Shermans vs Panthers: How Patton's Third Army Crushed Hitler's Best Panzers at Arracourt? 

My dad was a tracked vehicle mechanic with the 4th Armored Division and got critically wounded in the battle of Arracourt. Through a mixup of swapped dog tags he was listed as KIA. He remained in a coma for over a year. While in an Army hospital he was not expected to recover from the coma and was used as a training aid for things such as x-rays. One day however he did wake up to a young nurse checking in on him. He said, "Well, hello there!" The poor nurse, accustomed to the many days of silence from dad was so startled she fell out in a dead faint. Dad said he always felt bad about that and a few days before he died said he was going to get to apologize again to her. Slipping back into a coma from the ravages of cancer he passed on his 70th birthday in 1979. Due to the countless x-rays he endured he was supposedly sterile. My older brother and I proved that he beat the odds again. Cheers Terry

My Dad was a tank Commander of a Mk4 Sherman in WW2, he fought through Italy, including Monte Cassino. Previously he had fought the Italians and then the Germans in Greece until we got our arse kicked to Crete and then kicked again by the German Fallschirmjager. He then fought Rommels troops until he was wounded in Operation Crusader! He then became a Tank Commander with the 2nd NZEF 20th Battalion; a famous Battalion!

Dad was 4th Armored. He was in the CCB, which Abrams commanded, later in the war. He saw it all, from Utah Beach, the Normandy breakout and Operation Cobra,to Arracourt, to the relief of Bastogne, the liberation of the Ohrdruf concentration camp and the link up with the Red Army. The Fourth made a lot of history.

My uncle was in the Army Air Corps as a door gunner in B-17 Flying Fortress in missions over Germany. Dad was a merchant marine that was at Guadalcanal. I grew up and heard many war stories over a deer hunting campfire of many different engagements on sea, land and air and was captivated by their heroism and adventures. I saw the men showing each others shrapnel wounds and sharing stories. I respect all those that signed up and joined the war on the front or as support. It was a time of need and they stepped up. Thank you guys.

My dad was in Patton's 3rd as well; Africa, Italy, France, and Germany. POW last 90 days of the war.

My father served in the 14th Armored Division and had one brief encounter with General Patton. As the division was moving through northern France, preparing to cross the Rhine, they passed a knot of officers observing their progress. Some days before, my dad had liberated a large copper hip bath from the ruins of a German headquarters. My father was a fastidious man, and was looking forward to taking a long soak, and had tied the hip bath down on the back of his Sherman. As his tank slowly moved past the officers, they spied the shiny copper tub, and pointed it out to General Patton, who stood up from his Jeep and shouted, "Get that god-damned tub off my tank!" Patton's order was followed, of course, and my dejected father wouldn't get a bath until the end of the war.

Thank you for this well-organized presentation of a battle that isn't widely discussed. It's great to see Sherman tanks dishing it out for a change.

From my understanding the tank destroyers played a large part in the battle. Though thinly armored and an open turret, they were fast, highly maneuverable and carried a hell of a punch

My late Father served with Patton through the entire world war 2.he spoke proudly of Patton and his time serving under him.

I served 3 years with 1st Battalion, 37th Armor at Katterbach, Germany 1971-1974. The same unit that relieved 101st Airborne At Bastogne. Unfortunately, we were just there to slow down the Russians if they came through the Hof Gap. Courage Conquers! Best Job I ever had. 3 “Hots”, a Cot, and 2 four button suits. Mickey Mouse boots and trigger finger gloves. A 50 caliber is a heavy son of a bitch. The sleeping bags kept you warm when out on maneuvers at Graf, Hohenfels, or Tennenlohe. I had a great heater in my APC. It also worked as a stove to heat up C-ratios. 50 years ago. We were all young and dumb.

Saying the Panther could penetrate the Sherman's armor at 2000 meters is meaningless. While that meant something on the vast grasslands of the Russian steppes where kills could be made at great distances the terrain in the west was different and the average distance on the long side was 350 to 750 meters. For this reason tactics were much different, and great numbers of Allied tanks worked together at close range to take out the German heavies.

A battle where the American tank destroyers were used in the way they were intended doctrine.

