#st. vith

Chars M4 Sherman de la 7e Division blindée américaine en position défensive à l'orée de la forêt près de Saint-Vith - Bataille de Saint-Vith - Bataille des Ardennes - Saint-Vith - Belgique - 20 décembre 1944

An essential component of combined-arms tactics was artillery support from the armored division’s self-propelled field-artillery battalions. This is Lieutenant Ode Odens, a forward observer of the 440th Armored Field Artillery Battalion on his tank during 7th Armored Division operations near St. Vith on January 25, 1945. Each tank and armored-infantry battalion had at least one forward observer attached to them during operations.

St. Vith-- A story about the end of World War II

Maybe in the beginning, a mere seven months ago, they were a bunch of kids playing at war with loaded guns. Now though they are experienced in murder and seeing their friends die. Of hating with all their hearts. Of feeling fear and hunger and cold beyond imagination.

They stand in a dangerous place. A place obliterated by 240mm artillery rounds and bomb dropped from the sky. It was once a town…

Sergeant. [or Tec 4] Marvin E. Eans, Jr., demonstrates the new snow cape being used by First U.S. Army Infantrymen in snow-covered areas in Belgium. White rags are wrapped around his rifle for additional camouflage. St. Vith., 12/15/1944