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Morville-Sur-Nied - With an historic Presidential election at home and the Armistice Day holiday of another war upon us, a great offensive and movement of armies was presaged when, on November 7th and 8th, we observed fleets of bombers with fighter escort shuttling east and west. The Moselle and Saar offensives were under way and the company, in support of Combat Command A, left Nancy November 11, moving northeast to Eply, beyond Nomeny to Morville-Sur-Nied, 40 miles distant, where we awaited billets on November 12. Enroute, the column passed positions south of Metz occupied by American forces when hostilities ceased in 1918. A necessary traffic delay in crossing the pontoon bridge across the Seille River at Nomeny caused some trucks to become separated in the darkness and move on an incorrect route. But they were soon redirected and assembled without incident. We spent Armistice night in the gutted and deserted structures of Eply. The following day the comany [company] moved to Morville, rolling closely behind elements of the 80th Division flushing the area of remaining scattered resistance. A number of destroyed enemy tanks and artillery pieces were strewn. along the muddy roads, and we observed a Nazi ammunition dump concealed in the woods. Wooden tanks were dispersed about the open terrain, but upon cursory observation from a distance, they appeared as a potent panzer force. Tank tracks of division units indicated the cautionary tactics our tankers had resorted to in coming within range of these decoys which fulfilled no military plan but which were indicative of Heinie methods. The houses were still aflame in Morville and those few remaining intact housed men of the 80th making preparations to fan out over the hills beyond the town. The "flying" kitchen truck was one of the first vehicles to halt and anxious "dog faces" inquired if we were their relief force. When informed this was an Ordnance column, they looked upon us in astonishment. We were advised to take shelter in the houses and not remain in groups on the road near the trucks. A mortar explosion some hours before had struck several of their men grouped about and caused severe casualties. Within an hour's time, and now occupying their vacated billets, we could see them filing off in battle formation, across country, in pursuit of the enemy not more than a mile away. Numerous German dead were lying around, destroyed where they had fought -- from haystacks, the village cemetery, dugouts cleverly concealed along the road and in backyards. As we readied for a stay here, groups of prisoners were marched in by infantry patrols unaware that their comrades had already departed. Late that evening the houses trembled and windows crashed as batteries of 155mm. "Long Toms," emplaced in the fields near us and directly behind the village, commenced firing. Their flashes lighted the sky, and an orange glow of flame could be seen across the valley to the east. The very few civilan [civilian] residents who had remained here, identified as loyal French partisans, were in desperate need of food. Our stay was providential for them when Lt. Lewis was instrumental in collecting food items from the men informed of their plight. The company remained in Morville, employed in processing a number of new, heavily armored tanks termed the "Jumbo" by tankers of line units. All section personnel applied themselves to get these weapons into action in rapid time. A new-type vehicle appeared when the boys returned from rear depots with the "Weasel" or "Snow-and-Mud" peep. This carrier would be advantageously utilized in traversing the flooded ground where wheeled vehicles had tough going. The effeciency [efficiency] and invulnerability of the new tanks became apparent when one appeared for repair with seven holes, none of which caused great damage to its armor or injury to the crew. It had been hit by Nazi shell fire but suffered no complete penetration of armor plate. The only damage was sustained by a trunnion bearing cap; this repaired, the welders soon erased all evidence of the enemy hits by plugging up the holes and returing [returning] her to action. Newcomers to the company ranks at Morville were Albright and Filogomo. The former joined the Automotive Platoon after travelling 19 days across France and surviving a railroad wreck. Filogomo came to the Artillery Section as a reinforcement for Shelton, who had left us at Nancy with a leg injury but had since returned. Vince was gratified to exchange his M1 for a carbine and remain with Ordnance. Lt. Shaffer, directing the excellent work of the Evacuation Section, with Sgt. Umbower and his men, departed one day to retrieve a tank of the 212th AFA. They proceeded to a forward area north of Hann-Sur-Nied in a heavily mined and shelled sector. While engaged in removing the tank, their block broke and Lt. Shaffer left to obtain another. The men couldn't await his return in this hot spot and Parsons was lucky enough to get the tank started and moved from the mud on its own power onto the trailer. A small Bailey Bridge had to be traversed and the engineers would not permit the full 70-ton load of trailer and tank to cross at one time. The vehicle was removed for the crossing and once again reloaded as the men worked under fire. When Lt. Shaffer returned to the scene, he was more than surprised to find the tank and mover gone and already on their way back to the company. Tech. Sgt. Anglemyer and his platoon were repairing two tanks at Luppy, some ten miles south of Morville. The weapons had come to an abrupt halt while moving through the mined fields and with these obstacles and the ever-present mud it was impossible for the prime movers to evacuate them to our company area. The men moved off into the field, affixed their cables to the tanks and winched them out with a wrecker stationed on the road. Thanksgiving Day dinner was being prepared when all sections were ordered to make ready for a noon departure. The turkey dinner would be consumed later in the day at a new halt enroute east. Once again, as on so many occasions, out popped the C's and K's for a hasty concentrated diet. |
