PRO DEO ET PATRIA
(FOR GOD AND COUNTRY)
The Personal Narrative of An American Catholic Chaplain as a Prisoner of War in Germany
Fr. Paul W. Cavanaugh, S.J.
Edited by Robert E. Skopek
Copyright 2004 by
Robert E. Skopek
All Rights Reserved
ISBN 1-8887301-27-5
PREFACE LETTER PROVIDED BY JOHN KLINE
GESU CHURCH
2470 MIRAMAR BOULEVARD
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS
CLEVELAND 18 OHIO
YELLOWSTONE 2-0617
YELLOWSTONE 2-0818
DEAR JOHN (GALLAGHER CUB EDITOR 57/59)
Here is my manuscript.
At last, I hear you say.
Just received the recent CUB and
read about Toyland (Toland?) & his proposed book
on the GI’S. I do not have a copyright,
but will be willing to make a deal with
him, if he should have to use some of it.
Please feel free yourself to use anything
in the CUB.
SINCERELY
PAUL W. CAVANAUGH, S.J.
------
LETTER PROVIDED BY JOHN KLINE
M COMPANY, 423RD iNFANTRY REGIMENT
106TH DIVISION
--
EDITOR THE CUB MAGAZINE
106TH DIVISION ASSOCIATION
PREFACE
COPY OF LETTER
DATED SEPTEMBER 17, 1984
MR. SHEROD COLLINS
625 CHANNING DRIVE N.W.
ATLANTA, GA 30318
DEAR MR. COLLINS:
I AM ENCLOSING A COPY OF A BOOK WRITTEN BY FATHER PAUL CAVANAUGH A FORMER CHAPLAIN OF THE 422 INFANTRY REGIMENT. FATHER CAVANAUGH HAS BEEN DEAD FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS.
AFTER HE RETURNED FROM OVERSEAS HE WAS RUNNING AN OBSTACLE COURSE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL AND FELL AND BROKE HIS LEG. HE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DOING THE SAME AS HE WAS NO SPRING CHICKEN AT THE TIME.
DURING THE TIME HE WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH HIS BROKEN LEG HE WROTE THE ENCLOSED BOOK. HE ATTEMPTED TO GET IT PUBLISHED WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. APPARENTLY PRISONER OF WAR BOOKS WERE A DRUG ON THE MARKET AT THE TIME.
THIS COPY IS ONE THAT I HAVE RE-PRODUCED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. HE HAD SEVERAL COPIES OF THE BOOK TYPED AND THEN LENT THEM OUT TO PEOPLE TO READ AND ALL BUT ONE COPY DISAPPEARED. I HAD SEVERAL COPIES MADE FOR HIM AND KEPT THIS COPY WHICH I AM SURRENDERING TO YOU AS DIVISION HISTORIAN.
FATHER CAVANAUGH WAS A JESUIT PRIEST. AS I RE-CALL IT HE CAME OUT OF THE CLEVELAND OHIO AREA AND DID HAVE FAMILY CONNECTIONS THERE. HE HAD A NEPHEW WHO LIVED IN THE DETROIT AREA FOR A TIME BUT I DO NOT RE-CALL HIS NAME NOR DO I KNOW HOW TO REACH HIM.
I BELIEVE A COPY OF THIS BOOK SHOULD BE MADE A PART OF OUR DIVISION RECORDS. VERY TRULY YOURS,
ROBERT E. RUTT
FORWARD
Father Paul W. Cavanaugh, a Chaplain in the European Theater during World War II, represents those Chaplains who dedicated themselves to their faith and tried to share that faith with the Prisoners of War in the various camps throughout Germany and Poland.
There were perhaps upwards of 275,000 * Allied soldiers who were POWs and were marched from their camps in the early months of 1945. It is not known why the German Government instituted these marches other than Allied Armies were approaching from the West and East. Perhaps Germany hoped to use them as hostages in the event of the German defeat; however, there does not seem to be any specific evidence to corroborate that assumption.*
The indignities and suffering endured by these prisoner groups is unimaginable and in many cases equivalent to the Holocaust.
Father Cavanaugh, Father Hurley, Father Madden, Chaplains Moore, Koskamp, Neel, Stonesifer and others mentioned in this book exemplify the dedication of these men to supply spiritual guidance and comfort to their men.
