Post by connie on Mar 13, 2018 17:51:44 GMT -5
Rutland, Roger M. 1st Sgt. 424 B
INDIANA MILITARY SITE: www.indianamilitary.org/106ID/SoThinkMenu/106thSTART.htm
Searchable Cub Magazines can be found along the sidebar
Source: Cub Magazine April/ May/ June 1988
How I remember The Battle at Coulee
by Roger Rutland, former 1st Sgt. B/424
This is how I remember January 9-13, 1945. We moved in around Spineux the night of January 9th. As we approached the house where I planned to set up Company Headquarters we heard a noise in the basement. We threw in a few hand-grenades and the German soldiers who had occupied the house got away in the dark.
We remained in the area until early morning January 13th. Company A and B of the 424th moved forward and by 1200 noon we had accomplished our first mission of the day. It was about noon when 1st Lt. McKay, Commanding Officer of A Company was killed.
Soon after noon we moved on toward Coulee with C Company taking the lead position. At 1400 we stopped fora break and it was at that time an artillery shell landed near us. 1st Lt. Herman Slutzky, Commanding Officer of B Company was wounded. 1st Lt. Char- les E. Brown assumed command of B/424 at that time. I assigned a man to take Lt. Slutzky to the Battalion Aid Station.
We continued on toward Coulee, through the deep snow, until 1700 (5:00PM). Near Coulee the German 88's hit us very hard. I was ordered to take over the charge of the Battalion, and to please not let the men run.
The Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Lamar A. Welch and S-2 Lt. Huddleston were hit. About fifteen men in my weapons platoon were killed on the spot. Col. Welch was hit in the hip and leg and could barely walk.
Lt. Huddleston had both legs blown off but was still alert enough to pack snow on the remaining part of his legs to help stop the bleeding. He directed the two men carrying him to the Aid Station and died after arriving there.
Lt. Daniel B. Woolcock of Company B was hit the same time as the others in the weapons platoon. T/Sgt Clair D. Adams and Pfc Thomas B. Cowan were assisting Lt. Woolcock when a shell landed near them killing Woolcock and Cowan and wounding Adams. All of the killing and maiming happened within five minutes.
We moved back several hundred yards and set up the best defense we could. It was dark at that time and there was no other action for the next few hours.
Colonel Welch had been wandering around for the past few hours in a daze. About 9:00PM he found me and wanted a cigarette. I could tell he was weak and had lost much blood. After he smoked and rested awhile I had a man take him to the Aid Station. I did not see him again until April.
A Major that I was not familiar with was sent, later that night, to take command of our Battalion. The next morning we were relieved by another Battalion and moved from our position near Coulee.
January 13, 1945 was without a doubt, the worst day of my life.
INDIANA MILITARY SITE: www.indianamilitary.org/106ID/SoThinkMenu/106thSTART.htm
Searchable Cub Magazines can be found along the sidebar
Source: Cub Magazine April/ May/ June 1988
How I remember The Battle at Coulee
by Roger Rutland, former 1st Sgt. B/424
This is how I remember January 9-13, 1945. We moved in around Spineux the night of January 9th. As we approached the house where I planned to set up Company Headquarters we heard a noise in the basement. We threw in a few hand-grenades and the German soldiers who had occupied the house got away in the dark.
We remained in the area until early morning January 13th. Company A and B of the 424th moved forward and by 1200 noon we had accomplished our first mission of the day. It was about noon when 1st Lt. McKay, Commanding Officer of A Company was killed.
Soon after noon we moved on toward Coulee with C Company taking the lead position. At 1400 we stopped fora break and it was at that time an artillery shell landed near us. 1st Lt. Herman Slutzky, Commanding Officer of B Company was wounded. 1st Lt. Char- les E. Brown assumed command of B/424 at that time. I assigned a man to take Lt. Slutzky to the Battalion Aid Station.
We continued on toward Coulee, through the deep snow, until 1700 (5:00PM). Near Coulee the German 88's hit us very hard. I was ordered to take over the charge of the Battalion, and to please not let the men run.
The Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Lamar A. Welch and S-2 Lt. Huddleston were hit. About fifteen men in my weapons platoon were killed on the spot. Col. Welch was hit in the hip and leg and could barely walk.
Lt. Huddleston had both legs blown off but was still alert enough to pack snow on the remaining part of his legs to help stop the bleeding. He directed the two men carrying him to the Aid Station and died after arriving there.
Lt. Daniel B. Woolcock of Company B was hit the same time as the others in the weapons platoon. T/Sgt Clair D. Adams and Pfc Thomas B. Cowan were assisting Lt. Woolcock when a shell landed near them killing Woolcock and Cowan and wounding Adams. All of the killing and maiming happened within five minutes.
We moved back several hundred yards and set up the best defense we could. It was dark at that time and there was no other action for the next few hours.
Colonel Welch had been wandering around for the past few hours in a daze. About 9:00PM he found me and wanted a cigarette. I could tell he was weak and had lost much blood. After he smoked and rested awhile I had a man take him to the Aid Station. I did not see him again until April.
A Major that I was not familiar with was sent, later that night, to take command of our Battalion. The next morning we were relieved by another Battalion and moved from our position near Coulee.
January 13, 1945 was without a doubt, the worst day of my life.