Pacifica Military History Free Sample Chapters.pmd

Free Sample Chapters 285
Another noteworthy performance was turned in by Corporal Edward
Woertz, who became so wrapped up in his work that he worked eighteen
hours or more at a time for four consecutive days. In fact, Woertz kept
working at one point even though German machine-gun fire was hitting
the body of his bulldozer.
Not surprisingly, some of the most stout-hearted men were those
who had already proven themselves in close combat with the en-emy.
One such, who constantly drove his armored bulldozer di-rectly into
the face of enemy emplacements, was Technician 4th Grade Tom Noland,
whose exemplary leadership had done much to save the day against the
Skorzeny brigade at Malmedy. Eventu-ally, though, Tom was seriously
injured by a flurry of German rifle fire as he cut a trail for the troops of
the 325th Glider Infantry in front of an active German defensive position.
Also working far above and beyond his expected performance,
Lieutenant Wade Colbeck took miserable, life-threatening turns in the
cabs of the armored bulldozers when his platoon’s cold-dazed operators
needed respite or relief.
In addition to the bulldozers and road graders we directly com-mitted
to supporting the infantry, we had as many as ten bulldozers and five
road graders in constant operation behind the lines, labori-ously opening
or cutting supply and evacuation trails. The Germans had mined every
possible route through the forest, but our mine-sweeping teams seemed
to have found every mine along the routes we opened and used.
Despite the formidable natural obstacles and hardships, the 504th
Parachute Infantry advanced seven thousand yards on January 28,
capturing Herresback after killing 65 and capturing 201 Germans without
sustaining any losses. The 325th Glider Infantry faced stiffer opposition
in its zone and suffered losses accordingly. How-ever, it also wound up
the day far ahead of its line of departure.
The 82nd Airborne Division’s attack continued on a northeasterly
heading on January 29, but abominable weather conditions—a full-scale
blizzard—restricted the 325th and 504th regiments to gains averaging
two thousand yards. A subsidiary attack by the 505th Parachute Infantry
southeastward on the high ground toward Honsfeld eked out only fifteen
hundred yards. The 291st thus found itself still within the same area of