#MemorialDay2020 Loyd Lafayette Ake. Killed by Nazi machine gun fire crossing the Moselle river during the battle of Nancy, France. 14 Sept 1944. Godspeed uncle.

After blazing across France in the late summer of 1944, the 3rd army outran its supply chain and were stuck for a while waiting for logistics to catch up. In early September, with their fuel and ammo stocks refilled, the Americans turned their eye to Nancy.

Nancy was situated perfectly and had all the right infrastructure. Highways leading into France, rail yards and a connection to a seaport. A strategically important location and the Nazis knew it.

The German defenders used the American pause wisely. They used the time to build defenses on the west side of Nancy. Artillery, machine guns, blown bridges and obstacles were all used to halt the American advance.

Through the first weeks of September, the Americans attempted several wet gap crossings of the Moselle but were repelled each time. By the morning of the 14th, a new plan was in place with a multi-pronged attack.

My uncle was with the 137th Infantry and his unit was north of Nancy crossing at Crevechamps. The Americans were mostly crossing in large rowboats and the nazis waited until many were well into the river before they opened fire.

Loyd took two hits to the head from a nazi machine gun and fell in the water. He was returned home in 1948 where he now rests.

Nancy, of course, fell to the Americans and this was a huge blow to Nazi defenses. Hitler had pinned his tactics on holding Nancy, then initiating a counter-offensive to end the American advance into France.

This never materialized and the Germans were on defense mostly from this point on in the war, with the notable exception of the Ardennes offensive in December 44.

War sucks. May God protect all who defend us. Thank you all who wore the uniform.