My Uncle Pvt. Archie Wing joined the front lines at about the time that the 291st had dealt with Peiper's advance. The 99th pushed forward chasing the enemy retreat when word came to divert to Remagen where the 9th Armor & others had taken the Ludendorf Bridge intact. The 99th Infantry Division became the first complete Army Division to cross the Rhine. Relieving the 9th Armor & holding the German side bridgehead under constant enemy attack. Including V-2 strikes trying to knock out that bridge. The 291st engineering battalion were both repairing the bridge while helping erect pontoon bridges across the Rhine. Patton issued orders to all G.I.s to throw away their shovels, they will not be digging in anymore. Then came the villiage & town fighting where Pvt. Archie Wing was awarded the Silver Star for bravery under fire in Honnigen, Germany. Also got lost in the Black Forest for 3 days.
My Grandfather fought in the 99th. He melted down several barrels laying down suppressive fire while directing his men to escort a medical detachment to the rear. He received (as many did in the Battle of the Bulge) the Silver Star. His name was Charles J. Hendricks and survived the war a full Colonel. Although highly decorated, I'm sure he'd say the real heroes are the guys that did not come back RIP. If anyone has more info I'd like to hear it.
That’s actually fascinating. Thank him for his services. God Bless. I have a large letter collection from a Capt. In of a Service Co. in the 395th Infantry Regiment. I think he mentions that name once while in England. I’d like to publish them one day after some research and work. For historical preservation of the 99th Division in another aspect and experiences. Am working on it right now. Would be interesting to know more about him. Did he tell any other stories? Also how was he as a Dad growing up? I’m 23, and I have 3 Great Grandfathers and 1 Great Great Grandfather that served in WW2. My Great Grandmothers brother Joseph Rene Rossignol was killed in the Battle of the Bulge serving in the 9th Armored Division. Dec. 29th, 44. My Great Grandfather Charles Michaels who served in the Air Corp in the Pacific had a brother (my great uncle) John Michaels, who was killed at the battle of St. Lo France July 11th, 44. John Served in Co. A of the 116th Inf. Reg. In the 29th Division and survived the landing at Omaha Beach D-Day.
+The National WWII Museum My paternal grandfather was as SS-Hauptscharführer with the "Kampfgruppe Knittel" of the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler in the Battle of the Bulge. Thank you for this video. After the war many former enemies became friends and my grandfather even toured the Ardennes with US veterans in the 1990s to look where they fought eachother after the war. Such interviews and recordings as yours are very important, no matter who is interviewed and which side. I prefer listening to people who were there than read post-war books, usually by "pop historians" who are biased in one way or another (biased towards the german side or american side). I recommend the 3-part Book-series which includes interviews, pictures and a day-by-day reporting of the Battle of the Bulge from both sides called: "Duel in the Mist". Here ist he link to the 2nd Book, you'll find the others there as well: www.amazon.com/d/Books/Duel-Mist-Leibstandarte-Ardennes-Offensive/1908032022
It is great to see the 99ther's finally telling their story. This here could be made into a great movie. As the Event Coordinator of the 99th Infantry Division Historical Society,Inc here in Erie Pa we wish to say "Thank You" for sharing your stories with us since 1999. On behave of the Society we wish to invite you all to our Bridge at Remagen 1945 event in Tidioute,Pa in 2012.
I agree. Thank you for your work. As well the services of these men. Are any of the 99th Division gentlemen still alive. I believe William McMurdie is still alive. God bless if so. I want to talk to him. Say thank you firstly. I have a large letter collection written by a Captain of Service Co. in the 395th Inf. Regiment. I’d like to publish them because they seem unique enough and special in preserving the history of the 99th Division. As he writes allot, almost every single day in long letters. Best regards
I never got tired of hearing the stories at the reunions or the stories my grandpa told me. He’d tell the same stories over and over again, and they only brought us closer together. The bond grew even stronger after my time in Iraq and Afghanistan.
in 20/20 hindsight, bouck should have reconned and mark a lane to the rear with RPs so he could have unassed his position when he knew the jig was up. he should have done this asn have slape supervise the defensive position construction. as a junior leader, he didn't need to keep trying to get hold of higher and find out if and when it was ok to unass. he said he had orders to stay. but as the senior guy on the ground, he has the authority to make any call he deems fit. i would have ordered everybody back, not asked them. as a former infantry platoon leadr, i'm going to make that call. especially in a situation like theirs where there is no other US unit around. again, easy to say in hindsight, but that surely would have been on my mind.
Hitler a British agent mi6 , Hitler escaped Germany - Eyewitness report Aubrey M. Temples 82nd Airborne, German POW two-time Purple Heart & Bronze Star w/Valor recipient ... "Why was Hitler allowed to escape , because he did his job" ~ Al Bielek
Luis Kalil's experience should be taught in all high schools. Taught me never to complain about anything ever again.
My Uncle Pvt. Archie Wing joined the front lines at about the time that the 291st had dealt with Peiper's advance. The 99th pushed forward chasing the enemy retreat when word came to divert to Remagen where the 9th Armor & others had taken the Ludendorf Bridge intact. The 99th Infantry Division became the first complete Army Division to cross the Rhine. Relieving the 9th Armor & holding the German side bridgehead under constant enemy attack. Including V-2 strikes trying to knock out that bridge. The 291st engineering battalion were both repairing the bridge while helping erect pontoon bridges across the Rhine. Patton issued orders to all G.I.s to throw away their shovels, they will not be digging in anymore. Then came the villiage & town fighting where Pvt. Archie Wing was awarded the Silver Star for bravery under fire in Honnigen, Germany. Also got lost in the Black Forest for 3 days.
