Biography

The men of the I&R Platoon left about 60 dead and wounded German paratroopers on the fields surrounding the tiny hilltop For 18 hours the Americans held off an entire German parachute battalion (1st Battalion of the 9th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Parachute Division); not until their ammunition was exhausted, their radio had been destroyed, and Bouck himself and most of his men had been wounded did the GIs capitulate.

Thus, a small group of men, including four men of the 371st Artillery Forward Observation Team that had earlier been in the town and helped Lyle Bouck an his men, was responsible for holding off a 500-man strong battalion a whole day. This I & R Platoon was later decorated for valor.



For the full story.

http://home.planet.nl/~wijer037/Bulge/Forms/The%2099th%20Infantry%20Division/Lanzerath%20Hill.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I2sw7J36fs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lanzerath_Ridge



First Lt. Lyle Bouck Jr., at 20 years old, one of the youngest Lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

Platoon members and the citations they received were:

•First Lt. Lyle J. Bouck Jr. (DSC) Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military award
•Tech. Sgt. William L. Slape (DSC)
•Pfc. William James Tsakanikas (DSC)
•Pfc. Risto "Milo" Milsovech (DSC)
•Pvt. Robert D. Adams (Bronze Star Medal with V device for heroism)
•Pvt. Robert D. Baasch (Bronze Star Medal with V device for heroism)
•Sgt. William D. Dustman (Bronze Star Medal with V device for heroism)
•Pvt. Clifford R. Fansher (Bronze Star Medal with V device for heroism)
•T/3 James Fort (Bronze Star Medal with V device for heroism)
•Cpl. Samuel L. Jenkins (Bronze Star Medal with V device for heroism)
•Pvt. Joseph A. McConnell (Bronze Star Medal with V device for heroism)
•Cpl. Robert H. "Mop" Preston (Bronze Star Medal with V device for heroism)
•Sgt. George H. "Pappy" Redmond (Bronze Star Medal with V device for heroism)
•Pvt. John B. Creger (Silver Star)
•Pvt. Louis J. Kalil (Silver Star)
•Cpl. Aubrey P. "Schnoz" McGeehee (Silver Star)
•Pfc. Jordan H. "Pop" Robinson (Silver Star)
•Pvt. James R. "Sil" Silvola (Silver Star)
Lieutenant Warren Springer and his three-man artillery observation unit — Sergeant Peter Gacki, T/4 Willard Wibben, and T/5 Billy Queen - also joined the men in battle. Queen was killed in action before the remainder were captured. All four were awarded the DSC for their valor at Lanzerath.

On May 12, 2005, veterans of the 99th Infantry Division and local citizens of Lanzerath, Belgium, dedicated a monument composed of a small brass plaque alongside a bench and a United States flag to commemorate the fight on the grassy hill overlooking the village.

Uncommon valor was a common valor

In honor and memory of all soldiers who fought here
December16th,1944
I&R Platoon
394th Regiment

99th Infantry Division





For more info : www.on-raf-mota.be

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