Infantryman of the 121st Infantry Regiment during a lull in the fighting near Hürtgen, Germany. December 5, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-196969)

Pvt. John Lam examines a sign signaling the Hürtgen Forest front. The sign reads "Front line 500 yards ahead. Dismount and fight."

Source: National Archives (111-SC-197741)

American soldiers warm up around a fire in the Hürtgen Forest. October 12, 1944

Source: National Archives (111-SC-330496)

Soldiers in the Hurtgen Forest receive early Christmas gifts. November 14, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-196533)

An American artillery emplacement in the Hürtgen Forest. November 28, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-197371)

Medics work on a soldier wounded during the fighting in the Hurtgen Forest. November 18, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-198841)

Allied infantrymen in the Hurtgen Forest near Vossenack, Germany. November 8, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-195794)

Fighting in the Hürtgen Forest caused damage to many trees.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-341538)

Although it is little remembered today, the battle for the Hürtgen Forest was one of the worst defeats ever suffered by the U.S. Army. In three months of combat operations, the Americans sustained almost 33,000 casualties but accomplished almost nothing tactically or operationally in the process. . .

A mortar crew in action at an encampment in the Hürtgen Forest, December 13, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-197359)

Pfc Harry Bremer uses his wave radio to receive and send messages in the Hürtgen Forest. January 1945.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-197749)

In the Hürtgen Forest, three exhausted soldiers take a break from the action. November 18, 1944

Source: National Archives (111-SC-196619)

Field Artillery in action in the Hürtgen Forest, November 26, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-207017)

As smoke lifts from the previous blasts, soldiers reload artillery, Hurtgen Forest, November 26, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-207018)

Soldiers cut wood after the first snowfall in the Hürtgen Forest. November 13, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-196534)

Sherman tanks mounted with 105-mm. howitzers open fire in a muddy field amid the Hürtgen Forest on November 17, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-196963)

American tanks on a narrow muddy road in the Hürtgen Forest. November 18, 1944.

Source: National Archives (111-SC-196618)

A portrait of Tom Galloway taken after graduation from officer candidate school. Galloway suvrived the battle of Hürtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge. He, along with Herndon Inge, later was one of the prisoners temporarily freed in the Hammelburg Raid.

Source: Tom Galloway

Thomas M. Galloway an only child, was born December 14, 1923 and grew up in Mobile, Alabama. His father was in charge of the United States Lighthouse Service Supply Base located in Mobile which serviced lights and aids to navigation along the Gulf Coast. Tom entered the army in the . . .

Mobile's Tom Galloway with his mother after the war. Galloway suvrived the battle of Hürtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge. He, along with Herndon Inge, later was one of the prisoners temporarily freed in the Hammelburg Raid.

Source: Tom Galloway