The
following was compiled by Staff Sgt. Fred Rouse of the 10th Armored
Division as a record of his trip across Fortress Europe. Towards the end of the war, he went back
through morning reports to get places and dates and then added his own
recollections. In editing this piece, I
have tried only to correct typographical errors which were introduced during
the scanning process in the hope of giving this to you in its purest form. Mr. Rouse would have me mention that many of
the typo’s are due to his use of a German typewriter. I have also made a few minor edits to grammar
or spelling in cases where the words were unrecognizable due to any number of
issues in the document’s creation.
Below
I hope you find a very compelling story from a very different view point. This is the story of a wire-man in the
spear-head of Patton’s Third Army. It
begins the day Mr. Rouse was drafted and ends during occupation and contains
all the drama, horror, and emotion of combat from the viewpoint of a man who
took soldiering seriously. I hope you
find it as enjoyable and enlightening as I have. Should anyone have any questions, comments,
or information about the participation of the 10th Armored Division
in any the described conflicts, please send them to me at Matthew.Creelman@Verizon.net
. I will be eager to hear anything that
anyone has to offer.
(Note: The below is the property of Matthew Creelman
and may not be referenced or reproduced without written consent from me. I know you won’t, but you gotta say it
anyway.)
WIRE SECTION OF DIVISION
ARTY 10th ARMD DIV.
Field Wire Cheif - S/Sgt Frederick G. Rouse
Field Wire NCO'S - Cpl Leland A. Hanes
Wisconsin
Ave.
Cpl Leslie L. Pounds
Foxworth, Miss.
Cpl John Mital
Head Lineman T/5 Daniel R. Bonney
T/5 Edward B. Alquist
T/5 William L. Burdette
Winona,
T/5 Casper Kubisch
Linemen PFC Charles R, Reed
6311 N.
Washington, Blvd.,
PFC James M. Zoltak
1201 Lincoln Ave. W. , Milwaukee, Wiscinsin
PFC Melvin
2101 Fourth
Ave., Sacremento, 17,
PFC Paul H. Brown
PVT Alexander George
PVT Arthur Seltsam
11 Berkshire, Place, Irvington, New Jersy
Switchboard 0pr’s T/5 Clyde Lonzo
PFC Joseph Myers
Box 143, Towaco, New Jersy
Truck Drivers T/5 Lloyd Torgerson
PFC Ajax R. Newman
1102 Virginia Ave S.W., Washington, 4 DC.
FIELD LINEMAN (641)
Field wire Cheif
Field Wire NCO
Lineman
Work as member of team laying, maintaining, and taking
up the wire or cable of a telephone or telegraph communication
system.
Runs wire along the ground by guiding it from a wire
reel of a truck. Fastens wire to poles, stakes, or trees and carries
it across roads or other obstructions by burying it in a shallow
ditch or suspending it from trees, telephone poles, or lance poles.
Locates and determines the cause of line trouble such as opens,
shorts, and grounds by testing wire at intervals. Makes appropriate
repair, such as splicing breaks and cutting out defective wire and
splicing.
May operate a portable field telephone switchboard. May establish
telegraph circuits by superimposing them on existing telephone circuits,
using repeater coils. May drive telephone truck.
Equipment used includes wire cutters, pliers, wire insulators,
climbers, lineman’s belt, wrench, hammers, reel cart and reel, friction
tape, loading coils, field telephones, switchboards, and repeating coils.
SUMMARY OF TERMS
OP - Observation Post for Arty Foward Observer
OP - Command Post
Arty - Artillery
Bn - Battalion
Btry -
Armd - Armored
Div - Division
CQ - Charge of Quarters
KP - Kitchen Police
Regt - Regiment
BC - Battery Commander
Krut - Germany Soldier
Inf - Infantry
Eng - Engioneer
TOT - Time On Target, all shells hit at the same time.
FA - Field Artillery
Comm - Communication
Maj - Major
AAA - Anti-Aircraft Artillery
Cubs - Small Planes for Observing
Crew - Four men and a truck for wire laying or repair.
FDC -
Ammo - Ammunition
OD - Olive Drab
Telephone Directory Code Names
Cluth -419 FA Bn.
Coilspring - 423 FA Bn.
Choo Choo - 420 FA Bn.
INDEX
Page (3) Combat Time, Award, Battle Experience and Trip TO Front
Lines
Page (4) Vionville, France –
Page (5) Petite Hettange, France –
Page (6) Kirsch, France - Schondorf, Germany –
Page (7) Laundsdorf, France Continued
Page (8) Kopstal, Luxembourg – Beidweiler, Luxembourg - Newdorf,
Page (9) Nommern, Luxembourg -
Page (10) Morhange, France - Loupershouse, France –
Page (11) Peral, France – Beuren, Germany - Bilzingen,
Page (12) Irsch, Germany - Pellingen, Gremany
Page (13) Marishof, Germany – Pfalsel, Germany – Fohren, Gremany
Page (14) Ober Zerf, Germany – Rappweiler, Germany -
Page (15) Sangerhof, Germany - Kaiserlautern, Germany -
Page (16) Mannheim, Germany – Heidelberg, Germany – Biberach,
Page (17) Assemstadt, Germany -
Page (18) Crailsheim, Continued –
Page (19) Crispenhafen, Germany - Kirchsall, Germany – Ohringen,
Germany –
Page (20) Riegenhof, Germany – Alfdorf, Germany -
-
Page (21) Feldststten, Germany - Ehingen, Germany - Erbach,
Page (22) Ulm, Germany - Frickenhausen, Germany - Westendorf,
Germany, -
Rettenbach, Germany -
Germany (Bavaria)
Page (23) Bad Tolz, Germany -
My Army Life
By S/Sgt. Frederick G. Rouse, 32131826
Div. Arty Wire Sgt
10th Armd Div.
