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Between the Rivers
Finally Lt Col Peach spoke to Capt Jacobs, who was communications officer as
well as Headquarters Battery Commander: "Jake, when they finish this move, the firing
batteries won't really be any farther from our present CP than they are now. Do you
suppose we could just leave the CP where it is, and lay wire to the batteries from there?"
Jake looked thoughtful. "Yes, sir, if we start early picking up some of our old
lines."
And so it was decided. I wasn't sure I liked this plan, but the only alternative,
setting up in a tent, wasn't very appealing either. Besides, nobody asked for my opinion. I
later wished that I had volunteered it, but I don't suppose it would have done any good.
I half-expected to see Col Theimer waiting for us when we got back from our
reconnaissance, but he wasn't. However, about one o'clock General Bixby dropped in to
see if we had moved yet. We had not: in fact we were getting ready to fire a preparation
for an attack by the 357th Infantry. And after that, we waited for word that the 343rd had
finished the move they were making. Since we were still reinforcing their fire, it didn't
make sense for us both to be on the road, unable to fire, at the same time.
We were notified about 2:30 that the 343rd was in their new position, and our C
Battery started to move at once, to be followed by A and B at half hour intervals.
Just before three o'clock, Bixby made another quick visit, looking so grim that
Peach had second thoughts about leaving the CP where it was. He and Capt Jacobs
started out to make a quick reconnaissance for a new location.
Too late. By the time they returned, they found Bixby was back again and waiting
for them with blood in his eye. He had made the obvious assumption that since the
command post had not moved, the battalion had not moved either.
Eric Peach started to explain, but before he could get farther than, "Sir, my firing
batteries - " Bixby cut him off. The general was in no mood for explanations.
"Peach, I've put up with all the foot-dragging I can take! You are relieved of
command. Turn the battalion over to your senior officer and report to my headquarters at
once." He glared around at the rest of us, as if deciding whether to arrest us as
accessories, then turned and stalked back to his vehicle.
We all stood there in shock. I had tears in my eyes. Eric Peach was a florid man,
but his face was pale in the waning sunlight. "Well," he said, "Doug, have Sgt Gilliland
make you up a general order assuming command. You know what to do after that as well
as I do." He looked around at the rest of us, Don Thomson, Jake Jacobs, Arlo Knowles,
me, and all the enlisted men from the Fire Direction Center and the S-2 Section.
Everybody except the journal clerk, Isadore Levine, who was in the hospital.
"I'll probably be seeing you again, but if I don't, it's been great working with you
all." He choked up a little as he spoke, and turned away hastily to go.
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