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La Croix, France - Our bivouac that evening was all set up for a defense against air and ground attacks. We were still in the region of built-up hedgerows and sunken by-roads, so these natural defences [defenses] aided a great deal. We had assigned machine-gun positions, outposts, and were generally ready for any eventuality. The civilians nearby left their homes to seek protection in their air raid shelters, as they did nearly every night. It was another beautiful evening and fatigue had left us due to the excitement of pay-day and swapping stories of the previous night. The Luftwaffe wasted no time, for just after dark, we could hear the familiar drone again. We took our positions but were ordered not to fire unless directly attacked. An itchy finger, however, sent a lone tracer high into the air, revealing our position, and immediately the planes dove for our area, firing rocket bombs and tracer ammunition. Then the happy-go-lucky 777 AAA boys swung into action and the German aircraft found themselves the target of many multiple 50 cal. machine-gun positions. The planes, were still persistant [persistent] in attacking us but were forced to fly at tree top level to avoid being hit. Jack Shrader, Dutchy Baer, Lester Towles, Fred Connick and Robert Brennan were operating the machine gun positions for the company. Jack was very elated when he saw the plane which he had been firing on brust [burst] into flames and dive for the earth. Towles was doing a fine job in following one plane but was over anxious and soon saw his bullets ripping through the roof of a nearby farmhouse. The final score was two more FW 190's credited to the 777 AAA detachment. While in this area, patrols were formed to capture small disorganized groups of German troops in the vicinity. A total of twenty-one were brought in, and the "rough and ready" ration section carried off the honors. |
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Becheral, France - The morning of August 3rd found us rolling toward Brest. The combat units were advancing rapidly and we were following in close support. These by-roads were dusty and the day was hot, so our next bivouac that afternoon, located about six miles south west of Becheral, was a delicious sight with its cool stream and freshly cut wheat fields. After camouflaging our vehicles and preparing foxholes, we took advantage of Nature's bathtub. It was our first real bath since we had left England, so needless to say, it was very cool and refreshing. This area was comparable to a rest center because of the absence of air attacks. We were warned, however, of advancing enemy troops, supported by tanks. We never did make direct contact with them, but the next day we witnessed an area hard hit by German 88's, where several American tanks were knocked out while advancing on an intersection. We were moving into hot territory as the Germans were being compressed into the peninsula, and either had to make a stand or surrender. |
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Noyal Pontivy, France - We traveled 46 miles that hot day of August 4th, reaching an area a little more than a mile north-west of Noyal Pontivy. During that move, we encountered our first serious ground attack in the form of an ambush. It was a mystifying situation, because we were first fired upon, by a man who sought protection among cheering civilians, just liberated. The column was halted and alerted for a possible ground skirmish. We then moved cautiously and stopped along the roadside when the first German machine-gun and and rifle fire came from the adjoining field. German troops arose from the roadside ditches and fired point-blank at our vehicles. Our small-arms fire drove back and killed a few of the enemy along the road. Then the piercing 50 cal. machine-gun fire from Company A's halftrack, which immediately followed Headquarter's column, finished the job. Lt. Carroll D. White, of Company A, who at that time was the master sergeant in charge of our valiant Inspection Section, can well remember the ambush incident and can probably still visually point out the hole in the windshield frame where a bullet was stopped directly in front of his chest. Andy Mazur, who was perched on the tailgate of the Second Echelon truck directly ahead of White, sent a sizzling round at a shadowy form aiming a German rifle for the second shot at the peep. With a deep moan of pain, the figure disappeared into the darkness. We proceeded to the bivouac area on the alert and ready for more, but reached it without further event. A party returning to that area the next day discovered eleven German dead. Our company suffered no more than a few more battle nerves and a hot experience. Lt. V. E. Anderson disappeared the same night, missing in action, along with his driver. He was a liaison officer for Company B. The division's forward elements were advancing rapidly through enemy infested territory, so, to bring up the Ordnance Maintenance Battalion support, Headquarters Company along with its letter companies, advanced toward our goal -- Brest.  "Combat soldiers" Scott and Kuca After we had made the miraculous run through Avranches and on toward. Brest, our supply lines became longer. William Gebadlo, Paul Cimmino and W. B. Ballard were the first to make the long run back to the depot near Cherbourg, a distance of about 300 miles. We were glad to see Fagan Scott and Matthew Kuca, two men from our Personnel Section who just arrived from the rear echelon administrative center to receive our money orders. The money we had in our pockets was of little use on the battle field so it was quite a relief to send it back with them. We were anxious to swap stories and inform them of the dangers and hardships of our front line activities, but Scott and Kuca were eager to get the experience first hand. Little did they know they were destined to stay with us because we were informed that our supply lines had been cut. They were quite concerned about the money entrusted to them for it amounted to several thousand dollars. |
