“We were stuck in this little town of Marcouray, Belgium, surrounded by a German Panzerdivision.
We were stuck there for six days and six nights.
We ran out of ammunition and started to run out of food and medical supplies, and we had quite a few casualties.
We had planned to escape on Christmas Eve.
We collected soot from the stoves in the houses and rubbed it on our faces so it wouldn’t reflect too much in the moonlight.
Then we destroyed all our guns and tanks, because we didn’t want to leave them in German hands.
Can’t you just imagine 400 guys walking through the woods without disturbing anyone? But we did!
What helped us was that the Germans were all drinking and having fun celebrating Christmas.
So they didn’t notice us.
We marched all night, and when we reached the American line on Christmas morning, it was all joy.
We were shouting for joy and having the time of our lives!
We hadn’t eaten for two days.
Whatever the other GIs had, they shared with us.
I think about it every year at this time.
I still feel sad and downcast when I think of it all.”