Band of Brothers (2001) With the siege of Bastogne effectively ended, military strategy in the Ardennes now changed from the defensive to the offensive. The first orders issued to 2nd Battalion were to clear the Bois Jacques woods, situated North of Bastogne between the villages of Foy and Bizory. Once accomplished, attention turned to the next objective – the town of Foy. Easy Company was to lead the attack on Foy, commanded by Lieutenant Dike. The plan was to charge across a 200 meter snow-covered field to reach the village and, using hand grenades, clear the buildings of any Germans. Initially the plan seemed to be working as, protected by covering fire, the men of Easy Company moved in a skirmish line across the field. 1st Platoon on the left flank, reached some farm outbuildings, while 2nd and 3rd Platoons continued moving forward. Lieutenant Dike, shielded behind some haystacks, then gave an order which proved to be his downfall. He gestured for 2nd and 3rd platoon to join him behind the haystacks. Now that everyone had stopped moving, they were easy targets for the Germans. Company Sergeants converged on the haystack pressing Dike for orders, but, according to accounts made by these men, he stalled and didn’t seem to know what to do. Eventually he came up with a plan. 1st platoon would circle the village to the left from where they would launch their attack. Dike would keep the platoon’s mortar and machine gun men at Company HQ behind the haystack were they would direct suppressing fire. But within minutes of leaving the haystacks German snipers began to pick off the eighteen men of 1st platoon. Watching the debacle from the edge of the woods was Major Winters – a former commander of Easy company. Screaming orders for the company to move forward and out of harms way, he tried to raise Dike on the radio, to no avail. Just then, he noticed Speirs and ordered him to take over the attack. Speirs’ response was to immediately begin to run across the open field. Reaching the haystacks, he relieved Dike and took control. Platoon sergeants, including Sergeant Carwood Lipton, appraised him of the current situation. Carwood Lipton recalls that Speirs then barked out orders to each platoon – giving instructions and direction – before running off with his men right behind him. Confident, and buoyed by positive leadership, the troopers began their assault on Foy firing every weapon available and they began to make headway. Stranded on the far side of Foy was ‘I’ company – cut off from the rest of the platoon and without a radio – unaware of the unfolding situation around them. Upon learning of their situation, Speirs immediately ran through the village of Foy – a village full of German soldiers and tanks. Eyewitness, Sergeant Carwood Lipton said later, “the Germans were so shocked at seeing an American soldier running through their lines – they forgot to shoot!” Once Speirs joined up with ‘I’ company and told them of the current situation – he ran back through the town – once more crossing through the German lines. It was a feat of incredible bravery, and one of the actions Speirs is most remembered for today. “I remember the broad, open fields outside Foy,” Speirs wrote in a 1991 letter, “where any movement brought fire. A German 88 artillery piece was fired at me when I crossed the open area alone. That impressed me.” After the action at Foy, Major Winters recommended Dike be relieved and Speirs be officially put in charge of Easy Company. Colonel Sink agreed.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 15:15:11 +0000
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