Robert E. Skopek
* “The Last Escape”, John Nichol and Tony Rennell
The Untold Story of Allied Prisoners of War in Europe
1944-45 (Page 466 and Appendix 12)
* WINSTON CHURCHILL ARCHIVES
MARCH 22,1945
“The object of this maneuver might be either to avoid unconditional surrender or to save the lives of the more important Nazi gangsters and war criminals, using this threat as a bargaining counter, or to cause dissention
among the Allies in the final stages of the war.”
*Prisoner of War Camps in Germany
Internet Web Site:
/Roll of Honor/POW/Camp_list.htm
TO
THE OFFICERS AND MEN
OF THE
422ND INFANTRY REGIMENT
WITH WHOM I CAMPAIGNED
AND
THE PRISONERS OF WAR
WITH WHOM I SUFFERED
PAUL W. CAVANAUGH, S.J.
MANRESAS JESUIT RETREAT HOUSE
WOODWARD AVE. QUARTON RD.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MIGHIGAN
PHOTOGRAPH OF
PAUL W. CAVANAUGH
Photo #1
THIS PAGE IS LEFT BLANK
AMERICAN PRIEST IN A NAZI PRISON
THE PERSONAL NARRATIVE
OF AN AMERICAN CATHOLIC CHAPLAIN AS
A PRISONER OF WAR IN GERMANY
BY
PAUL W. CAVANAUGH, S.J.
CHAPLAIN, ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES
(PROPERTY OF 106 DIVISION ASSOCIATION)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTION11
CHAPTER *
1. CAPTURED IN THE BULGE14(1)
INSERT: ST. VITH TO BAD ORB
BAD ORB TO HAMMELBURG
2. PRISONERS OF WAR25(9)
3.CHRISTMAS IN A BOXCAR39(26)
(STATISTICAL REPORT ON BOMBING OF LIMBURG)
4. BAD ORB56(42)
5. HAMMELBURG72(60)
6.KRIEGIE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS87(77)
7.SAINT JOSEPH ANSWERS A PRAYER109(100)
8.LIBERATION OF HAMMELBURG121(112)
9.WAY OF THE CROSS131(120)
(INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY, NUREMBURG BOMBING)
10.BAVARIAN TRAIN OF AMERICAN TIN CANS156(142)
11. “DER KRIEG IST KAPUT”175(162)
AFTERMATH190(177)
APPENDIX
BIBLIOGRAPHY
( ) page numbers from original manuscript
INTRODUCTION
“WE BETTER NOT GO TO SLEEP TONIGHT, PAUL.” I SAID TO CORPORAL DALTON, MY ASSISTANT.
WE WERE BUMPING ALONG IN OUR JEEP OVER A WELL-PACKED FROZEN ROAD BETWEEN THE SECOND AND FIRST BATTALION COMMAND POSTS. IN A QUIET, WOODED SPOT A FEW HUNDRED YARDS BACK FROM THE FRONT LINES I HAD JUST SAID MASS. A GROUP OF ABOUT THIRTY MEN FROM B COMPANY WITH RIFLES SLUNG FROM THEIR SHOULDERS HAD KNELT IN A SNOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION. THOUGH NOT YET FIVE O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, DUSK WAS FADING INTO DARKNESS ALONG THE SNOW COVERED RIDGE UNDER THE THICK GROWTH OF TALL EVERGREEN TREES. IT WAS THE 15TH OF DECEMBER, 1944, AND OUR INTELLIGENCE SECTION WAS AWARE THAT A GERMAN OFFENSIVE APPROACHED THE HOUR OF ITS MOUNTING.
PAUL DALTON AND I OBTAINED SOME SUPPER AT THE FIRST BATTALION HEADQUARTERS’ MESS WHERE WE LEARNED THE PASSWORD AND PICKED UP SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANTICIPATED BATTLE. WE RETURNED TO THE CHAPLAIN’S HEADQUARTERS, A SMALL LOG CABIN BUILT OVER A DUGOUT BY SOME SOLDIERS OF THE SECOND INFANTRY DIVISION. ABOUT TWENTY YARDS AWAY LOOMED THE SIEGFRIED LINE BUNKER WHICH HOUSED THE COMMAND POST OF THE FIRST BATTALION OF THE 422 REGIMENT.
