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20 Sept. 44 |
Two German soldiers came forward with arms raised as if to
surrender. At a distance of about fifty yards we could see that one of them
had something on his back. Shortly he fell forward and the second soldier
attempted to fire the machine gun that was attached to his comrade's back.
We had our sights set on them; they were riddled with gunfire. Later in the
morning we received an order to join the Foley force. As we moved from this
position a barrage of mortar fire came in; we were in luck to have moved
Just in time. We left the positions on the double and were fired on by a
machine gun. A bullet struck the heel of Pfc. Don Johnson's boot, partially
removing it. We were greeted by Lt. Foley as we arrived on the hill. We were
given a sector of the hill to defend.
The peculiar layout of the hill is about 200 yards long and 50 to 75 yds.
wide. The north, west and south sides angling to a 30°, the west end with a
gentle slope leading to a guest house approximately 200 yds.
From the foxhole I was occupying, I could see the bodies of
several of my comrades. Under the situation our troops had not had time to
collect and bury them. These had been victims of the initial attack the
evening before. On the north and east side several German bodies lay
sprawled. Both sides had paid a high price for control of the hill. At dusk
I thought it was a good time to give my Sub-Thompson a cleaning. Standing in
my foxhole, I began to disassemble it. The driving rod that is compressed
by a spring slipped by my thumb and flew away. This is the first time in
combat that I panicked. I went crazy feeling in the foxhole and around
the outside. I knew my life and others depended on that weapon. I got
myself together and formed a search plan. My plan was to start around
the fox hole patting the ground one hand span, second time around another
hand span and so on. About the time I was arms length out I felt that
driving rod. I re-assembled the weapon in darkness and was a pleased soldier
under those circumstances.
A few shots were fired after dark and Lt. Foley issued an
order from the Company Command Post, verbally (loud and clear). "Go easy on
the ammo, we're running low." Our position was no secret, the Germans knew
we were here. During the night only a few shots were fired and a couple of
grenades were dropped down the slope at German probing patrols. |
