assaulting troops. The battalion overran the German infantry and destroyed 19 of the 20 anti-aircraft guns, killing or capturing the infantry. All of the arriving gliders landed safely. The First Battalion’s heroic action that day saved hundreds of American lives.
Following weeks of fighting in Holland, the 508th PIR was relieved and moved to Sissonne, France, where it occupied an old French Artillery Post with warm dry beds, and hot showers and good food. Weapons were re-paired or replaced, replacements were absorbed into the regiment, and everyone settled down for a comfortable Christmas.
Ray’s utopia evaporated on December 17, 1944. The desperate Germans had launched a surprise attack through the dense forests of the Ardennes. The rapidly moving German formations had overrun and mauled several American divisions, killing or capturing hundreds of men.
The massive German incursion into the allied area created a gigantic bulge extending hundreds of miles, thus the campaign was named the “Battle of the Bulge.”
The 508th PIR was alerted to move against the German bulge. The next morning, December 18, the regiment loaded in trucks moved to Werbomont, Belgium, a town astride two critical highways.
On December 21, winter arrived in Belgium with a heavy snowfall. The 508th troopers suffered, they were without shelter, winter clothing or equipment..
After perilous days of fighting, including a prudent very dangerous Christmas Eve regimental withdrawal, the German attack was stopped.
On January 7, 1945, the 508th PIR went on the offensive. The troopers fought through deep snow and over heavily forested hills, on sunless, bitter cold days, capturing towns, killing Germans, and destroying the Siegfried Line fortifications. The 508th PIR offensive ended on the west shore of the Roer River.
The regiment had sustained 828 casualties, killed, wounded or missing. The bitter cold weather, lack of shelter, and the inability to evacuate the wounded caused almost half the casualties.
On February 18, 1945, the 508th PIR broke contact with the Germans and returned to Sissonne, France, and moved into tents.
Memorial services were held for our comrades, replacements were processed, and a training program was started. After a disastrous practice | 
