Chalk,
I had a similar experience at a small little known place called Bastogne one December several years ago. My Mom's brother was Missing In Action for 13 days after his unit of Tank Destoyers was overrun during the first action. His account of the tank fight and expending all of the unit's ammunition before being forced to E&E on foot was simply amazing. He told me the story in full exactly once...it was something he just did not say much about. He and five of his mates found their way to Bastogne through German lines and then got to participate in that fight.
Walking about the place...and visiting the museum was quite an experience....made doubly so by the snow and cold weather very similar to when the fight was going on. The monument that overlooks the town with the historical markings explaining the battle is very much worth seeing.
We still have the telegram informing my Grandma of her son's becoming Missing-in-Action.....really brings home the costs of war.