551st Parachute Infantry Association

13 hours ago

It would be impossible for us, the Association, to adequately express our gratitude to the citizens of Belgium who welcomed us with open arms over the past week. All of you that helped organize, orchestrate, and execute all of these events enabled all of us to come together and honor these heroes of ours. At every monument flowers were presented, words spoken, reverent moments of silence for reflection were taken, and anthems were played for these heroes of ours. GOYA!! ... See More from 551See Less from 551

551st Parachute Infantry Association

16 hours ago

Our Association secretary, following the Association's visit to Belgium for the 80th Anniversary of their participation in the Battle of the Bulge, was looking up information about Paul DeLillio of the 551st PIB for DeLillio's daughter and was going through Det Serv. Co. MRs in Belgium, his company, when he ran across the one for 20 Dec, that included their route taken to Ster, BE from Laon, FR...heading up for the Bulge! He was then able to follow, and build, the route...we're sure that was a similar route for most of the Battalion. It went from Laon to Montcornet to Rozoy to Rocroi to Fumoy to Givet(FR) to Dinant(BE) to Marche to Hotton to Werbomont to Ster. Of course it took them longer than 4hrs and 18 minutes though. That would probably be a great motorcycle ride, or drive...riding along the 551st's advance to the Battle of the Bulge...GOYA!! ... See More from 551See Less from 551

551st Parachute Infantry Association

1 day ago

Two special ladies who are attached to two special places for the 551st in Belgium are Bernadette, owner of Auberge du Carrefour restaurant in Vielsalm, and Madeleine Gaspard, current resident of the former 551st PIB/517th RCT aid station at Dairômont, who also lived there in 1945 with her parents. Every year that the Association visits Belgium both ladies open their homes, restaurant and hearts; not only to the veterans over the years, but now even to their descendants...much gratitude to both Bernadette and Madeleine from the Association.

While the Germans occupied Belgium during WWII Bernadette's family owned Auberge, and as her father ran the family restaurant he was also a member of the underground resistance. An informant snitched on Bernadette's father and he was taken as a prisoner. Bernadette's family was then forced to leave. American troops quartered and cared for the family until they could find a safe place for them to stay. American Soldiers also ended up freeing her father. From that point on Bernadette's father instilled in his children that no American Soldier would ever be turned away. She hosts many banquets to this day, to include this year for descendants of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion, thank you Bernadette, and to your father...SALUTE!

During that time in 1945 Madeleine was a young four year old girl living at Dairômont when she and her two siblings, a year or two older, were hiding in her parents' basement. She could recall the American Soldiers arriving in early '45 and seeing the German boots run by one of the basement windows, followed by American boots. Even after it settled down around their home she and her siblings still didn't come out of hiding for a long time due to being so frightened. Their parent's home was then used as an aid station for both the 517th RCT and the 551st PIB...for their attack on Rochelinval. Many American lives were treated and saved in that home. Every year that the Association comes to Belgium she graciously opens her home and treats the veterans and family.

Thank you again to both Bernadette and Madeleine, and until next time...GOYA!!

- eb ... See More from 551See Less from 551

551st Parachute Infantry Association

3 days ago

An incredible trip visiting where they walked, where they first collectively prayed for those that were lost and injured following the Bulge, and a place where several still rest 80 years later...next to small white crosses.

On the second day of our trip we visited the church in Juslenville, L 'Eglise et le Presbytère, where those that were left of the Battalion held a memorial service for those of the 551st that were no longer with them on 17 January 1945. It may have been immediately following that service that they departed for nearby Henri-Chapelle to hold a graveside service for LTC Joerg, their Battalion Commander...a photo from that service is included. Joerg and several other members of the 551st were initially buried at Henri-Chapelle but later moved back to the states by their respective families. Today, 16 GOYAs remain at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. Two GOYAs resting there were serving in their follow-on units that they joined after the 551st was disbanded. Lorenzo Davis ended up in the 504th following the 551st's meeting with Gen Gavin on 27 January, 1945 and died of his wounds two days later on 29 January. Jack Rolland was one of the seven members of A Company that was able to continue following Rochelinval. He joined the 508th on 27 January and was killed on 9 February near Bergstein, Germany, the same day as a another GOYA, Don Baldwin, made the ultimate sacrifice. Baldwin was with the 505th and is resting in Indiana.

While in Juslenville we also stopped by the building where the 551st was visited by General Gavin on 27 January. As difficult as that memorial service likely was for them at the church on 17 January, the news they received on 27 January was just as devastating. They were informed by Gavin that the 551st was deactivating. Many men of the 551st buried their faces in their hands and cried that morning. By the end of that day the majority of those that were able to continue found themselves on the rosters of regiments in the 82nd Airborne...the 504th, 505th, and the 508th. A handful would end up in Airborne HQ and other places.

