Battle of the Bulge - 87th and 101st

[Walt's Daughter]

I sent this to James Hennessey this morning. While reading Don Burgett's book last night, Seven Roads to Hell - A Screaming Eagle at Bastogne, I came across a reference to Jim's unit, the 87th Infantry Division. I thought I'd share it with him and with you.

 

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Jim:

 

While reading Don Burgett's book last night, Seven Roads to Hell, I came across a reference to your unit. Here we go. This is where A Company, 506 PIR, 101st is north of Bastogne and south of Foy and the date is December 30th, 1944.

 

"General Patton entered our city on the thirtieth, took one look at the situation, and decided to launch an attack immediately, with whatever troops he had on hand.  He ordered two new divisions that had never been in combat before, the 87th Infantry and 11th Armored Divisions, to conduct the operation.  The 101st Airborne Division was to give support.

 

Patton's two green divisions moved out and immediately ran head-on into the large German force attacking southward at the same time in an attempt to reencircle Bastogne.  Patton's attack smashed the German thrust."

 

Thought you'd like to see this. It's so much fun (interesting) for me to run into references to ETO units where I now know someone from that unit. History is always more grabbing when you can relate it to a person or a group of men with a background.

 

Marion

[Walt's Daughter]

Here is John McAuliffe's (also of the 87th) reply to the excerpt:

 

Just a correction to Don Burgett's book regard the 87th Div. "never been in combat before".

 

The 87th Div relieved the 26th Div at Metz and went into combat there in Nov,'44 and then went into Germany in the Saar region against the Germans suffering severe casualties there. A 300 mile trek out of that region by way of Reims and into the southern shoulder of Bulge in rain, snow, sleet joined the newly arrived 17th Airborne Div and the 11th ARMD DIV to face the Panzer Lehr and 276 Volksgrenadier Div. blocking the German supply lanes from St. Hubert to Bastogne. The 87th was not exactly "green"......as Burgett mentioned....

Thanks, Marion

Mac..

[rennog]

While reading Don Burgett's book last night, Seven Roads to Hell, I came across a reference to your unit. Here we go. This is where A Company, 506 PIR, 101st is north of Bastogne and south of Foy and the date is December 30th, 1944.

Thought you'd like to see this. It's so much fun (interesting) for me to run into references to ETO units where I now know someone from that unit. History is always more grabbing when you can relate it to a person or a group of men with a background.

 

Marion</span>

 

During in my vaccation last month I visited several places in Belgium and at Foy I discored this new monument.

Martin

[Walt's Daughter]

Adding this comment here for my friend Bill on the Hill, from the 87th Infantry Division:

 

"It was good to see the item entitled "87th and 101st" that Marion sent to Jim Hennessey. I was happy to see John McAuliffe's added comment. He pointed out that when Don Burgett said that the 87th Division was a green Division new to combat when it engaged in the Battle of the Bulge that this was in error. The 87th had a lot of casualties in the Saar Region of France and Germany before going to the Bulge. I had planned to say this, but John beat me to it.

"Don Burgett has written four books, and all of them are excellent. In 'Seven Roads to Hell' he said that one time, I believe near Foy, that he looked up and saw a soldier wearing a Golden Acorn patch. He was pleased to see that another Division had entered the conflict."

Marion, have a good one, and keep up the excellent work.

--Bill on the Hill