13-328 Garand Picture of the day

[Mark in Rochester]

Most decorated platoon of World War II

Further information: Lyle Bouck and Battle of Lanzerath Ridge

The Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Division was the most decorated platoon of World War II. During the first morning of the Battle of the Bulge, they defended a key road in the vicinity of the Losheim Gap. Led by 20-year old Lieutenant Lyle Bouck Jr., they delayed the advance of the 1st SS Panzer Division, spearhead of the entire German 6th Panzer Army, for nearly 20 hours. In a long fight with about 500 men of the 1st Battalion, 9th Fallschirmjaeger Regiment, 3rd Fallschirmjaeger Division, the 18 men of the platoon along with four artillery observers inflicted between 60[3][4] to more than 100[5] casualties on the Germans. The platoon seriously disrupted the entire German Sixth Panzer Army's schedule of attack along the northern edge of the offensive. At dusk on 16 December, after virtually no sleep during the preceding night and a full day of almost non-stop combat, with only a few rounds of ammunition remaining, about 50 German paratroopers finally flanked and captured the remaining 19 soldiers. Two who had been sent on foot to regimental headquarters to seek reinforcements were later captured. Fourteen of the 18 platoon members were wounded, while only one soldier, a member of the artillery observation team, was killed.

Because the unit's radios had been destroyed, the soldiers captured, and the rapid subsequent German advance, U.S. Army commanders did not know about the unit's success at slowing the German advance, or even if they had been captured or killed. The platoon members were not recognized for their courageous deeds for thirty-seven years. On 25 October 1981, the entire platoon was recognized with a Presidential Unit Citation, and every member of the platoon was decorated, including four Distinguished Service Crosses, five Silver Stars, and ten Bronze Stars with V for Valor



Lieutenant Lyle Bouck Jr

Information

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[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Seems fortunate that the US Army in WWII was more efficent at killing the enemy than they were at recognizing heroism. 37 Years?

[ABPOS]

Wasn't Audie Murphy in the 99th?

[browningautorifle]

From what I could find, only the 3rd and 36th...

[Mark in Rochester]

After the June 25, 1950, commencement of the Korean War Murphy wanted to fight in the conflict and enlisted in July in the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas National Guard with the rank of captain. During his service he granted the Guard permission to use his name and image in recruiting materials. Although he actively participated in training activities in between continuing with his film career, Murphy was never sent to Korea. He requested to transfer to inactive status on October 1, 1951, due to his film commitments with MGM Studios. Murphy was promoted to the rank of major by the Texas National Guard. He received his service separation from the Texas National Guard effective 1966, and transferred to Standby Reserve. Murphy retired from the U.S. Army Reserve in 1969

[Bill Hollinger]

And IIRC he was in "L" company.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Audie Murphy tragic loss of a true hero. Not sure why celebrity and general avaition don't mix. In his case non instrament rated pilot flying in IFR conditions. RIP Audie Murphy.
http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites...phy-N601JJ.htm

[browningautorifle]

Apparently in the day, getting a pilots license was no harder than a driver's license today. If you only flew daylight, you didn't need instruments. Thus all the accidents like the ones here, Buddy Holly et al, Patsy Kline...

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Jim Reeves,Rocky Marcano ,Jim Croce , Hale Boggs,Roberto Clemente,Ottis Redding ..............etc..

[WarPig1976]

lynyrd skynyrd band..