In the Footsteps of the 82nd Airborne 2011, Manhay, Ardennes

[Member_2114]

During the weekend of 26th and 27th February 2011, GI44-45 teamed up with other groups including the Living History association (LHA) and the Belgian Friendly 101st to participate in the Annual “In the footsteps of the 82nd Airborne” march that takes place in the Ardennes. This is one of my favourite events of the year because it always offers something a bit different, to walk in the footsteps of those who served in the area, wearing the uniforms and equipment of 66 years ago. With the absence of doing it every day and not having to worry about enemy lurking in the woods, these events still provide the chance to get a small understanding and deep respect for what soldiers in WW2 went through day in and day out. The march is 16 miles long through varied terrain and every year the changing weather provides a different perspective of the conditions that GI’s fought under. Marching in similar weather in the same location that those we pay homage to certainly gives participants the chance to pause for thought.

This year myself, Ian “Murph” Brophy, Dan “Bugle-boy” O’Dwyer, and our newest member Pat Alexandre travelled to the area, with friends from the LHA Tony Dudman, Keith Major, Val Czerny and Shaun Bradley. We left on Thursday night travelling on the overnight ferry to Calais and then drove through the early hours to some early morning shopping at Militaria stores and do some sightseeing. We arrived at our billet a hostel in Arbefontaine during the early evening and had the chance to have a meal before the march the next morning, joining with the rest of the LHA and Belgian, Dutch and other groups who were going to participate in the march.

On Saturday we went to Manhay where the march was going to start. The last two years we had marched in snow or ice, but this year with a brief period of milder weather we had the chance to march in the dry and with no risk of falling over on ice underfoot. We formed up in our squads and participated in a brief ceremony.



D Rations were given out to all the squads and HQ Company


After we stated out in soon became apparent that the route would not have the problems with snow and ice, instead we had a new experience; marching in an extremely waterlogged and muddy trail. At least for any casualties of the march we had the benefit of back up through the support of two jeeps.




We were not the only participants it included members of the US Military and shortly into the route “Bugle-Boy” O’Dywer had the chance to spot some “WACS” giving us the chance for a quick photo shoot, and trade for D Rations.



As the march progressed, we started a few pit-stops, meeting up with jeep support.

[Member_2114]

As the march progressed and the pit-stops being ever more appreciated Pat and I had the chance to break open the D Rations, others took advantage of the chance to take the weight off their feet.

 

With distance and time, each new slope became a trial aggravated by the muddy and waterlogged track. After a while any attempt at avoiding getting muddy or water-soaked boots became futile and most just took the most direct route, accepting the inevitable. The pain was starting...

 

At some points the trail became very narrow and it was getting hard to make progress.

 

After a time, it just became a matter of focusing on the person in front of you, looking down at their boot heels and knowing each footstep taken was closer to the finish.

[Member_2114]

 

With rain clouds approaching we decided to make the most of a chance of a group photo, whilst morale was still high.

 

We then made our way to the half way point and the chance of a hot cup of Joe and something to eat. The thought of which lifted everybody’s spirits

 

As soon as we arrived at the halfway point and the chance of a hot drink and food, the heavens opened and for the rest of the march it rained. This really made marching harder and more than once I kept thinking of the GI’s who had to fight in such awful conditions. Some of our group had raincoats, others just accepted the fact that they were going to get wet and just trudged on- the desire to get to the finish being the goal. At points the dense pine forests gave a chance to get some cover and rest out of the rain.

 

Soon it became apparent that the 16 miles were nearly done, and we made our way back in Manhay, forming up in a column just outside of the small village, and marching in with Marc Almond calling Cadence. I have to say when this happened I felt quite emotional, whilst sensing some small achievement by marching in horrendous conditions. It also made me feel humbled that Citizen soldiers had no choice in such things 66 or so years earlier, living, eating, fighting and marching day in and day out. For me it was a one day experience but nevertheless I’m glad I participated, as it gives me the insight to explain things to others.

