Headquarters, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
APO 472 U.S. Army
9 March 1945

Narrative

17 December 1944
At 23:00, Battalion and separate Unit Commanders were notified that this Regiment would be prepared for truck movement to combat by 18:00H.

18 December 1944
The Regiment, minus advanced party, commenced in trucks by 15:00 hour leaving Camp Mourmelon, France at 16:30 hour. Personnel in 40 trucks, trailers, equipment and supplies in Regimental transport. The advanced party closed in 101st Command Post at 22:00 hour.

19 December 1944
The advanced party established the Regimental Command Post in Champs, Belgium, 3 miles north-northwest of Bastogne at 01:30 and having posted guides at road junction Anc. Barre Champlon-Bastogne Highway and Mande St Etienne Road, 3 miles north west of Bastogne, commenced to pick up our vehicles between 03:00 and 06:05 when last troops came in. The enemy situation at this time was obscure.

At 08:30 the Regimental Combat Team in Route Column – 1st Battalion, 3rd Battalion, Regimental HQ Company, 321st First Armored Battalion, 2nd Battalion, marched to Bastogne, the point halting on its outskirts at 10:30. At 10:50 1st Battalion, by Divisional order, proceeded to Noville, four and one half miles north of Bastogne, where with elements of the 10th Armored Division, and “B” Company, 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion, it formed Combat Command “B”, with 1st Battalion Commanding Officer in command. At 14:00 hour the 3rd Battalion marched to Foy between Bastogne and Noville, and establish a line, “G”,”I”, and “H” Companies, with contact to the 501st Parachute Infantry on right and 502nd Parachute Infantry on the left. The 2nd Battalion followed the 3rd Battalion out of Bastogne, halting at Luxery, where it remained in Regimental reserve.

The commanding ground to the east and north of Noville being an enemy hands, “C” Company attacked to the east, “A” and “B” Companies to the north at 14:30 against extremely heavy artillery and small arms fire. A counter-attack against “A” and “B” Companies by a battalion of infantry supported by tanks (16), five of which our tank destroyers destroyed, was repulsed. By evening, the objective not having been reached, a perimeter defense of the town was initiated.

During the night many attempts by the enemy to force an entrance in the MIR were made. His method was to employ two to three tanks with accompanying infantry as assault teams. During this period two enemy tanks were destroyed and others immobilized by rocket launcher fire. Artillery and tank fire continued heavy during the night.

At 21:30, two platoons of “C” Company, 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion were attached to the regiment. Both were sent to Foy with one platoon being instructed to repair to 1st Battalion as soon as practical. Four POWs were taking this date.

20 December 1944
At 07:15 the Tank Destroyer platoon at Foy, attached to 1st Battalion, moved to Noville.
At 08:00 the 3rd Battalion line was attacked, “I” and “H” Companies, by an estimated two companies supported by three tanks and “G” Company by one Company and three tanks. At 10:00 the 2nd Battalion (less one platoon, “F” Company security for 321st FA Battalion) moved forward along the Foy-Bastogne Road being ordered at 11:00 to take that portion of the 3rd Battalion’s line east of the highway and inclusive of the station at railroad crossing Foy-Bizery Road and Bastogne-Bourcey railroad.

At 10:30 the 3rd Battalion withdrew to the high ground immediately south of Foy and stopped the enemy attack.

In Noville enemy teams consisting of five tanks with accompanying infantry had attacked during the morning, at one time bringing the town under attack from three sides. The armored unit being unable to fully maintain their tanks, three of them were manned by 1st Battalion.

The unit having been isolated from the remainder of our forces by enemy action and with ammunition and manpower waning, the command was ordered to withdraw to and through the Bastogne defense.

At 13:30 the command moved from Noville towards Foy along the main road, the advanced guard consisting of “C” Company and three tanks, the rear guard, “B” Company and four Tank Destroyers, the tanks with “C” Company being destroyed at an enemy road block north of Foy, the column swung to the right through the fields, entering Foy further south where the 3rd Battalion had taken considerable portion of the town in an attack which had coincided with the withdrawal of Combat Command “B”. Starting at 14:00, this attack eventually cleared Recogne, taking Foy and ground 200 yards to the north.

The 2nd Battalion, failing to take the station, made patrol contact with the 501st Parachute Infantry, some 1000 yards to the south.

The 1st Battalion constituted the Regimental reserve at Luxery with one platoon of “A” Company, forming a strong point behind 2nd Battalion and the 501st Parachute Infantry on the railroad. They had suffered casualties of 13 officers and 199 enlisted men while being part of the command that destroyed 31 armored vehicles and over 50% of 304th Infantry Regiment at Noville. The armored vehicles were identified as equipment of the 2nd Regiment, 2nd Panzer Division. 84 POWs were taken this date.

21 December 1944
At 03:30 the 3rd Battalion was attacked. At 06:00 “G” Company moved to high ground south of Recogne. In spite of the use of all Battalion reserves, the enemy continued to press his attack. The Battalion withdrew to high ground, and the enemy tank and infantry attack was stopped.
At 08:30 the 2nd Battalion located an estimated two enemy platoons in the vicinity of P578607. The 1st Battalion was ordered to reduce this group. An intense small arms and bayonet fight ensued, the 1st Battalion killing 50 and taking eighty-five POWs, the remainder being killed or captured by the 2nd Battalion of the 501st and 506th. Firm contact was now establish between the two regiments; the railroad station being jointly held after 17:30. Enemy activity now decreased noticeably.

20 to December 1944
Due to lack of enemy activity, vigorous patrolling was conducted by the 2nd and 3rd Battalion, resulting in the location of renumerative mortar and artillery targets in the vicinity of Recogne, Foy, and Bois Jacques.

23 December 1944
Being the first day of clear weather since arrival of the regiment, the Air Force flew many missions, some on information reported from our forward units. The enemy was quiet.
At 19:00 the 1st Battalion was placed on one 1/2 hour alert for the remainder of the night due to enemy attacks in the 327th area to the southwest. Nine POWs were taken today.

24 December 1944
At 08:30 the 2nd Battalion was attacked from Bois Jacque by an enemy company. This company having as its mission reconnaissance in force, attacked along the entire battalion front, and was destroyed by 11:00 from which time this and 3rd Battalion sectors stayed quiet for the remainder of the period. Three POWs were taken today.

25 December 1944
At 05:25 the 1st Battalion was placed on one 1/2 hour alert due to attack in the 502nd Parachute Infantry sector in the northwest. At 08:45 they moved from Luxery west to Savy where they remained in reserve. At 15:30 the Regimental Command Post moved from Bastogne to Luxery. No offensive enemy action.

26 December 1944
No offensive enemy action. Regiment patrolled as usual.

27 December 1944
Regiment defending line high ground south of Recogne-Foy and along Foy-Bourcey Road as it cuts through woods inclusive of railroad station. 3rd Battalion inclusive of Bastogne-Neville highway to left, 2nd Battalion exclusive of highway and inclusive of railroad station. 1st Battalion in reserve at Savy. The enemy was quiet.

28 December 1944
Regimental sector same and quiet. Weather foggy. At 18:00 the 1st Battalion due to attacks in the 502nd Parachute Infantry sector was placed on 30 minute alert.

29 December 1944
Regimental sector same. Little enemy activity. Weather being clear, the Air Force flew several missions against Noville, Foy, and Recogne which were observed and results reported by our observation posts.

30 December 1944
At 07:10 enemy planes bombed Regimental Command Post area causing no casualties. Enemy artillery light. Our Air Force flew many missions to north of regimental sector.

31 December 1944
Sector same. Enemy very quiet.