DEC 26, 70 Years Ago With the attached video, we have the privilege and honor to hear Mr. Neil French, Co C of the 37th Tank Battalion who comments on that historic moment on Dec 26th 1944 when Lt. Boggess broke the German encirclement around Bastogne around 16:50. Neil was in the second Sherman following Boggess ! He is most probably the only survivor of that highly successful Task Force that was sent out by Col. Creig Abrams. CCR / 37TB left Bigonville just after midnight and drove like hell towards Neufchateau, where they took the smaller roads via Cobreville, Remichampagne, Remoiville, and Clochimont where they arrived in the early afternoon. There was heavy fighting at Remichampagnen from house to house. At the Clochimont crosspoint, Colonels C Abrams and Jaques saw all of the sudden hundreds of C-47s flying over on their route from France towards Bastogne in order to drop the so much needed supplies for the 101st AB. According to the plans, Abrams had to advance towards Sibret. But seeing the C-47s, he changed his mind and decided to move directly towards Bastogne via Assenois. There was serious fighting at Assenois where Pvt J. Hendrickx eliminated 88mms of the enemy and for which he earned the Medal of Honor. Once Assenois was safe, Abrams launched the Task Force led by Lt. Boggess, who arrived at the Assenois Pillbox around 16:40. Heavy shooting followed clearing the area - then contact was made with the men of the 101st. From that moment on, the encirclement was broken, but Bastogne was not liberated yet. Please have a look at this very important testimony by Neil French about that historic moment that changed the outlook of the Battle of the Bulge. Thank you Neil for the interview by Phone !
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 14:01:55 +0000
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