Action in Luxembourg was described by the doughboys, worn out after their terrific fighting in Belgium, as “a frontline rest area.” Reinforcements were received, trained and outfitted and the Division instituted a pass policy, allowing a certain number of men three days in Luxembourg City and others three day passes to Paris.

From 346th Infantry:

On the 13th of the month the unit was in Division reserve near Rondu, Belgium, the Regimental Command Post being at Aspelt, Luxembourg.

DEFENSE OF LUXEMBOURG

The order to move to a new sector near Betzdorf, Luxembourg was received and carried out on the 15th. The move to the new sector enabled the Regiment to take over the mission of the Eighth Infantry Regiment of the Fourth Division who were located there. The position was a defensive one, the main action consisting of patrolling.

Jan 19,1945

Dear Folks,
   I guess you couldn’t say it is because of lack of time that I haven’t written but more correctly lack of opportunity. I started a letter a few days ago but things happened before I got it finished. I sure was glad to hear from you this morning. I got letters dated Dec. 31 and Jan 1 and also three Tribunes (Nov 28 and Jan 3 and 11). I am really glad to get the papers even though I only get about one out of every week. I wanted to thank you earlier but about a week ago I got the box from you that contained Mary King’s cookies. A surprise like that really is appreciated. That chicken I guess was the best I ever tasted.  I don’t know whether those fudge candy bars are something new or not but they tasted enough like home made candy to really be good. You can send me some of them any time you have an extra corner. Please thank Mary King for me, at present I’m OK and am still trusting and praying. God Bless you.
Love, Donald

From 346th Infantry:

On 10 January, Company I, supported by one platoon of Company L, took the town of Tillet. The Regiment was relieved and moved to an assembly area near Neuvillers, the same day the Commanding General made a number of awards to men of the Regiment in a formal ceremony. 

Belgium

Hello Folks,
   Well I am sure glad to be able to write you again. I hope you’ll forgive the time that I got the last letter sent out but you’ll just have to blame it on conditions. I didn’t get it started till last night. I’d better tell you first that I am very thankful that I’ve been getting mail pretty regularly. I got two or three letters you wrote about Christmas time and quite a few back ones that had been held up for some reason or other. I got also your stationary, box of woolen clothes, Sunday School papers and a Christmas box from Uncle Floys’ and Paul s. I’ll bet that there is nothing in this world I’d have appreciated more than something to keep me warm. They certainly can be put to immediate use. As usual I (we) also got quite a kick out of the things to eat in the other box. I am still getting along OK and depending for strength on the Lord. Today we are resting and between now and tomorrow if we are still here I am going to make an honest effort to write you an air mail. I hope you are glad to get these Vmails though.
Love, Donald

From: An Historical and Pictorial Record of the 87 Infantry Division in WWII:

All along the front the enemy was throwing everything he had into the fight- artillery, mortars, machine guns, tanks and self-propelled guns of all calibers. Tillet, situated on a barren hilltop between two larger hills, became the key town in the enemy’s scheme of reinforcement and supply. The Gerimont Station Hill was on the east. A forest covered ridge on the south which connected with the hill on the southwest was the attack problem that faced the doughboys.

On the afternoon of January 6 the attack on Tillet by the Third Battalion, 346th Regiment, started. As the fighting men of L and I companies came over the crest of the Gerimont Station Hill all hell broke loose. Company K coming out of the trees on the ridge to the south met the same resistance. The attack was held up and the battalion was pinned down.

From 346th Infantry:

(On 6 January) the new mission was to attack, capture and hold the town of Tillet. The Third Battalion moved to the high ground east of Tillet, and later in the day Tillet was reported burning. The Third Battalion attacked the town but were unable to capture it.

On 7 January the Third Battalion again attacked Tillet with no success. The enemy apparently were determined to hold the town at any cost. During the night German patrols were very active around our positions, and the outfit’s casualty toll was extremely high. … Attack after attack was repulsed by the stubborn enemy garrison… Digging in was necessarily slow and laborious due to frozen ground and heavy enemy artillery fire. Before the foxholes could be dug to an adequate depth, an enemy tank attack had been launched. Artillery support could not be used because of the lack of communication and observation, and the position was situated in such a way that no tank destroyers could be brought up in time. The result was a withdrawal of the two Battalions to their old positions from where they started the attack. Much equipment had to be abandoned and the resulting casualties for the day were very high.

