Lieutenant Colonel Wood G Joerg
Commanding Officer
551st Parachute Infantry Battalion
In early January 1945, while the Battle of the Bulge was
still in doubt, the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion,
attached to the 82nd Airborne Division, was ordered to
counterattack German positions near the Belgian town of
Rochelinval.
With the Battalion strength down to less than 400 men
and suffering from exhaustion and the cold weather, at
0500 on 07 January 1945 the weary men of the 551st were
ordered forward on the attack, this despite any promised
artillery support.
Though greatly outnumbered the 551st fought savagely
with no though of turning back and although the town of
Rochelinval was taken, the cost was high. All that
remained of the proud 551st was 14 officers and 96 men.