Following Juslenville it seemed more than appropriate to visit the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. We had to grab a plastic snow scraper from one of our vehicles to clear the ice so that we could read the descriptions. While there we set out a US Flag, 551st Parachute Infantry Flag, and a white rose at each gravesite in remembrance of each member of the 551st PIB resting there. We all took turns setting the roses.

After Henri-Chapelle we had lunch at a restaurant that was part of Val-Dieu Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery in Wallonia that dates back to the 13th Century. Following that great lunch Claude Orban then led our group to the town/city of Leignon. By the time we got there I was certain Claude had decided to drive us through every town/community in the Belgian Ardennes. It is easy to understand why the 551st struggled so much figuring out where they were going in 1945 when called up for the Bulge...with the additional snow, it being during the night, no GPS, and not to mention the Germans adding to the chaos! Many men of the 551st spoke about the confusion entering Belgium for the Bulge in The Left Corner Of My Heart by Dan Morgan.

The second church pictured in this set is where Milo Heumpfner, the one-man Army, stood guard over the church as they held a Christmas vigil, located in Leignon...a piece of his parachute chord still hangs in the church. The plaque honoring Milo's actions is hanging on the rock wall in front of the church.

It was a great day of remembrance of some heroes of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion...SALUTE!!

- eb ... See More from 551See Less from 551

551st Parachute Infantry Association is with National Infantry Association and 8 others at Sacrifice Field.

1 week ago

As the Sun sets here on Fort Moore, Georgia on the 85th Anniversary of the Attack on Rochelinval by the battered remnants of the 551st Parachute Infantry on 07 January 1945, flowers are placed by “Furlough” at the 551st monument on Sacrifice Field, pausing to remember the Paratroopers of the 551, who against incredible odds, brutal winter weather, and devastating casualties, seized the town of Rochelinval…..accomplishing their mission, but at a terrible price….

The spirit of the GOYAs of the 551 and of the American Paratrooper in WWII will live on….because we will remember…..

Rest easy lads…..see you on the DZ…..

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551st Parachute Infantry Association

1 week ago

551st PARACHUTE INFANTRY
BATTLE OF THE BULGE 80th ANNIVERSARY
OPERATIONS IN BELGIUM – 07 JANUARY 1945

ROCHELINVAL

Since the bridge at Rochelinval was the last across the Salm River still held by the Germans, and it was still capable of handling vehicle traffic, it was critical to the enemy. With the 551st now attached to the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, a patrol from A Company 551st conducted a limited reconnaissance on the evening of 06 JAN, where German Soldiers were seen preparing defensive positions around the village. Rochelinval itself was on a high ground, surrounded by snow-covered fields to the west and south, and a small valley and tree line to the north. This gave some amount of cover and concealment all the way to the outskirts of the town. Despite the significance of the bridge at Rochelinval, staff of the 504th PIR and 82nd Airborne Division provided no intelligence assistance in preparing for the attack.

In their commander’s assessment, the GOYAs of the 551st were in no shape for such an attack, due to casualties, the brutal weather, and two weeks of sustained combat. Leadership within the 504th told LTC Joerg that his unit could expect no direct support from them during the attack. Wire communications between the units did not exist, causing critical delays in relaying information between the 551st and the 504th. There was also no solid commitment to any sort of artillery support from the Division’s organic field artillery units before launching the attack the next morning. LTC Joerg pleaded with the Division staff to have the attack canceled or postponed, but to no avail.

At 0730hrs on the morning of 07 January 1945, the GOYAs of the 551st began their attack, with only three rounds of preparatory artillery support. A Company attacked from the north, while B Company attacked from the south. C Company was to capture a small outpost and provide support by fire, and be the Battalion reserve to the west. The understrength A Company’s First Lieutenant (1LT) Dick Durkee gives a good account of a part of the ensuing nightmare:

"...The Germans were sitting up there in the town, just waiting for us. One scout, Private Robert Mowery, was carrying the BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) and he was the first to be hit; he got it in the stomach and once through the head. I immediately had our (.30 caliber) machine gun emplaced behind a stump, but they no sooner got set up than the Jerries opened up on our left flank and then those men were directly in the crossfire. Before they got off their second burst, they were both dead..."
(Morgan, 1984, p. 446).

Later in the attack, 1LT Durkee became the Company Commander of A Company with only nine Paratroopers still able to fight. The beloved commander of the 551st, LTC Wood Joerg, fell mortally wounded by a tree burst at his Command Post near C Company, also knocking out what was left of the Battalion’s communications section.

Friends & family of the veterans of 551st Parachute Infantry will be in Rochelinval this weekend to remember the sacrifices made by our beloved GOYAs 80 years ago during the Battle of the Bulge

We remember.....

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