From an email note received in August 2012, just before a visit to Belgium – from 93 year old Retired Lt. Col. Glenn Doman¹, who was Donald’s Platoon Leader at Tillet, and later Company Commander for K Company:

“Your father Donald was one of my boys in K (King) company, 346th INF Regiment, 87 Infantry Division (Golden Acorn) and it was a high honor to serve with a great hero like your dad. On January 7, 1945 around Tillet Belgium, one of our boys was seriously wounded in an open field. Your dad ran into the field under enemy fire and helped recover our wounded boy, most certainly saving his life. I was honored to recommend him for the Silver Star.”

Clipping from the Alexandria Indiana Times-Tribune, April 1945

Fields near Tillet, Belgium photographed in 2012:

It was cold, bitterly cold, that morning of December 29 when the infantrymen, the artillerymen, the recons, the tankers, the tank destroyers, the triple-A’s and all the rest of the units of the 87th Division climbed aboard the open 6×6’s for the 100-mile motor march to Seviscourt and Bertrix, Belgium. The roads were frozen and the wind was icy as it whipped across the snow covered hills to torture the men who were moving up to meet the rampaging Germans who were on the loose again.

There was no bivouac nor rest period awaiting them. The 346th Infantry was detached, during the night of 29-30 December, and attacked at 0730 the next morning, advancing nine kilometers that day to positions where they could control the roads leading to Vesqueville and St. Hubert.

The enemy was fighting for the lifeline of his offensive. It was the Houffalize-St. Hubert highway, the loss of which would make him shuttle his men and supplies over secondary, unimproved mountain roads that were practically impassable due to the snow. Jenneville, Pironpre, Bonnerue and Tillet were all key towns on that road. And they were all objectives of the 87th Division.

From 346th Infantry:

THE ARDENNES FIRST PHASE – The next few days were spent in reorganizing the outfit, bringing the rifle companies up to strength, and inspection and repair of equipment, all in preparation for the next move, which came on December 29, to the vicinity of Glaumont, Belgium, to help stem Von Runstadt’s Ardennes breakthrough.

Once again the attack was on, as at 0730 hours the next morning the Second and Third Battalions moved out on a mission to capture and hold the objective, blow all bridges, and to establish road blocks in vicinity of St. Hubert and Vesqueville, Belgium. Things went well and the casualty rate was low, but snow was falling again, slowing things up. In the meantime the Regimental CP had set up at Recogne, Belgium.

New Year’s Day brought no hilarious celebrations or big “morning-after” heads but only snow and continued. cold. Patrols were sent into St. Hubert and VesquevilIe, Frozen feet were no novelty, and the enemy flushed with the immediate success of its salient, was more difficult than ever.

January 4,1945

Dear Family and all,
   Not that this isn’t meant for you at home but I, as usual, would like for it to let as many hear from me as possible. This is the first chance I’ve had to write for about a week now so don’t be worried about letters being missing if you hear once in a while. I was blessed with the first mail yesterday evening that I have received since Christmas day. It sure was good to hear from you. Your letters were dated Dec 7 and 20. I also got the first Tribune to reach me since the few in England. It was of Oct. 31 but even at that I enjoyed it. I guess this letter will have to contain my New Year’s greetings and good wishes. With God’s help 1945 will see us together again. May it be His will.
   I believe it only fair now to tell you that I have been in combat for a few weeks now. I have always told you not to worry and it it even more so now. If you can put as much faith in God as I do you will have no trouble meeting the situation. I am not ashamed of the fact that all of my trust is in Him. Psalm 27;1. You may be pleased to know that I am finding a lot of real use for the work I spent in learning radio. Keep praying.
Love,  Donald

France
Dec 28,1944

Dear Grandparents,
   I hope you don’t think I’ve forgotten about you. If you get to read the folk’s letters maybe you get to hear from me once in a while. Outside of being alright and busy most of the time there is very little news I can tell you. Sure hope you had a Merry Christmas and wish you a Happy New Year. We had a Happy Christmas by being thankful for the blessings that we have. I got your package a good while ago so it was in good shape. Most of the fellows haven’t received their Christmas yet so I guess I’m lucky even if mine didn’t reach me just at Christmas. Thanks a lot and thank Aunt Mary too. By the time all our boxes reach us we may have Christmas for a good while yet. Those goodies sure do taste good out here. The rations we get are pretty plain.
   Hope you are coming along OK back there. I sure would like to be back. Indiana would really look good now. What kind of weather have you been having. Be good and God bless you. Lets pray that we can all be together soon.
 Lot of love,  Donald