WITH NIGHT CAME FOG. SEVERAL MEN FROM BATTALION HEADQUARTERS COMPANY CROWDED INTO OUR CABIN TO MAKE COFFEE AND TOAST AND TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION. SOMEHOW WE HAD A STRANGE FOREBODING OF CATASTROPHE.
THE MILITARY SITUATION, AS WE KNEW IT, WAS THIS. OUR 106TH INFANTRY DIVISION (GOLDEN LION SHOULDER PATCH) HAD MOVED OVER TO THE CONTINENT FROM ENGLAND EARLY IN THE MONTH. WE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO VIII CORPS, FIRST ARMY. DECEMBER 9TH TO 11TH THE 106TH REPLACED THE SECOND INFANTRY DIVISION, UNIT FOR UNIT, ALONG A TWENTY-SEVEN MILE FRONT IN THE SCHNEEEIFEL. THE EIFEL FOREST IS ON GERMAN SOIL JUST ACROSS THE BELGIAN FRONTIER EAST OF THE ARDENNES. FOR ABOUT TEN WEEKS OF AUTUMN THIS HAD BEEN A QUIET SECTOR OF THE FRONT. AS OUR DIVISION WAS YET UNTRIED BY ENEMY FIRE WE WERE ASSIGNED TO THIS LOCALITY THAT MIGHT BE MERCIFULLY SEASONED TO WHAT OUR REGIMENTAL COMMANDER, COLONEL GEORGE E. DASCHENEAUX, JR. HAD TOLD US AT STOW-ON-WOLD (ENGLAND) WAS THE FILTHY, DIRTY, BLOODY, DISGUSTING BUSINESS OF MODERN WAR. FOR FOUR DAYS PAUL DALTON AND I HAD BEEN TRAVELING BY JEEP ALONG THE SNOW COVERED ROADS THROUGH FORESTS OF SPRUCE TREES TO COMPANIES ON THE STATIC FRONT. THERE I HAD SAID MASS IN COMPARATIVE SECURITY NEAR THE COMPANY COMMAND POSTS AND UNALARMED VISITED THE FOXHOLES AND DUGOUTS ALONG THE LINE OF OUTPOSTS.
OUR REGIMENT - 422ND - WAS THE FARTHEST NORTH IN OUR DIVISION SECTOR. TO THE SOUTH OF US IN ORDER WERE THE 423RD AND 424TH, THE OTHER TWO COMBAT TEAMS OF THE 106TH DIVISION. THE BELGIAN TOWN OF ST. VITH WAS SITUATED ABOUT TEN MILES TO OUR REAR. THIS TOWN WAS THE CENTER OF COMMUNICATION AND SUPPLY TO OUR COMBAT POSITIONS.
BEING A CHAPLAIN AND UNTUTORED IN THE SCIENCE OF MILITARY STRATEGY AND TACTICS, IT IS NOT MY PURPOSE HERE OR THROUGHOUT THIS BOOK TO DISCUSS THE MILITARY SIDE OF THE WAR. I MERELY RECOUNT WHAT I SAW AND HEARD. UNDOUBTEDLY THE DOUGHBOYS I WAS WITH KNEW AND UNDERSTOOD, EVEN AT THAT TIME FAR BETTER THAN I DID THE REASONS FOR THE EVENTS THAT LED TO OUR CAPTURE BY THE ENEMY, THE STRATEGY EMPLOYED BY THE HIGH COMMANDERS ON EITHER SIDE AND THE SUCCESSES AND REVERSES IN THE LOWER ECHELONS. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT I PASS OVER HURRIEDLY THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE.
THE OVERALL PICTURE (UNKNOWN TO US AT THE TIME) BUT COMMON KNOWLEDGE NOW) WAS BRIEFLY THIS. EARLY IN THE MORNING OF 16TH OF DECEMBER, 1944, THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE STARTED. A HEAVY ARTILLERY BARRAGE WAS DIRECTED AGAINST THE 14TH CAVALRY GROUP WHICH JOINED OUR REGIMENTAL SECTOR ON THE NORTH. THE BARRAGE MOVED SLOWLY SOUTHWARD. THE 589TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, WHICH WAS PART OF OUR 422ND COMBAT TEAM, WAS SEVERELY SHELLED AND CRIPPLED.
