About Letter 186

For the first time Bill writes from German soil. Things continue at lighting speed. "Armies tearing here and there.....Patton, I fully expect will be fighting in China in a few weeks." He describes Germany as "rich and beautiful" except for the towns where "the effectivenes of our air corps is quite evident". The people, Bill says "appear well fed and are anxious to please us (they're quite afraid of us)."

Letter 186- March 29, 1945

March 29, 1945
(Germany)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

This has sure been an exciting time these past few days. Armies tearing here and there. The war’s been going so fast that we really don’t know what the score is. I suppose the headlines at home are a foot high. There have been so many sensational advances during the past few days that the Stars and Stripes has to put items that ordinarily rate two full columns on the front page somewhere in with the comics. Patton, I fully expect, will be fighting in China in a few weeks if he continues to push as he has during the past week.

The mail situation is about the same. I believe airmail is still faster that V-Mail, and now they don’t even put the V-Mail in envelopes.

I suppose you are eager to hear about Germany. I don’t know what I can say but I’ll tell you a little anyway. Germany, as much as I’ve seen of it is rich and beautiful. In towns, of course, the effectiveness of our air corps is quite evident. Nevertheless, Germany has France beaten all hollow. The houses in Germany are clean, bright, and well appointed. Even their plumbing is second only to ours. The people appear well fed and are quite anxious to please us (they’re quite afraid of us) and, they all claim to be ANTI-NAZI, GOOD PROTESTANTS OR CATHOLICS as the case may be, and every damn one of them has at least 3 close relations living in America. About that time I feel like slapping them in the face with a rifle butt. Oddly enough they don’t know or pretend they don’t know who they’re fighting. One man thought we’re English, another Russian??!!, and several said we’re Canadians. Either they’re terribly stupid or awful liars—maybe both. That’s about all that’s general enough to write. Censorship is pretty strict.

I don’t remember whether or not I told you in my last letter but I received a letter from Bob Brewer the other day written on the 11th. He told me about his wound and getting married.

It’s raining like the devil outside now. I’m glad I’m indoors.

Chow will be here in a minute so it gives me an excuse to close.

Best Love,
Bill

Between the Lines: Bill in Combat March 16-24, 1945

The night of March 16 A Company spends the better part of twelve hours in the city of Bitche. In the morning of March 17, 1945 the First Battalion, 399th Infantry Regiment moves northeast, through the defenses of the “Ensemble of Bitche” to a ridge of hills beyond Roppertswiller at the German Border. No exact hour is known, but at some time in the late afternoon of the 17th Company A crosses into Germany. Little enemy resistance is met and no casualties are taken. Shortly after securing their position the First Battalion is relieved and returns to France near Breidenback.

On the morning of March 22, with Charlie Company as the task force and Able forming the main striking force, the First Battalion becomes mechanized and heads for the Rhine on tanks, trucks, bulldozers and jeeps. The tank ride is through lines of “Kriegs Gefangenen”, Germans marching to the rear without guards, through towns of all sizes, and past ever-present white surrender flags until the Lauter River is reached, halfway to the Rhine. The highway bridge across the river had been blown and is unusable. While task force engineers, using several dozen Mongolian slave laborers from a camp by the crossing work feverously to rebuild the bridge, A Company discovers a foot-bridge, detrucks and the drive continues. After a two-hour march the tanks and trucks arrive and the movement is once again mechanized, complete with bulldozer. The radio is so jammed with messages from all kinds of outfits headed for the Rhine, that it is decided to stop at Deidesheim, a few miles west of the Rhine. In the morning of March 23 the ride continues, and with Charlie Company in the lead the First Battalion arrives at the outskirts of Ludwigshafen, near the west bank of the Rhine. Here they link-up with the 94th Division of Patton’s Third Army. Thus the Saar is isolated in less than 24 hours with no casualties within the unit.

On March 24th Charlie Company takes up positions along the west bank among the ruins of Ludwigshafen while Co. A forms a line with the Third Battalion to the south along the river. The Germans, for the most part had pulled as many of themselves as possible back across the river leaving an abundant amount of loot available for the American troops to collect. In fact, souvenirs are accumulated in such quantities that the mail orderly must spend half a day in package wrapping, addressing and postal regulation procedures. Able Company is withdrawn to housing facilities courtesy of the Maudach Chamber of Commerce.

