Bastogne: The Story of the First Eight Days - US Army Center Of ...

92 BASTOGNE
ited attack forward to cover the extrication of Major Harwick's
men of the 3d Battalion, 506th. That battalion was to fight the
same kind of action on the other Bank. It was figured that the
Noville force could sideslip into the area of the 502d once Stopka's
battalion got up to it. However, his Battalion had fought its way
only a short distance past Recogne when the plan was again
changed.
Colonel Sink, commanding the 506th, had looked the situation
over and decided that the best way out was for Major Harwick's
force to retire down the Bastogne toad. Colonel Stopka's battalion
remained in position on a line running through Recogne with
its left Bank extended westward to join the 2d Battalion of the
502d. Its advance had been made wholly without artillery support
because of the dense fog. 21
Radio communication between Bastogne and Noville was not
reestablished until 1300. 28 The order then came through on the
artillery radio net to Harwick and Hustead that their command
would withdraw to the Bastogne perimeter of defense. They were
told that an attack on Foy was being made immediately to relieve
the pressure on Noville. When they saw that the attention of
the enemy was diverted to the Foy attack, they were to make a
break for the south. 29
A few local problems had to be solved in Noville preceding the
withdrawal. A considerable amount of ammunition had to be
destroyed. There were more than fifty wounded men awaiting
evacuation. so But the shrinkage of manpower in the Noville
force through battlefield deaths and casualties already evacuated
had totalled so many men that, despite a steady loss in vehicles,
there were enough tanks, half-tracks and trucks left to move back
all the casualties and permit all the armored units and most of
the paratroopers to ride out of Noville.
Company C of the 506th was already south of Noville in a
reserve position, and accordingly, it was nominated as the advance
guard to move out on foot. 81 Three tanks would support Company
C. The half-tracks and jeeps loaded with the wounded
would come next in the column. Then would follow the main
body, the personnel carriers and armor. Those of the infantry