the snow (although still nicer weather than 70 years ago) made me think of the men who fought there...we hiked past the memorial to Native Americans who fought there down to towards the road into Foy.
On the way we started to see visible signs of where the battle had taken place. Specifically, the remains of fighting positions used by G Company...it still amazes me that the positions survive but they are eroding away and won't be around for much longer.
We walked towards the main road to Foy passing the slight decline that is portrayed in Band of Brothers (The attack on Foy by Easy Company where Lt Dyke is replaced by Lt Spiers). We took a left towards Foy which was approximately 500 meters along the road.
When we reached Foy we had the pleasure of meeting Jean Marie-Koeunes. Jeans' family lived in a house at the crossroads where a group of civilians sheltered during the battle.
The entrance to the basement is the door to the left in the picture...notice the hole in the wall of the out building on the right, that was caused by a shell during the battle and has never been repaired.
We were treated to a tour of the basement and a shot of whisky to help warm us up...! The family were lovely and still appreciate all that the soldiers did during the war.
Leaving Recogne we drove through Bastogne and then up the main road, Northwest, into Foy turning right at the church across from the location of the Gaspard farm (1 Ptn H Co CP) following the road South through the Bois des Corbeaux to the E/506 memorial which is about 100 meters from 'Halte Station' also known as Detaille farm..The story is that US soldiers when first seeing 'Halte' painted on the building thought that was the name of the station..!
We then walked slightly downhill from Halte Station to the Bois Jacques which is portrayed extensively in 'Band of Brothers'. We walked through the woods finding the fighting positions used by Easy Company still visible along the tree line next to the road to Foy. We were even to find the location estimated to be where Walter Gordon was shot by a sniper on Christmas Eve 1944..you could still see the 'T' shape of the foxhole designed to be home to a gunner and assistant with space behind for extra ammunition. We walked around in the snow for almost an hour...passing re-enactors dressed as soldiers with Wiley Jeeps and a Halftrack. We even located the spot where Major Winters had his CP...approximately 75 yards from the front line. The spot, according to Reg Jans and Ian Gardner was confirmed by the Major on his last visit to Bastogne!
Following the tour we headed back to Luxembourg where I had the chance to meet more vets...kind of icing on the cake for the trip.
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| Me and James Federheart 95ID |
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...
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