17 Sept. 44
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In the meantime we hear motors warming up at the square.
Lt. Foley calls for two rocket launchers, these two teams came up
immediately and were placed along the curb. All troops were ordered off the
curb along side the picket fence. At this time a half-track moved forward
loaded with German SS troops and came abreast the rocket launcher teams;
both open fire at the same time. This disabled the half-track and all the SS
troops jumped off the vehicle and ran in all different directions. Our
orders were not to fire if we came to close combat; we were to use trench
knives and bayonets. The most of the 1st plt. had been moved inside the
fence and between the houses. Here is where Co. A 508 did some hand-to-hand
combat. These SS troops were jumping the fence and trying to get away. Pfc.
Ray M. Johnson from Munford, Ala., and myself were between two houses which
were very close together. Pfc. Johnson was armed with an M-1 rifle with
fixed bayonet and was ready for business. It happened that the CO of
the SS unit (a Captain) jumped the fence and was trying to make his get-away
by the way of our two buildings. We see him coming, I say to Johnson get him
with your bayonet; as he comes between us Johnson gives him a long thrust
and completely misses him. The M-1 was dislodged from Johnson's hands.
I'm armed with a Tommy gun and trench knife; I have my trench knife out and
I've got to get this German. At the rear of these two houses is an
inter-looking tall wooden fence. This German officer is trying to get
over this fence. I'm coming up to his rear trying to make a decision as to
contest him with my short trench knife or let him have a short burst from
the Tommy gun. I choose the latter, because that trench knife seemed
mighty short at that time. I knew I couldn't let this German get on
the other side of the fence, he could have destroyed us with grenades.
When I fired a short burst (three rounds) Lt. Foley sounds off, "Who in the
hell's firing the Tommy gun?" I sound off "It's me", he knew who it
was and that closed that chapter.
In the meantime, a self-propelled gun fires two rounds in
our direction and moves from the circle. The 2nd plt. moves to the square
and occupies the Southeast side, the 3rd plt. follows up and ties on with
them. We, the 1st, move up and tie in with them. This is leaving
the North side open. At this time Capt. Adams (the Co. Commander)
takes the 2nd plt. and moves out for a look at the Nijmegen bridge.
Higher intelligence has passed the word that demolition controls are housed
in the Belvedere. The Belvedere is part of Charles the Great's old fort that
still remains in Nijmegen. Its location positions it as a tower over-looking
the bridge from the south side.
The Adams force attacked the German strong point around
the Belvedere. In this action Sgt. Alvin Henderson (Texas) was killed. Sgt.
Henderson ran through machine gun fire to throw phosphorous grenades into
the building. Withdrawing back across the street Sgt. Henderson was mortally
wounded. Sgt. Henderson was awarded, posthumously, the Distinguished Service
Cross. Capt. Adams and this plt. were encircled in the building in this
vicinity for three days and nights before relief could reach them.
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