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Orleans Area - On August 30, we left this coastal sector, and, after completing the longest hop overland, some 200 miles, arrived in the vicinity of Bauge, east of Angers. The company was travelling the southernmost route of division elements, paralleling the course of the Loire River and Chateau country. The following day, the column clocked an additional 98 miles to encamp east of Charsonville in the Orleans area, east of Tours. Enroute, we were showered with fresh vegetables which splattered the trucks passing through liberated communities. Dozens of eggs, and a number of cases of wine and cider were accounted for when all related the number of bottles they had received from wildly cheering townspeople. Jake Judy, riding in the halftrack, sadly turned down all liquid offerings (self explanatory) but bitched like hell to Capt. Hall, about the men in the vehicles behind guzzling the stuff.  War and our column pass him by The activity of a routine bivouac was in progress and almost all the company were employed in assembling truck trailers and processing new vehicles which had been obtained from rear Ordnance depots for distribution to the division. The men making these trips to the rear had the opportunity to return almost to Cherbourg and the invasion beaches. From this time on, everyone was eager for these details which would take them many miles from camp and enable them to spend a night or two in some town or ctiy they hadn't seen or travelled through in our column march across France. The momentum of the armored drive across the country was presenting some supply difficulties. On one occasion Sgt. Hogarth returned to the beaches to obtain gas and oil for the trucks, enabling us to continue our march. He had travelled nearly 700 miles for this priority cargo. Shortly thereafter, supplies were being flown into the sector by plane. Operating the gas truck throughout the entire campaigns across France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany called for cool nerves and a constant state of alertness to all developments. This was "Hoagy!" At one time he observed the destruction of two Trains trucks by artillery fire while awaiting his turn to load up at the dump. He returned to camp unharmed and related the experience with considerable praise for the men engaged in this dangerous but most necessary work. Orleans, with its historic but now shell-pocked and splintered Cathedral, and shrapnel-torn monument to Joan of Arc, Warrior Saint of France, was less than ten miles away. Many men had an occasion to come to the city which already had resumed a semblance of peace-time living amid indications of the resistance which had been encountered here. Shattered German 88's were concealed along the highway leading into the city and we could readily observe where the tanks had left the zeroed-in-roads and moved across the farms to attack these gun positions from the flank or rear.  silenced Nazi "88" near Orleans By September 2, the company had gathered with battalion and division units in an extensive pine forrest [forrest] east of Chateauneuf-Sur-Loire and seven miles west of Lorris. A strong array of enemy forces, some 20,000 Krauts, were in the area on the north bank of the Loire River. They were being contained by a thin line of our recon and infantry troops. Moving in the column of Combat Command B, Sgts. Turner, Hilger, Culbreth and Redmond passed through Beaugency where they could see the enemy just across the river. Two Heinie machine gun posts on the far bank were silenced, but not until they had knocked out two halftracks leading the column. Several weeks thereafter, surrounded on all sides, this force negotiated a widely publicized surrender to the 83rd Infantry Division. The towering pines in the forest formed a canopy overhead and we pitched our tents over a bed of soft grass and pine needles for another long halt of two weeks. The entire area had formerly been subjected to artillery fire and aerial bombardment, and the deep craters, now water-filled, were convenient washing holes for some. Shrapnel-pierced trees lay all about and at times we would wield an axe upon them as skillfully as any fabled backwoodsman . . . . we recall Loudenslager losing a ten-buck wager to "Uncle" Willis who toppled a sturdy pine while "Loudie" was still sweating and chopping away.  Shop truck in the pine forest Utilizing seized Jerry heating devices and torches, "Shorty" Dombrowski and Forinash rigged up a welcome shower place where all had a chance to rid themselves of the dust of French roads. The boys operated the heater and pumps for each man and gained no end of popularity for their resourcefulness. The division was assembling here for refitting and the re-equipment of vehicles and materiel to complete its drive through France. An intensive inspection and service of all tanks and artillery pieces was under way all over the forest where the units had encamped. Our tank maintenance men were kept busy installing new motors, tracks, and suspension systems for almost every tank of the command we were supporting. It was the most thorough and industrious period of repair since all vehicles began the race from Normandy. The weather was favorable and in the evening a number of men could be seen walking from the woods, down the road toward the villages for a bottle of "vin rouge" or whatever liquid refreshment they might be lucky enough to obtain after a tough