I was drafted into the army on the 28th of May, 1941 from
Elmira, New York. On the same day I took my physical at Buffalo,
New York. After passing the examination I took the oath, was
sworn in. Later the same day I was transported to my first army
post, Fort Niagara, N. Y. My address here was 1213 Reception
Center. It was here I took appitude tests to see what branch of
the service I was to be placed. On the 6th of June my shipping
orders came in. On the 8th of June I arrived at my new home the
Armored Force Replacement Training Center,(AFRTC).
At the (AFRTC) I was giving my first lessons on the art of
using the army equipment correctly, taking care of it and how to
defend my self with it. It was a tough life on us fellows right
out of civilian life. There were long hikes, drilling and all
sort of obstical courses with full field on our backs. In a few
weeks time we were getting pretty hard and use to the army way
of life. While at the training center I got my complete basic.
And like seventy five percent I disliked the army very much.
Every one had to take a code appitude test for radio operator.
The ones that passed were then sent to radio operator's school
at the same station. I passed. Also at (AFRTC) all of us had to
learn to drive all army vehicles used in the Armored Force. This
part of my training I liked very much because I like to drive any
thing. Learned to drive tanks, trucks, half tracks and peeps. It
was for most of us our first chance to see a tank let alone driving
one, it was thrilling.
On August the 2nd I was
transfered to the
same station. This course lasted until November 1st at which time
I graduated. During the time of the course we my wife and I desided
to get married when I completed the school. So naturaly I was very
anxious for the course to end. The other catch was I did not know
which Armd Div. I was to be sent. The last end of Oct. we were told
where we would go after graduation. I hit the Jack pot I was sent
to the 4th Armd Div. at Pine Camp, New York.
Upon leaving Fort Knox we took a two day train ride and
arrived to the Black River RR station at the edge of the Pine Camp
post. We were then sent to our respective units. I was sent to
the 35th Armd Regt. (tanks). I had asked for Artillery. I was with
the tankers for three-days in which I was in one of the tanks which
took part in a picture staring Walace Berry, “ Keep ‘em Rolling “
The second day there I asked for a furlough was turned down because
I was then told I was getting transfered to the Arty which I had
asked for at my induction station.
November 6 I reported to the Ammunition Train of the 66th F.A. Bn.
(Regt then now a Bn.). My first morning there I got the courage to see
the Btry Commander for a furlough to get married and Winnie had already
made all the necessary arangments for the date of Nov. 15th . Permission
was granted. My furlough Nov. 10 on a Monday I was given permission to
leave at Sat. noon a day and a half a head of time. Sat. evening Nov. 8th
I arrived home my first furlough and wedding I was as happy as a lark.
Had a wonderful time before the wedding and a heavenly time afterwards,
these memorieswill never be forgotten. I was lucky and spent my first Christmas
in the army at home, due to the fact I went over the hill, but
recieved no after effects. I was on guard the after noon that the
Japs sturck Pearl Harbor!
(2)
The T.O. of an Armd Div. was then changed. Three Bn’s. of
Arty instead of two Regt’s. I was transfered to the new Bn. then
being activated. On the 6 of January I arrived at my new home
“B” Btry of the 94th F.A. Bn. It was here I put my radio knowledge
to work. on the 13th of Febuary I got my first promotion I made
T/5. Almost every week end I spent in the arms of my beautiful wife,
lucky me! This made the army pass by quickly for five months...
On the 10th of June I was notified I was going to leave on
cadre for the 10th Armd Div. at Fort Benning, Ga. Arrived there on
the 12th. My new address was Btry “C” of the 423rd F.A. Bn. I got
an other promotion on the 8th of July to T/4 as radio operator. We had
instructions on how to teach the fillers when they arrived which
was not until the first week in November. Durning that period the
cadre had to pull guard, CQ and KP. I had two furloughs also during
that time. 16th June to 22nd June and also August 17th to 26th due to
illness of my Father. Returning from last furlough I brought my wife
back with me. On the train I had an attack of appendicitis. We went
to our appartment and from there I was taken to the post hospital
at Fort Benning. Was operated on the the same night, Winnie stayed
all night at the hospital, slept in the operating room. I was re-
leased and got a furlough to recuperrate from September 14th to 23rd.
My wife and I spent thoes wonderful days in our appartment. Winnie
returned home a few days after the furlough ended. On the 14th of
October I recieved the bad news that my Father had passed away. I
left for home the following day. Had trouble getting there ran into
a flood in Virgina, lost twelve hours. It was a sad affair. Return-
ed to camp 21st. Our fillers arrived the work started, took basic
all over while giving the fillers theirs. The Division went on
manuvers in Tenn. in June of the following year. I left the Division
to go to school again at Fort Knox, Ky. Arrived there
this course was radio electrician. After eleven weeks of class room
and pratical work I passed the course with high marks. Returned to
to Camp Gordon, Ga. the new home of the 10th Armd on the 16th of
September 1943. I did a lot of servicing of Bn. radio equipment for
the regular Bn. electrician whom had to much to handle, this was
and is very interesting work I like very much. Always something more
to learn and something different. In March of 43, 18, I got another
furlough and also one in September from l5th to the 29th. This
year was completely filled with new tatics and tests except for the
new Btry: Hq. Btry Div. Arty. Which was activated the third week of
March. I was transfered to this Btry as Div. Arty Wire Cheif. On the
24th of same month I left for Fort Sill, Okla. I arrived there on
the 25th to start a course on repair of all signal equipment. The
school work was very interesting and the time went by pretty fast.
