The Sharp End #15 - Eagles Strike

28 DECEMBER 1944, SADZOT, EREZEE - MANHAY ROAD, ARDENNES: As the year came to a close the Sixth Panzer Army made one last effort to breach the American defenses between the Salm and the Ourthe. This battle took place in and around the hamlet of Sadzot which was located at Erezee - Manhay road. Elements of the Kampfgruppe Krag (2nd SS Panzer Division) overran most of the American positions with a night attack. Surprised by the ferocity of the SS attack, the Company C of the 87th Chemical Battalion and a tank destroyer platoon at Sadzot rapidly recovered and established a hold on the north side of the village. While SS troops were preparing another attack that would drive the GIs out of the village, General Hickey sent the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion near Erezée to make an envelopment of Sadzot from west and east, but no sooner had the paratroopers deployed than they ran into Major Krag's kampfgruppe.