11-300 Garand Picture of the Day - Battle of the Bulge - Murrigen, Belgium

[Mark in Rochester]

Sgt. Tommy Lyons just back from a week in the front lines near the town of Murrigen during the Battle of the Bulge.
Location: Belgium
Date taken: 1945
Photographer: George Silk

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[Snafu]

What is all that white stuff?

[Amsdorf]

Wow, that's one of the best I've seen here, so far. What I like about it is the guy's rugged 1000 yard stare, the rigor and horror of battle written all over him, but, yes, a certain confidence of "can do."

I notice he has a cartridge belt and a bandolier of ammo, high top boots with pants bloused in the top....obviously a paratrooper, who, despite being on the front, is still wearing his bloused pants. It might be that he has two cartridge belts on, and look at all the other gear he is lugging with him.Also, notice how little by way of true Winter clothing he has, trying to do what he can with scarf and knit cap under the helmet with his gloves. And of course his constant companion, his M1.

Wonder what the grenade is going on the snow bank next to him?

[Mark in Rochester]

Tired American medic returning from the front lines during the Battle of the Bulge.
Location: Belgium
Date taken: 1945
Photographer: George Silk


Tired American soldier just back from the front lines near the town of Murrigen during the Battle of the Bulge.
Location: Belgium
Date taken: 1945
Photographer: George Silk

[Amsdorf]

My Uncle George was a medic, and his first battle was the Bulge, he ran out to help a wounded soldier, and a German mine blew his leg off. His lifelong friend, who had been with him through boot camp, saw what happened, and threw him over his shoulder and literally ran him five miles back to a field hospital and saved his life.

[Bill Hollinger]

The medic has pretty clean clothes for "returning from the front lines during the Battle of the Bulge".

[browningautorifle]

high top boots with pants bloused in the top....obviously a paratrooper

Those are the cold weather boots. The soles aren't remotely like Corcorans. And I'll bet the grenade's still there...

[Bill Hollinger]

I think the grenade was found by one of our other members!

Yes, good eye BAR, cold weather boots! We have discussed this photo a couple of times now and although the look is there, I suspect it is staged.