day's work. The kitchen tent was erected upon our entry into the bivouac and a lengthy chow line included several French paratroopers who shared the grub until their peep had been repaired. Bread was unavailable at the kitchen for a time. You ground away on the "tasty dog biscuits" from ten-in-one packages or enjoyed the bootleg stuff bartered or purchased in the village without ration tickets. There wasn't much grinding and the biscuits accumulated; we had "beaucoup du pain." The cooks' preparations were a thankful respite from the self-cooked rations we had been consuming during the almost continuous days and nights of travel. A huge cache of Heinie canned foodstocks of exceptional quality and variety, with thousands of cases of wine, rum and cognac, was seized by the division and thereafter distributed to each company unit for consumption by all personnel . . . . the bottles became a part of our field equipment. Friendly but difficult conversation was carried on with cylists [cyclists]and promenaders along the road. As the speech handicap was overcome brief acquaintanceships ripened. Bob Squire's French was improving daily, and his stock but overworked phrase, "vous milkee cowee todayee?" was an introduction to another courtship. A number of curious residents, from nearby farms, rambled through the woods and gazed in awe at our vehicles and equipment when they were not otherwise exchanging wine and bread for cigarettes and chocolate. Montargis, 20 miles to the northeast, an industrious city, housing an overflow refugee populace from Paris, was not to be forgotten by those visiting the community. On a clear afternoon or early evening, their day's work at an end, a number of men, pleasure bent without passes, would hit the road, thumbing their way to town. One afternoon, Hutcherson, Stern, Kaufman, Crum and Gould were detailed to recover a vehicle beyond the city. They moved out of the encampment with their wrecker, but were halted on the road at five-minute intervals by groups of two or three at a time, Montargis-bound. The boys earned the deep thanks and gratitude of Pyle, Kissel, Mayo, Revnyak, Keeley and Makstutis, who were picked up enroute. Returning late the same evening, they lost their direction and where halted by an MP at a blown-out bridge. He directed them to camp but the boys were eager to return the following day. The "morale of the men was excellent," and all would have preferred to remain there.  Soldiers of France -- road to Lorris Knappman acquired his hound, "Toulon," from a native while we were bivouacked here, and after he had prospected over most of the countryside. On one occasion, he was informed by a cafe proprietor that the Heinies returned to the town at night to obtain their wine, cognac and bread, while the Americans made their purchases early in the day. The men got to know their way around, and a few almost reached Paris, 70 miles north. Two Trains men and Luber were the first Americans since World War 1 to enter the chateau of General Brugere, former Commander-in-Chief of the French Army from 1900 to 1915. They were shown about the museum-like premises by the general's daughter, who said her brother had departed the night before to join the government already established in Paris. Decorating the walls were the photographs of famous soldiers and generals of all nations of many years ago. One group picture of American officers, dressed in late 19th century uniforms, portrayed General Chaffee, the father of our armored force protagonist after whom our first training camp in the United States was named. The Red Cross mobile canteen, which subsequently developed into a battalion fixture, appeared for the third time since our arrival in France. It was a treat to engage in some spirited chatter and good natured kidding with an American girl, wise to all the answers. The men crowded around the truck munching that Yankee institution, the doughnut, and enjoying the change in coffee. (Why the hell couldn't our cooks learn the secret of brewing the stuff?) With the jazz blaring forth from their recordings, the cares and dangers of war were temporarily forgotten. Hollywood still followed us. In one of the maintenance shop tents, erected by Sgt. De Filippo and his men, we observed several films -- the first since leaving England. Sgt. Maxfield had the good fortune to meet his brother, an officer in the MP forces, while we were encamped in the forest. "Maxie" was proud of his kid brother and introduced a number of us to him. They took off for a gay time after "Maxie" obtained the OK from Capt. Hall. The liquor was plentiful, and in the company of an officer you had a ticket to freedom. Our duffle [duffel]bags, collected hundreds of miles away at the first bivouac area in France, were returned for several days, enabling us to remove whatever clothing and equipment we wished. They were again collected to be returned to us in Nancy. Here they became a part of our regular load; thereafter to be stowed away and and transported in the trailers through France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. Every evening after chow, a group gathered around the track CP and sound amplifier, wired by Nick, intent upon the latest news of the day. For his splendid efforts in providing this tree-top sound system and his endless testing of radio equipment, Nick was informed by Woody that a company formation would be held in his honor. He got it -- with Warrant Officer Patterson officiating, minus