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We set up a defense at the assembly area and awaited
orders to move to our objective. Shortly we were enroute to the objective
(the high ground near De Ploeg). British Spitfires had circled our drop zone
during the assembly and this gave us confidence. On the march to De Ploeg we
looked up and saw four planes flying in trail; they circled our march
column, so out with our orange identification cloth and we at them like
hell. Someone says, "Look those planes have Iron Crosses on them." The
German pilots dipped their wings at us thinking that we were a column of
German soldiers out to do combat with the enemy.
We arrived at our objective without any contact with the
enemy and dug in a hasty defensive position and awaited a mission. At this
time our Bn. was in Division reserve. Mid afternoon the Bn. less Co. "C"
received an order to attack and secure the bridge across the Waal River,
this being the Nijmegen Bridge. We received the order and it was something
like this. Co. "A" will lead the way, the 3rd plt. leading followed by the
1st plt., followed by the 2nd plt.
We moved out in that order, had not traveled very far when
the lead plt. (3rd) was brought under enemy machine gun fire. This plt. had
one casualty, Corporal Roy B. Lewis. Under fire Cpl. Lewis jumped into a
foxhole that another trooper had already occupied. This trooper had fixed
bayonet and Cpl. Lewis struck his leg cutting the artery. Cpl. Lewis died
before he could receive proper medical aid.
From this action we the 1st plt. moved through the 3rd.
plt. and took the lead, my sqd. taking up the point. As we (the point)
passed the village De Ploeg a lady came out with cookies and sandwiches. I
accepted one of these as several of the troopers did. After we had traveled
some distance and with a couple of halts, darkness approached us.
As we neared the town of Nijmegen a Dutch underground
agent was dispatched to us (the point). He worked with Pvt. Walter Dikoon
(the squad scout) that was preceding the sqd. 25 to 50 yds. The Dutchman was
using a bicycle and would ride forward to the next block, report back to
Dikoon that all was clear; in turn Dikoon would inform the point and we
moved forward. This Dutchman was very helpful and instrumental in the
movement of our Bn. through Nijmegen that 17 Sept. night.
As we entered Nijmegen on the Groesbeek road one block
from the Mock intersection the Dutchman reported to Dikoon that a German
machine gun was set up facing in our direction. This is where the Dutchman
was moved aside; we told him to take cover and we moved forward. About this
time a Lt. from Bn. joined the point and located himself in the middle of
the street. As we moved forward someone warned the Lt. not to move along the
middle of the street, but he did not take heed. Our squad (the point) was
broken down into two groups, each group moving along on opposite sides of
the street staying very close to the houses and picket fence. A German MG 42
opened up; you could see the tracers ricocheting off the cobblestone street.
The first burst got the Lt. in the leg. We ran and pulled him along the iron
picket fence. My first thought was they got Dikoon. But now an RAR [sic,
BAR?] opens up up front and Dikoon comes running back and reports that he
had knocked out the machine gun crew. At this time and place here
comes Lt. Col. Shields Warren (the Bn. CO), Capt. Jonathan E. Adams CO "A"
Co., and Lt. Foley up to the point to see what the situation is. Col,
Warren says good work men, keep the ball rolling. Dikoon moves up to
the intersection moves right and we are one block from the Keizer-Karel
Square (circle). As Dikoon moves forward he is killed outright by
machine gun fire from the square. Capt. Adams has the 2nd plt. attack
through the 1st plt. and for the square.
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