We lived in little huts which held six men apeice. Before going to
the new Btry I was promoted to buck Sgt, as communication cheif of
“C” Btry. While at school my last promotion came through and I was
made S/Sgt. one of my Jobs at school was section marcher. I completed
the course on the sixth of June the third highest in the class. When
I returned to my outfit, they were all ready prosessing equipment
for our trip to combat. We had just a few more problems and every
thing was prosessed for movement. In 44 before leaving I had two more
furloughs one was in March, 1st to 10th, the other July 25 to Aug 7.
on Sept. (6th) we left Camp Gordon got to P.O.E.,
on the 7th of Sept. Here we took our over seas physical every one
passed O.K. We also got our ship drill here and last minute instruct-
ions. We boarded our boat the 12th at N.Y. the same day we started
out the harbor and ran into a sand bar. The boat could not get off
so we were put on river barges and taken to the liner the Brazil.
We traveled two thirds the way across with one Destroyer escort,
after six days out we caught up with the rest of our convoy which
had left the day we went adrift. The first day with the convoy a
German sub was sunk.
The 22nd of Sept. we got our first look at the White
Cliffs of Dover. Stayed off shore over night and left for France the
morning. On the 23rd we disembarked at Cherbourg, France. It was late
at night and raining like hell, had to stand on the dock (what was
left of them ) for a couple hours before our trucks arrived. We ended
up at Le Theil, France.
Following is list of combat time and country in which it
took place.
(1) France- Seprember 23, 44 to
(2) Luxembourg- November 8, 44 to
(3) France- November 11, 44 to
(4) Germany- November 21, 44 to
(5) France- November 30, 44 to
(6) Luxembourg- December 17, 44 to
(7) France- December 28, 44 to Febuary 20, 45
(8) Germany- Febuary 21, 45 to Unkown ?
Awards!
(1) Bronze Star
(2) E. T. O. ribbon
(3) Battle Star January 25, 45 (Battle of Germany)
(4) June 27, 45 Total of Three Battle Stars First one changed
1. Battle of the Ardens ( Germany Break Through)
2. Battle of the
3. Battle of
Battle Experience
September 23, 1944-
This was our stageing area. We were here for one month while
we got our equipment in condition for combat, after its trip across
the pond. This was a contious job for the month but we also had to
take hike and other training. One of my crews and I laid our first
wire in Euorpe. We laid a wire net on Kangeroo Beach here the Division
Arty was calibrated, and also the 76's on the tanks were calibrated
there. This was the worst mud hole I had ever Been in my life, we
had to swep the streets and we also had to use air field mats to
walk on. We were all anxious to leave there for combat it was so
darn miserable. We were then put in the American Ninth Army which
was then being formed. October the 19th we were put in the Third Army
because Patton wanted more tanks. We left for battle
Trip
October 27, 1944 we spent the night at Falaise, France. This
was a little ways from St. Lo so therefore we seen a lot of the
after effects of battle, it was by far a pretty eight.
October 28, 1944 the night was spent at Danville, France.
This was a grave yard of British equipment. The night was cold and
miserable. I had picked up an Army cot, which I tried setting up
in a pup tent. I found out that they were not ment for each other
I slept about one hour all night.
October 29, 1944 we stayed in the outskirts of Paris, France.
The people were glad to see us at leaste they seemed that way they
were also hurting for cigarettes. They offered any price for a pack
of American cigarettes. The streets were lined with people when
went through, mostly females.
(4)
October 30, 1944 the night was spent in a Pine Forest at
the edge of Begeres Les, Frannce. It was chilly this evening and
it seemed like a thousand bon fires were in the area. The whole
Division was in this area. Here we started to run into a lot of
Refugees on the road from here to the front. October 31 and November
1st ( my birthday) were also spent on the road. Slept in woods these
nights due to enemy air craft.
November 2, 1944 we pulled into Spoonville, France. It was
in this area we heard our first shell fire both enemy and friendly.
It gave all of us I guess a scarey feeling I guess I know it did
this GI. Late this evening we drew our first ammunition for our
small arms. We also had our first taste of foreign beer it was more
like dish water than beer. Movement orders came late that night.
COMBAT
November 3, 1944-
Early this morning the Btry Comdr, my self and two of my
wire crews left for our position on the line. We relieved an Arty
Group. I took over eighty five miles of wire they had on the ground
this was a tough job taking over wire some one else had laid. I rode
the front for three hours reconnoidering the wire. We worked until
late that night getting the wire working. The next morning I had
to take a crew to Goerz, France right in front of Fort Driant Metz.
Here I linked up all US OP's and had two switchboards to take care
of the traffic up there, had three trunk lines to my rear boards.
Left one crew there for trouble shooting. Things were quite that
night. Had to shoot a lot of trouble the next day. Following night
had to go to foward board to repair it and shoot trouble for one
of our Bns. wire men who were all screwed up. Ended up at a pill box
the Inf were using for a company OP. The BC had met me in Goerz
after I had finished the trouble shooting. He and I left there in a
jeep and ended up in a Arty OP which was also a pill box. The
Foward Observer and the BC wanted me to lay a wire line to the next
OP so they could have communication between the two. My heart was
in my throat because I would have had to go through the enemy lines
twice to get to the other 0P. An Inf officer whom had his OP in the
same pill box refused to let them send me. I was the most relieved
person in the world. Returning to the Btry we had a little trouble
because enemy patrols were active. When we got back to the Btry
every man in the Btry was on guard with the exception of two of my
wire crews who were left to trouble shoot. We had a lot of it that
night. We also got our first taste of the fammed German 88's and
150's. We Slept very little that night, it seemed every one coming
in was labeled for me or the wire men sleeping in the same barn
with me. I got my opinion of war right then it was hell and very
little sleep. The enemy guns that were firing at us were at Fort
Driant, could not knock them out the fortification was to thick. We
were under this same gun fire for the whole time we were in Vion-
ville. We recieved our combat bed rolls while in this area. Left
this area on the November 8, 1944 we had had our Battle of Enock-
ulation.