SUCCESSIVE GERMAN ATTACKS DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS FORCED A WEDGE BETWEEN THE 14TH CAVALRY AND THE 422 REGIMENT; THEN ANOTHER OPENING WAS MADE BETWEEN THE 423RD AND 424 REGIMENTS.
THROUGH THESE CORRIDORS COLUMNS OF PANZERS - THREE GERMAN ARMIES, IT WAS BEEN SAID - BEGAN A FAN-SHAPED BLITZKRIEG MOVEMENT TOWARD ST. VITH, BASTOGNE, AND THE MEUSE RIVER.
THEIR OBJECTIVE WAS TO SEIZE THE BRIDGES ACROSS THE MEUSE, THEN IN QUICK SUCCESSION TO OVERRUN THE ALLIED SUPPLY DEPOTS AT LIEGE AND ANTWERP, SIMULTANEOUSLY CUTTING OFF THE BRITISH AND AMERICAN CONCENTRATIONS OF TROOPS ALONG THE NORTHERN FLANK OF THE WESTERN FRONT. THE 422ND AND 423 REGIMENTS WERE SURROUNDED. TO THE SUPREME ALLIED HEADQUARTERS WE WERE LOST REGIMENTS.
THERE WERE NO SUPPLIES COMING THROUGH, NO FOOD, NO AMMUNITION, AND NO REPLACEMENT. AS INDIVIDUALS WE WERE “MISSING IN ACTION”. MANY WOULD LATER BE DISCOVERED TO HAVE BEEN “KILLED IN ACTION”, MANY MORE OF US WENT DOWN INTO THE LIMBO OF NAZI PRISONS.
CHAPTER ONE
CAPTURED IN THE BULGE
FIELD MARSHALL von RUNDSTET’S LAST MAJOR OFFENSIVE, WHICH MONTHS LATER WE WERE TO LEARN WAS CALLED THE “BATTLE OF THE BULGE”, STARTED ON THE MORNING OF THE 16TH OF DECEMBER, 1944.
CORPORAL PAUL DALTON AND I HAD KEPT A PRAYERFUL VIGIL DURING THE PRECEEDING NIGHT SO THAT WE WOULD BE READY TO MOVE OUT OR TO ADMINISTER TO THE WOUNDED IF NEEDED. IN THE MORNING FOG WHICH ENVELOPED THE ENTIRE AREA WE MADE OUR WAY TO THE BATTALION AID STATION IN A BUNKER THREE HUNDRED YARDS FROM THE COMMAND POST. ALL DAY LONG MEDICAL AID MEN WERE EVACUATING CASUALTIES FROM THE AREA OF THE LINE COMPANIES. AMBULANCES WERE BUSY SHUTTLING BACK AND FORTH TO THE REGIMENTAL EVACUATIONN POINT. BY EVENING THE 422DN REGIMENT HAD BEEN CUT OFF; NO CASUALTIES COULD BE REMOVED THEREAFTER TO HOSPITALS IN THE REAR.
A LITTLE LATER THE HILLY ROAD TO THE REGIMENTAL COMMAND POST WAS IN DIRECT LINE OF FIRE. THE SECOND BATTALOION SWUNG BACK FROM OUR LEFT FLANK AND FORMED A PERIMTER DEFENSE TO THE REAR OF OUR POSITION. THE GERMANS CEASED FOR A TIME TO ASSAIL OUR AREA. OUR FORWARD LINES HAD HELD THEIR GROUND.
B COMPANY, IN WHOSE AREA I HAD SAID MY LAST MASS, HAD SUSTAINED THE HEAVIEST ASSAULT. LT. WILLIAM B. BRICE, A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, HAD BEEN KILLED DURING THAT FIGHT. THE PLATTOON HE COMMANDED WAS HOLDING WHAT WAS PERHAPS THE FARTHEST EASTERN POINT IN THE SECTOR THAT WAS CALLED, “THE BULGE”.
THE FOG LIFTED ON DECEMBER 17TH, THE SECOND DAY OF THE BATTLE. OUR REGIMENT HAD BECOME A POCKET OF RESISTANCE THAT WAS BYPASSED BY THE ENEMY. FROM OUR POSITION ON A HEIGHT WE SAW LONG COLUMNS OF VEHICLES MOVING WESTWARD THROUGH THE GAP THE GERMANS HAD MADE TO THE NORTH. OUR COOKS WERE RELIEVED FROM THEIR COMBAT POSTS AND PUT TO WORK IN THE KITCHENS. THEY ISSUED QUICK BUT MEAGRE MEALS FROM THE FOOD STORES ON HAND.TOWARD EVENING THE JERRIES SHELLED US AGAIN. THE ARTILLERY SOUNDS BEGAN TO LAND IN THE AREA OF OUR BATTALION COMMAND POST. A RUNNER ARRIVED OUT OF BREATH AT THE AID STATION.
