Henry Milton Laye, Jr.

Lt. Laye was killed by German soldiers on the 19th of January 1945 when the Co K position was lightly defended by a much larger German force.  The 42nd Rainbow Division was shipped to Marcellie France arriving there in the middle of November 1944.  Our Artillery did not arrive until February 1945.  We were supposed to stay in Marcelie until the rest of our Division arrived, but when the battle of the bulge started the troops in the Strausbourg area were rushed up to Belgium and we were rushed up to Strausbourg to fill the gap.  When the battle of the bulge ended the German troops were orderded back in to Germany and crossed the Rhine River in boats and attacked our troops.  The Germans out numbered us about three to one and to make matters vastily worse because we had no artillery to use against them.  We were given orders to hold our positions at all cost and because of this we had 1174 men captured also.  The Rainbow Division had about 40% casulties in the first three weeks of the battle.  Lt. Laye was a very fine soldier and was well liked by all.

Coordinated by the 42nd Rainbow Division Historian - The picture was extracted from a book 232nd Infantry Regiment, Camp Gruber, OK, Page 124