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Alone In Viller - We moved 21 miles and late in the afternoon of November 23 stopped at Viller. The company was unable to go into the field -- our vehicles would have mired down to the hubs -- and we were advised to move in with the civilian residents. You couldn't determine a Frenchman from a Nazi in this sector where all inhabitants spoke only German. There were no invitations coming from them and we dispersed about the village, entering their houses wherever floor space could be found to bed down. They had just recently housed Jerry soldiers who had been driven off. Personal articles and photographs in many of the houses testified to the fact these people had sons, brothers or husbands in the German Army. We were wary and could hardly trust this borderland populace. An alert security guard was posted before the vehicles and billets as we settled down for an uneasy stay. Chow call was late and with mess gear and carbine slung over the shoulder, all made their way to the kitchen set up in a former cafe. In the darkness and with intermittent rainfall cooling off a hot supper, to the aroma of the ever-present manure piles, we disposed of that turkey ration which marked the day as a festive occasion. The night passed quietly to our great surprise but equal relief and the next day we saw the vestiges of battle strewn near the houses and in the yards -- destroyed canon, small-arms weapons, dead horses and cattle, and good Jerries. A group of civilians was dragging one of the victims off for burial while others were left where they had fallen. Even in death these people observed Nazi doctrine and practices; those left behind were Poles or Slovak soldiers who had fought for the Fuhrer. From the windows, with the aid of field glasses, one could see the Maginot line forts ringing the hill-tops. Weeks later, in another locale, we would have an opportunity for closer examination. The company was the sole division unit in the immediate area with enemy forces only five miles off. For assured security purposes, a tank road block was stationed 500 yards from the town center, thereby barring the road, so we hoped, from the Krauts who may have considered retaking positions formerly held. Our battletested veterans -- Keane, Bessel, Kenny, Kampmier, Jennings, Mitchell and Callender -- thereupon took their turn of duty, and, with guns trained on the road, awaited an appearance of the Krauts throughout the night in a downpour of rain. Their watch terminated uneventfully but to their satisfaction, and they returned to the company at daybreak. The division was making rapid strides in this Lorraine salient, battling its way into the Saar Valley region. We were alerted for further marches at any time, for the struggle for Germany was at hand. |
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St. Jean Rohrbach - The vehicles moved up to St. Jean Rohrbach, about 15 miles, on November 28 to enter former garrison compounds and structures housing at one time French Maginot line troops and a short time later, the enemy. Our combat elements and units of the 35th Infantry Division still occupied the quarters they had recently seized. Sporadic shell fire and machine gun bursts were coming from the woods several hundred yards behind these buildings and we could see the tanks moving cautiously up the road -- N74 - and on either side across the fields toward Putelange. The move had been made to facilitate closer support of the combat command whose units were less than three miles east. But conditions were becoming too hot and Ordnance was more than advised to leave this forward point. |
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Diffenbach - A Close Brush - The road was under artillery fire as the column made all haste to move back to Diffenbach Les Hellimer, five miles down the road. Ordnance had advanced becond [beyond] the limits of safety despite the fact that all men were capable of successfully overcoming obstacles which might confront them. At a brief halt Schaeffer was struck by a piece of shrapnel which dented his steel helmet, cut the leather strap and ripped through his outer clothing. He fell to the ground instinctively, but fortunately hadn't been scratched. Thomas and McLean, not far away from him, picked themselves up from the shelter into which they had hurled themselves at the sound of the explosion. The men ganged up on Schaeffer, curious to learn where his rabbit's foot had come from; no one had been injured but it was too close and all were well scared. Service companies of the tank units were still billeted in Diffenbach Les Hellimer, and we were unable to find quarters for the full company. Many buildings had been blasted and