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Caronet, France - On August 6, we moved into a bivouac located nearly a mile from Caronet, France, travelling a distance of 50 miles without any special event until we reached the area and had to quiet an enemy machine-gun position before entering. We were well in advance of the Medical Battalion, so in order to care for the large number of the American and enemy wounded, Capt. Alfred J. Schmitt, our battalion medical officer, set up a clearing station which did a splendid job in that area until the Medical Battalion had the opportunity to move up and take over. Our company kitchen crew also assisted in the feeding and care of the patients.  "Doc." Schmitt's clearing station First Lt. Edward R. Millar, our company motor officer, was mortally wounded the 7th of August near this area, and died August 8, 1944. Out first casualty in this strange warfare. |
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Plabennec, France - Our last lap during our push to Brest, was made August 9 after travelling 62 miles without the aid of tactical maps for routing. The whole trip was made through areas filled with disorganized German troops, but not a shot was fired for the Germans hid as we travelled through the various towns and along the roads. They were stunned at our speed of penetration. German armies moving to the east to check our advance found that we had already flanked them and were at their rear. We found ourselves completely surrounded at Plabennec, the bivouac area we established only ten miles north of Brest. It was here strangely enough, that the company experienced its first incoming artillery fire. It wasn't a direct attact [attack] on our area, but we heard the whistling and explosion that goes with it. Thinking they were shells from our own batteries, we cheered them on, but were later chagrined to find that they were German 88's. These five days revealed other shaking incidents new to our idea of modern warfare, the most out-standing being our threatened counterattack by the enemy. We were warned that the Germans were advancing, and General Robert W. Grow, the commanding general of the Sixth Armored Division, arrived at our area to take over command of the situation. He rearranged the machine-gun positions along the road and gave instructions when to fire. The General spoke in a quiet but impressive voice, "Don't fire until the enemy has completely entered our trap, then give them Hell!" Donald Brunette and Don Bliss were posted at the spearhead of the defense with their 30 cal. machine-gun set up a few yards ahead of a medium tank with its 75mm cannon aimed on the path of the advancing Germans. Frightened French civilians came running up the road like blowing leaves before a violent wind storm. They gave the sign of the cross and warned us that the enemy was only a half kilometer from our defences [defenses]. The care-free personality of Don Bliss suddenly struck a most serious note when he remarked to Brunette, "We may not come through this alive, so it was nice knowing you anyway." Then a miracle happened. Those battle-famous P-51 Mustangs arrived on the scene, and don't believe we witnessed a more beautiful sight. What happened from then on was just like reading from some fantastic dime novel. We were astounded at how much damage two squadrons of P-51's could create in such a short time. It is needless to say that the whole German column was disrupted. The Germans who did escape never cared to indulge again. Those not killed or seriously wounded dispersed into the the nearby woods. The danger of the organized attack was ended, but the threat of infiltration into our lines was so possible that the whole company was on the alert. A reconnaisance [reconnaissance] party entered the devastated area shortly after the attack and found the road littered with dead horses and disabled vehicles. The enemy who were still able to cause trouble were well hidden. That evening, 500 German troops had surrendered voluntarily to members of the 990th Engineer Battalion, who bivouacked next to our area.  The prisoners were stripped of their equipment The following morning, Capt. Edward Wilson, CWO William J. Fitzsimons and Jack Lazzara drove to the scene to estimate the damage done. On the way, they met a French civilian who offered to act as guide. Capt. Wilson and Mr. Fitzsimons decided to dismount and proceed by foot in the company of the Frenchman. After nearly 20 minutes of waiting, Lazzara was concerned over the officers' absence and, even though ordered to stay back with the peep, drove down the road in search of them and found the party just before they had turned into a road littered with German equipment. They were surprised to find the bodies of seven French civilians laying on the yard in front of their home. According to nearby Frenchmen, these people had been machine-gunned the previous day for reading American leaflets which had been dropped by plane. After a careful search along the road, it was found that there were no German soldiers in the vicinity and it was decided that the party should return to the bivouac area. On the way back they met Tom Burke and John Radford of Headquarters Company and a GI by the name of Hoffman from the 603rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. While the two groups were having a discussion, a wildly gesticulating Frenchman came running up with the report that there were two German soldiers in a nearby farmhouse who wanted to surrender. Capt. Wilson decided to take them in. Lazzara was again assigned to guard the peep despite his vigorous protests, The party fanned out and approached the house. When they were within 50 yards of the house, the Germans opened up with small-arms fire and the battle was on. The party was pinned down and Radford volunteered to brave the heavy enemy fire in order to contact Lazzara and relay Capt. Wilson's order to return to the bivouac area and bring up reinforcements while the remaining four men held the position under control. Tim Ream, Ray Biggs, Jim Burroughs and