 

After being dismissed we then participated in a final ritual; a toast with a bottle of Victory beer!!

 

That evening we then had a meal at Bra, which also gave a chance for a mail call, with each participant receiving some mail from home.

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I took the chance to speak to Ray Fary, a veteran of the 82nd Airborne and give him a 2oz D Ration Bar as a gesture of friendship.

 

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As the evening drew a to a conclusion we got news that one last participant of the march was arriving at Bra, he was a veteran of the Vietnam war who had lost both legs, he participated in the march in hour of the fallen of WW2 and other wars, and his mother. We went outside to pay our respects and listened to him as he spoke of the shame that he and other veterans felt. That he had survived, albeit disabled, whilst others had paid the ultimate sacrifice.

 

 

The 82nd march offers many emotional highs and lows, but is definitely a life experience not to be missed; it’s probably the longest and hardest march of its type. However, I recommend that if any living historian gets a chance they should participate in at least one march in the footsteps of those who served, just so they can gain a very small understanding of how it must have felt to serve in a theatre of war.

 

My thanks to all who I met, marched and travelled with, it was a fantastic weekend, one I would not want to miss. If you want to see the whole album “tab” on any picture to take you to webshots.

[1944]

Looks like you had an amazing experience there, Once in a life time experience well done for sure :thumbsup:

Id say it was amazing listening to the stories of those Two U.S Army Veterans and a real pleasure to

have had got the once in a life time chance to have meet them true war Hero's.

 

Amazing Picture's you have got there well done on your behalf and thanks for sharing them with us WELL DONE ! :thumbsup:

[Member_2114]

Looks like you had an amazing experience there, Once in a life time experience well done for sure :thumbsup:

Id say it was amazing listening to the stories of those Two U.S Army Veterans and a real pleasure to

have had got the once in a life time chance to have meet them true war Hero's.

 

Amazing Picture's you have got there well done on your behalf and thanks for sharing them with us WELL DONE ! :thumbsup:

 

Thanks- we can do public shows and private tacticals, but these trips reaaly bring things home. Nothing quite compares being in the same place, with the same kit, at the same time of year to understand (to a degree) what they went through every day...

[1944]

Thanks- we can do public shows and private tacticals, but these trips reaaly bring things home. Nothing quite compares being in the same place, with the same kit, at the same time of year to understand (to a degree) what they went through every day...

 

Your welcome :thumbsup: Yes great to see for sure looks like a good time,

I personally dont reeinact but it sure does do look very intresting

to follow in the foot steps of our true war heros thats for sure.

[glenm]

Great photos - didn't even spot you taking most of them - you're getting sneakier!

To add to what you've already said, we had a great bunch of 44 guys there, either part of the "2nd Armored in Europe" group itself or invited friends of the group, running as a rifle platoon, a heavy weapons section (as well as a .30 Cal MG team, a 60mm mortar team, the actual mortar being carried for the whole route by T/4 Jon Heyworth!) and a Company HQ. As well as the 19 UK guys who went over, we had guys from Belgium and Holland, and a couple from France too.

Many thanks to Lt Laurent Olivier, FSgt Iain "Shady" Saunders, TSgt Mark Almond, Sgt Simon Batstone and Sgt Stijn Steegen for their help in running the unit throughout the day.

And Paul's D-Rations and mail call were much appreciated by all!

The next 82nd March will be our 20th anniversary and the organisers' 30th anniversary, so we're planning something rather special, including a move from Camp Suippes to Werbomont overnight in GMCs....

Cheers,
Glen.

[Member_2114]

 

 

Great photos - didn't even spot you taking most of them - you're getting sneakier!

The next 82nd March will be our 20th anniversary and the organisers' 30th anniversary, so we're planning something rather special, including a move from Camp Suippes to Werbomont overnight in GMCs....

Cheers,
Glen.

Being sneaky is my job! :thumbsup: Looking forward to next year. Its the organisors 30 year anniversary, 2nd Armoured' 20th anniversary and GI44-45's 5th anniversary!!!