No Victory in Valhalla Read online

  NO VICTORY IN

  VALHALLA

  THE UNTOLD STORY OF THIRD BATTALION 506 PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT FROM BASTOGNE TO BERCHTESGADEN

  IAN GARDNER

  FOREWORD BY ED SHAMES

  Contents

  Foreword by Ed Shames

  Preface by George Koskimaki

  Acknowledgments

  Introduction by James “Pee Wee” Martin

  1. “Johnny, we hardly knew you”

  Camp Châlons, Mourmelon-le-Grand – November 28– December 18, 1944

  2. “Ghost front”

  December 17–19, 1944

  3. “Today is the only reality”

  December 20, 1944

  4. “Epitaph for a generation”

  December 21–24, 1944

  5. “The deep six”

  The worst winter in 50 years

  6. “Steel whirlwind”

  Post-Christmas breakthrough

  7. “Hell night”

  Clearing the Fazone Woods – January 9, 1945

  8. “Salute the new dawn”

  The final attacks on Foy and Noville – January 13–17, 1945

  9. “After the storm”

  Alsace Lorraine and the Colmar Pocket – January 21– February 25, 1945

  10. “Home alive in ’45”

  Return to Mourmelon – February 26–April 2, 1945

  11. “Setting sons”

  The Ruhr, western Germany – April 3–24, 1945

  12. “Striking back”

  The plight of the 3rd Battalion POWs – June 1944–May 1945

  13. “Candle for the dead”

  Southern Bavaria – April 28–May 3, 1945

  14. “The roaring silence”

  Berchtesgaden, Austria, and France – May 4–November 30, 1945

  Epilogue

  Bibliography

  Glossary

  Foreword

  If you wanted to read a novel about World War II this is not your book. However, if you wish to be informed about the true history of the Battle of the Bulge, you hold in your hands just that. The author who gave us one of the greatest works about the 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (506 PIR) in Normandy, entitled Tonight We Die as Men, and also the sequel Deliver Us From Darkness – the day by day account of how millions of Dutch citizens were freed from the yoke of German slavery – has given us a third volume. Here Ian Gardner provides us with an insight into exactly how it was to be minimally equipped for the extreme cold when the 101st Airborne Division was deployed around Bastogne. During that bitter winter of 1944/45, shivering for warmth, our mission was simple – kill or capture the enemy.

  As one who served from the beginning in just about every firefight with 3rd Bn (I Co, Bn Operations Sergeant, and HQ Co First Sergeant) to the very end with 2nd Bn, I still find it incredible that Ian, with pure undiluted facts, has been able to guide the reader through practically each and every muddy, miserable freezing step of the way! If you are a history “buff,” then I’m sure you will agree that this is a great and informative book about what those of us who survived believe to be the most important battle of World War II. It has been said “had we not prevailed at Bastogne” then the Allies would still be fighting for victory in Europe.

  Edward D. Shames

  506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, August 1942–September 1945 First Battlefield Commission – 101st Airborne Division Normandy

  Preface

  To accurately chronicle the actions of any war or battle while holding the reader’s interest is a difficult task. Many written historical accounts are typically fact-filled, with strategies and maneuvers that may be accurate but are hopelessly boring to the casual reader. To bring the reader into the story, one must look at the event from the perspective of those who were there. In this book, Ian Gardner has captured the human story and gives the reader the necessary background information as well as the personal interactions that make this account of the 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment a very real and personal recount of a story not yet fully told.

  This book takes readers into the minds of the men who served in the European Theater of Operations in the darkest and coldest days during the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne through to the sometimes desperate and sometimes euphoric days in Germany as the war in Europe waned and the men counted their points to go home. Ian, through the accounts of hundreds of eyewitnesses to history, brings the days at the end of 1944 and beginning of 1945 into sharp focus. Detailed descriptions of the men and women who were in the middle of “The Rendezvous with Destiny” give the reader a sense of how coping with war and its tragedies is something unique to each person who has had to stand against the ravages of battle and even nature.

  No Victory in Valhalla also tells the story of the other units that served with distinction but did not garner the attention of historians or media for accolades of their bitter fight against considerably larger German forces. Notable strategic actions, individual courage, bravery, and heavy losses make up the history of 3 Bn, which prevailed against overwhelming enemy artillery and tanks. It is this story of courage and determination, told here with sensitivity and insight, that only the soldier who was actually there can accurately recount.