several others rode back with Lazzara. When they arrived, Mr. Fitzsimons had captured a German paratrooper who was taken back to the area. Two medium tanks and an armored car were brought up and placed at a crossroad to prevent any German escape. One tank moved up and prepared to fire a round into the house when Radford came up to meet them yelling, "Hold your fire, our men are in the house." The M-8 and the other tank scoured the nearby woods without results. Argil Starkey, driving the M-8, then proceeded up to the farmhouse and found the German soldiers being searched and questioned after surrendering. Two of the enemy, being wounded, were rushed back to the dispensary for treatment. None of our men were injured. After the battle, it was only natural to swap stories and show battle scars. Burke and Hoffman were named the hereos [heroes] in their successful attempt to walk up boldly to the house and demand surrender. Hoffman was also credited for disabling a German who was aiming a shot at Burke. Mr. Fitzsimons displayed his carbine stock, which featured a vicious looking bullet hole, while relating the feelings of such a close call. There were 119 prisoners taken from that area alone. Another 150 were taken by the battalion before we left the location. Capt. Wilson was praised for his ability in organizing the successful attack, and gained the confidence and respect of his men. Back at the bivouac, the wrecker crews were bringing all sorts of strange equipment taken from the devastated area and parking it in a vacant field near the bivouac. Many souvenirs were taken during their day's work, ranging from boots down to just plain Hitler stamps. This area of parked enemy equipment was put under guard with a roster made up of a man from each company. Zaner "Wires" Sawyier was picked to represent Headquarters company. The orders were to guard the enemy equipment and keep it from being recaptured. With many German soldiers still at large and fully armed, and with the stories of these much heard and read about fanatics, it wasn't a comfortable feeling knowing that they were nearby and might attempt one of their dastardly tricks. This area being several hundred yards from immediate support, also added stress to the situation. The latter part of the evening brought the familiar "maytag" murmur of "Bed Check Charlie" which was ignored until "Wires" noticed a tiny light piercing the darkness, which appeared to be the equivalent to a 1000 candle-powered searchlight. Fearing the light would attract the planes, Wires, who was handy man in the company for repairing lights, was going to change his technique and disable this one. All kinds of thoughts raced through his mind. Was this a trap for an ambush? Was his imagination getting the best of him? At any rate, something had to be done to extinguish it. Cautiously, he crept along the hedgerow and out into the field among the German salvaged equipment to a vantage point several yards from the point of illumination. He was greatly relieved to find it was only a dashboard light on one of the German cars, something he took care of quickly. While at this area, Lt. Raleigh Hayes detailed Nicolas Kuzman to guard a herd of cattle and keep them off of the road. Nick, thoroughly disgusted, aired his thoughts to the lieutenant, saying that we were not only soldiers but cattle guards too. Kuzman was immediately dubbed "The Slickville Cowboy" from Pennsylvania who made good at Brest. During our stay here, we also witnessed a large-scale Allied bombing on the stronghold of Brest. Hundreds of Fortresses, Liberators and Lancasters flew over us, wave after wave, supported by fighter escort. It was an electrifying sight as they circled over the city flying through intense flak, never flinching, come what might. Everyone of those airmen were heroes, and our prayers and thoughts were right with those American boys up there. One of the Fortresses collapsed and wended its fiery way toward the earth, our hearts seemed to collapse right with it and the brave men aboard. We lost one of our good friends while at this area. Anthony V. Mastroianni died a hero, after trying to save the life of another soldier. As the story is told by Matty W. Dabkowski, who won the Soldier's Medal for his heroic action on the same occasion, he was working with Mastroianni when the latter was mortally wounded August 24, 1944. Mastroianni, Dabkowski, Tom Burke, John Radford, Charles McCutcheon, Dave Lewis, Orrin Snider and John D. Steele were just starting their return trip from an ordnance depot at Les Nevens, France, when they were requested to assist in giving first-aid to three soldiers who were injured by an exploding mine on the beach nearby. Mastroianni and Dabkowski went out with the first-aid man, carefully picking their way through the mine-infested beach by following other footprints leading to the injured boys. The wounds were treated and the boys were ready to be carried off the beach when several men, including two officers, came running pell-mell across the beach and struck another mine which exploded, instantly killing the two officers and injuring eight other men, including Mastroianni, McCutcheon and Burke. Dabkowski was thrown violently to the ground by the concussion but miraculously escaped injury. Dabkowski and the first-aid man, the only ones left who were able to administer, aid to the new victims, were successful in moving the men off of the beach. Mastroianni died a few hours later in a hospital with one other man. Tom Burke and Charles McCutcheon were injured so badly that they were evacuated to England. The lightning spearhead advance through enemy infested territory, all the way from our starting point on the Normandy peninusula [peninsula] July 30 to the area just outside of Brest, August 9, completed ten days of hard tiresome travelling covering 325 miles. Our objective was reached and under control, However, the bastion of Brest, with its under-ground fortresses, would not surrender, so we held our position until the support of infantry and artillery units arrived to take over and relieve us. |