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Dexheim, Germany - Almost every available space in the fields on either side of the highway leading up to the Rhine River was packed with troops of the Sixth Armored Division. It was an scene of tension, for we were awaiting our orders to fall in line with the crowded columns moving toward the pontoon bridge only three miles away. Preparations were made for any possible mishap while crossing the wide river by inflating inner tubes and keeping empty gas cans handy, or anything else that would float. We were warned to prepare for air raids, as they were common there every night. The Luftwaffe was scheduled to arrive around 7 o'clock in the evening, so we arranged to have our evening meal about 8 o'clock, at which time the air raid should be ended. The KP's were peeved at this notice because it would make them late and meant working after dark. We waited for the attack but finally our appetites got the best of us and we brought on the chow. It was well after dark when the meal was finished and the KP's were really boiling by this time. We were still making preparations for the Rhine crossing when we heard the distant roar of many enemy aircraft. Tracers were already shooting skyward and 90mm shells were bursting. The Luftwaffe arrived nearly two hours after they were anticipated but they really gave us a show. The much questioned German air power came out in strength on this night. Nearly every plane, on reaching the target area, released dazzling flares which opened in clusters. The area for miles around was greatly illuminated, resembling a July 4 celebration. The KP's had plenty of light to finish their work, but at this time they proceeded to change their plans. The anti-aircraft units sent up withering fire toward the planes which were well illuminated by powerful spotlights in the Rhine area. It turned into a festival for the AAA boys who brought down several planes. Bombs were dropped by the enemy, but luckily their aim was disrupted and none of the hits were near our area. The Luftwaffe scattered to break up the concentrated fire and before long they were trying their best to outdistance the searchlights and fly to the safety of their own lines. After the attack, we dozed off in our vehicles, ready and waiting for the "go" sign which was given about midnight. The three miles we travelled to the pontoon bridge were made very slowly with several halts. A German reconnaissance plane was constantly flying overhead, trying to see our movements through the darkness. We travelled in complete blackout, so our actions in this area near the bridge were just as mystifying to us as they were to the enemy. The chemical smoke screen became very intense as we approached the bridge area. We could see the dim outlines of buildings, so we judged this to be Oppenheim, Germany, the point of crossing, and we had a good idea that the bridge was only a few yards away because of the presence of trucks and equipment used by the Engineers on such operations. Finally, we could see the water's edge and a portion of the treadway pontoon bridge that wasn't hidden by the artificial fog. As our vehicles advanced toward the bridge, one by one, we were given orders on how to drive, at what speed and what to do when reaching the other side. We were readily confused at anything, but made sure that we didn't run off the bridge and kept an eye on our makeshift life preserver. Of all times for a German plane to come swooping down on us, this was it. He must have come down for a quick look for nothing happened, but it might just as well have happened, considering our paralyzed feeling. It was hard to keep the vehicles' speed down to five miles per hour as instructed because the nervous "heavy foot" stepped it up to nearly ten. It seemed as though the other side was never going to break through the mist which gave us the feeling of being stranded in mid-ocean. It took only three minutes for a vehicle to make the crossing, but it seemed like a lifetime, and upon reaching the other side, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The crossing was made at 1:15 a.m. on March 26, 1945. The company was instructed not to travel more than five miles beyond the Rhine River after making the crossing. Upon reaching the other side, due to the enemy air activity, the boys wanted to get away, but fast! Consequently, the preceding trucks took off like "ruptured cannonballs," which left a long gap of darkness between the bridge and the truck ahead. The result -- several palpitating hearts from the thought of being lost in enemy territory. Donald Brunette, driving his Parts Issue truck, had the best story to tell. He wound up by following an engineer truck loaded with gravel before discovering his error and soon "found" himself completely lost. He tried to make his way back in the darkness toward the bridge and just by luck, he ran into "A" Company's column and proceeded to their bivouac. The following morning, he contacted us after enjoying a delicious egg and bacon breakfast just across the road from Headquarters Company's bivouac, so he really benefited by his mistake after being told about our morning meal of "breakfast K." |
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Trebur, Germany - The first area across the Rhine in the vicinity of Trebur, Germany, revealed on all-out attempt by the Germans to hold back the advancing American forces. Dead German soldiers scattered around a battery of 88mm artillery pieces told a story without words. The superior American forces just couldn't be stopped and were still advancing rapidly. Our maintenance crews only had time to make hasty repairs before moving on. William Trapp was working around his truck when he suddenly heard a strange gutteral voice behind him. Immediately on swinging around, he was confronted by a lone soldier with his hands raised high pleading for Trapp to capture him. This suddenly added a few more grey hairs and also soiled a fresh pair of undergarments. We were here long enough to secure three truckloads of wine and cognac taken from a railroad freight yard that was being ransacked by the local German civilians. The whole company secured their private stock for future celebrations through the efforts of Milton Montgomery and other members of the ever thoughtful Ration Section. Jack Lazzara, Gurney Littleton and Kenneth Thompson went back for seconds since the freshly rationed drinks were not quite enough to supply their needs. |
