A Thoughtful Christmas Gift
Copyright© 2025 by Paladin_HGWT
Chapter 5: Situation and Mission
Werbomont, Belgium
Around Midnight Tuesday, 19 December, 1944
When the trucks finally stopped it was a bit after midnight, according to my watch. It was drizzling, and freezing cold, but at least it had stopped pouring rain, like it had for much of our journey. We had to dismount rapidly, because a couple of Military Policemen were using flashlights with green filters over the lenses to guide the truck we had ridden on to turn around and head back the way we had come. The streets of this small town were filled with vehicles; mostly trucks, and a few jeeps. Anytime someone turned on a white light, there were hushed orders to turn them off.
First Sergeant Brooks pointed to a jeep parked off the side of a road to my right, and said, “Officers Call, at Lieutenant Miles’ jeep.”
The officers had all ridden in jeeps, or the cabs of trucks, so they didn’t appear to be as stiff and slow moving as the enlisted men; First Sergeant Brooks pointed past where the officers were gathering, and ordered, “First Squad, First Platoon go out three hundred yards and set up a perimeter. Your Platoon Leader will give you further instructions. Keep alert, there is a chance the Krauts could attack at any time.”
I raised my left arm strait in the air, and waved it around in a tight circle, and called out, “First Squad, Third Platoon. Gather ‘round.”
The men of my squad weren’t more than thirty yards away, but a couple were drifting off, I said, “Jenkins, Smith, get over here!”
Jenkins whined, “But Sarge, I gotta piss!”
I looked around, and then said, “No one pisses in the street. We are not animals. Corporal Lisle, lead Bishop, Kringle, Smith, and Jenkins to that outhouse over there. Take care of your bodily needs. Don’t take to long because the rest of the squad must wait until you are done.”
While half of the squad headed to the latrine, I reached inside my mackinaw jacket, and got out my compass. Because it might be effected by all of the metal I was festooned with, I held it out at arms length. Since I didn’t need a precise reading, I didn’t bother setting aside my helmet or weapons. Quickly I determined the direction of north, and that the squad sent out for security was roughly to the east. As I was tucking my compass back inside my jacket, I perfunctorily inspected the members of my squad that were present.
I said, “Coogan, Daniels, Walsh, load your weapons.”
As I pulled back the charging handle of my M-1 ‘Thompson’ sub-machine-gun, then let the bolt go forward, and only then loaded a magazine into the weapon; PFC Betts said, “but Sarge—”
When I glared at him, Betts paused, then said, “uh, Sergeant. Lieutenant Kellogg said were were to keep our weapons unloaded, until he told us to.”
I said, “You are correct Betts. If it becomes and issue, I will take full responsibility. No one needs to bring it to the Lieutenant’s attention. Likely he will notice. Captain Miles believes it is prudent to post a squad for security. First Sergeant Brooks said the Krauts might attack. So, I deem it reasonable to have some of us prepared. You should all remain aware of your surroundings, and where you could quickly get to cover, or at least concealment.”
Before Corporal Lisle and the rest of the squad returned, I quickly inspected the men with me. I verified that their weapons had a light coat of oil, and functioned smoothly. I checked their hands, then had them put their gloves or mitten back on. I inquired about their feet, and checked to see if their boots were wet. When I looked around the other squad leaders had gathered their squads, and the Platoon Sergeants were making their rounds. Corporal Lisle was leading the rest of the squad back to us.
“Betts, set down your machine-gun, Walsh will watch it while you go to the latrine. And Betts, you may load your pistol. “I said, as the men who had visited the latrine approached with in ten yards, “Corporal Lisle, you may load your weapon. The rest of you wait until we have orders to do so.”
Just after Betts, Coogan, Daniels, Walsh, and I returned from using the outhouse, Technical Sergeant Coffey got our attention, and said, “Third Herd, follow me. We are getting to spend the night in a barn up the road.”
While we were settling our rucksacks and weapons, and preparing to march east; the men of George Company were breaking into to groups of from three to seven soldiers, to be quartered in houses here in town. There hadn’t been an canvas covers over the backs of the trucks they rode in. Hopefully they would be able to get warm, and at least a bit dry. They were shivering, and looked miserable. We were cold and stiff from our long ride, cramped in the backs of the trucks. It would have been much worse to have to endure the long journey exposed to the freezing rain.
By my estimation we had walked less than half a mile to the location where we were to bed down. This barn was not as clean as the barns we had been quartered in back in Riems. However, there was hay, so we were able to spread that out to lay our sleeping bags or blankets on. Half of First Squad was detailed to pull security. I was a bit surprised, because if the chain-of-command was concerned about a possible attack, I would have expected us to post more of us on guard. Honestly, I was pleased to be able to get as much sleep as possible.
Werbomont, Belgium
0530 Hours, 19 December, 1944
I was sleeping deeply when a hand shook my left ankle until I woke up, Lieutenant Miles was holding a flashlight with a red lens, he said, “Sergeant Hamlin. They want you at Regiment. Follow this guide.”