burned to the ground. The townspeople were still removing the carcasses of dead animals from the debris. Most of the Armament Platoon, Evacuation Section, De Filippo's Automotive Platoon, and Parts Supply Section remained here while the balance of the company moved on into Leyviller, three miles north. Heavy artillery pieces were being brought up, and a battery of 240mm guns was emplaced in the very yards of the houses where the men were preparing to stay. They said the town trembled when these ponderous weapons opened up, sending a shower of dirty, cob-webbed plaster and rotted rafters down around their heads. At night, trying to fall asleep on the floors, they were lifted several inches as the guns roared and shells were ticketed for Sarreguemines. As a result of the heavy rains and ceaseless military traffic over the main and single supply route, the road was in poor condition. The Evacuation Section was given the seemingly impossible task of retrieving a Jumbo which had tumbled off the road into a swiftly flowing stream. This had occurred when the tank, moving in column, developed motor trouble and halted near the men constructing a span for advancing units. They built the bridge practically atop the weapon then laying on its side like a helpless animal. Once the attacking force moved ahead, Lt. Shaffer, Umbower, Turner, Givens, Smith, Machika, Schairer, Nelson, Novak and others among the crew proceeded to the sector with their prime movers, wrecker and paraphernalia to remove the tank buried in the deep mud. Over a dozen cables were affixed to the vehicle and only after utilizing three retrievers, two M25 tractors, one wrecker, and an artillery crane, borrowed from a 240mm gun crew, did they succeed in breaking loose the big tank and pulling it to the bank of the stream. This was the most arduous job the boys had completed and they were commended for their work. They hadn't finished the job too soon, for later that evening the road was struck by enemy fire near where they had labored all day, inflicting casualties upon engineer personnel then replacing their Bailey span with a wooden aqueduct and dirt fill. The men were looking forward to a well earned night's rest but they were to make a hasty exit when Diffenbach came into range of Jerry counter batteries. They joined the rest of the company now settled in Leyviller where all were already afflicted with a fluid bowel movement and troublesome nights. Anglemyer and his platoon missed the warm welcome the Krauts had accorded us at St. Jean when they remained at Viller to complete their work. But enroute to join us they had a hot reception when the group went astray in positions of the 50th Infantry, engaged in a mortal duel with the Hermanns. The entire company had once again been in the thick of the brawl and had emerged unscarred, but at times severely shaken in nerves. |
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Mud Bath At Leyviller - We moved into a large compound formerly used as a concentration barrack by the Nazis. A high, barbed-wire fence enclosed the area which had contained many prisoners and slave laborers compelled to dig the tank traps and trench system through the fields northeast of the garrison. The only living creature, sadly roaming the hallway, was a friendly but mud splattered sheep. She followed us up and down the corridors like Mary's little lamb, relishing the K-ration biscuits some men held out to her. These good shepherds thereupon became the target for company jests and gags. We had hardly adjusted ourselves for the night when about 10 p.m. a blast shook the ground behind the building. Henry Devall, Apotas, Atkins and Roberts ran to the scene of the explosion and found five artillerymen seriously injured by a mine over wich [which] their vehicle had run. The boys summoned "Doc" Dohanos, company aid man, and began to comfort and relieve the injured until they were removed by the Medics. During the three weeks halt here, the company performed admirably upon the unfavorable ground, repairing tanks, trucks, peeps, tank destroyers and 105 assault guns. There was little rest for the automotive and tank maintenance crews who, in the short period of time since leaving Morville, had serviced or repaired nearly every tank in the units of the 68th Tank Battalion. Tempone, Pietch and Misenhelder were proud of the fact they had succeeded in getting the once submerged Jumbo into running order and operation without installing a new engine and wiring system. The Armament Platoon with Coyner, Zemsta and Mathis was busy with daily inspections of unit weapons, and completed all manner of small-arms and artillery repair work coming into the shop area.  