December 1944, Battle of the Bulge

My grandfather, LJ Hurst, and my mother, Norma Jean

1942

My grandfather recorded his journey from the United States
to France and Belgium in November and December 1944,
his brief stay on the front lines and his evacuation
and subsequent hospitalization in Paris and England
in January and February of 1945.

[written on the back of photograph]

Left home Wednesday, November 14

arrived at Ft. Meade Thursday, November 15

Left Ft. Meade Tuesday, November 21

arrived at Camp Shanks Tuesday, November 21
Left Camp Shanks Friday, November 24
got on boat Saturday, November 25
Landed at Marseille, France on Friday, December 8
2 days near Marseille
got on train, 3 days
stopped at Toul near Nancy on Wednesday, December 13
Still at Toul now Sunday, December 17
Left Toul December 21 and arrived at St.==
December 21 left St. ==
December 22 arrived at ==
December 22 left ==
December 23 arrived at Metz
Today is December 25, Xmas Day
Just inside Germany, December 25
Left Metz December 26 arrived in Belgium December 26
at unknown town in Belgium December 26

[recorded in small black notebook]
Stayed in this town till December 28
Went to front lines December 28
Stayed at spot we first landed for three days
Beat of three counter attacks then left to take a small town
Sat on Hill overlooking town and dug in this way January 1
I had dug hole and laid down and fell off to sleep when I was hit
Was then cut off by enemy
Had to stay in foxhole for 2 days
Got moved out third night
Carried about a mile on stretcher where I was loaded on Jeep
and taken about 2 miles to ambulance
Then was taken to aid station
Taken from there to another station
then was taken to field hospital where I was operated on and sewed up
Stayed there 4 or 5 days then moved to 203 General Hospital outside of Paris
Left this hospital January 21 
was taken across Paris to airport
was loaded in C-47 airplane
Landed in England at some unknown spot
Stayed in hospital there one night
the put on train at 10 0'clock January 22
Was on train 10 hours
Landed at 83 General Hospital where I'm still, February 3rd


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Hitler's "Great Blow" 
Hitler then launched a plan called the "Great Blow" on January 1st. His goal was to eliminate Allied air power. German fighter planes swarmed over Belgium, Holland, and northern France bombarding airfields. Many Allied aircraft and bases were laid to ruin from the attack but the price paid by the Germans was devastating. The German Luftwaffe lost 300 planes and 253 trained pilots.