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Rouves, France - This march covered 17 miles of muddy roads and crossed rivers dangerously swollen by the rain. The town of Rouves was freshly taken by the 80th Infantry Division and at the time we occupied it, the infantry was still fighting on the high ground immediately to the east of us. We found the community literally undermined with trenches leading to various mortar positions scattered in the adjoining fields. Fresh blood gave evidence of bitter fighting. Donald Bliss and Gordon Jones discovered a dead German soldier lying outside the town, and while investigating the body, they were fired upon several times by enemy snipers hidden on the opposite bank of a nearby lake. They wasted little time in making themselves scarce, stumbling through barbed wire entanglements through which they had carefully picked their steps before. Our first snowfall came at this area, but we were fortunate enough to find billets indoors throughout the vacated town. Our five days stay here brought the date up to November 16, at which time we advanced to St. Epvre, France, travelling over still muddy roads and through drizzling rain. |
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St. Epvre, France - Battalion Headquarters was billeted in a large chateau as well as the Headquarters Company kitchen, which was set up in the basement. It was evident that the Germans had just vacated the area by the freshly dug graves and markers. We took a prisoner here, who was who was dressed in civilian clothes, after he was caught tampering with the Signal Corps' telephone lines strung along the road nearby. We kept him in the famous "Dungeon," a subterranean room below the basement level.  Freshly dug graves and markers at St. Epvre James Baily was on guard again, which was a very common occurrence in his Army career, and being such a competent guard, was looked upon to trace the source of any suspicious noises during the night On this particular night he was requested to investigate a mysterious flapping sound outside of the window. After discovering it to be a only piece of paper blowing in the wind, he, was very much disgusted with these constant proddings and said, "Let's stop playing cops and robbers and go to sleep!" Parts Issue took over a large hotel and completely outfitted it for electricity through a baffling maze of wires and extensions. We were bivouacked in the midst of the blasting artillery offensive on Metz, and those 240mm and 55mm guns surely caused many a sleepless night. Before leaving, we were well accustomed to the noise and could prepare for the blast by timing the interval after the muzzle flash. The buildings in the vicinity were well limbered by the pounding concussions, evident by the falling roof slate and half-protruding nails holding the weather boarding. |
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Berig Vintrige, France - At Berig Vintrige, where we arrived November 24, there was another artillery detachment outside our back door, so it looked as though we were in for another siege. However, it was always nicer to know that the shells were departing instead of arriving. We were busily supplying the division, a fact made evident by the large piles of tires and materials adorning Parts Issue. Much to our surprise, there were many English-speaking girls in the town, so we were obliged to keep our profanity to a minimum. This was discovered when one of the fairer sex was jokingly propositioned only to have her reply, "Good morning. You see that I speak American very well." Imagine our embarrassment! |
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Barst Marienthal, France - The division started its offensive on the Saar Valley region and was making good headway which necessitated our move close behind the leading elements for their supply and maintenance. This move was made through the old Maginot Line, easily recognizable by the numerous pill boxes, gigantic fortifications and tank traps. The small town of Barst is well remembered because of the deep tank trap passing within a few yards of the town and stretching for miles on either side. The civilians had endless stories to tell us about the many slave laborers forced into digging the ditch.  A tank trap at Barst, France Numerous artillery flashes to the east revealed that the attack was under way. Captured German 88mm field pieces were also used in the bombardment. The maintenance and supply work was carried on regard\less of the difficult circumstances caused by the mud and half frozen rain. We found quite a few of the fairer sex in town, but the only draw-back was that they spoke German. The fellows were trying their best to break the ice only to have Louis Fox, Abe Kurtz and Harry Gerenstein come along and snow us under with their fluent and flowery German phrases -- which froze us out.  A Maginot road fortification It was pretty discouraging to hear the news of the Ardennes breakthrough up north. The civilians also reflected anxiety over the situation. A highly mobilized Army could be moved without too much trouble to a threatened area, so before long the roads were busily engaged, day and night with military traffic comparable to the life's blood rushing to heal the wound. We also found ourselves moving northward towards Luxembourg on the 23rd day of December, and bv evening we were billeted comfortably in a large German barracks at Metz, France. |