Sea of mud at Leyviller A small-arms range was improvised in a narrow, steeply banked channel behind the buildings and throughout the day all types of weapons were being fired. A good opportunity to test seized German arms without fear of being fired at by an alert GI was taken advantage of by a number of men who blasted away almost continously [continuously]. Loschiavo, Dombrowski and Gray, better known as the Second Echelon tireless workers, repaired an average of 30 to 40 tires a day. The very poor roads and shrapnel fragments, both unavoidable, played havoc with the rubber. A presumed sabotage attempt by an undisclosed Jerry in civilian clothing, thought to be hiding in the village, failed when Lt. Krebaum and Kissel discovered a dynamite charge in a crater near the small bridge it was necessary to cross in going to and from the encampment. Evenings, in the rooms we had cleaned of dirty straw and refuse, passed quickly as the boys gathered around the card table or busied themselves with a letter to Mom or Wifie when inter-room radio programs made war remote. Loudspeakers were hooked up to radios by those unable to acquire a set of their own and a central broadcast for several rooms piped the chants of swooners and groaners until we were lulled into a fitful slumber. "A" Company had been assigned a sector some four miles along the road to be policed-up of all equipment left behind in the fury of the fight which had raged here. The job was delegated to "Withey" Oberheu, and he and Semenowitz, with several former beachcombers, moved down the road picking up a truckload of salvageable material. The police-up policy was a must whereever and whenever we settled down; we could not forfeit this operation, someone must have opined.  Red Cross clubmobile at Leyviller With winter close upon us and snow in the air, there was no longer a need for the cumbersome camoflage [camouflage] nets. These were discarded by devious means since no order for their disposal was forthcoming and they were now excess paraphernalia, almost unmanageable when water soaked and mud splatterd [splattered]. |
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Maidens At Merlebach - Our column leaving Leyviller December 19 was a lengthy one. It now included numerous armored vehicles which had been repaired and would remain with us until we came to a stop when they could be returned to their units. Many men from all sections were operating the tanks rolling on with the company for Merlebach, a border community 15 miles southwest of the Nazi stronghold at Saarbriicken.  Prison compound -- the company billet Four roads led in and out of Merlebach but only two were passable. The 11-mile march passed uneventfully despite alertness for an air attack. This Saar Valley mining town boasted one of the most productive mines in Nazi control until the entry of division troops. Nearly all its inhabitants were employed there and production had soared throughout the war for the enemy. The towering smoke stacks could be seen miles away and many industrial and living structures had somehow escaped destruction by bomb or shell fire. The fleeing German troops, sympathizers and Kraut mine directors and engineers had been primarily concerned with their personal safety and departed in great haste.  Enemy tank trap east of Leyviller Our vehicles were halted on the hill and parked near the mine premises. Some minutes later we prepared to occupy the lavish (by contrast with past billets) homes deserted by the Nazi bigshots. Steam heat, running water with modern toilet facilities, electric lights, showers and comfortable rooms were almost too much for our blurred vision and we realized that, with such luxuries to be enjoyed for the first time, our stay would be of short duration.  In our column bound for Merlebach The polyglot French and German speaking residents showed no enthusiam [enthusiasm] at our entrance into the town. They were expecting an early return of their departed soldiers and considered us the unwelcome and unwanted intruder. Those French partisans who were adequately represented had already assumed control and direction of mining operations. French sentries stood guard at the mine and a thin garrison was billeted in the community. A four-day stay was highlighted by the first company dance daringly staged in an area so recently in enemy hands. We wondered where the girls would come from and were informed they were all residents who had been favorably screened by army authorities and now, if not before, labeled as loyal French. With Abbott and Novak tickling the ivories of their accordions -- Joe Cherney was still taking lessons on his wailing instrument while Migler had another engagement -- the affair was a success. We disposed of countless bologna and cheese sandwiches downed by gallons of coffee. The girls had forgotten all but the food and we were in great danger of being trampled to death in their wild rush for the snacks which they devoured in great haste or stowed away in their bags for home consumption. Bags were plentiful. Some men later visited the homes of their new acquaintances and quickly learned they were kin to departed Krauts. A modern theatre was well attended by a GI audience and we saw two or three films exhibited by Special Service personnel with the division. German language film posters and announcements of future attractions still marked the walls as we enjoyed home productions in the first public playhouse since leaving Nancy and its city theatres. At chow time, groups of children and some adults waited until we had passed through the line to receive the left-overs and particularly the white bread. One morning, after breakfast, an aged woman greeted "Dopey" Payne, exclaiming, "guten morgen." Payne, thinking she was seeking Morgan, entered the kitchen and called, "Morgan, there's a gal out yonder with a bottle for you." The latter sought her out with great anxiety to learn no one but "Smiles" Stanley was on his tail. With the Christmas holiday less than a week off, all prepared for a gala celebration and rest in these most favorable quarters. Lt. Wurst, Schaeffer and that "Texas Bad Man," Darst, travelled back some 70 miles to Nancy where they purchased 20 barrels of beer for the holiday festivities. |
