Mayen was a town. It was practically wiped off the map by allied bombers who gave the
Heinies a modern version of old St. Nick's Christmas journey. Great craters covered one complete end
of the town, and large buildings in the center of town had wide cracks, radiating from stone lentels and
sills like spider webs. We went into position around Saffig, or the Battalion registered on targets across
the Rhine. The 4rth armored was to support our fires, but early the next morning our mission changed.
We were to cross the Moselle again. After once having fought so hard and at such a price, it seemed
that we had to take the “Damned” river again.
The picturesque town of Munstermaifeld was in good shape, and spring was definitely in the air,
as the batteries went into position near the town, on March 12th. In the afternoon of the next day, an
unwary enemy plane, coming over our area, was jumped by one of our planes a Lightning, and shot it
down. We remained here until the Doughs crossed the Moselle again.
At 0200 on the morning of the 14th infantry crossed the Moselle and made good progress. The
only opposition reported was that of heavy weapons shelling the bridgehead. Our Battalion march
ordered to Betxemerhof , and waited for the dark so we could cross under the cover of night. For quite a
while the army had been using artificial moonlight. Huge searchlights were set up some place in the
rear, with their powerful beams reflected off the clouds thus giving enough light to ensure safe travel by
trucks over narrow and treacherous roads. Just at dusk we pulled out of our position and formed for the
usual slow ant like pace of the approach and crossing the bridge. As the column formed, and S.P. gun
from across the river opened up on the bridgehead. On the far side, high on the hills that swept up from
the River, could be seen the muzzle flash of this gun. The flash, then a shell screening through the air,
and a loud crack, accompanied by a lurid flash, as a projectile landed. If he had swung over to his right
a little more we would all been at his mercy but fortunately he was more interested in something else,
for his shells kept landing about 600 yards away from us. It was a night filled with tension and
immediate danger did not slacken until we went into position to Brondenbach, a town spread out along
the Moselle. Because of the terrain we had to fire high angle, using a low charge.
The next morning bright and warm saw us waiting for the armor to get clear of the road so that
we could take off again. The Germans were fleeing rapidly, and our moves though short, were many.
We took off for Saabenhof. A long winding hill leading up from Brodenbach, gave us an opportunity to
see the magnificently scenic country that we were moving through. To imagine a more beautiful
variety of scenes was difficult, the rolling country with the Moselle curving in and around the sharp,
vine covered hills the towns were clean and well situated, and only slight evidence of any fighting. The
4th armored was still rolling out ahead of us.
Afternoon of the 16th, after a long ride through rough territory we hit the town of Hassenbach.
This town and areas around it had been hit. We fired into a wooded area beyond town, for the infantry
had run into a group of SS men, numbering about 70. A hard fight took place but the result was several
prisoners, and a few knocked out 20 mm ack-ack Guns and about 35 SS killed. Late that afternoon we
received a report that Lt. Hester had crashed in enemy held territory, progress in reaching this spot was
slow. Both men it was discovered at died in the crash. Well liked by all, they were to be missed very
much.
For the past few days many French and Polish laborers had been seen along the roads. As the
17th was St. Patrick's Day, Sgt. McEachern of Headquarters Battery saw fit to celebrate. In
commemoration of his patron Saint he proved that motorcycle riding was a snap: results, one sprained
ankle.
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