the formation -- he was presented with a hangman's noose and a Brown Bronze job never equalled in the battalion. We regretted to leave this sector September 18 when all were talking of a rapid Nazi internal collapse and probably an early end of the war. The company moved 90 miles west of Troyes, and the next day clocked an additional 126 miles when we moved into the field of Dombasle, southeast of Nancy. An unfortunate mishap occured [occurred] along the route when the vehicle carrying Sgts. Schoenberger, Loschiavo and Cpl. Gallik overturned in rounding a curve. Eddie was injured and thereafter evacuated to England and recovery. It was many months later when he rejoined us in Belgium. The lucky guy was with us less than a week when his name was drawn for a rotation furlough to the States -- what a break! We moved across the Meurthe River at Nancy on a pontoon bridge still a target for artillery fire. It was our initial view of the city as we rode through rapidly, for it had not been completely cleared of all resisting forces at this time. |
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Gremecey Forest - On September 21, the company, supporting Combat Command A in a strong thrust to drive the enemy from the heights above the city of Nancy, moved from the vicinity of Dombasle where we had encamped for two nights. Line units were operating within the Gremecey Forest and as we rolled on to join them over narrow, dusty roads our column had penetrated beyond forward artillery observation points. Enemy time fire burst above us as the corridor being utilized was no more than half a mile wide. The Kraut batteries were on three sides of our moving vehicles -- along the sole escape route to and from the sector. We turned off the road at a thickly wooded point and the trucks made their path between the closely grown trees. A working bivouac was established upon terrain where defensive positions of a generation ago had been dug and were still apparent. Old World War I fortifications and trenches wound through the dense woods and brush. At once we began to dig in and prepare deep protective shelters. There was no telling when an enemy barrage might drop in on this very position. With each shovelful of earth removed, we were prodding the rotted timbers and rusted nails of the shorings of these old trenches. It was late evening and the guards had taken up their positions about the company bivouac. The blackness of the night was impenetrable and one had to feel his way around from tree to tree. Fox and Perdieu had finished their tour of sentry duty but were unable to find their tents. Fearing to arouse any men in the darkness, for all were jumpy and trigger wary, they plopped down to await daybreak. Upon awakening they discovered they weren't more than five feet from the tents all night. "Porky" Payne had retired earlier but was nearly trampled upon by a wild boar (searching kin folk.) It's almost certain that if "Porky" hadn't been so exhausted, the boar would have come to an unhappy finish between some 10-in-1 biscuits. Down at the halftrack the men were knocking themselves out carriying [carrying] gasoline to keep the radio in operation at all times. On one occasion, "Frog" Fountain, attempting to find his bunk, stepped upon the "Old Man's" head. The following day at Gremecy the rains came, falling without cessation for six days and nights. Our pup tents and other canvas makeshifts provided little shelter from the downpour. But the weather was only a physical discomfort. The continuous roar of the big guns, with the sound magnified and reverberating through the forest, had us all on the verge of nervous hysteria. It was difficult to differentiate between our guns and those of the enemy. Men from the various platoons were maintaining a guard at the fringe of the woods, and as they walked up to their positions the sharp concussion from the belching cannons caught them in the pit of the stomach, throwing them back on their heels momentarily. The sky was aglow with each flash of fire and their hair was brushed back by the swish of air as the shells from our guns passed over in flight. These batteries were well concealed in a ravine about 500 yards away from our bivouac, and sleep was impossible. One afternoon the stillness of the day was sharply broken by a resounding crash. The men caught unawares, the guns having been silenced for several hours, feared we had been targeted-in by the Heinies, and dashed like mad for the nearest shelter. "Sliderule" Fleming, already seated beside his slit trench, arose, and with a frenzied rush hurled himself into the rear of a trailer ten yards away. Informed that this was an outgoing salvo from our artillery, he felt reassured, and, seemingly calmed down, took up his former position. Crash! Bang! and once again Fleming made his wild dash for the trailer. Braun, Sigmon, Marquard, Campo, Sprague and Dombrowski, on a guard post, had a difficult time that night reassuring a group of new men the blasting was outgoing. The men had recently joined us after transporting a huge load of tank tracks to our encampment. Asleep near the guard post, they had been awakened by the barrage which they feared was incoming over their heads. "Big Stoop" John Levins was beside himself with nervous anxiety, and despite all assurances, he could not be convinced he wasn't a direct target. Enemy forces no more than a mile away were engaged in a see-sawing struggle with our tanks, infantry and