“COME QUICKLY! THE COLONEL HAS BEEN HIT.”
“WHERE IS HE?”
“IN THE CP!”
LT. DIAMON, OUR BATTALION SURGEON, AND I JUMPED INTO A JEEP AND HURRIED TO THE BUNKER. THE INTERIOR UPPER SECTION OF THE CONCRETE STRUCTURE WAS IN TURMOIL. THE BATTALION STAFF HAD BEEN HOLDING A MEETING WHEN THE BARRAGE OPENED UP.
“KEEP COOL!” SAID LT. COL. THOMAS KENT, OUR BATTALION COMMANDER, AS THE FIRST SHELL LANDED CLOSE BY. WHILE THE OFFICERS WERE MAKING THEIR WAY INTO THE LOWER AND MORE FORTIFIED SECTION OF THE BUNKER, A DIRECT HIT ON THE COMMAND POST UPSET TABLES AND CHAIRS, AND STARTED FIRES INSIDE THE PILL BOX. COL. KENT’S HEAD SLUMPED ON THE TABLE AT WHICH HE WAS SITTING. A POOL OF BLOOD POURED OUT ON THE MAPS OVER WHICH HE WAS WORKING.
THE DOCTOR AND I FOUND THE COLONEL UNCONSCIOUS. AFTER HAVING HIM CARRIED TO THE LOWER SECTION, DOCTOR DIAMON WORKED OVER HIM FOR AN HOUR. MEANWHILE ARTILLERY FIRE CONTINUED TO FALL IN THE AREA.
EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, THE 18TH, LT. COL. JOSEPH C. MATTHEWS, JR., THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE 422ND REGIMENT, TOOK OVER COMMAND OF OUR BATTALION. HIS ORDERS WERE TO DISENGAGE THE BATTALION FROM ITS DEFENSES AS PART OF A TACTICAL REGIMENTAL MANEUVER. THE VEHICLES, LOADED WITH EQUIPMENT, WERE TO RETIRE INTO CONCEALMENT AND AWAIT FURTHER ORDERS. THE FOOT TROOPS WERE TO PROCEED ON A DIRECT LINE TO THE SOUTHWEST. ADVANCING THROUGH THE FOG WITH THE AID OF COMPASSES THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO FIGHT IN CASE THEY ENCOUNTERED OPPOSITION.
MY DUTY WAS CLEAR IN THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. “I MUST GO WITH THE FIGHTING UNITS AND I BETTER NOT BE BURDENED WITH EQUIPMENT.”
COL. KENT, STILL ALIVE BUT UNCONSCIOUS, WAS PLACED IN AN AMBULANCE WITH SEVERAL OTHER SERIOUSLY WOUNDED MEN. THE DRIVER OF THE AMBULANCE WAS A CATHOLIC BOY NAME HADDEN, I PUT MY MASS-KIT ALONGSIDE COL. KENT AND SAID OT THE DIVER, “HERE, TAKE GOOD CARE OF THIS. IF YOU GET TO THE AMERICAN LINES, GIVE IT TO ANY CHAPLAIN. IF THE JERRIES GET YOU, INSIST THAT IT BE GIVEN TO A CATHOLIC PRIEST.”
MY OWN JEEP HAD BEEN SHOT UP. COL. KENT’S DRIVER HAD BEEN WOUNDED. OUR BATTALION MOTOR-OFFICER, LT. TURNER, ASSIGNED THE COLONEL’S JEEP TO ME. PAUL DALTON AND I LOADED THE JEEP AND TRAILER TO OVERFLOWING WITH OUR OWN AND OTHERS’ PROPERTY.
“SO LONG, PAUL. GOD BLESS YOU!”
I MOVED OFF WITH THE LINE COMPANIES INTO THE FOG.
