After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll load up and head onto the route commonly referred to as Hell’s Highway. Our destination is what came to be known as “The Island." This sliver of land between the Rhine and Waal rivers was where Easy was sent to help contain German forces in October and November of 1944.

We’ll spend time at Schoonderlogt, the site of the 2d Battalion HQ, where then-Captain Winters took his well-known photograph standing near the arch heading into the farm’s courtyard. After that, we’ll take a short ride to visit two small fields between the towns of Heteren and Randwijk. It was there that Easy fought the “Crossroads” battle, where a reinforced platoon of Easy Company troopers destroyed the better part of an SS battalion.

After lunch we'll head over to the city of "A Bridge Too Far." Once in Arnhem, we'll view the famous location of the bridge (since replaced) and see some of the scars of the battle. Afterwards, we'll head over to the Hartenstein Hotel, where the British Airborne set up their command base. It's now an amazing airborne museum, and you'll have time to learn more about this final objective and discuss Easy's role in helping evacuate them from the far bank of the Rhine.

By mid afternoon, we'll head back to Eindhoven to drop off the vehicles, rest up a bit, and grab an early meal.

Tonight will be the celebration of Liberation Day, and there will be a parade and ceremonies on the very day that the 101st liberated Eindhoven, seventy-nine years ago...

OVERNIGHT: EINDHOVEN