Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon

The I&R Platoon of the 394th Infantry Regiment near Lanzerath, Belgium, was made up of just 18 soldiers when the Wehrmacht launched its final Blitzkrieg on December 18, 1944, to start the Battle of the Bulge. Lieutenant Lyle Bouck, who was 20 years old at the time, commanded the unit. A group of more than 250 organized paratroopers assaulted after the platoon's connections with high command were disrupted by a two-hour artillery barrage after seeing the 1st SS Panzer Division's approach. Unfortunately, the platoon had already been given instructions to hold at any costs, therefore the attackers were unsuccessful.

The platoon caused 200 enemy losses the following day and halted the advance for the majority of the day until 50 paratroopers successfully coordinated a flanking strike at dusk. Amazingly, when Bouck was shot in the leg, they only lost one person and sustained one injury. Almost the entire northern German invasion was delayed by 18 hours as a result of the Battle of Lanzerath, which allowed for much better planning of defenses and the organization of counterattacks. The impressive stand wouldn't be acknowledged until 1981, making the platoon the US military unit with the most decorations.

Year: 1935-1965