 508th Monument
at Thier du Mont à Sart near where the 508ths Regimental HQ had been established, honors the men that fought here. The 508th took this hill, were pulled back and later took it again.
508th veteran Bob Speers recalled that on either December 16 or 17. 1944 the 508th was ordered from Sissonne to the Ardennes. The men were loaded into trucks and led a convoy thru Bastogne They went to (Grenoch?) and then to Tiere du Monte. In the ensuing battle, the 2nd Bn. was on the right flank, 1st Bn. on left. They suffered 150 to 200 casualties in the engagement.
A week later, on Christmas Eve, they were ordered to withdraw as German troops had come in from behind.
They stayed in their new location for 6 or 7 days and then ordered to retake the hill. The hill was retaken in a blinding snow storm.
Today the monument stands at or near the point where 509er Frank Haddie knocked out a Tiger tank. Bob stated that Frank stood atop the killed Tiger and then gave out a Tarzan yell.
|