November 8, 1944
this town was four miles from the Mosell River. I had close
to seventy miles of wire on the ground here, contious trouble. The
nights were very dark and rain most of the time. Very hard for trou-
ble shooting. My wiremen and I got very little sleep. Arty played a
big roll here. I never saw so much Arty in one area before, it
was contious TOTs on the Kruts on the other side of the river.
This kept up for five days before the Inf. and Tanks crossed the
river. The bridges
were all knocked out and every time the
would build a new one the Kruts would pour in an Arty consentration
and the Eng. would have to start all over. My old BC got killed
here, Capt. Nasoff. He was up at an OP and he steped on a mine. It
was here I saw my first enemy air craft, just an air observer. Most
of the CP’s I had wire to were in big bunkers of the Maginot Line,
(5)
our CP was in a house and the switchboard and wiremen stayed in a
barn. Every time it rained the water would run in under the door our
bed rolls were wet most of the time. Most of the wiremen got a touch
of trench foot including my self. Trench foot is caused by wet cold
feet for a long period of time. It is a burning sensation as well as
painful. Got men to aid station and caught it before any were lost
to a hospital. Caught some enemy 88's but were very lucky no cas-
ulities. On the 15th we pulled out of our position and headed for the
river but were sent back because the dough boys were having a lot of
trouble on the other side. Returned to old position and poured Arty
all night.
November 16, 1944 Petite
Crossed the Mosell River on the morning of Nov. 16th at ten.
When we pulled into Petite Hettange it was the worse sight I had ever
seen in my life. There were dead Germans all over the place, half of
them, pieces and every part imagineable every where you looked. While
laying wire the PWs were loading them on to old beat up German trucks,
tanks were moving up and running over the bodies still in the road and
squashing them down into the muddy road. It sure showed the fight the
Krauts put up here, they lost. Very little counter btry fire here a
lot of small arms mostly Berp guns. Had very little wire trouble here.
Saw our first enemy tanks still burning, tankers still drouping out
the turrets burned to death. Our tanks broke lose and were going to
town. This made our Arty Bn’s move up therefore our wire had to be
extended, kept us pretty busy. One of my Cpls got a Luhger off of a
dead Krut officer.
November 18, 1944
Left early this morning to catch up with the tanks and Arty
which had been on the move all night. Caught up with them at Monneren.
Pulled in here at noon traveled all morning. Just as we pulled into
town three Stuka’s let us have it, strafed the whole Btry, no casul-
ities. Out of no where two P-47's came forced the Kruts over an Anti-
air Craft Btry they got two of them and the 47's got the other one.
Our dough boys were still fighting a couple streets up. All kinds of
guns were still firing like mad. The Germans left so fast they left
some of their vehicles behind. This was where I picked up the Chevie
truck. Had a lot of trouble with this trap because the Germans were
low on gas and used kerosine, the carburater was not adjusted for gas.
The body was very low slung and would hit on the under carriage on
the roads the tanks had tore up and made big ruts. It still came in
handy for carrying some of my much equipment. We picked out our billet
it was a big barn. The hay mound was big enough to hold my complete
section of ninteen men. Pulled our trucks into the barn. Like a train
whistle on a clear night came that familiar whistleing of enemy Arty
coming in. The first rounds landed in the street, then they came
closer to the Btry billets. We were standing in the doorway of our
barn when they sounded closer, the next two were closer they landed
right in our bed, the hay mound. Tore the roof off, came through to
the ground floor killed two cows and a big bull, knocked one of my
men in under one of the wire trucks colder than a hunk of ice. We had
no casulities, it was close because the whole section was in the barn
when the shells landed. of course we changed billets for the night, we
found an other barn. Our Arty pounded the Kruts all night. Taking
this town was our objective, we had got in back of the Germans in
Forts of Metzq in a matter of days Metz fell to the Inf of two Div’s.
After three days of contious firing our arty on the enemy we pulled
out all the towns in that vicinity we on fire the shell fire. War was
hell for the French because these were their towns.
(6)
November 21, 1944
Early on this morning we left Monneren, traveled most of
the day and arrived at Kirsch. Things were pretty quiet that day.
It rained most of the day, right after supper I got orders to lay
wire to the Div. Arty Bn’s and to Corp. Sent each crew to different
Bn’s I went with the one closest to the enemy, I could not let my
men think I was yellow. When we arrived at our destination it was
darker than all hell and still raining cats and dogs. We were there
no longer than ten minutes when the Kruts counter attacked. We were
all dam scared but fired at any thing we could see moving. Were held
up for an hour, had the wire to get in every one needed arty and
could not get it until we got the wire in. Got the wire in early in
the morning. We were wetter than cloths in a washing machine. Went
to bed in a big barn where I had the switchboard set up. Got up the
regular time the next morning. Had no wire trouble after it was in.
Left this position an hour after breakfast.
November 22, 1944
We arrived at Schndorf at mid day. We were the first of
the Third Army troops, (Division) to enter Holy soil of Germany, as
Hitler called it. Our CP was in a nice house and for a change so was
the rest of the Btry. Had plenty of wire on the ground, in Miles I
don’t know. Also had Bo'Que (beaucoup) the trouble with the wire. A crew and I
were laying a line to the 423 FA, tried to take a short cut over a
hill instead of around it. Of course we were following a trail some
peep's had been using. Was using the Chevie as a reconoidering veh-
icle and got it stuck. Tried to pull it out with the 3/4 ton wire
track and got that stuck. Had to send a man back on foot to the Btry
to get an other truck. Waited two hours for him to return, had him
send my 21/2 ton out on the line by going around the hill when he
got to the area. After the third truck arrived we got that stuck
trying to get one of the other's out. There we sat with three trucks
stuck and my only other track was out laying the line we started.
It was while on top of this hill we saw our first German Buzz Bomb.