My Grandfather fought in the 99th. He melted down several barrels laying down suppressive fire while directing his men to escort a medical detachment to the rear. He received (as many did in the Battle of the Bulge) the Silver Star. His name was Charles J. Hendricks and survived the war a full Colonel. Although highly decorated, I'm sure he'd say the real heroes are the guys that did not come back RIP. If anyone has more info I'd like to hear it.
That’s actually fascinating. Thank him for his services. God Bless. I have a large letter collection from a Capt. In of a Service Co. in the 395th Infantry Regiment. I think he mentions that name once while in England. I’d like to publish them one day after some research and work. For historical preservation of the 99th Division in another aspect and experiences. Am working on it right now. Would be interesting to know more about him. Did he tell any other stories? Also how was he as a Dad growing up? I’m 23, and I have 3 Great Grandfathers and 1 Great Great Grandfather that served in WW2. My Great Grandmothers brother Joseph Rene Rossignol was killed in the Battle of the Bulge serving in the 9th Armored Division. Dec. 29th, 44. My Great Grandfather Charles Michaels who served in the Air Corp in the Pacific had a brother (my great uncle) John Michaels, who was killed at the battle of St. Lo France July 11th, 44. John Served in Co. A of the 116th Inf. Reg. In the 29th Division and survived the landing at Omaha Beach D-Day.
+The National WWII Museum
My paternal grandfather was as SS-Hauptscharführer with the "Kampfgruppe Knittel" of the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler in the Battle of the Bulge. Thank you for this video. After the war many former enemies became friends and my grandfather even toured the Ardennes with US veterans in the 1990s to look where they fought eachother after the war.
Such interviews and recordings as yours are very important, no matter who is interviewed and which side. I prefer listening to people who were there than read post-war books, usually by "pop historians" who are biased in one way or another (biased towards the german side or american side).
I recommend the 3-part Book-series which includes interviews, pictures and a day-by-day reporting of the Battle of the Bulge from both sides called: "Duel in the Mist".
Here ist he link to the 2nd Book, you'll find the others there as well:
www.amazon.com/d/Books/Duel-Mist-Leibstandarte-Ardennes-Offensive/1908032022
Do you have any other book recommendations? My grandfather was a Lieutenant in the 99th and I am currently doing a research project on him.
Amazing. Mr. Bouck is so cool-headed. And it’s interesting that he felt like he had failed. People were made of different stuff in those days.
It is great to see the 99ther's finally telling their story. This here could be made into a great movie. As the Event Coordinator of the 99th Infantry Division Historical Society,Inc here in Erie Pa we wish to say "Thank You" for sharing your stories with us since 1999. On behave of the Society we wish to invite you all to our Bridge at Remagen 1945 event in Tidioute,Pa in 2012.
I agree. Thank you for your work. As well the services of these men. Are any of the 99th Division gentlemen still alive. I believe William McMurdie is still alive. God bless if so. I want to talk to him. Say thank you firstly. I have a large letter collection written by a Captain of Service Co. in the 395th Inf. Regiment. I’d like to publish them because they seem unique enough and special in preserving the history of the 99th Division. As he writes allot, almost every single day in long letters. Best regards
I never got tired of hearing the stories at the reunions or the stories my grandpa told me. He’d tell the same stories over and over again, and they only brought us closer together. The bond grew even stronger after my time in Iraq and Afghanistan.
These men are the definition of bravery. I read the book a few years ago. Excellent. These men make me proud to be an American
My father was in the 99th, 370 field artillery, on the line at the bulge, wounded Dec 17, they retreated to Elsenborn ridge and held their ground.
Certainly these men were an amazing force multiplier. The book “The longest winter” tells the story of the I&R platoon very well.
Salute to you Boys!!!!! Thank You.
Unbelievable what these men have done, how many lives they have saved.
Incredible story!
Hero's
in 20/20 hindsight, bouck should have reconned and mark a lane to the rear with RPs so he could have unassed his position when he knew the jig was up. he should have done this asn have slape supervise the defensive position construction. as a junior leader, he didn't need to keep trying to get hold of higher and find out if and when it was ok to unass. he said he had orders to stay. but as the senior guy on the ground, he has the authority to make any call he deems fit. i would have ordered everybody back, not asked them. as a former infantry platoon leadr, i'm going to make that call. especially in a situation like theirs where there is no other US unit around. again, easy to say in hindsight, but that surely would have been on my mind.
All in.
love the guys, now we don't have to speak German as global language
Poor Lyle killed his own man, that’s haunting. still destroyed the Germans
He actually survived. Billy Queen, one of the forward observers, was the only American who died in the battle.
Hitler a British agent mi6 , Hitler escaped Germany - Eyewitness report
Aubrey M. Temples 82nd Airborne, German POW two-time Purple Heart &
Bronze Star w/Valor recipient ... "Why was Hitler allowed to escape ,
because he did his job" ~ Al Bielek