Gen. DePuy recalls an attack he led between Bastogne and Wiltz:
Our attack began about four o’clock in the morning. It was mid-winter in that part of Europe, so the days were very short.
Anyway, I attacked in the dark and got through. I had a theory which, I think, worked every time. The Germans always defended on the tops of the hills and in the valleys. If you went to the top of the hill, you would find a German position; if you went to the bottom, you would find a German position. But, there was never a defensive position on the hillsides. Every time we made an attack in that area of high forested hills, the whole battalion would go single file. We’d go around the side of the hill and right through the German positions and get behind them. We never had to fire a shot. The Germans would be down on the bottom, or up on the top, so they couldn’t see us. There was snow and it was quiet. We’d go right through. We did that three times in that particular fight. So, we didn’t have to fight to penetrate. It was something we learned in Normandy — don’t fight them head-on; find out where they are and go someplace else. Of course, it was even easier at night.
With this series I keep flashing back to your Duffer’s Drift posts.
This guy was one Hell of a commander. It gives you some faith in the Army of his time that he actually made general. I wonder if an equally good low level commander coming out of Iraq or Afghanistan will make general in our Army of tomorrow? Maybe, but make sure that you jog a lot, and for God’s sake don’t tell any “sexist” or “homophobic” jokes…