When they went over our head they looked just like they were going to
land right on our hill but they didn't. We worked and we worked and
finaly got one of the trucks free. After a couple hours we had them
all free and returned to the area the line had been completed by my
big truck. Enemy Arty knocked our lines out all night so got none of my
favorite pass time, sleep! Our lines were knocked out all through
combat by two causes. One our tanks, any tracked vehicle for that
matter, and second the cause that gave us more work while repairing
was enemy shell fire. With shells it would go out in four or five
places at one time. And a hell of a lot of times the shells would
still be coming in while we were repairing the line or lines. Our
troops were having a hell of a time trying to get through the Seig-
fried line. Every time one of our tanks would assualt one of the
pill boxes they would get knocked out. We lost a lot of tanks, for
seven days our tanks tried but could not get through neither could
our dough boys or the dough boys we were working with. We were relie-
ved by a cavilary out fit. Left there to try to get to the rear of
fortifications.
November 29, 1944
The Btry left Schndorf early in the morning. I was to pull
out with them but had a flat tire on the Chevie and had to repair it,
the comm chief, plus a wireman and my self stayed back to fix it. In
no time we had it fixed, before leaving for our new area we took
some target pratice on wire insulators on telephone poles. We were
hitting them every shot glass flying all over. One of our Maj came
out of the house next door. We thought that all the officers had left
with the Btry. Did we get hell! On the way to the new area we had
two more flat tires, were we feed up with that trap by then. Gave it
to the mantence section before we left the next area. Arrived at
(7)
Laundsdorf, France our new home for how long we did not know. Layed
wire most of that afternoon and way into the night. There was very
little enemy activity the first day and night. Had a fair ammount of
trouble the next day with the wire due to a lot of troop movements.
Was taking it easy in the evening , about nine o'clock I got a call
from the switchboard room that "Clutch" was out. Clutch was the 419
FA Bn. of our Div. In order to get to them on our wire line we had to
go parallel to the Kruts and were exposed to there fire, both small
arms and Arty. It was dark as all hell out and of course it also had
to be raining. I asked for a couple volinteers I got none so I had
to draft one of my Cpls, the Comm cheif. The three of us left! Let
me tell you its a damm funny feeling to drive down a road with no
lights and you can hear shooting coming from all directions. A person
can not help but think the next one is for you. Were damm close to
the enemy when we found the trouble, we thought! Fixed one break tried
to check the line but it failed to work. Then the fun started! Started
to check on foot and all hell broke lose, Berp guns, rifles and them
damn 88’s. We hit the mud in a ditch, laid there for twenty minutes
and it stop liked it started. Kept on checking but failed to find
the trouble and the line was needed for counter btry fire. We came
to the conclusion it was up on the poles where the trouble was, went
in the direction towards our OP where the line started on the poles
went up three poles the line was alright, I got to the top of the
fourth poles had safety belt around the pole checking the line when
all hell broke lose! I thank God I'm still a live, shells were burst-
ing all around us and me perched on top of a poll. Every part of me
was shaking. It was on this pole where the trouble was I fixed it and
it did not take us long to get back to our shanty. Could not sleep
all night. Had to get up early the next morning to shoot trouble on
the "Coilspring" line, 423 FA Bn. of our Div. Found the trouble at a
cross road just out side their OP. Was on the top of a pole when a
flight of Flying Forts passed over head. Just as they passed over the
front lines the German AAA opened up on them. One of them was shot
down. It rained most of the time we were there. Had plenty of trouble
every day while in this area. The next night Cpl. Hanes and my self
had a scarie night, left at ten o’clock darker than coal out to fix
the line going the 423. Drove half way on the line, left the truck
and followed the line on foot. We came to some “Z” trenches and had to
crawl on our hands and feet, we did not know what was around us, we
heard something fall into the water in the trench. We thought our
goose was cooked, all it was, was some dirt we had knocked into the
water. We found tke trouble and fixed it, shells had knocked it out.
We were on edge until we got back. I was driving and almost drove in
to a pond that’s how dark it wasp just had to feel the way with a truck
That is the biggest trouble with being a wireman, over half the work
is done in total darkness. The next day three of us went looking for
better routes for our wire to save trouble. We found a good road we
thought so kept going on it. The first thing we knew a peep was com-
ing up behind us fast as the devil. When he caught up with us he told
us to stop, we did! The driver then told us we had passed the front
lines and the Kruts were a little ways a head of us nothing between
us. We got out of there quicker than hell! Before the day was over we
found a good road to use, had wire trouble that day. The next morning
went out and relaid our longest lines. The road we picked went through
some thick woods, these woods were filled with dead Germans in awful
shape. Our arty dad done this to them, we were then proud of our arty.
Just before one gets to the woods a big tank trap had to be crossed
and in plain sight of the enemy, we were lucky had no trouble with them
Was shooting trouble on the “Coilspring” line the next morning the
Kruts opened up. They were shooting 150's direct at us again fixed the
line with no casulities. Things went pretty good until the next mor-
ning. Went out to fix a line we had to an Arty Group in the same town
with “Coilspring”. They were working one way and we the other, they
got to the top of the (hill) in sight of us, a peep was right behind them in-
it was Sgt. Frances. We got to within a hundred yards of them we were
fixing the break which was there. All of a sudden the 150's opened
up on us. A direct hit, hit the wire truck of the group killed the
(8)
two wiremen, Sgt Francis got wounded had his peep smashed. He was only
out of action a few days. On the afternoon of the only Sunday with
good weather five of us went to the front at Fitten to pick up some
civilian radios for the Btry. While there the Kruts threw in a few
of their 88’,t damaged their own town but no damage to any one there.
one of our “Cubs”, was observing over head the German 88’s which is a
dual purpose gun fired at it, it didn’t take Capt. Moore long to head
for home. That is all I am able to remember about the Area. Left on
the morning of the 17th of Dec.