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Metz - But our stay here was abruptly terminated and on December 23, with the beer kegs rolling along an [in] the trucks, we left Merlebach, moving along the route to Metz, ancient citadel stronghold of Western Europe, 35 miles west. The city had recently fallen to Third Army elements, of which we were a part, after a heroic attack and siege. It was extremely cold as the company, moving in column with battalion units, proceeded over the mountainous borderland of Lorraine. Johnson, now a capable tank operator since his instruction at Nancy, with Keeley and Kampmier, nearly froze to their tank, thawing themselves out at a brief halt en route by running up and down the road. Tempone, Kennedy and Pearre were almost stiffened by the wintry blasts as they maneuvered a tank destroyer along the highway toward the city. We weren't aware of the column's destination until almost within the suburbs when we were informed billets would be obtained in Metz. The bridges across the Moselle had been destroyed and enemy military installations along the river presented a vivid picture of the ferocity of the battle fought here. Blasted homes and fortifications had been fought for or shelled and bombed street by street. The subterranean passages leading from well concealed strong-points honeycombed the city. Heinie ammunition, guns and discarded equipment littered these tunnels -- some sealed off by engineers as having been boobytrapped. We entered walled premises containing several red-bricked buildings which had formerly housed an enemy garrison. One wing had been shattered by artillery fire and the lower floor was occupied by an anti-aircraft unit which had its work well cut out here. The men selected their floor space and those of us who hadn't obtained beds or cots before now acquired a vast stock of wooden bunks scattered through the unoccupied rooms.  Shop area and billet at Metz Murals depicting the former splendor and glory of Nazi troops in battle appeared on some walls but they were soon obliterated and caricatures of Kraut leaders and stooges took their place at the hand of our talented but temperamental Michael Angelo, Albert Fleming -- the slide rule kid. Christmas Day was cold but the snow hadn't appeared yet. A good turkey dinner was enjoyed by all capable of chewing, and those barrels of beer disappeared in short order. The amount of all types of Ordnance service and repair was heavy as the men undertook to complete all jobs, working in the extreme cold. Due to their fine showing, the "Old Man" permitted a quota to visit the city with the provision they return by 10 p.m. There were several infractions of this admonition, and one must be noted. Maxfield took a pass one evening and returned five minutes after the deadline, feeling like a Cinderella. When questioned by Capt. Johns for his reason in overlooking the time, "Maxie" related he had ordered just one more beer which he gulped down unaware of the lateness of the hour. Capt. Johns replied he should have exercised self-control and abstinence and set himself as an example for the men of lesser rank. "Maxie" suffered a near mortal blow when termed "a weak-kneed noncom," imagining those stripes taking flight by morning. "Bulb Nose" Kenny and Perdieu, supporting "Maxie" in the rear, had the same horrible spectre before their glassy eyes. A work of art showing the three downcast leaders of men has its place on those barrack walls with other European art treasures. Koch and "Willum" Payne were visiting one of the many cafes one night and the former was engaged in conversation with the German speaking waitress. They were overheard by French patrons who suspected Koch of being one of the Nazi paratroopers known to be hiding in the city at that time and thereupon summoned our MPs. Koch was grilled by the law and turned loose after "Willum" had identified him as a fellow sufferer and comrade in arms. We are unable to learn who determined "Willum's" status as a GI, (his draft board surely erred) but Koch was unable to forget being mistaken for a Heinie superman. It was good policy for one's personal safety to travel in pairs or small groups after dark. One evening Stern and Adams, leaving a bistro, were shot at in a narrow, alley-like street. The boys didn't linger there but made with the "dogs" to reach the company area. There were sporadic enemy air attacks over Metz and the din from the antiaircraft guns circling the city was ear-piercing. Joe Ferrara's holiday celebration was enlivened when he encountered his brother, Paul, a member of the 35th Infantry Division, in Metz. The men were happy to be together for they hadn't seen each other for more than a year. On Christmas night, Capt. Johns suffered a severe burn to his hand, but despite its seriousness and pain he was determined to remain with the company and refused to be evacuated for treatment. Our company aid man, Johnny Dohanos, treated his hand until Capt. Schmitt, battalion physician, was called to render his professional skill. [Officers and Enlisted Men] [Web editor's note: When the hardbound book was published, images of Officers and Enlisted men for each unit were not separated out in the Table of Contents. They were located here in the book. I have separated these images in a separate page in each unit so that they will be easier to locate. The content in this section is as originally published in the book. M.D. -- 6/10/2024] |