straggling.58
During the early morning hours of 19 December, the
barrier lines were completed. Company B covered the area
on the west bank of the Ourthe River from Hotton to Durbuy
inclusive. The 1st Platoon defended the immediate area of
Hotton and Melreux; the 2d Platoon the area from Melreux
to Durbuy; and the 3d Platoon the vicinity of Durbuy and
the left flank.59
At 0400 on 19 December, the 1st Platoon of Company A,
under Lieutenant Floyd D. Wright, was ordered to Hampteau
to prepare a roadblock and a footbridge for demolition.60
Ten minutes later the 2d Platoon, under Lieutenant Paul
Curtis, departed for Marcourt on a similar mission
regarding a class 10 bridge. At the same time, the 3d
Platoon, under Lieutenant Raymond A. Trafford, was ordered
to remain as battalion reserve in the vicinity of Harsin,
the battalion CP. Later in the morning, the 2d Platoon
reinforced its right flank at (432791) with a strong
roadblock consisting of one squad, two bazooka teams, and
one .50-caliber machine gun.
More specifically, the following defenses were com-
pleted on 19 December. (Map 4)
1. Two antitank minefields at (368880), 200 yards
down-stream from [the railroad bridge mentioned below].
2. A railroad bridge at (360890) prepared for
demolition, and a ford beneath mined.
Highway bridge on N29 at (369879) prepared for
3.
demolition and defended by two 40-mm. guns from the 440th
AAA [Antiaircraft Artillery] Weapons Battalion, two .50-
caliber machine guns, and two bazookas.
4.
Footbridge at Hampteau at (384867) prepared for
machine guns and
demolition, defended by two
one .30-caliber machine gun.
Refugee and straggler point established at
5.
(390865) in cooperation with local defense officials.
6.
Two footbridges at
guarded and prepared
31
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