Everyone tends to forget that who fires first tends to win in tank battles. The defender usually gets to fire first. In most battles it was the M4 attacking dug in Panzers. Hence the higher casualties of American tankers. But as you can see in the battle of Aracourt, with the M4's defending the carnage was the other way.

While stationed at Ft Knox I went to an Armor conference. Patton's son, also a General officer, was the guest speaker. He mentioned that his father related to him that artillery won the war and provided an anecdote that a formation of 100 German tanks massed and attacked. After a US DIVARTY 3 FFE mission on the enemy, only two German tanks were operable. This is why artillery is called King of Battle. Infantry is called the Queen of battle because the queen tells the King where to put his balls.

Late 1991, near an Air Force base in the US: A group of A-10 pilots are telling each other stories of destroying tanks in Iraq. Nearby, an aged grey-haired man in a well-worn leather jacket smiles into his scotch.

Reading one of the comments, the "grizzled veterans" of the Fifth Panzer Army were the remnants of the 11th and 21st Panzer Divisions. The "inexperienced" troops were the newly constituted panzer brigades which had no business fighting the veteran Third Army. Had von Mantueffel, the 5th Panzer Army commander, had his way he would have dissolved the panzer brigades and distributed the troops amongst the veteran but depleted panzer divisions.

Good video. In reading the 2 volume set of The Patton Papers, he states many times that tanks should not fight tanks. Rather, tanks work with infantry to gain ground and air support and tank destroyers destroy enemy tanks. A great read also is his battle diary book "War as I Knew It", published after his death in 1946 by his widow Beatrice Ayer Patton.

This was also at a time Patton's crews were an experienced lot and a well-oiled machinery and the Germans were scraping the bottom of the barrel for crews and were forced to cut down on training to scramble whatever they could to fight a two-front war. The experienced crews were either dead, busy fighting on the Eastern Front or had to command these kids. Napoleon faced the very same problem following his 1812 campaign in Russia. While he could largely replace the losses in manpower he most definitely couldn't remedy the lack of experience in his fresh troops as the whole backbone of his battle-hardened and experienced Grande Armée lost 380,000 men by the time he left Russia. Many of those had been fighting with him since the glory days of 1800-1809. The point being. Inexperienced soldiers won't perform too well against seasoned veterans. Good equipment or not.

6 tank kills from a Piper Cub, outstanding!

It has been some time now but I met a 4th Armored Div soldier at my church, He told me how they marched/drove their armor to relieve Bastogne where my Uncle Sargent Edward Sayles was serving with the 101st Airborne during the Battle.

My dad was radar technician in England during the war. He was a chief petty officer.

wow,, my dad a Master SGT. 4th Armored Division,, bronze star,nearly froze to death at Bastogne. Thanks Pop

Roughly at minute <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="260">4:20</a>, the description of the M4 tank reminded me of the movie, "Kelly's Hero's" and the character Oddball strategizing on how to take on the Tiger Tank.

So the tank M1 Abrams was named after General Creighton Abrams. What an honor.🙂✌

Let's be honest here. Germany had little air support and the Allies had massive air power

The M-4 Sherman was designed as an infantry support tank. The Sherman was not designed originally to fight other tanks That was the job of the M10 and M18 tank destroyers. Two my Uncles were infantry in the ETO. They both said the Sherman’s were great supporting them. Both my uncles were each decorated for taking out a German tank, (I heard this from their VFW buddies ) turns out in my one Uncles platoon a dozen men were decorated for taking German tanks using non traditional methods.

A Panzer is only as good as it's crew. Battles are not fought from tank spec sheets.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="746">12:26</a> bazooka joes plane was found and restored. it was a flying club shared plane. when restored and rededicated the daughter of the pilot was there. its on display some where

Despite mythology, the 75mm armed M4 was a brilliant tank.

I've read 3rd Army history; Pattons biographies and 4th Armoured history. Patton was a genius. He let his senior officers have the freedom to make their own Tactical decisions on the fly. He was a believer in Mission Command. I also own Patton's Air Force book. His relationship with General Otto Weyland of 19th Tactical Air Force was legendary. The best use of combined armoured and air power of World War 2. His relationship with General John Wood commander of 4th Armoured is legendary. Wood was nicknamed "Tiger Jack" because when Patton and Wood argued. Wood would pace in front of George while they barked and roared at each other funny considering they were close friends. Patton and 3rd Army have a rich and colorful history. "A SOLDIERS LIFE" goes in depth into why 3rd Army was so effective. It's loss ratios showed its sophistication in battle planning to control casualties to a low standard. In fact as something little known it was a self sustaining enterprise with a General of finance.

