was more one of deceiving the enemy into thinking that
there was a superior force defending Trois-Ponts. He also
had the job of inspiring confidence in 150 men who after
the first day of action had no tank destroyers or antitank
guns and were opposed by German armor.15
Before the breakthrough, Major Yates had held various
staff positions within the battalion for the preceding two
years, having been its CO for several months in 1943. His
6-foot, 3-inch, 200-pound figure towered over the scene at
Trois-Ponts. An affable Texan, easy-going in nature but
determined in spirit, Major Yates held together his little
company by prodding, cajoling, and encouraging them to
resist long after they had reached reasonable limits of
"I would find them asleep standing up
human endurance.
after 94 hours on the job," said Major Yates, "but they
were standing up."16
Colonel William E. Ekman, CO of the 505th Parachute
Infantry Regiment, which entered Trois-Ponts on 20
December, paid high tribute to the spirit and courage of
Company C of the 51st and singled out Major Yates for his
leadership. "He had everything under control," said
Colonel Ekman, "and appeared ready and able to hold the
When the 82d Airborne Division came
town indefinitely.
in, we expected to find this unit decimated and
Instead, Major Yates approached me and
discouraged.
I'll bet you fellows are
uttered a classic phrase,
glad we're here.'"17
Adding a note of commendation to the many other
tributes for Major Yates, Colonel Fraser observed, "I do
not know another officer who could have handled such a
difficult situation as admirably as you did."18
Defense at Trois-Ponts
Company C left Melreux at 2200 on 17 December and
arrived at Trois-Ponts at 2330 the same day.19 (Map 2) The
company, commanded by Captain Sam Scheuber, immediately
14
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