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Sprendliger, Germany - Two days later, March 28, we moved to a wooded area just outside of Sprendliger after crossing one of the famed super-highways or "autobahnen." Several shop trucks were stuck in this wooded area and our wreckers were kept busy until they met a similar fate in an effort to remove them. Lt. O'Connel, our shop officer, immediately clamped down on our newly acquired drinking habit. |
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Gruningen, Germany - On the morning of March 29, we lined our vehicles up and prepared to move out. During this next march we added another 51 miles to our groaning speedometers, passing through the city of Frankfort-on-Main, which incidently [incidentally] was still partly defended by German troops, and crossed the Main River without special event in the vicinity of Doringheim, Germany, at 10:35 a.m. On this march everyone experienced a new thrill. After several months of travelling on the so-called highways of France, Belgium and Luxembourg, we found ourselves riding along a beautiful four-lane high-way known to us as one of the much advertised Reichsautobahns. These superhighways were designed by the German "Supermen" for the purpose of transporting the Wehrmacht to the battlefields of France and points east. Hitler probably never dreamed that these same highways would one day be groaning under the weight of Allied tanks, trucks and guns, all travelling with the greatest speed toward the great cities and industrial centers of Germany. After travelling on the autobahn for several miles, the column was halted and we were directed to move the vehicles off of the road and proceed to bivouac for the night. This was done quickly in order to allow other traffic to continue moving to the front. This overnight stay was in the vicinity of Gruningen. While enroute to this bivouac, it was discovered that our route was blocked off by the enemy, and the column was forced to take an alternate route. We were bivouacked temporarily near the town of Rochenberg. Some of the men thought that this was going to be an overnight stop and tents started going up. Mike Ondrovic and other Parts Issue men disappeared into the woods in search of German weapons. Mike and the party appeared a short time later, herding 14 prisoners. In the meantime, the company had orders to move on to an area at Gruningen. By the time the party had emerged from the woods, the company had already left, except for the Second Echelon truck and the two wreckers. The prisoners were loaded on the wreckers which soon were on their way to catch the rest of the column. After a few miles of hard driving the column was sighted on the road up ahead. The reunion brought a hurried conference in which it was decided to unload the prisoners and leave them for some other unit to capture. The 14 Germans were unceremoniously dumped by the side of the road and the company proceeded. The next morning, March 31, we moved out for a trip of 57 miles, driving deep into Germany. This march was made through territory in which thousands of the enemy were begging to be taken prisoner. It was necessary to refuse them because of our efforts in trying to maintain contact with the combat elements of the division, which were quite some distance to our front. During the whole trip we were continously greeted by smiling German civilians. Little attention was given these displays of friendship because most of the men reasoned that these same people who waved to us were probably waving the Nazi flag and shouting their "Heils" to the retreating German soldiers just a few hours previously. |
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Frielendorf, Germany - We bivouacked that evening just outside the town of Frielendorf, Germany. The fields were wet and soggy, so the inevitable happened, the shop trucks again became bogged down. Lt. Eugene O'Connel gave us the glaring eye, but this was overshadowed by Capt. Wilson's commanding expression of concern, with the result -- a united effort by the whole Service and Salvage section, including Lt. O'Connell, to put the vehicles on solid ground. once more. Soon after arriving at the area we were surprised to discover a large portion of the female refugees in the vicinity had found their way to our position. The Polish, Russian and French-speaking boys went into action, but the results were never brought to light. However, shady operations are usually carried on in the dark. The non-fraternization policy was still in effect, so these operations were carried on in a limited scale since the non-foreign speaking men could hardly be expected to know whether they were talking to displaced persons or Germans. When the company first arrived at this area, the nearby town of Frielendorf was still in enemy hands. Walter Zoltowski, William Trapp and Robert Keen who were unaware of this, ventured into the town and ordered the inhabitants to relinquish all their firearms. They walked through the streets issuing their orders and after reaching the other end of the town, they turned to view their results and found the streets littered with weapons of every description from the ancient musket on down to the prized Luger. There was enough armament there to equip a division. Their astonishing adventure made them realize that the town was a little hotter than they had anticipated, so they immediately prepared to make a hasty exit but had to return by the way they had entered. With a creepy scalp and a bead of sweat, they nonchalantly picked their way through the maze of weapons and out into safety. Two lieutenants, watching the whole procedure, had placed bets on the possibility of the men returning. It was while the company was bivouacked at this area that Charles Oliver, the battalion communication chief, was wounded. The story of the man who was shot with an empty gun came to life once more. The story goes that Oliver and Argil Starkey, also a communications man, were demonstrating the merits of their respective captured German weapons. The supposedly empty pistol in Starkey's hand suddenly discharged and the slug entered Oliver's right calf. The effects were quite painful but at least it had a sobering effect on the rest of the company by proving the theory that an "empty" weapon is still a dangerous toy. The two boys were still on speaking terms, but Oliver often reminded Starkey of the incident until Starkey finally rebelled, after picturing an imaginary ball and chain attached to his leg. |
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