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Upstarts
Whatever the early relationship between Richter and Smith, Rick kept abreast of
what was going on, and he was a great favorite with Smith's staff and with most of the
infantrymen, officers and enlisted, who knew him. I think one reason was that he feared
absolutely nothing. When enemy artillery fire came in, he did not deign to take cover, but
continued wandering around, alternately searching for bric-a-brac and making
disparaging comments on the efficacy of German artillery. The fact that he was hard of
hearing probably had something to do with this, but it was not the whole story.
The 2nd Battalion of the 359th was the only one that retained its original
commander, Lt Col Gorton, who had commanded it ever since Camp Barkeley. He was a
calm, stubborn man, friendly in a sardonic way, considerate of his men, but a rebel
against authority. His running mate was 1st Lt (later Capt) Maurice Smith. Maurie was an
excellent man except for his violent temper which kept him in constant hot water, and his
perennial conviction that he was being persecuted. He was personally courageous, but
could not take it for granted like Richter or dramatize it like Beck. He got along
surprisingly well with Gorton, whom he admired, although they occasionally struck
sparks, as a combination of steely temper and flinty stubbornness might be expected to
do.
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