December 17, 1944
We arrived late in the evening, there was no wire to be
laid because we were on the way to the buldge. Most of the Btry slept
in an old theater of which my crews were part of. Had trouble with
some of my men, there was a beer joint next door with plenty of beer.
Some of them had to much. Got them to bed except thoes who went on
guard. I was sick due to an injury recieved at Laundsdorf, when I
jumped from a pole under fire. About two o'clock in the morning we
heard enemy aircraft over head, in a few minutes they went away, but
not for good. In a half an hour they returned with bombers! This was
our first bombing. It is much worst than Atry fire. The bombing last-
ed for an hour. I sure feel for the people who were getting the same
thing the complete war. We got through the night safely!
December 18, 1944 Beidweiler, Luxembourg (Buldge)
Arrived at midday. Had chow and started laying wire all
over the place. Had lots of wire on the ground here. None of the
enlisted men realy knew how bad the situation was. Was trying to lo-
cate one of our Bn’s, maps were scarce. Ran into my old BC Capt.
Magnuson and asked him for directions. I followed them and we ended
up going through the front lines and in no mans land again. An out
post stopped us or we would be dead ducks today. I had wire to every
body and their brother. We had more than our share of trouble here
when were not fixing wire, we were laying it. The Germans started a
counter attack in the 419th area, they were holding a sector of the
front lines. It was here the Division first used the Posit fuse. This
fuse has a little radio in it (transmitter) which puts out a Signal
and when this signal comes close to any thing it automaticily sets
the shell off. The best kind of air burst any one can get because it
acts the same way with the ground. When the Kruts started their att-
ack the Bn. threw in concentration after concentration of this type
shell. Let me tell you there was dead Kruts all over the place and
they got no where with their attack. At this time our combat Command
CCA left for Bastone at took a beating but saved the day for our
troops in that area. The night before we left this position the 94th
Inf Div. moved in to take our sector. They dug in all around us, that
was as far as the German were to get. I still had wire out in front
of this position seven miles. And when we pulled out the next day
we had to pick up the wire as our Bn’s pulled out and the Kruts
were on our tail. We had no casulities. The people were scared be-
cause they could see what was going to happen. Left early the next
morning.
December 20,1944
The Btry left to regroup in Newdorf but two of my wire
crews and I stayed in Beidweiler to pick up wire and keep in what
the Fire direction needed. By now the Germans were advancing but
slowly. Our tanks gave them a lot of trouble. At this time the rest
of the Btry was enjoying ice cream in the city of Luxembourg. The
Fire direction and my wiremen left this area Dec. 22.
(9)
December 22, 1944 Nommern, Luxembourg (still buldge)
Arrived here in late after noon after riding parallel to the
front lines, a half mile from it at times. Got word that the Germans
were going to use gas! Most of the wiremens gas masks were in the big
wire truck in Luxembourg including mine we were sweating. Pulled into
a sector the Ninth Armd was holding they were all shot up. We kept one
of their FA Bn’s in place of one of our Bns which we had in Bastone.
This was their first action and every little noise they heard at their
out posts they would call for an Arty concentration. There was about a
foot of snow on the ground very easy to see at night which made shoot-
ing trouble at night easy. One night a tank went over a bank and broke
every line there. We went out to fix it after we were there a few
minutes there was a least fifteen wire there from all different outfits
also repairing their lines. It was quite a job finding the right pairs.
The next night we had to got to the front lines to repair a line to
an attached outfit and we did not know where the line went because we
did not lay it. Spent hours finding the line and hours more finding
the trouble. And it was plenty cold and we were tired from lack of
sleep due to so much work. This sane day the rest of the Btry caught
up with us. This was a really noisy sector big guns a mile in back of
us (240’s) 155's a quarter of a mile in back of us and our own 105's
in our yard. These guns kept firing all the time. The 423 changed their
position and we had to lay them a new line. This was a lulu the enemy
shot every thing at us when we passed a road junction which was on our
route. Used mostly commerical lines which meant a lot of pole climbing
and that is far from fun when you are a perfect target up in the air.
Got the line in but had a lot of trouble because the 88's knocked out
a lot of poles. We were complimented on the way we kept in communicat-
ions in under fire. We spent Christmas here! Had a good chow, chicken.
But food was hard to keep warm in a mess kit out in the cold, but we
were all thankful to be able to eat it. Had one line down a railroad
track next to a stream a I'll be a sun of a gun if the tanks didn't
go over their and knock it out. On the 27th I had to make a line route
map of all my wire which I did. Late that afternoon the Sixth Armd. Div
moved in to relieve us because we were badly shot up, don’t forget the
Germans were using all they had but lost. We pulled out the next mor-
ning early.
December 28, 1944
Arrived late in the afternoon. We were billeted in an appart
ment house. It was not a bad set up. All of the Division was here
except CCA which was still in Bastone. The Div. came here to regroupe
and recieve replacements. We were far from a fighting Div at the time.
We had a scheduel of classes and that old army stuff. Lots of checking
of our vehicles. Every other day we had a show in a big room on the
top floor. Two men were allowed on a day pass each day. I had one and
just loafed around. We white washed our trucks while here so they would
blend in with the snow. The Btry had a tour of the Metz forts which
we had helped to take. They were plenty big, the Germans had made
factories out of a lot of them because they were hard for aircraft to
get at. We saw the guns that gave us our Battle Enockulation. 150’s.
Spent New years here! Spent almost a month here and we were all anxious
to get back to the front, this type of army life no longer appealed to
us. Went to Mass in the big Cathedral of Metz, it was very impressing.
The city of Metz was pretty well smashed by our airforce and Arty.
The people were very hungry and hung around our mess (kitchen) at
every meal. We were allowed to go to their beer joints the beer was
like water but we drank it. When we took dismounted drill in the street
which was every day the people would watch us by the hundreds, they
also liked to watch our formal retreats, I had to take a course in
recording mine fields while here. We left here on the 17th of January
for destination unknown.
