Lyle Bouck, Jr. was born on December 17, 1923, and died on December 2, 2016.

He was enlisted in the U.S. National Guard at age 14.

During World War II, Bouck was a 20-year-old lieutenant in charge of the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division.

During the first morning of the Germans’ advance during the Battle of the Bulge, his 18-man unit along with four forward artillery observers held off an entire German battalion of more than 500 men for nearly an entire day, killing or wounding 92, and significantly delayed the German advance in a vital sector of the northern front.

All the members of the platoon were later decorated, making it one of the most decorated platoons in all of World War II.

Lyle Bouck, at that time, was one of the youngest commissioned officers in the U.S. Army.

Lyle Bouck passed away at 92 years old.