James Mark
James Mark was a private in the 2nd Battalion, 310th Infantry, 78th Division. In December 1944 almost every member was killed, wounded or captured during a disastrous American attack on Kesternich. He was a prisoner held near Berlin at Stalag 3A until the end of the war.
Huertgen Forest
Huertgen Forest describes a series of battles including Kesternich fought from September, 1944 until February, 1945 on the German-Belgian border. About 33,000 Americans were killed or wounded. In December the Germans counterattacked through the Ardennes, their final attempt to win in the West before Soviet forces could break through on the Eastern front.
