About Letter 191

Bill is safe, warm and dry. He says with satisfaction "I move around and can't hear the 88's and burp guns." He is recommended for the Bronze Star but doubts that he will get it. In a sign that combat is over he expects to get K.P in a few days, the first in more than 6 months.

Letter 191- April 26, 1945

April 26, 1945
(Germany)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

Everything around here is nice and quiet now, the payday poker game is all over, most everyone is asleep, I just found some stationery and some ink—put it all together and a letter is inevitable. I even have a “conquered” German pen that writes half way decently. All in all everything seems pretty copisidec, copesedic--I got a “helluva” nerve trying to use those two-bit words.

It looks like rain outside but I should worry. I shouldn’t say that. There’s a lot of fellows over here that aren’t in houses and for their sake I hope it doesn’t rain. As for myself I’m back for a rest of undetermined length of time; the longer the better. I move around and can’t hear the “88’s” and “burp guns”. I’m quite satisfied.

Here’s something that will give you a laugh. I’ve been recommended for the Bronze Star. I doubt very seriously whether I will get it but anyway I’ve been recommended.

If this army doesn’t stop getting all bawled up I’ll be a millionaire before this war is over. When I went to Paris I drew $30.oo partial payment for expenses. Therefore, I went to get paid today without any hope of getting money. However, they paid me anyway. Later on they called me over to the C.P. and paid me again--???!! Since I have no aversion to money, I said nothing.

I think I’m going to get K.P. in a few days. It’s been better than 6 months since I last had it so it’ll be quite an experience.

That about does it so--

Best Love,
Bill

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

On April 16th the Second Battalion spreads out from the river to Fein Woods and begins attacking parallel to the Neckar. The Third Battalion is already in the area. The 397th is relieved of its right flank by A Company and Battalion HQ in a hilltop castle at Untergruppenbach and a pincers movement on a huge wooded area beyond a long low plain to the south is planned. Able is assigned the task of taking Helfenberg at the edge of the woods.

A series of wooded noses leading to a large forest defend the approaches to the roads leading southward. These noses are well zeroed in and grazing fire from automatic weapons further interdict their approaches. The attack on Helfenberg moves across one of these noses. There it is stopped. No amount of artillery and small arms fire can force a wedge into the town during the afternoon of April 17th. The order is made to dig in and wait. The position is deemed to be too precarious and a withdrawal is made after dark, the casualties being carried without litters.

The next morning another try at Helfenberg over the same route is successful. Jerry had pulled out because of pressure by the Third Battalion. The night of April 18-19 is spent peacefully in Helfenberg. The next night after motor movement to Nassach Jerry artillery causes considerable loss of sleep, but after clearing the woods to the bottom of the valley Company A, 399th Infantry Regiment sees its fight finished. What remains is a rip-roaring, loot-accumulating rat race.

The rat races are perhaps the best remembered of the campaigns conducted by the Company. No one is able to get much sleep during those days. On April 20 Winnenden is found to be full of rear echelon enemy and is set on fire. The next day an enemy held bridge is taken and crossed. Five times during the day orders are received to hold up and defend. On the fourth order everyone gathers at the local beer hall and a huge songfest commences which stops only when the Colonel comes in and tells the men to be on their way. Lobenrot is occupied at midnight April 21. The town is so small that every house is used and still the men are crowded.

Everything is a big rush southward. TD’s loaded with dusty dogfaces, a few carrying radios, others wearing derby hats or toppers, one guy nearly falling off waving a lady’s panties, artillery and chow trains capturing towns for themselves. At about noon on April 23 the Company rolls into Oberesslingen. Word is received that the French have taken Stuttgart. The realization sets in that Able Company will not see combat again. There are only a handful of the 190-odd originals left. The men are a long way from home and the future is clouded by the realization that there still is a war on the other side of the world.

About Letter 190

Bill is back with Company A, having returned from Paris. He is in a "nice, comfortable and what is more important a safe place." The war news is good. "Unless the Jerries try to make a stand in the Bavarian Alps the thing should be over in a few days or week at the most."

Letter 190- April 24, 1945

April 24, 1945
(Germany)

Dear Mudder and Dad,

Well, I’m back from Paris now. The beautiful interlude is “finis, caput”. Alas, alas. However, I’m in a nice, comfortable and what is more important a safe place and it looks as if I may stay here for quite some time. I know that’ll make you feel better. If feel much better myself. Here I live among the comforts of home—running water, electric lights, radio and the like. Almost as good as Paris. On second thought it couldn’t be that good. First thing you know I’ll be off in a blue daze of shined shoes, clean shave, ties, etc. I’ll be back in the army.

The news sure looks good these days. The armies are moving around so fast that nobody knows what the score is. Unless the Jerries try to make a stand in the Bavarian Alps the thing should be over in a few days or week at the most. I hate to make predictions, however.

The weather here has been beautiful for the last few days; real California weather. I never have seen such bright clear days in Europe. The horizon is even rippling with heat waves.

I received several letters from you yesterday. They were the first ones in about 2 weeks so they really were appreciated.

There’s not much else to say right now so until I work up enough energy to write again…..

