Clement Elissondo

Clement Elissondo

On December 22, at the very start of the encirclement of Marcouray, two German armored vehicles burst through the village's northwest roadblock, coming from the road to Beffe.

Clement Elissondo's tank and crew were positioned to cover that strategic approach.

But at the critical moment, the turret of their Sherman was frozen solid.

Unable to traverse, the tank could not return effective fire.

The two German vehicles forced the roadblock and broke into the American defensive perimeter, racing through the village at full speed and firing as they went.

They passed directly in front of Colonel Hogan's command post.

At that very moment, Hogan stepped outside, coffee cup in hand.

He found himself face to face with the enemy vehicles.

Without panicking, he calmly turned back toward his CP and said:

“That's how you start a beautiful day.”

The second German vehicle was finally knocked out later, on its way out of the village, at the southeast roadblock.