MUD, DUST, AND FIVE STARS

into more hot water. "A" joined the 275th Armored Field Ar-tillery primarily for AA protection but found that was only a small part of it. Before they were finished a new name had been created for the half tracks, namely "The Meat Choppers".

"Meat Choppers"
The 40's were sent back to set up road blocks. Fifty men and the half tracks were kept with the Artillery to act as AA and infantry. Upon arriving in Marche Able was utilized in setting up road blocks in all the surrounding villages. A number of tanks were encountered and engaged. They were either run off or destroyed. Take for instance the perseverance of Cpl. Joseph M. Foley and Pfc. Robert Kempfer in trying to knock out a Mark VI tank with bazooka fire. After taking two shots in two different places they finally moved to the second floor of a nearby house so they could get a good shot at it. They flu-shed it out so that a 7th Armored tank could cut down on it with their heavy caliber gun.
In the meantime the half tracks were doing their job too. The infantry boys dug in and acted as outpost guards. Not too much happened the first night except harassing artillery and a little small arms fire. But on the afternoon of the 20th all hell broke loose! Some 300 strong German paratroopers came out of the woods to assault the FA positions. One friendly tank was knocked out trying to stop them so two more tanks and one of Able's half-tracks under the command of Lt. Unger went out to halt the attack. The murderous fire from the track caused the Krauts to break and run for the woods, there they feebly returned the fire with small arms and mortars. The "Meat Chopper" got its nickname right on the spot from that one epic incident! Yes "A" really helped make a name for the AA on the 20th of December.
Lets not forget "Task Force Stone" either for they played a very important part in the "Battle of the Bulge." The place where the main show took place was in an insignificant little town called Gouvy. But to start from the beginning ...... As Battalion headquarters came into St.Vith P-51's. were strafing the west edge of town. Everything was in an uproar hardly anyone knowing exactly
"Task Force Stone"

Home		into more hot water. "A" joined the 275th Armored Field Ar-tillery primarily for AA protection but found that was only a small part of it. Before they were finished a new name had been created for the half tracks, namely "The Meat Choppers". "Meat Choppers" The 40's were sent back to set up road blocks. Fifty men and the half tracks were kept with the Artillery to act as AA and infantry. Upon arriving in Marche Able was utilized in setting up road blocks in all the surrounding villages. A number of tanks were encountered and engaged. They were either run off or destroyed. Take for instance the perseverance of Cpl. Joseph M. Foley and Pfc. Robert Kempfer in trying to knock out a Mark VI tank with bazooka fire. After taking two shots in two different places they finally moved to the second floor of a nearby house so they could get a good shot at it. They flu-shed it out so that a 7th Armored tank could cut down on it with their heavy caliber gun. In the meantime the half tracks were doing their job too. The infantry boys dug in and acted as outpost guards. Not too much happened the first night except harassing artillery and a little small arms fire. But on the afternoon of the 20th all hell broke loose! Some 300 strong German paratroopers came out of the woods to assault the FA positions. One friendly tank was knocked out trying to stop them so two more tanks and one of Able's half-tracks under the command of Lt. Unger went out to halt the attack. The murderous fire from the track caused the Krauts to break and run for the woods, there they feebly returned the fire with small arms and mortars. The "Meat Chopper" got its nickname right on the spot from that one epic incident! Yes "A" really helped make a name for the AA on the 20th of December. Lets not forget "Task Force Stone" either for they played a very important part in the "Battle of the Bulge." The place where the main show took place was in an insignificant little town called Gouvy. But to start from the beginning ...... As Battalion headquarters came into St.Vith P-51's. were strafing the west edge of town. Everything was in an uproar hardly anyone knowing exactly "Task Force Stone" 23

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