Ignore the haters. Thank you for making this. I enjoyed it. Well done.

The Battle of Aauracourt never fails to impress me. I know the mobility of the Sherman was excellent for its time but with respect to the armor and and armament of the Sherman when compared to the German tanks it's like taking a knife to a gunfight. Patton and his subordinates did a hell of a job being seriously out gunned and outnumbered. Creighton Abrams was a hell of a tank Commander under Patton. Think it was maybe James Woods hard against the Germans there. Major props to third army.

What’s the difference?…by this time Pattons army was a well groomed , victorious well oiled war machine led by a decisive general…..by this time the German army was a shadow of its victorious 1941 version…..also allied air superiority was total.

I grew up on a military base, did the ROTC thing, served in the Gulf War as a civilian safely behind the lines. I had a father and several uncles who served in WW2. Not all made it home. Those who did had unseen wounds for the rest of their lives in addition to some purple hearts As an old man now, I'm only now capable of their hardships, sacrifice, and sometimes broken relationships and lives. They have all passed on. The least I can do now is stand for the anthem, respect our flag, and love the greatest country in human history ... and support the current warriors who risk everything to uphold the traditions of those that served before them, and their families, spouses, children, siblings and parents whom often waited word of their warriors, not knowing.

I think we can all agree Bazooka Charlie was a bad ass.

Being an armchair warrior 70+ years later, here's my 2 cents. Eisenhower prolonged the war buy giving the gas and supplies to Monty. Market Garden failed and the Germans were able to horde equipment for Watch on the Rhine.

Creighton Abrams is who the M1 tank is named for. Patton himself said Abrams was the best tanker he'd ever seen

Very good history video! Well covered in detailed!

Reading these stories of Patton make me smile. That man was made for this war, and was the key force behind American tank doctrine. Such a shame he lost his cool a few times.

My Dad was 6th Armored. He was in the original cadre when the division was formed. He joined the army at 17 in 1939

My father, Captain Arthur C Anderson, was in the 37 Armor Regiment under the direct command of Creighton Abrams.

To FactBytes. This is wrong on so many counts. You must not spread false information. For the battle, German units assembled 262 tanks and assault guns. The German force initially comprised two panzer corps headquarters, the 11th Panzer Division and the 111th and 113th Panzer Brigades. The experienced 11th Panzer Division was short of tanks, having lost most of its complement in earlier fighting. Although the two panzer brigades had new Panther tanks, they were manned by fresh crews who had only received two weeks of training and could not read maps appropriately. The need to quickly respond to the sudden advance of the 4th Armored Division and a fuel shortage left the crews with little time for training and little proficiency in tactical maneuvering in large, combined arms operations. Combat Command A (CCA) under Colonel Bruce C. Clarke of the U.S. 4th Armored Division in XII Corps consisted of the 37th Tank Battalion, the 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion, the 66th and 94th Armored Field Artillery Battalions and the 191st Field Artillery Battalion. Also present were elements of the 35th Tank Battalion, the 10th Armored Infantry Battalion, the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion, the 25th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, the 24th Armored Engineer Battalion, and the 166th Engineer Combat Battalion. The 5th Panzer Army outnumbered CCA in tanks and was equipped with Panther tanks, superior to American M4 Sherman tanks in frontal armour protection and main gun range, countered by the U.S. tanks' faster turret traverse and stabilized guns. In close air support, U.S. forces enjoyed an overwhelming advantage. Earlier sorties by U.S. fighter bombers caused some German panzer units to fail to arrive in time for the battle, as they were damaged or destroyed in separate encounters with other Allied forces. Regarding the battle itself, everything can be read on Wikipedia for those who are interested in the truth. Shame on you Factbytes.

The M4 was not only not a bad tank, it was actually a pretty darn good tank. America built a lot of them, and got them, along with crews, parts, ammo, fuel, mechanics, to battlegrounds all over the world. Enough of them to help win the war.