  It is my humble pleasure to have been able to read the story of these brave and largely unrecognized men. For those who did not return and gave the supreme sacrifice, this is a fitting testament to their memory. Ian Gardner has once again done a superb job of honoring and recognizing the service of so many ordinary Americans who served in an extraordinary way to battle tyranny and provide freedom for millions and asked nothing in return.

  George E. Koskimaki

  101st Airborne Division HQ – World War II

  Author and historian

  Acknowledgments

  No Victory in Valhalla owes a huge debt of gratitude to Jimmy Martin and Ed Shames, who convinced me that this final chapter in their story could and should be recorded for posterity. I could never have imagined when co-writing Tonight We Die As Men with Roger Day that it would define my life for the next 13 years and bring me into contact with so many incredible people such as Reg Jans. Without Reg’s help, No Victory would be a shadow of what it is now. Over the last decade Reg has become one of the foremost battlefield guides operating in the Ardennes and guest expert for many premier World War II tour companies. Reg has probably forgotten more than I will ever know about Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge and I will be forever grateful for his loyalty, assistance, and continued enthusiasm. Likewise Foy and Recogne locals Joël Robert and Jean-François d’Hoffschmidt have both been incredibly helpful to this project.

  The early years were costly, but with much support and understanding from my wife Karen and my folks we made it through. Looking back it all seems like a distant dream but only those who really know me will understand how close I came to losing everything. Partly because of this Ed Shames and Jim Martin have become passionate supporters and their television, radio, and numerous public appearances have helped enormously to raise awareness of my work not just in the USA but also many other places around the world. At this point I would also like to say a few words of thanks to 101st Airborne historian Mark Bando and his brilliant books such as Vanguard of the Crusade and The 101st Airborne at Normandy. Right from the start, Mark, despite a busy schedule, was always on hand to offer me help and advice.

  The huge amount of time invested in No Victory, not only by Ed and Jim but also by Lou Vecchi, Harley Dingman, and Manny Barrios, has made this book come to life. With each passing year my list of contributors dwindles a little more. When I started back in 2001 there were around 55 veterans on the “team.” Many, like Ralph Bennett, Joe Beyrle, Ray Calandrella, Han
k DiCarlo, Teddy Dziepak, Johnny Gibson, Ben Hiner, David Morgan, Bob Rommel, George Rosie, Don Ross, Harold Stedman, and Bob Webb, are speaking from the grave via tapes and notes compiled while they were still with us.

  Other personal insights come from interviews provided over 30 years ago to George Koskimaki while he was researching his groundbreaking books on the 101st Airborne Division. George was the radio operator for MajGen Maxwell Taylor during World War II and his work has inspired several generations, myself included – and so the wheel of synergy turns full circle. Jimmy McCann’s widow Pat also provided me with a wonderful cassette tape originally recorded for George by Alex Andros, which also featured personal recollections about Bastogne from Harry Begle, Dud Hefner, Clark Heggeness, Gene Johnson, Pete Madden, Frank Malik, Jim McCann, Bob Stroud, and Gordon Yates. Everyone except Andros has since passed away, but the information these H Company men left behind on that October afternoon in 1991 was a true gift from above.

  As usual this section has been one of the hardest parts of the book to compile, as I am anxious not to forget any of my many contributors. If anyone’s name has been overlooked I hope you will accept my sincere apologies. Individual thanks are extended by country to the following.

