 When the United States entered World War II , Kouma was trained as a tank crew member . He was assigned to the 9th Armored Division . The Division landed in Normandy late in September 1944 , and moved to the front lines on October 23 . Its first mission was patrol duty in a quiet sector along the Luxembourg @-@ German frontier . When the Germans launched their winter offensive , the 9th Armored Division was quickly involved in the Battle of the Bulge with next to no experience . The Division saw very heavy action at St. Vith , Echternach and Bastogne , its units , unprepared to counter the offensive , fighting in widely separated areas . 
