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Vielsalm and Rencheux have seen the finest and the best of the US Army
soldiers in its community in the month December 1944 and January 1945.
Those soldiers laid the foundation for today’s free world.
The 82nd Airborne Division, with its excellent combat record in Italy,
Normandy and the Netherlands, was rushed into the Battle in Belgium,
starting December 18, 1944. A and B Companies of 1st Battalion 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment
plus attached elements of 307th Airborne Engineers and 319th Glider
Field Artillery Battalion were guarding the bridges and keeping the road
bridge open for the 7th Armored Division, for its retrograde action from
the St. Vith area to a new line of defense.
After the safe withdrawal of some 15.000 men of 7th Armored Division
across the Rencheux road bridge, the three bridges at Rencheux were
blown. The Companies withdrew on Christmas Eve to a new line of
defense. In January 1945 Vielsalm could welcome the same units again,
this time freeing our area of the enemy.
The story of the 82nd Airborne Division in Normandy and in Nijmegen has
been told in two major movies (The Longest Day and A Bridge too Far) and
in many books and documents. Only very limited focus there has been on
its actions in the Rencheux area.
The Community of Vielsalm feels the
men of the 82nd Airborne Division deserve that this void to be filled.
The program on June 15, 2013 is as follows:
- the inauguration of a monument for all the valiant men who
participated in the actions in and around Rencheux, in December 1944 and
January 1945
- the publication of a book on the individual actions of Airborne
troopers in the Rencheux area; thus recording their actions for future
generations
- a trail for hikers, leading to the most significant sites of the
battle actions at Rencheux. The trail will enable all of us to relate to
the men and their actions so many years ago, in our community
The Community of Vielsalm has the objective of contributing to the
preservation of the history of all those men who came from so far across
the ocean and who contributed so much to the freedom of our country, our
community and its people.
Vielsalm likes to invite all veterans, all their relatives, all their
beloved ones and all those who want to pay their respect to these men,
to join us in the program on June 15, 2013.
Further details of the program will be forwarded later.
We express the wish that we can strengthen our ties with all those who -
through personal bonds with veterans and with interest in the history of
World War 2 – share our objective of preserving the history of those
men, for many generations to come.
You are welcome as our guests,
Elie Leblire
Mayor of Vielsalm
Addresses where you can register ahead of time:
C 47 Club Salm River chapter: ( e mail eddy)
Community of Vielsalm ( email address community
Erik van der Hoeven: erikvanderhoeven@planet.nl
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