A friend brought The Longest Winter to my attention. It documents the exploits of World War II’s most decorated American platoon, the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division. When the Battle of the Bulge commenced in December 1944, these 18 Americans, commanded by Lt. Lyle Bouck, defend a strategically vital hill until ammunition ran out, slowing the German offensive and killing hundreds of their soldiers in the process.
The platoon assembled at Camp Maxey, Texas. As an intelligence unit, Bouck and his men were assigned to a quiet sector in the Ardennes Forest. Quiet until the morning of December 16, 1944 when Bouck and his men stood in the way of the German offensive assaulting their position. Surrendering only when resistance was no longer feasible, Bouck and his men were marched into captivity.
Their brutal captivity continued until a bizarre attempt ordered by Gen. Patton to rescue his son-in-law who was a prisoner in the same camp. Upon liberation, Bouck and his men were repatriated. This account continues with their return stateside and the legal proceedings against their captors. Infamous names such as Jochen Peiper, Sepp Dietrich and Otto Skorensky are included as well as colorful Americans, Kurt Vonnegut and Sen. Joseph McCarthy to name two.
The finale chronicles the inquiry into the unit’s actions, culminating in the approval of the Presidential Unit Citation by President Jimmy Carter on January 15, 1981.
The Bibliography encourages further reading, the Notes and Index are helpful and the Readers’ Guide of 19 questions For Discussion are an added feature.
Author Alex Kershaw has crafted an excellent chronicle of what I term as “little history”. While skillfully shifting between American and German scenes, he tells history as through the eyes of the participants with the bigger picture referenced in support of the story line. It is an inspiring tale of tenacity, hardship and triumph. I recommend this as a history of an heroic platoon and an inspiring tale.
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I love this book, a great writer. I have been many times in the Ardennes.
Kershaw's The Longest Winter is in my collection, but I haven't read it yet. If it reads like The Bedford Boys, it must be excellent.
I got only one copy of it, the Dutch version.