Great vid...the guy in the Piper Cub launching rockets was new to me.

The best video I have ever watch concerning WW2.I have never seen so many burning enemy tanks before.

I did not know of any of this history. American ingenuity combined with battle hardened troops "Fire and Maneuver" techniques won the week-long battle. Well done US Army soldiers !

Excellent work here. A fascinating look at a battle I was previously unaware of. Thanks.

Excellent! Thank you.

This history video is very good. I believe adding animated maps at appropriate points to make the progress of the battle more clear would make it a great historical video. Please give it a try.

Last General that wanted to win a war.

Great Presentation. Well worth the Learning & Watch. Thanks.

General Patton should have a tank model named in his honor!

My Dad's Uncle Walter served under Patton.

Very good facts about Patton, American general. " I don't care what color you are just kill those SOB s , " said Patton... He was born in southern California of French heritage. Good details on this battle and of the war ! 🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥

I have a book on that battle which is more detailed, but the video hits all the high points. Well done!

A very good presentation of this battle.

A perfect example of technology being rendered useless by bad tactics and inadequate training.

Not generally remembered today, the US 3rd and 4th Armored Divisions were "elite". The US Armored Divs mastered the combined arms concepts very quickly and had Commanders who were adaptable, flexible, agile, and aggressive. These commanders and their men skillfully used their tanks, TDs, arty, and infantry to defeat larger, better equipped, and more experienced German units.

Great History lesson. Thank YOu.

Did you have anything to do with another channel that was on the same battle?? I watched it earlier this week I think it was. Or do you get together with other channels to do the same thing?? Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

Fuel was all they needed.... could have shorten the war.

I had a debate with a guy over why the Germans he believed were better army even though they lost in one of the reasons why he brought up was that they would counter-attack after their enemy was exhausted so they cannot dig in. This is an example of them doing just that but with the worst possible result.

That’s some damn fine strategy, and massive operational excellence.

read a more in depth regarding this battle, advantage American and French armored forces because they had reconnaissance, troops like M5 stuarts and M8 Greyhounds and PIPER cubs, air support consisting of P47 white the germans was fighting blind blubbering into ambushes from M18 hellcats and towed AT guns and 105mm Artillery. this is were the French captured gobs of Panthers. The book is Patton vs Panzers Battle of Arracourt by Steven Zaloga

that bazooka plane is in MA. American History Museum

Sometimes 'grizzled veterans' can get a little too grizzled and suddenly you have a formation almost completely composed of replacements. CCA on the other hand were veterans too, and hadn't taken so many losses. Equipment matters, but less than the users.

Superb ! Thanks a lot.