artillery. For the time, they were unaware of our presence in the woods. We had been informed that, squeezed from the flanks, the Heinies would probably descend and infiltrate into our area where they were to be confined until liquidated by the pressure of armor concentrated around them. Our planes swooped in low at tree-top level to ferret out their positions and we fervently hoped they were aware of our proximity. Their unceasing flight and tactics were adding to our concern. Late one morning the tonsorial artist, Morgan, was exhibiting his talents upon those dark locks of "'Rajah." Galosi, while Nations and Misenhelder stood by admiring his skillful manner. Almost all the kitchen gang were standing by preparing a delectable bit of Heinie rations, or perhaps it was "submarine turkey." Close by, King and Schoenberger were at work upon an armored car. Suddenly, there was a low-flying plane, and a crash of 20mm fire struck a tree near the group, driving all headlong for the nearest holes. All except Galosi who froze on the chair (a gas can) as Morgan gave up all thought of continuing his career for the day. Loncharte and Gladke, in "good spirits," determined to make the supreme sacrifice, and set out on a mission of their own choosing. They moved off down the road resolved upon seizing an "88" without aid. They had gone but a short distance when they were halted by an officer who warned them of their danger and advised a hasty return. Apparently they had begun to realize the seriousness of their position for they turned about and passed up the danger of the hunt. "Cool-as-a-Cucumber" Darst and "Ghosty" Kampmier were riding the range at this time hauling scrap and salvage material to rear collection points. One morning with Lt. Wurst riding ahead in a peep, they saw a truck directly ahead hit a land mine. A Negro "Red Ball Express" driver dove from the cab and the boys related it was a stroke of luck that he hadn't been serously [seriously] injured. Field conditions with sound effects were least conducive to maintenance and repair work. But the automotive and tank "mud bath" crews were engaged upon a number of vehicles -- Sgt. Roberts of the Service Section repaired and modified to our use a French valve refacing machine, utilized to a great advantage -- Cook and Watson managed to grind out the replacement of a new tank engine in black-out -- men of the Instrument Section had some success in their deliberate search for balance and precision despite the elements and sleepless night. All were intent upon maintaining the high standard of support recognized throughout the division. On one occasion, a detail, consisting of Lt. Stolz, WO Patterson, McKee, Cook, Martin, Knappman, Houston, Leyde, Smale, Callender, Hilger, Adams, Beers, Watson, Pecher, Freida and Mitchell, departed through enemy infested woods to the town of Armacourt, 12 miles distant, to clear knocked-out equipment off the main supply route. Upon arrival at the designated location, they found themselves attempting to penetrate enemy territory, on the receiving end of some "very dirty laundry." Smale suffered a hand wound, becoming eligible for the first Purple Heart award, while a ripe manure pile served as cover for others. Their return to the company was halted until infantry forces cleared the woods of about 20 Krauts. "Tarzan, Let-Me-Sleep" Ricci was stopped one day by one of the Negro "Red Ball" drivers whose truck was being repaired in the woods. Paling at the incessant roar of big guns he exclaimed, "Man, what kind of an Ordnance outfit is this?" We were about to despair of ever leaving this nerve-wracking forest with its unceasing rainfall, when the order for departure came on the morning of September 26. Never before had we been so eager and prepared for a rapid movement. As we progressed down the muddy road, infantry troops of two divisions were moving up to occupy positions our units had softened. The muddy terrain was now becoming most unsuitable for tank and armored battle, and the foot sloggers would have to come to grips with the Heinies at close range. That very afternoon our former bivouac in the woods was shattered by enemy artillery fire. Had we remained until noon, there is no telling what losses to personnel and equipment might have been suffered. Lt. Bragg later observed his slit trench had received a direct hit, and the entire area had been thoroughly worked over. |
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Nancy Airport - We moved down from the forested sector about 15 miles and thereupon entered the bomb-shattered premises of what had formerly been the Nancy Airport. This was the first of several airbases we were thereafter to occupy. The badly battered remnants of hangars and operational structures could be made serviceable for ordnance use and we immediately proceeded to work clearing out the rubble and debris covering the area. Enemy planes lay strewn about the field and crushed within the hangars by the crumbled roofs and walls. The vehicles were parked in those hangars not too badly destroyed, and we obtained all remaining available space for sleeping quarters. What were once windows but now devoid of all glass, were soon covered with board or canvas, and blackout precautions completed for a stay.  