December 12, 2024: Timeline

Stewart arrived in La Harve, France on November 9, 1944. He was 20 years old.

Here were his thoughts on his personal timeline:

• Too young to enlist or be drafted.
• Basic Training extended from 13 to 17 weeks
• Sent to school – Army Specialized Training Program
• Reassigned to Infantry basic training and the 924th Field Artillery Service Battery of the 99th Division.
• Uneventful Atlantic crossing
• Missed the Normandy Invasion
• Crossed the English Channel without incident
• Followed the victorious troops across France. 
• Marched through the Arc d’ Triumph in liberated Paris.
• Sent to a quiet sector of the Ardennes where there was talk about being home by Christmas.

These Battle Babies (sometimes called the Diaper Division) were sent to the Ardennes. This area was called a honeymoon for those who had never yet fired a gun in battle.

“DID I MISS OUT??????? IS THE WAR OVER???”

The following gives a good explanation of the early timeline in the Battle of the Bulge.

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Honsfeld was a place for Rest and Relaxation. On Saturday night, December 16, there was to be a USO show featuring Marlena Dietrich. The show was canceled. There was a thin line of infantry ahead, and they were planning to pull back.  Some people were called back; others spent the night … and were captured right away.