Post by floydragsdale on Dec 11, 2009 12:52:57 GMT -5
Sixty-five years ago! The 424th Regiment hiked to the front lines from our bivouac area in the Ardennes Forest. My Company (G Co, 2nd Battalion) hiked in a column of 2's over hills and valleys until we reached our destination, the front lines and the squad of the 2nd Division we would be relieving of their front lines positions.
The 2nd division men greeted us by saying,"You men are getting a piece of cake up here"; we have only lost one man in six weeks and it was his fault because he went souvenir hunting" Shoot at the Jerries once in a while, just to let them know you are here.
I was in the 60mm Mortar Section and, we simply traded our mortar for theirs. After all, their weapons were already zeroed in on enemy targets. We fired a few shells at several places and sure enough, they hit the bulls eye each time.
The 2nd Division men bid us goodbye and good luck; we were on our own.
There were no preparations to make; men of the 2nd Division had done it all. There were bunkers for a place to rest; a latrine trench was already dug and in use. Wow! we weren't used to such a good deal as this.
However, a somber feeling came over me and everyone else too, as we stood our watch in foxholes and observed the"dragons teeth tank traps and German fortifications" across no mans land in front of us. This was the Seigfried line that I used to see in news reels in the thearer back home. Now, this was the real thing.
During the night we could hear the sounds of what we thought were heavy vehicle motors and that was reported to our Company Headquarters.
Nevertheless, for three days, life was almost too easy for frontline troops. Our Company Commander, after a front line inspection of our battle positions on the 15th said, "You men are getting sloppy, you haven't been shaving and you look like a bunch of tramps.
A six'oclock inspection was ordered for the next morning. All weapons were to be "spotless clean and every man was to be clean shaved", the old man said.
I vividly remember using my helmet with ice water in it to shave that afternoon. I don't believe I had a chance to shave for another three or four weeks after that.
Our Company Commander was cheated out of his inspection by ten minutes; the Battle of The Bulge began at ten minutes to six in the morning of the next day.
We were all spruced up for a campaign that was to last for the next six weeks; however we only stayed inspection ready for a few minutes; we were now being introduced to the Grand-daddy of all WWII battles.
Floyd,
424th Regiment
The 2nd division men greeted us by saying,"You men are getting a piece of cake up here"; we have only lost one man in six weeks and it was his fault because he went souvenir hunting" Shoot at the Jerries once in a while, just to let them know you are here.
I was in the 60mm Mortar Section and, we simply traded our mortar for theirs. After all, their weapons were already zeroed in on enemy targets. We fired a few shells at several places and sure enough, they hit the bulls eye each time.
The 2nd Division men bid us goodbye and good luck; we were on our own.
There were no preparations to make; men of the 2nd Division had done it all. There were bunkers for a place to rest; a latrine trench was already dug and in use. Wow! we weren't used to such a good deal as this.
However, a somber feeling came over me and everyone else too, as we stood our watch in foxholes and observed the"dragons teeth tank traps and German fortifications" across no mans land in front of us. This was the Seigfried line that I used to see in news reels in the thearer back home. Now, this was the real thing.
During the night we could hear the sounds of what we thought were heavy vehicle motors and that was reported to our Company Headquarters.
Nevertheless, for three days, life was almost too easy for frontline troops. Our Company Commander, after a front line inspection of our battle positions on the 15th said, "You men are getting sloppy, you haven't been shaving and you look like a bunch of tramps.
A six'oclock inspection was ordered for the next morning. All weapons were to be "spotless clean and every man was to be clean shaved", the old man said.
I vividly remember using my helmet with ice water in it to shave that afternoon. I don't believe I had a chance to shave for another three or four weeks after that.
Our Company Commander was cheated out of his inspection by ten minutes; the Battle of The Bulge began at ten minutes to six in the morning of the next day.
We were all spruced up for a campaign that was to last for the next six weeks; however we only stayed inspection ready for a few minutes; we were now being introduced to the Grand-daddy of all WWII battles.
Floyd,
424th Regiment
