As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
I dislike forgotten heroes and one of the greatest of America's past is lost in the name of the Battle of the Bulge or Bastogne, during World War II, when Adolf Hitler plunged his last elite troops at the weakest point in the American lines and caught the Americans sleeping, except for one general in George S. Patton, and allowed British General Bernard Montgomery to continue his perpetual vacation since somehow defeating Field Marshal Rommel in Africa.
Bastogne was vital to the Germans. It was on the American British northern line, If the Germans could split the Americans and British, they could drive them back and retake the port of Antwerp. Adolf Hitler was not the madman he was smeared by. He was engaged in his battle to make the armies of the west real, where Germany would then sue for peace, and turn all of the Fatherland's attention to smashing the communists of the Soviet Union.
There were two problems standing in the way of the Germans, and they were both American. On a ridge to the north, the 99th was dug in and was being obliterated by the infamous green fired German 88's. The 99th, days later would get their revenge as the German assault troops would appear in waist deep snow, and American machine guns would repulse the German Soldiers in turning the snow red.
There was though Noville, a place no one notes in the story of Bastogne.
Bill Desobry was a graduate of Georgetown. He was thin as a scarecrow, but was ordered with his small unit named Team Desobry, to defend Noville. A small group of Americans were ordered to hold the entire German army led by the massive SS tank columns of Adolf Hitler's elite troops who had been allowed to sew his name into their sleeves as they swore and allegiance to death.
The 10th Armored Division was commanded by Col. William Roberts, who Desobry idolized as a father. When Desobry asked about the defense order of Noville, if he had to ask permission to withdraw, Roberts informed the young officer that things would probably get hot, and that Desobry should first ask permission before he moved back in an emotional moment.
That was all Desobry needed to hear. He was not going to let the old man done. His team was staying.
The Battle for Noville during the Battle of the Bulge ...
Dec 10, 2019The Battle of Noville helped decide the defense of Bastogne and the fate of the entire German Ardennes offensive—the Battle of the Bulge. When the Germans launched their counteroffensive through the Ardennes Forest of Belgium and Luxembourg four days earlier, on December 16, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander, immediately sent his 7th, 9th, and 10th Armored Divisions into the fray.
The German columns arrive, and Desobry faces them with 15 Sherman tanks, 4 M 18 Hellcat tank destroyers. Desobry's line holds the Germans long enough for lead elements of the 101st Airborne to arrive with a battalion of paratroopers.
American Soldiers trapped inside burning tanks are baked alive. Noville is on fire and a thick fog produces a shroud over all, but the Americans fight on, as the 101st must be given time to arrive in Bastogne.
The 101st had been pulled from the line, a they had fought from D Day to the entire winter. They were not supposed to see combat until spring, and had little fighting gear or winter clothing. In cattle trucks the were ferried to the front and as Desobry was doing his job, the 101st was arriving in Bastogne.
Lt. Col. James LaPrade of Texas leads the 101st and Desobry gladly turns command over to this brave and heroic man. As tactics are discussed, fate renders the cruelest of misfortunes, as one of Desobry's men who has been pulling tanks from the lines and back into town, and parks his vehicle outside the command post.
The Germans immediately note the position and open up with an 88 at point blank range. The building explodes.
LTC James LaPrade - US AIRBORNE
On December 19th, 1944, James L LaPrade was killed when the German artillery opened the fire on Noville. Shell fell on its HQ. His skin is buried to West Point since 1949. His wife, Mary, never knows remarried, she died on July 4th, 1999.
James LaPrade is nothing anyone would recognize as he is dead. He lays beside Bill Desobry. Desobry is evacuated by ambulance, but a German patrol stops the vehicle. While other SS units had massacred prisoners, these Germans take pity on this shattered Soldier and take him to the German camp for treatment.
The war is over for Bill Desobry. Bastongne will focus all the attention, but what these Americans did at Noville in stopping the Germans, is what created the focal point of Bastogne as the 101st Airborne had arrived and dug in, as the German forces ran out of fuel, and George Patton's counter strike would being.
William Robertson DesobryWilliam Robertson Desobry was a senior U.S. Army field commander in Germany during the Cold War, and a Lieutenant General in the United States Army. General Desobry was a decorated hero from World War II, and played a significant role as an advisor to the Republic of Vietnam Army and on the Army Staff during the Vietnam War.WikipediaNickname(s):"Bill" "Des"Born:Sept 11, 1918, Manila, the Philippine IslandsDied:Jan 12, 1996, San Antonio, Texas
William Robertson Desobry would live to the age of 77 and have an illustrious career, rising to the rank of Major General with his well earned Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star and Prisoner of War Medal.
Bill Desobry and the heroes of Noville that he and James LaPrade led are not forgotten. So many more Americans would have died if Noville had not stood by the heroic reality of these brave men at the crossroads of history.
agtG
