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

100 BASTOGNE
been told by Division that the reconnaissance group of light tanks
would be in support of his 2d Battalion.' Going straight away to
see Colonel O'Hara, he said to him, "I've been told to hold this
sector. I understand from Division that you are in support of me
and I would like to go on a reconnaissance."
O'Hara said, "Let's get started."5 With them when they went
out was Lieutenant Colonel Roy 1. Inman, commanding the 2d
Battalion, 327th Glider Infantry. The officers discussed the relationship
of their respective forces as they made the reconnaissance.
Under the existing arrangement, Colonel O'Hara's force
was not under Colonel Harper's command, for the armored force
was still not attached to the WIst Division but was in support
only. Colonel Inman had moved his 2d Battalion, 327th, in on
the right Hank of Colonel O'Hara's force with his line so extended
as to secure the village and then bending southwestward to the
main road just above Remoifosse. This was a distance of about
2,500 yards. The Engineers had three outposts distributed over
this southeastern facing arc and none of them had as yet been
engaged. It was agreed that Colonel O'Hara would be responsible
for the defense of his immediate front and that Colonel Inman,
who would take over from the Engineers immediately,
would be responsible for the sector to right of O'Hara's.8 Harper
then left Inman and drove down the main road toward Remoifosse.
He established the southwestward extension of his line
on the forward slope of the hill over which the main road passes
a little more than half way from Bastogne to Remoifosse. The
position thus chosen was a few hundred yards north of where the
original Engineer outpost had been.
After looking over the situation and making sure that his men
were where he wanted them, Colonel Harper drove back to
Marvie. lhe jeep reached the road intersection just west of
Marvie. There Harper stopped for a moment and debated with
himself whether to go on into the village or take the west-running
road and have a quick look at the high ground above the village.
He decided in favor of taking a look and the jeep moved on up
the hill.'