The Breaking Point: Bastogne: January 1-13, 1945 Summary and Analysis

With the Bastogne siege over, the men of Easy Company prepared to attack and take the nearby village of Foy. Winters gave the command for the advance. The line was spread so thinly that the soldiers had trouble keeping contact with each other. The poor visibility also made it difficult for the German troops to fire upon the Americans. The advancing line in Easy Company's sector received relatively minimal resistance. That night, though, heavy German artillery fired upon Easy Company, resulting in heavy casualties. Lieutenant Dike, Easy Company's new commanding officer, retreated and left the company on its own. Lipton took command. The next morning, after the attack, Dike returned. The men began to bend under the heavy pressure of constant battle. Lieutenant Buck Compton, a Normandy and Holland veteran broke...