STAND OF THE THUNDERBIRDS: 180th Infantry Regiment and the Battle of Fremifontaine

1-249930

This book incorporates the story of 2nd Battalion's harrowing fight for survival and the personal account of a son uncovering his father's untold legacy. Through extensive research, Michael Reyka bridges the gap between history and memory, bringing to life the human toll of war. Details how in the first week of October 1944, in the dense forests of the Vosges Mountains, 2nd Battalion, 180th Infantry Regiment, teetered on the brink of total annihilation. German troops and tanks surrounded all three of its rifle companies, along with their H Company heavy weapons attachments. Supply routes and communication lines had been severed by intense artillery and tank shelling. Faced with the probability of impending death or capture, the battalion confronted this formidable attack with determination and courage, embodying the motto of the 45th Division, Always Forward! Contains 12-15 maps and photos.