Just a part of the destruction at Nancy airport The area bore mute but striking evidence of the tremendous blows the Allied airforce had inflicted here. Huge water-filled craters made it unsafe for anyone to venture forth between buildings during the darkness. Late that night and on numerous occasions to follow, our 90mm antiaircraft guns, throwing up a wall of flak at low-flying raiders intent upon bombing the city only two miles away, nearly hurled us from our beds which we had found in surrounding buildings. The guns weren't visible to many of us, but we began to appreciate the proximity of their emplacements with each successive flight overhead. The walls, already weakened, shook at every resounding blast. The water and lighting facilities had been completely destroyed, but we resorted to the field generators and soon had lights in all quarters. Five-gallon water cans were refilled twice each day at a water point established in a Nancy park. For the first two days after the company's arrival, the men were eager to go from plane to plane, be photographed beside the swastika-marked tail or fuselage of a fighter or bomber, or obtain panel instruments which hadn't been smashed.  Nazi bomber at rest At the airport, we had once again joined the batalion [battalion], and with the exception of artillery batteries, the entire division had assembled in the Nancy sector. The heavy rainfall of the days before had turned the place into a quagmire; we sloshed about in ankle deep mud for several weeks until all men were issued rubber or canvas overshoes. Captain Hall became ill shortly after our arrival here, and was evacuated to England and recovery. First Lt. Boyd T. Johns assumed the company command on October 9. He soon proved to all his capabilities and qualities of astute command, rising to the captaincy a few days later. With the capaple [capable] supervision of Lt. Bragg, shop officer, and Sgt. Lambert, shop foreman, a considerable amount of service and repair work was completed under favorable working conditions. Inspections of material and guns was most thorough, and unserviceable and damaged equipment was evacuated from forward points for replenishment and repair. A 105mm assault gun had been knocked out of action by an 88, calling for a higher echelon of service and repair than that hitherto performed by our Artillery men. They tackled the job, removing the the entire gun mechanism, recoil shield and tube, after substitution of the piece had been considered. With improvised working equipment, the repaired gun, with salvaged parts, was once again put into service through the ability of Coyner, Maxfield, Kymick, Matz and Johnson. The men were commended for their efforts by General Grow, and were photographed with him beside the piece by a representative of a home publication. The Evacuation crews almost daily made runs from 15 to 25 miles to retrieve vehicles and tanks unable to be repaired by the service companies of line units. Such unserviceable material was then evacuated to our busy shops at the airport for repair. The first conversion of a 2 1/2 ton cargo truck into a field headquarters and sleeping place was completed by those two master cabinet makers, Smitley and Gladke, and presented to General Grow. All material untilized [utilized] came from the scrap and discarded equipment strewn about the field. The interior was of plywood construction and featured built-in bed, running water, map board and desk, electric lights, wardrobe with mirror, and blackout curtains. The General came down occasionally to observe the progress of the work, and, well pleased, commented that he preferred the mobile quarters to any other shelter. Warrant Officer Patterson, McKee, Roberts, Teeters, Makstutis, Mayo and Ricci had a hand in the construction of the vehicle, and excelled "Body by Fisher" standards. They were thereafter to complete two additional carriers for the General Staff. On each occasion, with "A" Company rested the distinction of having provided these quarters. Tech. Sgt. Zemstal of Instrument Repair Section was awarded the Bronze Star in recognition of the valuable work he and his men, Keane, Younger, Clinger, Henderson, Magnus and Lovera had completed in the drive to the borderland. General Grow, in presenting the award exclaimed, "I don't know why this award is being conferred upon you, but if you're from Ordnance, I'm certain you deserve it." Numerous awards were distributed at the first formal dress parade in which division elements participated on adjacent fields. For the development of the highly utilized frame-straightening rig for peeps, Joe Ferrara received the Certificate of Merit and thereafter, the Bronze Star. The deep mud of the countryside was presenting some difficulty and obstacles to the rapid maneuvers and progress of our tanks and track vehicles. However, this was soon overcome when the company and battalion units inaugurated their own production lines in the hangars or under shop tents where five or more tanks could be worked upon at one time in progressive stages of modification until all tracks had been widened by several inches to afford greater traction surface on the boggy terrain. The entire Service Section, with the aid of almost all company personnel and officers, fabricated and welded the "duck bills," resourcefully cut from the scrap materials available. Three shifts were thus industriously engaged as the men worked around the clock, piercing the blackout with the brilliant flash of their torches despite the the great pre caution observed to conceal all activity from overhead prowlers. Their work was safisfactorily [satisfactorily] completed for the utilization of all tanks