12-361 Garand Picture of the Day - 101st 23 Dec 12

[Mark in Rochester]

The members of the 101st Airborne Division, right, are on guard for enemy tanks, on the road leading to Bastogne, Belgium. They are armed with bazookas. 23 Dec 1944.

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[emmagee1917]

Yep , M9A1 . Just think , it could be the very one hanging behind me. Wish they could talk.
Chris

[Bob Seijas]

I read a very old book about the early days in North Africa... the Bazooka was described as new and secret

[ABPOS]

I think if I saw a few enemy tanks rolling down that road towards the position, and all I had was my Garand and a bazooka, I'd probably crap my pants.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I think if I saw a few enemy tanks rolling down that road towards the position, and all I had was my Garand and a bazooka, I'd probably crap my pants.

Brave man maning a lonley outpost. Ditto on the need for some fresh undies.

[ABPOS]

I doubt the guy with the camera would've been able to do a whole lot more either. Besides run for help.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

So many individual acts of courage lost to history. I look forward to these pictures each time I visit.

[ABPOS]

Yes, I'm sure you could fill several warehouses full of reports of them.

[emmagee1917]

I remember that the media image given of Bastogne ( movies and such ) give the indication that most GI units pulled back at first and the 101 ran in to fill back the lines. Not to take away anything from the 101 and other units called in , but a lot of GIs did not retreat and did stand firm . I remember one such unit of a small group of men on some high ground , in positions not too unlike the above picture , that held up the German column with little more than what was shown here for a day or so . Till most were killed or wounded and ammo gone.
Indeed , brave men.
Chris

[ABPOS]

Wow. I did not know that.