Direction was enlarged by attached units, namely; two platoons from the 712 tanks, two platoons from
the 74th tank destroyers, and one platoon from A Company, 81st Chemical Mortar Battalion, plus
Liaison Officer from the 5th Div-Arty, and an officer from B Battery, 943rd F.A. The Battalion
switchboard looked like a civilian board for there were so many lines coming into it, thirty in all. We
finally established a separate FDC for the attached units, with a few from the battalion running it under
the able guidance of Lt. Green as S3 and S/Sgt. Roy Compton as his assistant. Sgt. Compton was from
A Battery. The Red Cross clubmobile visited us twice during our stay here. One Sunday afternoon we
were visited by either our first buzz bomb, or perhaps one of those jet propelled jobs. No one was sure,
for the clouds were low hanging, and the plane, or object was not easily identified. Here we received
our first cigarette rations in a long while. Rumors were circulating around that soon there would be
three day passes to Paris! No one really believed it, but it was something to mull over in one's mind. A
few days later six men went to Paris from this Battalion. So, it was not just a rumor! One night while
Fort Driant was serenading us with 15 cm guns a shell went right through the wall of the room
immediately next to where Colonel Munson was sleeping, bursting there, and he didn't even wake up!
Must be wonderful to be a heavy sleeper! More rumors. We were to be relieved by a brand-new outfit,
the 10th Armored, and go back for a rest. We left for Arcourt on November 2nd, twenty-six miles to the
rear. The 10th took over lock, stock and barrel. Even moved their self-propelled guns into our gun
positions.
November 3rd we had reveille, calisthenics, and all the trimmings at a training program provides.
A rest? Everyone realizes that there is something big being cooked up, for we were told that the position
that we moved into there would be no moving around, and all insignias would be covered up.
On the 5th, Sunday, there was no training schedule, but everybody was alerted for a night move.
We took off at dusk and drove blackout for thirty-five miles right into the heart of the Maginot Line.
Just west of the Moselle River. The batteries were all told to lie low during the day, and to eliminate all
unnecessary movement. The CP was set up in a large two-story fort with electric lights and ventilation
system. The next few days nothing was done except to sit around and wait for H-Hour to arrive.
Attached to us was a 241st Group Artillery, and again we formed another F.D.C. using tanks in battery
formation, using them as guns for interdiction only. We know now that the Moselle is to be our task,
and the Fort Koenigsmacher is one of the main obstacles, after once across.
H-Hour finally arrived on the morning of the 9th, 0300. This time we played a trick on Heinie
and never fired a round across in the sector that the infantry was to take, they went over, on boats and
after awhile a footbridge. At least two battalions across before the Germans knew what was afoot. That
was when we started firing on selected targets. The infantry was to take the high ground around
Koenigsmacher also the fort itself. Liaison 1 and 3 went over with the first wave to get communications
in back to our F.D.C. The forward observers with first wave were; Lts. D'Angelo, Coleman, Buchanan
and Murray. The heavy rains had made the river three times its normal width, and it was now a fast-
moving torrent. Good progress was made after reaching the other side, but the need for dry clothing and
supplies was most urgent. On the 10th, Lt. Lloyd Watland, one of our Liaison pilots dropped food,
clothing and explosives to the infantry, who were fighting near the fort. Composition C was dropped to
the 1st Battalion so that they could blow the strong Fort Koenigsmacher, an obstacle for any further
progress. The engineers were desperately trying to bridge the swollen torrent, and for their protection
we kept constant cloud of smoke between them and the high ground further ahead from which the
enemy could observe all activity. Several times they had the bridge completed only to have the river
wash it away. Finally a bridge was in and we were told to get ready to cross. Also word was gotten to
us that the Fort had fallen, with a total of 240 prisoners, including the Commandant. The capture of this
fort now made it easier for all to move, and made for more flexible maneuvering. We moved down to
 |
 |
 |