On my second visit to Sadzot, Belgium, I was fortunate to have my good friend Peter from Belgium who was able to translate. As we approached Sadzot, one of our hopes was to find a family who had relatives that were there during the war and might share some of their stories. Outside one of the houses we met several of the Fairon family who graciously invited us in. They were celebrating the 91st birthday of Ariste Fairon. Ariste Fairon had been there during the fighting and is mentioned in the book Blood Clash at Sadzot by William B. Breuer.
Peter introduces us to the Fairon family and translates Mr. Ariste Fairons stories.
Mr. Ariste Fairon takes us to the room in which at various times, Germans and Americans had been in their home.
Here are some of the stories shared with us by Mr Ariste Fairon: (Notes are in no particular order, it is not clear in what order these events happened)
Germans came to the house and held himself and parents at gun point. They wanted to search the house to see if there were any Americans. They grabbed Mr Ariste Farion and threw him against the wall.
One German in the house saw two Americans moving toward the house from the west. He chose not to fire on them and instead waited for them to come in so he could surrender.
He remembers seeing an American tank on a hill on the west side of town.
He was standing outside the east side of the house with two Germans. A shell landed near them killing the two Germans and mortally wounding his brother-in-law Emile Dropsy. Later he died in their living room.
Brother Victor Fairon Jr. was taking shelter in the cellar of another home when a grenade came into the cellar killing him and wounding a another person.
Southwest corner of house was hit possibly by mortar fire. As Ariste Fairon was looking out the damaged corner of the house he was hit by a stray round in the right lower arm. The bullet when straight through. He later went to the battalion aid station set up on the Erezee/Mahay road north of Sadzot where he was treated for his wound.
Five Americans slept for one night in the southwest corner of the house.
He remembers Americans calling fire on their own positions in the forest south of Sadzot.
He remembers an American coming into town to look around for a place to set up.
He remembers seeing several orange, blue and white parachutes landing in the area.
The Fairon family gather for a family photo with me. The visit of with the Fairon Family and their hospitality was the highlight of our trip.
Denis Fairon has been collecting battlefield relics for many years in the local area and offered to show us his great collection.
German helmets
Weapons found in the local area
Great collection of various shell casings that were collected after the fighting
An original powder bag used for artillery
60mm Mortar round
US Fragmentation Grenade
Munition storage canisters
Communication wire and reel
Expended shells
Me with Denis Fairon. After seeing his collection he offered to show us around
There was a house here once in which Americans were sleeping. The house caught fire during the German attack and the Americans got out.
Denis offered to show us an area with many foxholes. This is one of them. The 1st Battalion, 289th Infantry, 75th Infantry Division probably dug in this area on 27 December south of Sadzot. The foxholes were dug very close together and did not tie in with 2nd Battalion which was about 1000 yards to the west.
Peter reads the monument remembering the civilian victims and units that fought in and around Sadzot
Me and Peter visit the monument to the battle that was fought at Sadzot and to the civilian victims
To the memory of the GIs' and of the
civil victims, Victor Fairon
and Emile Dropsy who fell at
Sadzot
on the night of December 27th to 28th, 1944
during the offensive of the Ardennes.
The savage and desperate attack
of the 2nd and
12th SS Panzer divisions
shot death and desolation into this
peaceful village.
We pay homage to the courage
and determination of the
American units:
Detachment of the 3rd Armored Division
509th Parachute Infantry Battalion
Company B of the 87th Mortar Battalion
289th Regiment of the 75th Infantry Division
Victor Fairon was killed on 28 December 1944 during the fighting. He was Arste Fairons' brother
Emile Dropsy was killed on 28 December 1944
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