Morale was raised another notch with the far-overdue arrival of winter clothes—mountain boots, fur-lined caps, fur-lined jackets, heavy-lined pants—and mountain sleeping bags. The men were finally warm![1]

After the winter gear arrived and was distributed on January 16–17, Phil and his men boarded trucks and were moved into reserve, about twenty miles behind the lines in the area of Sainte-Croix-aux-Mines.

The trucks made so much noise that the Germans started throwing in a few artillery rounds, making the GIs nervous since the trucks only moved about five miles an hour.

Two of Phil’s men jumped off the truck at one intersection and ran into an abandoned farmhouse. A moment later, they raced back, carrying a ten-liter jug. With the assistance of the men inside, they boosted the pitcher onto the truck and scrambled on.

“Calvados!”vii exclaimed Staff Sergeant Charles Beardslee. Then he looked at Phil. “And don’t ask, Lieutenant!”

Phil could only assume the men had found a stash while patrolling. Nevertheless, upon arriving at the camp, the men were rather tipsy and bellowing the division song, “Dogface Soldier.”

~~~~~

The 3rd Infantry Division was shifting to regroup in preparation for withdrawing the bulk of its striking force to the east, in the general vicinity of Guemar.[2] The 30th Infantry Regiment was moving into reserve for the eventual attack into the Colmar Pocket.[3]

~~~~~

[1] Larimore, At First Light, 183.

[2] Taggart, 301.

[3] Prohme, 305-306.

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