"a disjointed series of intermittent thrusts" sounds like my last date. heyooooo

For some reason, the "Battle of Arracourt" has today achieved near mythical status. At the time, the battle(s) of Arracourt and surroundings were not regarded as a major "tank battle" by any of the sides - at best only a quick sideshow. The Lorraine campaign was huge, and it was a lot of action going on at the same time - so it is likely that the encounter somehow “drowned” in the large picture. For the Germans it was only one of several critical campaigns in the West, East and South going on at the same time. Operation Market Garden started the day before, and took most of the focus in the West. It is telling that Robert S. Allen's 1947 work "Lucky Forward", a volume full of praise for General Patton and the Third Army's campaigns in 1944-45, does not even mention the Battle of Arracourt. It was not regarded as a significant battle at the time, neither by the US Army or Wehrmacht, merely one of many German counterattacks in late 44-45. The fighting that took place on September 19th, at Lezey and Bezange, is usually describes as “the battle of the battle” at Arracourt - the death race of the Panthers. It was in fact a much smaller battle than usually depicted in modern articles. The fighting was between elements of 113th Panzer Brigade, and Combat Command A of the 4th Armored Division, where one company of the 37th Tank Battalion (Shermans), and one company of 704th Tank destroyer Battalion (M18s) did most of the fighting. There is no doubt that the Germans came off worse in the encounter, but it was not as loopsided as often described. There are also considerably confusion regarding the losses - on both sides. Partly because it wasn't really one large battle, but a series of smaller engagements over a period of several days. Some authors only count the first 3-4 days (18 - 21 September), others up to 12 days 18 - 29 September. And it certainly wasn't only a tank vs. tank battle. US artillery played an extremely important part, damaging many panzers and basically stripping the German tanks of their Panzergrenadiers. Allied fighter-bombers damaged many tanks even before the battle began, and did a devastating job after the first few days when weather cleared up, damaging many Panzers. The Germans, OTH, had no air support and very little artillery. Probably more than half of the lost Panzers were destroyed or damaged by jabos and artillery. Many of the rest by M18 tank destroyers. The two German Panzer brigades, 111th and 113th that took part had - on paper - each one battallion of 44 Panthers, one battallion of 45 Panzer IVs and one company of 10 (Jagd)Panzer IV/70 - for a total of 198 tanks and TDs. However, the 111th had suffered heavy losses even before the battle began, and had only 17 Panzer IVs and no Panthers available on the 17th. They attacked on the 18th, and German documents showed that several of their tanks were available the next day. Meanwhile, the US claimed no less than two dozen Panzer IVs destroyed. The 113th had also suffered losses before the battle, and had only 42 Panthers and no Panzer IVs available on the 17th. The US claimed 43 German tanks destroyed on the 19th, while German documents show that at least 10 Panthers were ready for combat the next day. So the numbers the Americans claimed to have met these first days are inflated, and so are also the losses - as shown by the number of operational Panzers after the first few days. This is normal, everybody overclaimed. The only way to get a realistic picture of the battle is to view primary documents from both sides. According to Wikipedia, the Germans lost 86 destroyed tanks + 114 damaged in the 12 day battle, about half of these were Panthers, the rest Panzer IV and Jagdpanzers/StuGs. These numbers are actually more than the total numbers of German tanks commited, so are undoubtedly inflated. Although the two Panzer Brigades were practically wiped out in the September fighting, and left with only a handful of tanks and Jagdpanzers, not all of these losses were incurred in the Arracourt battles. There are also a lot of confusion of US losses. Some claim just 25 tanks for the 4th armored division, others claim 3rd Army lost a total 41 M4, 7 M3/5, 7 M18. Again, depending on time frame, area included and units involved. Total US losses in the Lorraine campaign 1 September to 17 December 1944 were 342 tanks and an unknown number of TDs, probably around 70-80 (Dupuy Institute). The Germans had very few tanks, TDs and assault guns available in this campaign after Arracourt.

MY FATHER WAS A TEC SARGENT/TRANSPORTATION CHIEF-VERY QUIET GUY NEVER SAID MUCH ABOUT THE ARMY.

Thoroughly enjoyed this one ..

Outstanding documentary. Thank you

No one does well with inexperienced tank crews (most of the Germans) fighting against highly experienced veterans (the USA units) who also have air superiority over the battlefield. In fact, it's pretty much hopeless in the long run (as was the whole German strategic situation by that point in the war). However, kudos to Patton's troops, who clearly handled the situation very effectively. A well conducted defense all around.

When you say patton Sherman tanks verse panther tank, you left out one other vital ingredient the 19th tactical airforce group they protected patterns Flank and blasted everything in front of him, so you could say it was two against one

Thank you

Yes . In tank on tank engagements during the 2nd World War . The highest ratio of kill / loss lay with the German motorised infantry support guns . The next was the U.S tank destroyers . These crews worked with the limitations and strengths of their vehicle usual from concealed pre prepared positions. Then hit and run. The US tank destroyers having superior speed with their lighter armour . But arguably better tank busting guns than the Nazis . These german tank units were heavily made up of inexperienced green troops . Patton may have been the only allied General capable of using combined arms . Except for the early British versus Italian clashes in North and Horn of Africa. Hit