Best Love,
Bill

Between the Lines: Bill in Combat April 10-15, 1945

Higher echelon, having interrogated a few of the youths captured at Heilbronn decides that a general counter-attack is to be launched against the city on April 10 or 11. Consequently, Able Company makes adjustments. The Second Platoon outposts its apartments and picks out supplementary positions along the railroad tracks, the First spreads thinner and forms strong points, the Third fortifies the left flank, and the mortars and artillery zeroes in fire to the front. Typically reliable, G-2 makes a wrong guess and on the twelfth of April, after the Second Battalion takes its positions, Able occupies Heilbronn garrison jointly with Baker. The edge of town is in the rear now, and in front are hills and woods, and Crailsheim. The 10th Armored is reported to be having trouble in Crailsheim and the 44th is sent in to relieve them. In addition, the 100th breaks out eastward in an attempt to relieve pressure.

Before dawn on April 14, Charlie and Able jump off into the woods that straddle the hilly roadbed toward Crailsheim. It is a very rainy day, there are a number of enemy automatic weapons, and the woods are large. The attack progresses to the crest of the hill. Tanks arrive to cover the road, Charlie contacts Able by patrol and the positions are consolidated. Then direct fire is taken from enemy 88’s and orders come through to withdraw.

Unknown to the First Battalion, the 10th Armored pulls back from Crailsheim, the 397th moves around in front blocking any eastward attack and the French head south towards Stuttgart after failing to cross the Neckar River. As a result, the direction of attack moves southward. Following the retaking of Crailsheim by the 44th the left flank begins to move. Pressure on the right flank needs to be relieved, for the drive on the southern redoubt has begun. A large crescent shaped woods spreads along the hill crest from south of Heilbronn at Flein eastward to Untergruppenbach. It is the task of A and C Companies to clear these woods. Charlie remains in positions vacated by Able which in turn withdraws to the town of Flein where Baker Company has forced a toehold in the edge of the woods.

The next morning, April 15, Able Company jumps off through Baker and, straddling the crest of the ridge, heads for contact with Charlie coming around from the other side. Considerable 88 fire is encountered and a heavily defended road block slows progress. TD’s artillery and 81 mm. mortars help somewhat and the drive continues. Baker Co. and the tanks come up to help with the defense. The first night spent in the woods since Briedenbach is survived without bedrolls or hot chow.

Between the Lines: Bill in Combat April 6-9, 1945

It requires most of the night of April 5-6 for Able Company, relieved of Schweigern by the Second Battalion, to occupy Böckingen across the river from Heilbronn. The platoon leaders on their reconnaissance make, in effect, a single-handed capture of the town. It is believed that they are the first Allied troops in.

Heilbronn, on the Neckar River southeast of Frankfort, was, before Air Corps attacks and the arrival of the First Battalion with the rest of the Division, a vital rail and communications center whose marshaling yards and switchboard served the whole of Würtenburg and connected the redoubt of Southern Germany with Cologne and the Ruhr. Its strategic value is not underestimated by higher echelon, for the 10th Armored and 100th Infantry are ordered to attack it from two directions while the 44th, held in reserve is called on for support. As the action becomes tougher and German tactics more tenacious, much Corps Artillery, mainly the 250 and 36th FA Battalions are called on to help the howitzers of the 100th and the 10th Armored Artillery level the town. The 10th Armored, using typical armored tactics sweeps around the town from the north and holes up in Crailsheim, behind Heilbronn, and waits for the Infantry to clear the place. But the enemy had blown the bridges and set up prearranged artillery to cover most of its length. The 397th, however, crosses in assault boats, secures a foothold north of the outer town, and is closely followed by the 398th. Meanwhile, the First Battalion, in Böckingen all this time, has Charlie Company commit to assault boats at the southern section of the town. The 36th Engineer Battalion throws a half-dozen pontoon bridges over the river. At one time every combat unit of the 100th Division is fighting in the streets of Heilbronn save the Third Battalion of the 399th Regiment.

On April 8, the Second Battalion arrives at Böckingen. Able and Baker Companies, moving from two directions, arrive simultaneously at the footbridge. There is much confusion from a considerable store of “Weinbrand” found in Böckingen, and also from the fact that the bridge is under a heavy Jerry barrage at that moment. The state of confusion is best demonstrated by the fact that Company HQ of Able spearheads the crossing of the bridge into Heilbronn and runs into the midst of Baker’s Third Platoon. In addition some D Company mortars are on the other side, ahead of the riflemen. In due time the disposition of troops is straightened out and Dog’s mortars are recalled. Orders are issued to attack and clear the southern half of Heilbronn, up to the apartment houses at the city limits. In short order this is accomplished with little disturbance except to the civilian population and a few Russian factory workers hanging out their washing during the attack. Then the area is organized defensively with the First Platoon on the right near the river, Second in front straddling the main street, and the Third Platoon joining with Baker Company across the railroad tracks; the tactics become passive, the mortars and artillery commence tearing hell out of a few quite innocent looking houses. “Sweating it out” is the order of the day. Then come the “Screaming Meemies”, Hitler Jungend snipers, French fries, and the order to clear the rest of the town.

The First Platoon, having the most trouble, spreads out and moves forward until it holds the stretch between the river and Main Street at the edge of town. The Second Platoon captures three rows of two block long apartments with hack yards, no electricity, and connecting cellars. The Third swings left, facing the hills beyond the Heilbronn Garrison. At the same time Baker occupies the section of town at the front gate of the garrison.

The Battle of Heilbronn has become a battle of supply boats and communications, counterattacks and house to house battles, panzerfaust teams and automatic weapons, snipers and Screaming Meemies, King Tigers and Hitler Jugend. The food situation is never pressing: the doughboys diet on French Fries and bottled cherries.