I sat up, and quickly put on my uniform and snivel gear; as Lieutenant Miles said, “I will have Corporal Lisle get someone to roll up your bedroll, and pack your rucksack. By the time you get back, your squad will be prepared to move out.”
The soldier from headquarters led me to the building being used by Colonel Tucker, and his key staff members, we entered the building, and ducked through a wool blanket being used as a blackout curtain, he pointed and said, “The Colonel is in there.”
I walked through a room where Major Cantilla, the S-3 (Operations Officer) was coordinating planning for the days mission; I entered the adjoining room, came to the position of attention, and said, “Sergeant Hamlin, reporting as ordered. Sir.”
Colonel Tucker was in shirt-sleeves, had been talking to Captain Grossruck, the S-2 (Intelligence Officer), and some young Second Lieutenant I didn’t regognize; Colonel Tucker said, “Gentlemen, please stand by. Sergeant Hamlin, you were a member of the I and R Platoon, until you were recently assigned to Fox Company. Correct.”
“Yes Sir.” I said; I took out my notebook and a pen, and prepared to make notes.
Colonel Tucker pointed at a large map on the wall, and said, “At ease. Couple of hours ago I ordered the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon to head east to verify that the bridges over the Selm River, in the vicinity of Cheneux, have been blown.”
He turned his head, looked at me, and then pointed at several other locations as he said, “This is the situation. Krauts caught us with our pants down and have attacked with several divisions of Panzers, and lots of infantry and artillery too. Weather is overcast or worse, so, we can’t get any aerial reconnaissance. According to reports our Ninety-Ninth Division, south of Monshau, has been pushed back to the west and north, and are trying to establish a defensive line on Elsenborn Ridge. Here.”
Colonel Tucker pointed at St. Vith on the map, and said, “The One-Oh-Sixth Division has fared worse. One of their regiments is holding by their fingernails to Saint Vith, along with a Combat Command of the Seventh Armored Division. First Army doesn’t believe they can hold more than seventy-two hours. Probably less. The Thirtieth Division was ordered to occupy defensive positions west of Saint Vith on the seventeenth. German spearheads have penetrated our lines at multiple locations.”
He paused, then continued, “We (the 82nd Airborne Division) have been ordered to hold Werbomont, and it’s damn good ground. But, the Krauts are likely to try to bypass us, just as they did in nineteen-eighteen, and again in nineteen-forty. General Gavin is not inclined to a passive defense, and neither am I. We are going to advance east to secure forward positions, and if possible to attack their armored units where they are vulnerable. If we let the Germans retain the initiative, they will use their heavy tanks, in particular their ‘King Tigers’ to breakthrough. Or just bypass our strongest positions, and we don’t have the supplies for a long siege.”
“To our front, the east, are not only enemy units, and the friendly units I mentioned, but also various artillery, anti-aircraft, service, and support units of Fifth Corps, First Army, and possibly units belonging to Eight Corps, to our south. Some of those units, or disorganized personnel, may be withdrawing without authorization. They are not. I repeat, not your concern. Leave such matters to your officers, and the Military Police.”
Colonel Tucker looked me in the eyes, and said, “Conversely, only follow my orders, or the orders of your chain-of-command. If someone claiming to be General Eisenhower gives you an order, tell him to see me. Only I give orders to the Five-Oh-Fourth! Rumors of German soldiers wearing American uniforms, and driving American vehicles have some credibility. However, more problems are being created by American soldiers ineffectually interrogating other American soldiers. Use your common sense. If you catch some of the bastards who have ambushed American soldiers, or switching road signs, like in Normandy. Handle it.”
He turned back to the map, gesturing as he said, “To our south, our right flank, the Five-Oh-Fifth will be advancing to confirm the bridges at Trois Pont have been destroyed. They got into Werbomont later than us, so they likely will jump off later than us. To our north, our left flank, is the One-Nineteenth Infantry Regiment of the Thirtieth Division. They may have Detachments that were, or are holding outposts, until relieved by the Five-Oh-Fifth, or possibly in our sector. I don’t know.”
Colonel Tucker faced me and said, “I am giving you about the same information that I gave to the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, because less than thirty hours ago we weren’t headed to Werbomont. The situation is fluid, and we may have to change objectives. By orders, or at my discretion. I intend to conduct a Leader’s Recon1 in a couple of hours. Sooner if possible. I may change your orders on the fly, and won’t have the opportunity to brief you then. I want you prepared for that, or a follow-on mission after you get to Rahier, so, I am attaching a radio team to your patrol.”
Colonel Tucker alternated looking at me, and pointing at locations on the map, as he said, “All that brings me to your initial mission. I want you to reconnoiter a route of movement for the Second Battalion, north of, and parallel to the rest of the Regiment. Take the road heading east out of Werbomont, about a mile, mile and a half, the road will turn to the south, but there is supposed to be a firebreak, and probably a dirt road. It is probably, at best, a tertiary road2 and more likely a trail. According to our maps, it will bend to the northeast, and then turn sharply south towards the village of Chevron.”
He said, “We are designating it Route White. If it is practical to march a battalion over it, radio us it is condition one. If it is also traversable by trucks loaded with supplies, radio it is condition two.”
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