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From John McAuliffe - addressed to cmhonline

Dear Sirs:

For your information I have enclosed the famous and popular photo found in most Army History books related to the 'Battle of the Bulge'....Unfortunately most books do not give credit to the photo and identify it. The photo is of I-Company, 347th Inf.; 87th Inf. Div. It is an Army Siganl Corps photo with the caption, "On the road to La Roche".....Unfortunately the unit did not go to La Roche but went into action in January 1945at Moircy,Tillet, Bonnerue in Belgium. The unit arrives here to get the new issue of galoshes as seen in the photo. The soldier with carbine over shoulder receiving his portion is John Olson of Arlington Heights, ILL and still lives there. Other soldiers are identified. Tom Hewlet with the forlorn eyes died early after the war, but his son Tom Hewlett and wife Pat attend the 87th Div. Assoc. Reunions as does Olson and his wife.The Company Commander of I-Company, 347 Inf. was and still is Captain Ray E.Miles, who lives in Richmond, VA.

I am sending you this information for your observation and possiblity for your Headquarters to properly identify this photo for posterity.

My qualifications are that I am a former member of M-347; 87th Inf. Div WW-II. I am the Past Commander of the 87th Inf. Div. Association; I am current Vice Pres. of Chapters for the National Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Inc; I am current Pres. of the Cent. Mass. Chapt.-22;VBOB....

This photo tells a lot; Just look at it ; examine it and from the clothing and the surrounding snow draped fir trees, one may get an inkling of what it was like in the ARDENNES CAMPAIGN during WW-II.

Best Regards,

John E. McAuliffe

Thanks for clearing that up.

And it is interesting to have names with the soldiers now.

Somewhere I read that it was 2nd Infantry .... go figure!

I am glad it got straightened out now.

Erwin

I couldn't look at that photo without getting cold. BRRRRrrrrrrrr!!!!!

I have said in a couple of other postings that looking back

and remembering the cold and the snow I honest to goodness

don't know how we survived the Bulge.

The last two storms we had here brought thoughts of that time

altogether too vividly for me and I know it's my imagination but

I still feel that cold. Can you imagine not being able to take your

boots off for fear they would freeze and you'd not be able to put

them back on?

Sgtleo

Sgtleo, I know what you mean about the cold !! We survived two,(2), winters

UP on the mountains of Italy, '43,'44 No trees up on the mountains, food by mule train.

I thank God every day for my health. Roque