  United States of America: Kathleen “Tachie” Anderson, Fred Bahlau (HQ Co), Mark Bando, Manny Barrios (I Co), Ralph Bennett (H Co), Joe Beyrle II, Sharon Bunker, Don Burgett (A Co), Ray Calandrella (Co HQ), Denis and Donna Cortese, Dan Cutting, Louis DeNegre, Mario “Hank” DiCarlo (H Co), Harley Dingman (I Co), Carole Dingman, Bob Dunning (81mm Mortar Ptn), Teddy Dziepak (I Co), John Gibson (Medical Detachment), Ben Hiner (Co HQ), Bob Izumi (G Co), Ken Johnson (H Co), John Klein, Gerry and Bobbie Lord, Piet “Pete” Luiten, James Martin (G Co), Pat McCann, Earl McClung (E Co), Karen McGee, George McMillan (I Co), James Melhus (MG Ptn), Tim Moore, Neil Morgan, Joe Muccia, Ray Nagell (B Battery, 321st GFA Bn), Jennie O’Leary – Sun City Library Arizona, Carolyn Packert, Bonnie Pond, Jake Powers, Rich Riley, Doyle Rigden, Bobbie Rommel (MG Ptn), Ken Ross (502nd PIR), Bob Saxvik, David Schultz, Ed Shames (I Co, 3/506 Co HQ, 506 RHQ, 2/506 and E Co), Ray Skully (G Co), Harold Stedman (I Co), Tom Stedman, John Sushams, Ann Tanzy, Helen Thomas, Kathy Tozzi, Lou Vecchi (H Co), John Vecchi, Bob Webb Jr, Bill Wedeking (MG Ptn).

  Belgium: Ivonne Dumont, Jean-François d’Hoffschmidt, Philippe d’Hoffschmidt, Reg Jans, Jean-Marie Koeune, Adjutant Eric “Rony” Lemoine, Maguy Marenne, André Meurisse, Robert Remacle, Joël Robert, Jules and Denise Robert, Philippe Wilkin.

  Germany: Florian Beierl, Klaus Ibel.

  United Kingdom: Brigitta Culf, Roger Day, Robert Dudley, and Alan Tomkins.

  I would like to extend a special thank you to the following people: Doug Barber and Dave Bevis for their belief and invaluable assistance, Donald van den Bogert for the help with the photographs, Greg Gray for his help proof-reading the manuscript, Tim Moore for providing me with the G Co Morning Reports, Bob Smoldt for Robert Harwick’s personal letters, Geoff Walden and his wonderful website “The Third Reich in Ruins,” Marcus Cowper, Bruce Herke, Emily Holmes, Kate Moore, and the creative team at Osprey, Brian Gottlieb who on my behalf was given unlimited access to the The George E. Koskimaki Collection, the US Army Military History Institute, Carlisle Barracks (Pennsylvania), and Gerhard Roletscheck (President of the Society for the Modern History of Landsberg am Lech) whose help on Chapter 13 was crucial.

  Lastly, my parents (Dennis and Joan) always encouraged me to follow my dreams and I would like to dedicate this book to the memory of my dad Dennis Edward Gardner who died on March 6, 2012, after a long battle with heart and kidney disease. Since I started work on No Victory in Valhalla the following people have also passed away: Ralph Bennett, Jack Brown, Bob Dunning, George Dwyer, Philippe d’Hoffschmidt, Ken Johnson, Earl McClung, and Ray Skully… RIP gentlemen, it’s been one heck of a ride.

  Introduction

  When Tonight We Die As Men was first published in 2009, we remaining soldiers of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment became admirers of Ian Gardner’s work. None of us could have imagined our experiences would become the subject of such detailed research, scholarly pursuit, and popular fascination.

  In recent years and over the course of many conversations, I have come to know Ian well and right from the start could tell that his background as a British paratrooper gave him an additional insight into our experiences. The questions he asked demonstrated to me an in-depth knowledge of what we as a unit went through, which when researching and writing an objective account of a complex historical event is a significant advantage. Ian is associated with many premier World War II researchers, authors, and historians, such as my friends Mark Bando and Reg Jans. I am delighted Ian has written this account of the 3rd Battalion from the Battle of the Bulge to the end of the war because our story forms a natural trilogy.