(10)
January 17, 1945
This was a one night stand. Before arriving here we rode all
day and it was colder than hell. Getting here the Btry traveled in a
convoy by its self. We were billeted in an old house, no windows in it.
Also no stoves we all froze and were glad when morning arrived. At
this point we were a long ways from the front. There was about two
foot of snow on the ground here. The wire section picked up its Mascot
here which was a little dog. From here on the dog had a home it stayed
with my switchboard operators. Left early the next morning, that is the
advanced party which was my complete wire section and the fire direction
team.
January 18, 1945
At noon on the 18th we the advanced party pulled into our
new location at Loupershouse, France. This was a hole in the wall
every thing was shot up perty bad, billets were hard to get. The
Fire Direction had to use a shot up school house, second floor and
the kitchen set up on the first floor. The Btry was spread out all
over the town, which gave the wire section a lot more work because
we had to put in a party system all over the town beside laying all
our other lines. Right after we arrived in this war torn town we set
out to lay our first line. The crew and I were to meet the BC in a
town about eight miles away, we used a map and found a shorter way
than the main road. We met the BC alright. We were showed where one
of the Bn’s was going to set up their CP so we started our line. We
laid a fast line but a good job. When we returned the BC asked us
the route we used I showed him on the map. What did we do but go
right through a mine field and we didn't even know it, we were very
lucky. Before all the crews got through we had around forty miles of
wire on the ground. There was plenty of trouble with it. One of the
lines which three crews had to work finding where it went was about
twelve miles long. We took this line over from another outfit two
of them infact. It took us more than a day to find exactly where It
ran. We had to know this in order to shoot trouble on it. After being
there a week or so we decided to lay the long line over because we were
having a lot of trouble with it. The line we put in place of it we put
in the air most of the way account of the snow on the ground. Was
working on a poll in one of the towns this line went through, came
back to the ground and some one yelled "Fritz" I turned around it
was my buddy from home, which I was drafted with. So after that I
spent a lot of time in this town so I could see a lot of my buddy.
We sure enjoyed visiting. He was a mess Sgt, so one day when he was
taking chow up front I went with him. Went to the furtherest outpost
a machine gun. Could see the Kruts as if they were next door neigh-
bors. I wanted to shoot one but an officer would not let me, they
at the time were not shooting at the Germans so the Germans were not
shooting at our boys. It was here we got our first beer ration and
that American beer sure tasted good. Our Division could not do much
fighting due to our losses in the Ardens. So the Corp. didn't comm-
it us. We were in reserve while here. I fixed up my switchboards to
work with 110 volts to save the generators on the boards. The Twel-
veth Armd Div relieved us on the morning of the 11th of Jan. We pulled
out as soon the Btry was ready for march order.
Febuary 11, 1945
To Metz we returned in late after noon of the 11, Feb. We
got our same billets as we had the time before. They were in a hell
of a shape, some signal outfit had been in them and ruined every -
thing. To get lights we had to rewire the whole building, all the
stoves had been broke and could not be repaired. It was plenty cold
outside. By the end of the second day we had the place liveable again.
We had pretty much the same schedule to follow as the first time at
Metz. The Btry went swimming at a big, indoor pool, also took showers
in the same building. It was the first swim I had had in a couple
years. We had to take the white wash off the trucks because the snow
was off the ground where we were going. The Division finally got the
replacements we had waited for since the Ardens. They took a refresher
course on tank tactics, then we left. Departed on the 18th.
Febuary 19, 1945
Got here in late afternoon. Layed wire all night. I only
had two wire crews with me. We had no mess with us either so we ate
at Inf mess. They sure had good chow. The whole Division was in this
area getting for a big push on the fortified Seigferid Line. For two
nights and one day our arty kept pounding the forts between Borg and
Wochern. This was where the Division attacked, and the attack was
sucessful. At this time the rest of the Btry moved up to Wochern, we
pulled out the next day and leap frog them and setting up an advanced
OP.
Febuary 21, 1945
I left with my two wire crews passed the Btry and got to
the town alright. On the way the Inf. were still fighting the Kruts
a hundred yards from the road, dead all over the place, in fact there
was so many dead we had to drive over the top of them to lay our wire.
And our wire had priority over all, the orders the Col. gave us. Was
sniped at while up on poles again, it was a good thing some of thoes
Kruts were bad shots. This town was not even an over night stand for
three of my wire crews and myself. One of my crews got lost, so an-
other crew and I went looking for them. Found them straighten them
out. I then checked in to the board and got orders to lay a line to
Bilzingen from the 423rd, we already had a line from them to the spot
where I had just checked in. So we continued the line.
Febuary 22, 1945
We finished the line at four o'clock in the morning to
our new CP. This place was just a cross road and a few houses. Was
shooting trouble the next day when one of our tankers got shot in
the head by a sniper, another tank saw where the shot came from. It
was a church steeple. The tank got his 75 on it and let go no more
sniper or steeple. Fixing the same line at night and got caught in
an Arty barrage, scared to death but lived through it. The rounds
were coming from German guns on both sides of us. There was gun
blasts in every direction one looked. The next morning I had to take
a wire crew to Ayl, Germany on the Saar river. We were setting up a
foward CP there. This was one hell of a spot, mortars, rifles and
arty let us have it here. Got my lines layed had to leave one man
for shooting trouble the rest of us returned to btry area. Everv day
I had to go up there and shoot the trouble in Ayl because the wireman
left was not finding it. The cheif of staff of the 10th was killed
here. The Germans had mines all over this place one had to be careful.
our engineers took a hell of a beating trying to put a bridge across
the Saar River. It was impossible to cross here so this crossing was
faked and we crossed at Saarberg. The reason the crossing was so very
tough was because the Germans had a fortified line on the other side
(12)
in the kills. We lost a few tanks making the crossing. I left early
morning of the 1st of March to get my wire in before the Btry came
into position.
