On the Burnon to Chaumont road, in ridges hills, and woods above the low ground of the town of Chaumont, the precise location of enemy Fallschirmjager infantry paratrooper batallions was not known. It was early dawn on December 23, 1944.

The US Third Army's advance to Bastogne had been delayed by bridge construction necessary to cross the Sauer River. A US Army 8th Tank Battalion intelligence officer, who carried unit locations and passwords for the previous day, had been captured by the enemy.

Captain Treharne mounted his US Army WLA series Harley Davidson and plunged alone off-road into the woods between Burnon and Chaumont. Information regarding enemy locations would be useless unless he returned on that day; nevertheless he carried food for several days, a rolled up blanket, and a first aid kit.

It was one of the coldest days in Ardennes history. He wore his winter combat uniform and jacket. He was accustomed to ignoring the dull ache in his leg from Nazi bullets sustained in Normandy. The scars on his face from the same encounter were not visible if he did not look in the mirror. He carried a Thompson Submachinegun, slung over his right shoulder.

The Harley WLA's blackout lights were difficult to spot from the air; it's modified fenders repelled mud and unfathomable dirt; it could ford streams over a foot and a half deep. Snow was not the most desirable terrain, but Treharne was an experienced rider. He could negotiate unexpected changes in terrain and plunge down steep descents. In one motion, he could dismount, slide his bike on its side, take position behind it.