Dad was under Patton after his move through the Hedge row country. He was anti tank and him and his buddy set up artillery for an anticipated move by the Germans coming over a hill . It was his buddy's idea and without orders they took out some tanks and repelled their advance . Dad and his buddy were called into the street outside of Patton's headquarters. Dad stood next to Red his buddy while Patton pinned him for what they did . Dad was puzzled why he was there,and also why Patton just stared at him. Patton walked away but one of his officers told him to stay . An officer returned and told dad he was being promoted to a Sargent . Dad asked why him,and the officer said " Because you're alive". Dad was supposed to go on leave but was given orders with a gun squad to pierce the line in Bastogne. Dad refused the Thompson due to poor accuracy. He picked up a 1911 or was given one. Dads shooting skills were better than anyone I've ever seen ,so I don't think they needed a sniper. Him and his men took out two SS squads on the way and made it to Christmas Eve the 24th. Fighting was tough . They were stuck in the middle of fire and even had a Mustang try to take them. Dad on the 24 th ran ahead of his men and shot a German soldier. They took no prisoners with the SS but did for the common German soldier . Dad sat with the dying soldier to comfort him, but then he felt the barrel of a gun at his neck . The dying soldier pleaded for dad's life as dad was considering a grab for 1911. Dad and the German soldier honored the request and dad was taken although considered taking a futal attempt for his gun. Later in life he regretted not doing it because he left his men behind. Dad spent 6 months in a German prison camp ,and even on the way was locked in a box car for six days to kill him. He was one of two that survived. Patton knew something and wasn't wrong but dad with worn out gear suffered dearly.His survival skills ,tactics and shooting skills were unbelievable , but Patton knew something . 😎

Great video

They should have let Patton off the chain early on. But the powers were afraid he had designs on becoming The US President. I sincerely believe, Patron had no such desire.

The Panther was a very, very good tank. It was not a super tank. It traded side armor for mobility, meaning that any tank, including a 75mm Sherman, could easily take it out with a side shot. Throw untrained crews into Panther tanks and tell them to attack veteran US forces waiting or them in Shermans, operating with air support, and the result is inevitable. 4th Armored was a very skilled unit.

Thanks!

An amazing fight, and yes, needs more attention than it gets.

AMEN! PRAISE GOD! and BATTLE ON! GENERAL PATTON! DEFINITELY AN AMERICAN HERO!

Now I know how Savalas, Eastwood and Sutherland won the war!

The later Shermans had many improvements especially the 76.2 mm hv gun models. Patten ordered welded additional armor, and prohibited sand bags.

Does anyone know the story behind the clip near the beginning which shows the American jeep on fire? I have been looking for that one for quite awhile.

I had a friend who commanded an antitank gun. He may have in or around this battle.He was in the 79th division.

The objective was to win. Patton used the guns of battleships to stop the German tanks when he invaded Italy. And Patton had able tank commanders like Woods and Abrams.

My dad had nothing to do with this battle.

Patton’s fuel was diverted? Sounds like Monty again… LOL! If Ike had given Patton a free hand, the war would’ve been shorter and saved lives on all sides!

The Germans took factory fresh Panthers and instead of using them to replenish experienced panzer divisions created these ill-conceived brigades with largely inexperienced crews. Of course they got smashed by a properly balanced armor division with well-trained veterans.

From <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="483">8:03</a> it looks like anti glider poles so is the footage near Arracourt well inland from the channel or footage from the Normandy area?

I'm a tank buff love is my army tanks and the video really enlightening me on a lot of things that I just presumed to be and maybe not but I thank you for the video I enjoyed it thank you so much

Enjoyed it! Thank you for this. Btw, Arracourt is a French word and should be pronounced as "Arra-coo". Same with all the other names that end in 'court'.

Which is it "Grizzled veterans of the 5th Panzer Army" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tmxXTAy1czY.html or "Fresh Crews with little training"? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tmxXTAy1czY.html

Thank you for the video, and a great explanation of this little known battle! I do a little bit of wargaming with Mike armor and I am usually the Germans. I have seen this battle in one of our books, but we have not got the play it because I don’t have enoughminiature painted yet. Now I’ll be looking forward to see if I can change history.

Very enlightening.

Great subject matter, great video. What you narrated at the end ... "superior mobility ... provided a decisive edge to the defenders" ... pretty much sums up the competitive advantage of the US military in general: besides our always-superior technology, our mobility usually guarantee USA victories against any enemy. Unfortunately our enemies don't always grasp our many superiorities and get into wars with us anyway. Then they make many mistakes which guarantees their loss. China and Russia and North Korea take note: don't even try it.

I thought the best Panzers were committed to the fight around Caen?

Was present at a 1987 brief to Armor Advanced Course students -- read captains -- by Arracourt veterans on a terrain model led by Jimmie Leach, a company commander in CCA Kind of unbelievable today.