The Bois Jacques

Finished up our visit in Bastogne with the customary visit to the Bois Jacques. Seems that the more I go back the more I discover. Both Compton and Malarky were able to go into the woods with us and help me place a few more spots in the woods as well as provide fantastic stories of their time in the woods and the attack into Foy. Thanks to their input I'm now able to place where the famous picture of Ron Speirs with Tommy Gun and grenades was taken, the location of the company and battalion CP and confirmation of the spot where Guarnere and Toy got their wounds.

Later in the afternoon everyone had a chance to meet Andre Meurisse and hear his harrowing story of being a little boy in Bastogne during the battle. I know many of you have heard this before, but Andre was in a particularly talkative mood today, and finished his story by showing everyone the scar from the wound he received.

We spend about three hours in the woods and Don, in particular, was full of stories. It complimented the interview session we had had with the men for a couple of hours the day before in Spa very well. The interview session was great and I think the men were much more comfortable telling their stories and it gave everyone a chance to ask questions and go over details of the company without shouting down the bus. We are planning on a few more of these sessions before the trip ends.

Without a doubt, the most moving moment of the day was our visit to Luxembourg Cemetery with Buck and Don remembering Muck and Penkala in particular. There were not to many dry eyes. The folks at the cemetery took pictures while we were there and if you want to check them out you can find them at: www.cantu1934.spaces.live.com.

Now we are in Metz, which I was really hoping to explore, but, as usual, not enough hours of daylight. Hope to make it to Mourmelon when I'm back for the WWI trip.

As many of you know, I love Alsace and Lorraine and tomorrow we are going to go back down to Hagenau and then on to the Westwall museum, which will be something new for the group. They have some wonderful exhibits of German memorabilia and the fighting in and around Alsace when the Americans came through. Then it is on to Bavaria. If the weather holds out, it should be really spectacular. I'm posting a few more pictures taken earlier in the trip of Buck and Don and once I get my memory stick back from Erik will have a few more of later in the trip.

Other than that, I'm looking forward to Italy and poking around Cassino and Anzio when this trip finishes up, and then meeting folks for the Bastogne trip, which will be doubly exciting as I learned today that George Koskimaki has committed to the trip. To be able to travel with Taylor's radio man and THE historian of the 101 will be a real blessing and something not to be missed. As we go along with George I'll be sure to post as much as I can from this legendary historian/vet/author. Until then, best to all, and go Sox!