in the great offensive only days away. New faces appeared in our roster of officers when Lt. Robert Krebaum joined us and assumed the duties of liaison officer so well performed in the past by Lt. Stolz who was evacuated for illness. Lt. Krebaum had "risen from the ranks" and had received his field commission and Bronze Star for heroic action before assignement [assignment] to Ordnance. Lt. James H. Yohn was also assigned to the company and he undertook the supervision of the Small-Arms Section of the Armament Platoon. On one occasion he, in the company of Lts. Naas, Shaffer, Sgts. Mathis, Maxfield, and "Amazing-Story" Mulligan, returned to the high ground northeast of Nancy to recover machine gun mounts from knocked out vehicles. There was a great demand for the ring mounts and all drivers hoped to equip their trucks with added fire power in preparation for our future moves. The party was driven from the scene by artillery fire still subjecting the sector to a daily going over. But the men were determined and resolved to return on a foggy day when the guns were stilled. Several days later they had their chance, removing a number of mounts and returning to report the trip was completed without incident. Preparations for the oncoming offensive necessitated unorthodox methods in planned support and service to line elements. As units of the 80th Infantry Division held the high ground in the Seille River sector, northeast of Nancy, Lt. Naas succeeded in making arrangements for a test firing of a 75mm tank gun with an enemy observation post as the target. The gun had been repaired and awaited a trial run before being returned to service. Subjecting themselves to direct fire, at a distance of 4,000 yards, Lts. Naas and Shaffer, Coyner, Max-field, Kennedy, Mulligan and Raines, (for the press) tested the piece, neatly destroying the post beyond the banks of the river. Krauts, routed from their position, were cut down by infantrymen who were awaiting this great opportunity to add to their score. An interesting sidelight, displaying the Yankee ingenuity of the "Doughfoot," was observed when it was discovered the men were utilizing a bicycle pump in lieu of a firing pin to fire an old French 75mm field piece in support of reconnaissance units. The six-week stay at Nancy enabled most of the men to visit the city on at least one occasion, and a considerable amount of Ordnance francs remained with the shopkeepers and cafes. Numerous gifts were purchased for the near holiday season and "le bier" and cognac were plentiful. Men on pass in town soon discovered that French "femmes fatales" lacked that assumed sense of modesty and decorum our girls at home were so careful to cultivate over a period of years of training and habit. One time Loncharte stood awestruck with drooping jaw as an unconcerned female entered a cafe "Water Closet" and smiled at him. Knappman, strictly a tourist, returning from town one night, was frightened out of his skin when our antiaircraft batteries commenced their shattering fire. Fearing all guns were concentrated on him, he crawled several hundred yards across the muddy field to his hangar and a troubled sleep. Those who hadn't thrilled to their first bath or shower since coming to France now over exerted themselves cleaning up for town in the shower stalls put into operation by Dombrowski, Forinash and Craddock with the heaters and pump. Adams came close to ridding himself of an ear while doing a thorough cleaning job on his weapon. Failing to remove the clip, a round exploded to graze his head and plow through the rooftop of the truck in which he was working. Jack White, more concerned with the appearance of his shop vehicle than Adam's appearance minus an ear, remarked, "look what you've done to my roof." The "Buchenwald Kid" looked bad enough with two lobes. "Able-Technician" Kobezak had removed the powder from a fragmentation grenade and was determined to add to his list of "victims." He threw it at Fox and the latter almost passed out of the picture with fright. It was too good a gag to remain unnoticed and McLean hurled it into the room occupied by Revnyak and Ladzinski. The boys crashed into each other racing for the door and safety. All became aware of Sylvester's brainstorm when Lt. Bragg, pulling the pin from the grenade before Lt. Naas, handed it to him. The officers were wise to the plot and "ran" for the nearest exit as Naas hit the floor. The men from "Philly" had a visitor and greeted a home town performer attached to a USO troupe giving its all at the airport -- "something for the boys." The gang had misty eyes as he rendered some old bar-room selections recollecting former days of cheer. "Bulb Nose" Kenny, of the Quaker City, was reunited with his brother, a member of the 80th Infantry Division closely supporting the Sixth Armored. Newcomers to the ranks were Gunderson, "The Montana Kid," a killer with the gals, and Dabrowski, an Orderly Room politician with Yiddish impersonations. "Porky" Payne will not forget his stay at Nancy. He suffered the wrath of Capt. Johns one day when he made an overdue appearance from town. The punishment was made to fit the crime and he was "instructed" to excavate a project some eight by four feet as Lt. Lewis looked on from time to time. Fortunately, he had been well rested and completed the job in near record time. However, we never did appreciate his master spadework for the water-soaked earth caved into the trench after a heavy rainfall. |