March 1, 1945
Pulled into this battered town and the first thing I saw
was three of our tanks still burning. Found a building for our OP
and started to lay my wire. Before the first line was in the rest of
the Btry arrived. Got all our wire in before dark for a change. The
Engineers were blowing up the pill boxes as soon as they were taken
so the Kruts could not get back into them if they pulled a counter-
attack. All was quiet that night. In back of our OP there was a big
German Royal tank on top of a stone fence, it had got up there and
could not get off and was knocked out by our tanks. The next morning
the enemy arty came in like it was never going to stop. Yards away
from me I saw men blown to bits, wounded. This was a slaughter for
us. It really put one in a fighting mood, some of my friends in the
423rd got killed. This barrage knocked out our only line that could
give counter btry fire on the German guns. So I was given a direct
order by the Col. to get that line in at once! Could not locate any
of my wire men to help me. The shells were still coming in but I got
the line fixed, the enemy btry was knocked out. I’m sorry this all
took place in one day. We left here on the 2nd, left most of the
Btry in Irsch.
March 2, 1945
I left Irsch laying wire to Pellingen. We got as far as
a cross roads out side of 0ber Zerf. We got pinned down in a slit
trench by enemy small arms and machine guns. For hours we had to
lay there or get shot. We could not shoot back our guns were in the
truck ten yards from us, its a good thing the Germans didn't know this.
It was light out when we got pinned down and it was pitch dark out
and we were in the same hole. After dying a thousand deaths in that
hole a gas train of ours came up the road. In the gas train every
other vehicle was a tank. Two of the tanks covered us while we got
in our truck and got in there convoy. Early the next morning we ended
up at a Pill box our CP with out a line to the rear CP. Set out lay-
ing a double line to the 423rd and 420th. Got over to the 420th and
started toward the 423 with the wire. That familiar sound was coming
toward us again, of course this time I was on top of a pole. These were
German tanks firing at us, the fellows ran and left me sitting up on
the pole in my lonesome. Came down and hit a hole in the ground and
as soon as their target was gone they stoped firing. Started working
again, they started in again. It took hours to get to the 423rd,
after getting there, we started out with a double line from there to
our CP with the lines. Got just out side of the 423rd CP and they let
us have it again. Had to work under fire in order to get communicat-
ion to be able to fire back at them. Got two miles on the dirt road
toward our CP in open country and on a little hill. We saw some gun
blasts down in the valley and the worst sound I ever heard coming
through the air, we hit the dirt behind our truck! They hit thirty
yards from us they were Nebelwerfers simlar to our rockets. They
stop firing in about ten minutes but thoes ten minutes seemed like
hours! Started in again and ran out of wire so I sent a man back to
our CP on foot. While waiting a bunch of our tanks came up the
road also Inf. They went in and cleaned out right where we had been
had a ring side seat for this phase of the war. Saw three of our
tanks go after a big Tiger Royal, they got him but two more appeared
over the crest of the hill, our tanks went after them and chased
them out of sight. We then got orders to pick up the wire that we
were moving up again, picked it up and caught up with the Btry at
Pellingen. It was dark and the rest of the Btry was all ready there
(13)
and they had had chow. Was told to put our truck behind our billets
after we ate. We ate! I had to go into the CP and report the German
guns we had seen fire directly at us. It was then to late to put our
air observers in the air. Cpl Capablo was guiding the truck into the
lot behind the house it hit a big Teller mine, by this time I was in
our billet. The explosion was teriffic sounded like a 240 had landed.
Was the first one to get to him, at that moment it looked to us if his
foot and half his leg was blown off. Put a turnikit on him to stop the
bleeding. He had holes all over both his legs from the mine. Also gave
him pills to stop infection. Stayed with him in the rain until an
ambulance arrived. He is still in a hospital some where in the states.
They saved both his legs! The truck and all the equipment on it were
a complete loss. The track was thrown about ten yards and completely
empty when it landed. The driver was not hurt, why no one knows! We
left this position the following morning. Corp was laying us a line
that night up the same road we had advanced to. They hit a mine also,
killed three of there wire men! Threw a big two and a half ton track
all the way across the road into a field. Every thing was a loss. Div
was also laying us a line up the same road, same night! They hit a
mine with a half track two injured no one killed. Every part of the
Div lost heavly on our advance from Irsch to Trier.
March 3, 1945
Got here at three o'clock in the afternoon. Marishof was a
big Chateaux on the outskirts of Trier. The city was in too much
ruins to got billets for the whole Division. Had wire all over the
place, including two eight mile lines, also plenty of trouble with
them due to a large amount of troop moments. A person can not come
close to realizing the damage our air force did to all the big cities
of Germany. The l0th Armd took this city all by its self no matter
what the papers read. Stayed here for three days to regroup for an
other attack. When we got the other side of Trier we ran into the other
Div that was to help us take it.
March 7, 1945
The advance party left Marishof early in the morning and
we went to Pfalsel. This town was about half in ruins. Picked out
the best in the town for billets for the Btry. The Comm Cheif and I
had a beautiful three room apartment to our selves. The best set up
we had ever had since in combat. Had a lot of lines but most of them
were short lines for a change. We had to cross to the other side of
the Moselle to get to this town. We were then starting up the north
bank. In general things were pretty quite in this area. Stayed two
days and the advance party left first.
March 9, 1945
Pulled into this town the dough boys and tankers were still
fighting for it, so we had to wait until it was cleared before pick-
ing out our billets. On route to this town we passed a hospital town
the Kruts had declared an open city, waited till our tanks got there
and opened up on them with 88's from inside buildings that were marked
as hospitals. Also women were manning some of the guns. We picked out
our billets and got all the locals in before the Btry arrived. By the
time they got there the front had moved up the road six miles and so
did our FA Bn’s. </