On 21 August 1944 at 0630 an HE 111 flew over our positions and was brought under fire by
our guns. He was immediately hit, set afire and crashed near us. Three of the crew were killed and two
wounded very badly. The sections participating in the kill ware B6, B1 and B12.
On 22 August 1944 the battle for the Falaise Gap had virtually ended, with complete destruction
of German elements in the pocket. The division was then ordered into assembly areas for a well needed
and well earned rest. We had a chance for some maintenance of equipment and were fortunate to have a
Red Cross Clubmobile visit us, as well as movies and a USO show arranged by special service.
On 23 August 1944 Pfc. Keller said Pvt. Lopez rejoined the organization. They had been left
behind in England due to illness and we warmly greeted them.
On 26 August 1944 at 0800 we left in a motor convoy and traveled east a distance of 160 miles
to the area of Fontainebleau; we set up at Samois sur Seine that night. On August 27th we crossed the
Seine River and traveled forty miles to Chenoise where we set up defense, the next day we took off
again and stopped short of the Marne River, in the vicinity of Condé en Brie.
We crossed the Marne on 28 August 1944 and proceeded north to Jonchery sur Vesle. We
suffered our first extensive loss at this point.
Section 1, when entering a field, struck a teller-mine and lost their truck. Sgt. Hale, Pfc. Haney,
Pvt. Tyler and Pfc. Kerns were injured. The first three were evacuated, but we were assured they would
be all right.
We then moved from Jonchery to a point near St Etienne, north of Reims, where we set up in
defensive positions supporting the field Artillery. The next day we moved a short distance to a point
near Warmervill, Northeast of Reims, where we again set up in a defensive position preparing to move
upon order.
We remained at Vandetre near Warmerville for six days. We had many loose ends to pick up.
All equipment was checked and cleaned. Everyone had a chance to bath in the Suippe River, which ran
through our positions. Clothes were washed, payday was welcomed and the men all had a chance to see
a few motion pictures held by special service. We organized trips into Reims, to visit the world famous
Cathedral. Many souvenirs were purchased and everyone appreciated the chance to visit this beautiful
city.
Two German prisoners were flushed out of a nearby wood by Section 2, and were promptly
evacuated. We were hearing all sorts of rumors, of Gen. Patton’s, hard driving elements before us and
nobody seemed to know where they were. One thing was certain though, everyone was anxious to start
moving again. We weren’t disappointed long either, for on Sept. 6th, we did move east – 92 miles,
passing through the famous scenes of previous wars.
We passed through the Argonne Forest and crossed the famous, Meuse River at Verdun, historic
city of American campaigns of l9l7-l9l8. We finally arrived at the vicinity of Eton a small town east and
north of Etain. We were greeted by rain, which was a promise of wetter things to come.
Our infantry hopped off on the 7th of September, and we followed. They encountered resistance,
and this coupled with the lack of good roads to our north, made it necessary to flank the enemy. In a day
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