The I & R Platoon

Lanzareth, Belgium, December 16, 1944: Wacht Am Rhein offensive
had caught the Americans with undermanned front lines. The hill 
overlooking Lanzarethhad been occupied by a full company of the 
2nd Infantry Division. Now it was held by 18 men of an I&R 
(intelligence and Reconnaissance) platoon, led by the young 
Lt. Bouck Jr. The hill overlooked Lanzareth and a crucial road 
junction. Roads from the junction led to Losheimergreben and 
Bucholz Station. Lanzareth itself was held only by a platoon 
of tank destroyers. This skimpy force was in the path of Sepp 
Dietrich and his troops. Should they fail to hold, the path was 
open to the 99th Infantry Division's rear. A rolling artillery 
barrage in the earlt morning hours of the 16th did no damage, 
but foretold of action to come. To the dismay of the platoon,  
immediately after the barrage ended, the tank destoyers "bugged 
out", leaving them completely unsupported. Lt. Bouck spotted a 
huge column of German troops coming toward Lanzareth. He called 
for artillery fire on the road south of town but the request 
fell on skeptical ears and no rounds were forthcoming. The Germans 
were marching in column to save time, as they believed that there 
were no Americans in the vicinity. From their well camouflaged 
positions, the 18 men of the platoon trained their weapons on 
the approaching Germans. Bouck let about three hundred men pass 
by close enough to see their faces. As a command group of three 
officers approached, a 13 year old Belgian girl stepped onto 
the road, pointed at the American positions, and yelled a warning 
to the surprised Germans.

Game Length: 6 turns

for the Germans to win they must secure the road
For the Americans to win they must deny the Germans road access

Germans: Squads, HMG, MMG's, LMG's, MTR's
Americans: Squads, HMG, MMG's, OBA

Boards: #2, #3, #19

Aftermath: Lt. Bouck hesitated before giving the order to fire out 
of concern for the girl. This allowed the Germans to dive into 
ditches along side the road. The platoon fired relentlessly at 
the charging paratroopers all day, holding them at bay. Bouck 
begged for artillery support, only to be told that none was 
available, and to hold on at all costs. A German bullet smashed 
the radio, ending any chance of getting artillery. But still the 
few defenders held firm, cutting down the Germans as they charged 
out of Lanzareth. Finally, at dusk, with many of the men cassualties 
and ammo running low, the Americans were outflankled and were pulled 
out of their foxholes at gun point. Lt. Bouck would celebrate his 
21st birthday the next day as a POW, but the defense put up by him 
and his men cost the Fallschirmjaegers 200 dead and wouded.

Source: On All Fronts, The I & R Platoon, December 1996 issue
