Post by connie on Apr 3, 2021 21:36:25 GMT -5
Ash, Richard H. 424-B
CUB MAGAZINE: Volume 54, No3, April 1998:
ASH, RICHARD H. 424/B, 8212 GUINEVERE DR ANNANDALE. VA 22003-1378 c-mail, Rash80 6750,aol com
I was not aware of the 106th Association until I found the 106th Web Page and corresponded with John Kline. After WWII I lost all contact with those with whom I served in Co. B. 424th.
I was a member of the Advanced ASTP and we were attending engineering school at the University of Tennessee when more troops were needed overseas. Many of us (perhaps most of us) were transferred from U of T to the 106th at Atterbury in the Spring of 1944. I was assigned to Company B. 424th. The only other soldier that I recall accompanying me to Co. B from U of T was Ula Virgil McKibbin from Mississippi. He is now deceased. McKibbin and I were initially trained as company scouts, but before going overseas I was promoted to Sgt. of a 60 mm Mortar Squad in the Weapons Platoon.
After crossing the Atlantic on the Aquitania our Company, perhaps Battalion? Staged at Danbury, England. Our weapons platoon was billeted above "The Angel," a pub on the town square. After crossing the channel and just prior to December 16th, Co. B was billeted at a town named Lommersweiler. We were a reserve company in a reserve battalion. On the 16th we were carted out hurriedly and rushed to the "front." My recollections of the succeeding 5 days are hazy but I recast total chaos and extreme cold. Probably because of the rush we were not property equipped or warmly dressed. As our officers perceived little tactical need for weapons platoon actions, I was pressed into duty with McKibbin as a company scout It was not long until McKibbin and I were separated from our unit and wandered in the forest seeking friendly troops. Whichever
way we went we met hostile fire.
On about December 21 or 22 we found a US Artillery Unit and we wandered into a warm tent. I took my boots off for the first time in 5 or 6 days to get my feet warm and my socks .d shoes dried. It was immediately apparent that I would not be able to get my boots back on. My toes had been frozen. I was evacuated together with thousands of others through the hospital system. I was more fortunate than most, many lost toes to gangrene. 1 did not.
I know there were many of us from the Univ. of Tennessee ASTP unit who came to the 106th and were assigned throughout the Division. I would particularly like to hear from any of them who were at Tennessee when I was.
VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT 16 minute Audio Interview: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/4807/thread
FURTHER DISCUSSIONS OF TRENCH FOOT: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/363/thread
CUB MAGAZINE: Volume 54, No3, April 1998:
ASH, RICHARD H. 424/B, 8212 GUINEVERE DR ANNANDALE. VA 22003-1378 c-mail, Rash80 6750,aol com
I was not aware of the 106th Association until I found the 106th Web Page and corresponded with John Kline. After WWII I lost all contact with those with whom I served in Co. B. 424th.
I was a member of the Advanced ASTP and we were attending engineering school at the University of Tennessee when more troops were needed overseas. Many of us (perhaps most of us) were transferred from U of T to the 106th at Atterbury in the Spring of 1944. I was assigned to Company B. 424th. The only other soldier that I recall accompanying me to Co. B from U of T was Ula Virgil McKibbin from Mississippi. He is now deceased. McKibbin and I were initially trained as company scouts, but before going overseas I was promoted to Sgt. of a 60 mm Mortar Squad in the Weapons Platoon.
After crossing the Atlantic on the Aquitania our Company, perhaps Battalion? Staged at Danbury, England. Our weapons platoon was billeted above "The Angel," a pub on the town square. After crossing the channel and just prior to December 16th, Co. B was billeted at a town named Lommersweiler. We were a reserve company in a reserve battalion. On the 16th we were carted out hurriedly and rushed to the "front." My recollections of the succeeding 5 days are hazy but I recast total chaos and extreme cold. Probably because of the rush we were not property equipped or warmly dressed. As our officers perceived little tactical need for weapons platoon actions, I was pressed into duty with McKibbin as a company scout It was not long until McKibbin and I were separated from our unit and wandered in the forest seeking friendly troops. Whichever
way we went we met hostile fire.
On about December 21 or 22 we found a US Artillery Unit and we wandered into a warm tent. I took my boots off for the first time in 5 or 6 days to get my feet warm and my socks .d shoes dried. It was immediately apparent that I would not be able to get my boots back on. My toes had been frozen. I was evacuated together with thousands of others through the hospital system. I was more fortunate than most, many lost toes to gangrene. 1 did not.
I know there were many of us from the Univ. of Tennessee ASTP unit who came to the 106th and were assigned throughout the Division. I would particularly like to hear from any of them who were at Tennessee when I was.
VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT 16 minute Audio Interview: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/4807/thread
FURTHER DISCUSSIONS OF TRENCH FOOT: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/363/thread