THE REGIMENT EXECUTED THE STRATEGIC WITHDRAWAL FROM ITS POSITIONS IN THE SIEGFRIED LINE TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF SCHOENBERG. WE COMPLETED ROUGHLY THREE-QUARTERS OF THE DISTANCE BEFORE THE FOG DISPERSED IN THE LATER PART OF THE AFTERNOON. UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS WE FINISHED THE MANEUVER AND PASSED THE NIGHT IN PERFECT SILENCE IN A WOOD. ORDERS BY RADIO WERE THAT WE ATTACK THE TOWN AND HOLD THE SCHOENBERG-ST. VITH ROAD.
THE ATTACK WAS EXECUTED BY THE 422ND AND 423RD INFANTRY REGIMENTS OF THE 106TH DIVISION AT NINE O’CLOCK ON THE 19TH. AS THEY ADVANCED BY BATTALIONS OUT OF THE COVER OF SCATTERED PATCHES OF TALL NORWAY SPRUCE TREES, CUT OFF FROM SUPPLY LINES, LACKING AMMUNITION AND FOOD AND ARTILLERY SUPPORT, THE REGIMENTS ENCOUNTERED INTENSE ARTILLERY AND ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE AND OVERWHELMING OPPOSITION FROM GERMAN TANKS. THE FIGHTING UNITS OF OUR BATTALION ENGAGED IN ACTION WITH ENEMY TANKS, WERE CUT OFF AND CAPTURED.
LT. (DOCTOR) RICHARD C. DIAMON, CAPTAIN JULIUS HENE, AND LT. CLIFFORD F. BLACKE, THE OFFICER COMPLIMENT OF OUR BATTALION MEDICS, HAD SET UP THE AID STATION IN A NARROW STRIP OF WOODS AND WERE CARING FOR THE HANDFUL OF WOUNDED MEN BROUGHT BACK FROM THE FORWARD LINES. AMONG THEM WAS LT. RAYMOND F. HAWTIN OF CHICAGO, HIS ARM IN A SLING.
THE GERMANS HAD FAILED TO DISCOVER OUR ISOLATED GROUP UNDER THE TREES. WE WERE DEBATING WHETHER TO GIVE OURSELVES UP TO THEM OR WAIT FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. WHEN TEN TO FIFTEEN ARMED SCOUTS APPROACHED OUT OF THE MIST TO OUR REAR. THINKING THEY WERE ENEMY TROOPS ENCIRCLING US, I SNATCHED A WHITE TOWEL AND RAN TOWARD THEM WAVING IT.
“MY GOD, FATHER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?” ASKED THE AMERICAN SERGEANT OF THE SCOUTS.
“OUR BATTALION HAS BEEN CAPTURED AND ALL WE HAVE LEFT IS THE AID STATION AND THE WOUNDED.” I SAID. “WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?”
“WE GOT A CONVOY AND ABOUT 200 TROOPS BACK HERE IN THIS DEFILADE - WE ARE TRYING TO GET OUT.”
“WELL, DON’T BRING THE VEHICLES OVER THIS HILL.” I COUNSELED. “THE JEFFIES HAVE A BUNCH OF TANKS LESS THAN A THOUSAND YARDS FROM HERE ON THAT NEXT HILL.”
BY NOON THE RAGGED REMNANTS OF OUR BATTALION, THE CONVOY. A FEW ANTI-TANK GUNS, AND THE FOOT GROUPS HAD ASSEMBLED IN THE PATCH OF WOODS WHERE WE HAD SPENT THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. TO THIS DAY NO ONE PROBABLY HAS AN ACCURATE COUNT OF OUR NUMBER, FOR WE HAD NO TIME TO ORGANIZE. WE HAD JUST BEGUN TO DIG IN WHEN AN ARTILLERY BARRAGE FORCED US ALL TO HUG THE GROUND IN THE WOODS. FORTUNATELY, THE ENEMY DID NOT CONTINUE THROWING HEAVY SHELLS AT US FOR LONG, AND MORE SATISFYING TO US, NO FURTHER CASUALTIES WERE SUFFERED.
“WHO HAS A MAP O THIS AREA?” THIS WAS THE QUESTIONING UPPERMOST IN THE MINDS OF ALL. THE VEHICLES WERE SEARCHED IN THE HOPE THAT SOME OVERLAY MIGHT BE FOUND TO GIVE US OUR BEARINGS AND TO PLAN A RETREAT.