82nd Airborne: Holding the Line in the Battle of the Bulge

The 82nd Airborne arrived in the Belgian village of Verbamont , and immediately General Gavin sent his regiments E to determine the enemy's positions and strength.

It was here between the 18th and 21st of December 1944 that engineers and paratroopers of the US Army would help to blunt the German offensive.

A direct hit on the 57 millimeter anti tank gun killed the crew and with the gun being knocked out, the remaining men retreated back through the viaduct heading north towards Coup , then crossing back over the Amblev , then doubling back to Tuapom .

The men of the 51st Engineer Combat Battalion could hear more German vehicles moving towards Laglaise .

Schnellgruber Knittle arrived back at Tuapon in the direction towards Stavlo .

E Company had a perfect field of fire overlooking an open area to their front in the direction that the Germans would be coming from.

They had 80 mines across the road and site 6 bazooka teams on the left hand side of the wood ready to put in an ambush if any German armour did roll forward.

Despite the hard close in fighting, the men of the five O fifth were able to hold their ground.

E Company never once fell back from their positions despite the weight of German fire.