![]() Co D was directed to the southernmost bridge, a half mile from town, and given the Airborne engineers to prepare it for demolition, augmenting a small element of Co C, 51st Engineers. Using commander’s instinct gained from continuous battlefield experience, he chose selective disobedience and assigned a full rifle company to occupy the woods overlooking Trois Pont and controlling access to the road.Ĭo E was directed to go up to the bluffs and find the best defensive terrain to block the road from the east-the only approach possible to the bridges below. Upon arrival, Ekman and Swift, with Vandervoort conducted a quick survey with Major Yates of the area. Swift re-iterated that no major force occupy the high ground. With that, he and Ekman departed. Vandervoort took his jeep and followed the narrow road from the village to the high ground. Along the way,approximately 3/4th of the way to the top, he encountered one of the 57MM guns and crew and directed they hold a hairpin turn that oversaw the approach.Ĭontinuing further, on arrival at the top, he saw a large open field to the east with the main road emerging from the woods. Directly behind was another wooded area that paralleled another road leading north. He quickly determined that this was key terrain and must be held, despite BG Swift’s directive. This would be a mutual defense combining a number of disparate elements-a common occurrence during this period. 30 caliber machine guns.Įarlier, the engineers had become home to a pair of 57mm anti-tank crews that had become separated from their main unit during the initial hasty retreat on 17 December. The engineer force, previously part of a timber cutting and lumber element, also provided eight bazooka teams and four. 50 caliber machine guns deployed in the solid stone houses that fronted the bridges. The engineer company commander, Major Yates, had organized defenders along the bridges (the third was a footbridge next to one of the road bridges), had rigged them all for demolition and collected a number of stragglers from other retreating US elements.Įqually pleased was Vandervoort, who noted the engineers had already rigged the bridges for demolitions and had four. Upon arriving, Vandervoort found elements of C Company, 51st Engineer Battalion, 140 strong, already there and extremely happy to see the Airborne. Both Swift and Ekman accompanied Vandervoort. With these orders, Vandervoort and the 2-505 augmented by a single 57mm antitank gun from Battery “A”, 80th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Battalion, and a platoon from Co B, 307th Engineers, marched to the east. Vandervoort was ordered by Swift to send only a screening element to the bluffs above for early warning, and place the main body to hold the crossings at all costs. ![]() The German armor could not be allowed to cross. Two rivers bordered the town below, the Salm and the Ambleve-both with a crucial bridge that must be either defended or blown. Swift examined the map and noted immediately that the town was dominated by a high bluff to the east with only a small road connecting the eastern approaches with the town. LTC Ben Vandervoort, the 2-505 commander, had a quick meeting with the regimental commander, Col Bill Eckman and the newly assigned Deputy CG, Ira Swift. ![]() The 2-505 was assigned the mission to hold Trois Ponts and to get there fast. No one had any information as to the location other than the Germans were probably there or about to be there with heavy armored forces. The 82d would anchor the eastern portion of the shoulder, regiments on line, with the 2-505 at the very farthest eastern point, a small village on Gavin’s map named Trois Ponts, Three Bridges. In sum, the division and the 2-505 left France with whatever troops were in the barracks and whatever was immediately available in personal and unit lockers and storerooms.Īs MG Gavin explained to his commanders, this would be a hasty defense plan. A number of the machine guns, as well as, BARs, mortars and artillery pieces were in ordnance repair depots. Upon detrucking at Werbomont, Belgium, late on 19 December after the 18 hour journey from Soissons, the 505 PIR of the 82d Airborne, began to infiltrate elements as they arrived in the disjointed convoys. Significant elements of each battalion did not arrive until 20 December, making the regimental commander's job, Col Bill Ekman, very difficult. He outposted his area but could not fill it in any true strength until he got all his men-and they would be at 3/4 strength as well.įinally, by mid-morning of 20 December, the entire PIR had been accounted for and began occupation of assigned sectors.
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