  After fighting in Normandy and Holland we were looking forward to some “down time” in the relative safety and comfort of Mourmelon, France, but on December 16, our hopes in this regard were abruptly ended. With little notice, and with only inadequate weapons, ammunition, proper clothing, and limited other crucial supplies, we were trucked into Belgium to take positions around the city of Bastogne, which straddled a crucial road network. Here we were to make a stand to deny the Germans clear passage to Antwerp. To this day it is difficult to express the misery we endured over the three weeks that followed – frequent enemy assaults (including armor and artillery), freezing temperatures, basic rations, and lack of water. Although nearly 70 years have passed since we lived like animals in foxholes and bunkers, Bastogne has become a permanent part of my consciousness. I am frequently asked, “What got you through?” To be blunt it was the rigorous and unforgiving selection process of our early training when only the fanatically tough and dedicated made the grade. This paid dividends for the 101st Airborne Division in Normandy and Holland but especially during the Battle of the Bulge. Not once during my time on the line at Bastogne did I ever hear any talk of defeat, much less surrender. We always knew we would prevail and accomplish our mission of stopping the German offensive in our area of operations. However, we must not forget that there were over 30 units involved in the battle for Bastogne, including the 10th Armored Division, whose Sherman Tank Destroyers made such a huge contribution to the final American victory.

  After Bastogne the 506th PIR were mainly involved with defensive operations in Alsace Lorraine and Germany before heading to Bavaria. As things progressed, we “originals” became increasingly concerned with surviving the war. Many of the replacements began to taunt us about not being as tough as we thought we were. Few of them had seen real combat so the jibes were somewhat understandable. By early May 1945, we were aware of the possibility of moving into Hitler’s rumored “Alpine Redoubt” and were convinced we would be facing a determined force. Much to our surprise and relief this was not the case and the next two months turned out to be the best time of “Our War.” In addition to normal duties everyone did their best to uphold the age-old tradition of all conquering armies by scavenging everything and anything we could lay our hands on. Our short time at Berchtesgaden and in Austria at Zell am See after VE Day is still remembered fondly to this day.

  Those like me who had been through every combat operation since Normandy were classified under a point system, and as a “high point man” with an ASR (Army Service Record) score of 85, I was sent home in September 1945.

  Upon my return, I was hoping to go back to my old job as a toolmaker in Ohio and was surprised to learn that there were no vacancies. In 1942 I had left my reserved occupation against the wishes of my employers and volunteered for the 506th PIR. I was shocked that many of my colleagues who had elected not to join the services had earned a small fortune while working on lucrative government contracts. Consequently, I was unemployed much of the time during my first two years after coming home and began to wonder just what I had been fighting for. That being said, military service gave many guys like me a wider perspective on the world as a
whole, as prior to the war we were all very provincial in our thinking. Friendships were made with people whom ordinarily I would never have met and many of those associations still remain to this day.

  If the Allies had not prevailed the results to our world would have been catastrophic. I can truly speak for everyone by saying our generation really did save the world. It has been gratifying to live long enough to see the recent historical scholarship and interest in “Our War.” We who remain hope that the lessons of World War II will not be forgotten.

  Jim “Pee Wee” Martin – “Toccoa Original”

  G Company / 506th PIR / 101st Airborne Division – World War II November 2012

  1

  “Johnny, we hardly knew you”

  Camp Châlons, Mourmelon-le-Grand – November 28–December 18, 1944

  Mourmelon-le-Grand was a dreary, long-suffering French town some 20 miles from Reims, which through the ages had endured the embrace of soldiers from many nations. Caesar is said to have quartered two divisions of infantry and several squadrons of light horse at Mourmelon during the latter stages of his Gallic campaign. Despite its name, Mourmelon was really no more than one long street dotted with a few shops and cafés and most definitely not to be confused with Mourmelon-le-Petit, which, as its name suggests, is even smaller.

  As battalion supply sergeant Ben Hiner from Morgantown, West Virginia, glanced out of his office window at Camp Châlons, he was shocked to see 1st Lt John Williams standing outside 3rd Battalion Headquarters (3rd Bn HQ). Six months earlier, Williams had almost ended Hiner’s life after shooting him “accidentally” with a German pistol. Williams had just taken over as executive officer (XO) for Headquarters Company (HQ Co) and was deep in conversation as the 23-year-old staff sergeant rushed outside to confront him. “Don’t you walk away,” Hiner demanded as Williams, face drained white, turned to leave. “You nearly killed me back in St-Côme … no letter of apology – you couldn’t even be bothered to visit me in the hospital. What were you thinking?” Visibly shaken by the unexpected encounter, the lieutenant kept walking. As Ben followed Williams along the road he called out, “If Colonel Wolverton had been alive to see what you did to me he would’ve had something to say about it – are you listening to me, Sir?”