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In December 1944 the 106th Division took up positions in the Schnee Eifel area in Germany. The 589th Field Artillery supported the 422nd Infantry Regiment from positions near the town of Herzfenn, on the Auw-Bleialf road. Battery “A”, of which Lieutenant Wood was the executive officer, lay south of this road, some 200 yards from the Battalion Headquarters. On December 14th, 1944 Brigadier-General Eric F. Wood Sr. and Captain Peter Wood, Eric Jr’s father and eldest brother, made a surprise visit to the Battalion. This was the last time the family saw Eric Jr. alive. (Source)
The Ardennes is a beautiful place in summer and in winter. In the summer the rolling hills and fields are green and lush. The area is dotted with small villages which haven't changed much over the years.
It's beautiful in the winter as well, I've driven through the area with a layer of fresh snow coating those rolling hills. It's pretty, but best viewed from inside. It's no place to be outside when the winter comes.
Or when the Germans came in 1944.
The 106th, the Golden Lions, were a new division, inexperienced, packed with green troops. When the Germans came they quickly surrounded two regiments of the division out on the Schnee Eifel. Most of them surrendered. Some few slipped off into the forest, to try and make their way back to friendly lines. For whatever reason, Eric Wood Jr. decided to keep fighting.
He died out there on those lonely, snow-swept hills.
The Belgians in that area remember him ...
So should we.
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Eric F. Wood (0-517724), First Lieutenant (Field Artillery), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Executive Officer of Battery A, 589th Field Artillery Battalion, 106th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 17 December 1944, near Schonberg, Belgium. First Lieutenant Wood's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 106th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
You can read more about this great American here.
Like juvat always says, "Never give up, never surrender."
1Lt Wood didn't.
Remember him.
We remember those who never came home.
ReplyDeleteAlways.
DeleteI had never heard this story. Thanks for writing about him.
ReplyDeleteI’ve always wondered in battle how many have done heroic deeds known only to themselves and God?
Far too many to count, I'm sure.
DeleteEspecially in the case of a forlorn hope like one small group against a whole invasion.
Delete👍
DeleteI've often wondered about the effect of soldiers like Captain Wood in the slowing of the German offensive. How much did their intransigence cost the Germans in time and equipment and in experienced soldiers?
ReplyDeleteVery good post.
Forgotten hero no more.
In that battle there were dozens, if not hundreds, of small unit encounters which added up to slow the German offensive to a halt. I'm thinking of the engineers which stopped Peiper by blowing bridges. I'm thinking of Lyle Bouck's Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon of the 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division whose early stand threw a monkey wrench into the German timetable on the first day of the offensive. There were many others. Some ran, enough stood their ground to end Hitler's last gamble.
DeleteEven a regimental band, tossed in at the last minute, died valiantly. How much time did they buy for reinforcements?
DeleteEnough for their sacrifice to have not been in vain.
DeleteI need to dig out my DVD of “Battleground”.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent film! Made shortly after the end of the war, a great cast as well.
DeleteBADGER PAW SALUTE!
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteHey Old AFSarge;
ReplyDeleteI remember reading that in the Battle of the Bulge, there was enough small unit actions that it infuriated Peiper, and it threw his timetable out of the window. Some say, that is why the massacre at Malmady happened by some of his underlings, they were frustrated by the delays. Personally I disagree, I think it was the SS being the SS viewing all others being "Undermenchen" and they just came back from the Russian Front a d that is how they treated the russian prisoners.
I agree with your assessment, it was only the second day of the offensive, too early to be that frustrated.
DeleteI'm sure that having to retake ground they already had didn't help any at all.
DeleteCould have been a factor.
DeleteMy dad was in the infantry in 1943. Somehow, an entry was made in his record that he was qualified as a tank-destroyer driver. Dad told his top sergeant that he had never even seen one. The sergeant told him that they'd teach him what he needed to know.
ReplyDeleteDad got to the TD battalion on a Thursday. He was told that, since he was a qualified driver, he was to instruct a class in driving them on Monday. Dad protested that he'd never even seen one. The sergeant took him out back, pointed to a line of tank destroyers and handed him a manual. The sergeant told him to take one or more out and that he had until Monday to figure out how to drive one.
Dad's TD battalion was sent west. He never made it off Hawaii. His old infantry unit was chopped into pieces in the Bulge.
Several years after he died, I tried to get his records from the VA. They were burned up in the 1973 fire.
Wow, that's quite a story and very "Army" if you know what I mean.
DeleteI guess if the Army says you're qualified ...
We need to remember guys like your Dad, that generation did a lot for us.
(Don McCollor)...Earlier on the other side of the world, a PBY pilot ferried in two torpedoes under her wings to Guadalcanal, only to find there were no torpedo bombers. He got five minutes of instruction from a fighter pilot who had a brother that flew a torpedo bomber then climbed back into the Catalena. Two torpedoes launched, two hits, one Japanese transport sunk...
DeleteInteresting.
DeleteSarge, as a result of my dad’s experience, I was very patient with BuPers.
Delete👍
DeleteThank you for sharing this Sarge. I have never read or heard the story before.
ReplyDeleteNever give up indeed.
Not while you're still breathing ...
DeleteI think I first read about Eric Fisher Wood from Mike Vanderboegh. Thanks for giving it wider dissemination.
ReplyDeleteGood people do what's right and proper...because.
Boat Guy
Concur!
DeleteI'm the namesake of an Uncle who served as a Tanker with the 740th Tank Battalion, “Daredevil Tankers”, in the Ardennes. After the battle, the 740th continued on into Germany.
ReplyDeleteOn 13 April 1945, the day after FDR’s death, Uncle and his crew were KIA. Two-three days after that engagement the 740th came off the line for other duties. Germany surrendered on 07 May 1945.
At times I’ve wondered how my grandparents learned of their son’s death. On what side of Germany’s surrender did they receive the telegram?
I have a limited number of his V-Mails written after the Ardennes. Not much Uncle could say in those other than “we’ve been busy”. I also have the telegram advising of his return home for burial in 1949.
The 740th had a superb combat record. It's terrible that your uncle and his crew died so near the end, I shall remember them always.
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