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22 Sept. 44 |
Enemy activity not as active as had been. Lt. Foley
issued an order to the 1st plt. to bury our dead. Sgt. Van Enwyck gives me
this detail. I take several men with entrenching tools and start digging a
massive grave for our eleven KIA's. Sgt. Van Enwyck and I recover the
bodies and lay them out for burial. There was Cpl. Pierce, a fine
soldier, Pfc. Bell, a replacement who was always asking about the Normandy
operation, the Lt., plt. Ldr. of the "G" Co. plt. These bodies were laid in
the grave with faces uncovered. I tell Sgt. Van Enwyck that we must cover
the faces of these comrades before covering them with dirt. Van Enwyck
details four men; he and these four make a dash for the guest house (tavern)
and secure table cloths. They return without being fired upon. We cover our
deceased comrades and bury them with respect. A cross was made from a tree
we chopped down and placed at the center of the grave. A dog tag from each
body was draped over the cross leaving identity of our comrades.
We are very low on ammo. No re-supply since we have been on
the hill. Around 2200 hrs. (10:00) Lt. Foley requested a volunteer from the
1st plt. to go to Regt. Pfc. Bongie [sic, Bonge] told me he could make it to
Regt. through the Germans. His only sweat and fear is getting back on
Devil's Hill without being shot by our troops. I assure him I'll stand guard
and await his return. Our signal was when he approached the Hill to call
"Blue". Bongie was briefed and he was on his way. Sometime
before morning I heard his voice, loud and clear, "Blue". I answered,
"Come on up Bongie." Pfc. Bongie had contacted Regt. and led an ammo
carrying detail back to Devil's Hill. Pfc. Bongie is one of the many heroes
that are not on record for valor. |
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24 Sept. 44 |
Rumors have reached us that the British have linked up and
the Nijmegen bridge in our hands. Around noon "A" Company of the 504
Parachute Infantry Regiment moves in to relieve us. Now
Devil's Hill is no longer isolated, it has been a part of the Division
perimeter.
As the Foley force departs the hill we glance back for the
last look at the mass grave of our comrades. We paid a high price for this
hill, but we knew we had been trained for this type mission. All were
volunteer and this was part of a day's work for AIRBORNE troops. We move
back to a well-deserved 24-hour rest area and join Capt. Adams and our 2nd
plt. /// Ends ///
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