About Letter 185

Bill struggles to write this letter using a "lousy Jerry pen." Things are moving so fast that "nobody can tell what's going to happen the next minute." He receives 7 letters from home. In closing Bill laments, " I wish I could tell you what's going on here."

Letter 185- March 24, 1945

March 24, 1945
(France)
Dear Mudder and Dad,

I don’t know if you will be able to read this. I’m trying to write with a lousy Jerry pen.

Things are moving so fast these days that I don’t know what’s what. Nobody can tell what’s going to happen the next minute.

This won’t be much of a letter but I’d better write while I can. I received my first mail in several days this evening, and I got 7 letters.

By the way, I got a letter from Bob Brewer the other day. It had been written on the eleventh. He said that he didn’t know whether or not the army medics wanted to operate on that head wound. Too dangerous. I understand he wants to get married soon.

I can’t stop thinking about the progress of this the war (damned this pen). I wish I could tell you about what’s going on here. Oh.

Gotta close. “Helluva” letter, huh?

Best Love,
Bill

Between the Lines: Bill in Combat March 5-15, 1945

On March 11 Company A is sent back to the Garrison position in the Bitche sector. Back at the Garrison everyone senses something big in the air. Men from the rear bring tales of feverish preparation, such as the massing of units and the building up of supplies. By the 14th the Company knows that the big push is about to start.

On March 15 Able moves into the attack, retaking the old positions of December 15 outside of Bitche. Some of the men move into the same foxhole they previously occupied. They meet light resistance. That evening a patrol of the Second Platoon is sent out from the positions to learn enemy points of resistance. At a distance of 500 yards the patrol is pinned down by machine-gun fire. It looks as if the morning attack will be rough.

The following morning, March 16, the Company shoves off. Proceeding cautiously, the men discover that the enemy strong points encountered the night before have been evacuated during the night. The soldiers move all the way down into Bitche without meeting resistance. The Germans are again on the run.

Bitche shows many signs of the winter siege. The first thing most men see upon entering the main part of town is a huge German Tiger tank knocked out at an intersection. The XII Tactical Air Corps had done a terrific job of smashing important targets. Many evidences of the effects of Corps Artillery are present too.

The French who still remain in Bitche are overjoyed to see the long awaited entrance of American troops as well as an end to the siege and destruction of the city. This marks the first time in history, dating back to the 17th Century when Louis XIV had the bastion built, that its defenses fail. The city had held out against the Prussians in 1870, again during the First World War, and finally against the Nazis in 1940.

Able Company continues through the city and directly along the main route from Bitche toward Camp de Bitche. Tanks are to follow the Company. Fire is opened upon an enemy OP, but no resistance is met until the edge of the camp is reached. At this time no tanks are available. The enemy detects the unit’s approach and plasters the general area where the men are deployed with mortars and SP guns. It is decided to go in without the tanks, squad by squad. A squad from the Second Platoon stealthily works its way into the first building into the camp. Each squad advances man by man, until the Platoon holds the building. Finally the enemy spots the new position and concentrates mortar fire on the building. Only about half the Company has worked its way into the camp at this time. As soon as the entire unit is moved into the camp the platoons begin to spread out and prisoners are taken. Meanwhile the enemy fires on the Company with tanks. Rapid action taken by a bazooka team succeeds in destroying the lead tank and its crew. Pushing steadily in conjunction with other units, Company A finally secures the greater part of the garrison.

Chow is brought up after dark and the Company is relieved. The march back to Bitche is a real opportunity for reflection. Fires dotting the countryside dispel the tired thoughts of loneliness as each dogface trudges through the all encompassing darkness. Houses are ready at Bitche. After fighting all day it is the greatest of luxuries to roll up on the floor and sleep.

About Letter 184

Bill apologizes for the condition of his last letter saying, "it had gone through a battle and about 5 days inside my helmet before I was able to mail it." Company A is back off the line for a brief respite. "One minute a person is neck deep in this 'unpleasantness' and the next he is hardly aware that there's a war going on....Sessti la Guirri."