|
|
Post by connie on Dec 28, 2010 12:51:35 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by floydragsdale on Dec 29, 2010 12:51:45 GMT -5
On the evening of 14 January men of G Co. of the 424th dug slit trenches, in the Ardennes Forest, for a place to sleep. A fresh snow began to fall after midnight. It wasn’t a good night for sleeping. On the morning of 15 January, G Co. began its march to the next objective (Ennal).
Along the way we encountered snow that was knee deep, nevertheless onward the men trudged through the snow until the Company reached a clearing in the forest.
Apparently F (?) Co. of the 424th was also on the move toward Ennal.. The plan was for the men of units G & F to approach Ennal from the left and right perimeters.
F Co. signaled that they were in the area and would fire a flare of a certain color when they were ready to attack. At this point G Company continued its’ move, out of the forest, and down hill toward the town; then halted its’ approach to Ennal, waiting for the signal (flare) from F Company.
This situation became dangerous for about 19 G. Co. men who were on the side of a hill, dressed in olive drab clothing, and silhouetted against a fresh snow.
A German soldier emerged from one of the houses in Ennal to relieve himself and spotted the American soldiers on the hillside. At this point the fireworks began.
The writer of this narrative was there, on the side of that hill, and experienced the flurry of the gunfire.
Our Company Commander, about ten yards behind me (Lt. Tom Wilson), was killed; a man in our machine gun section was making a dash for the bottom of the hill and his legs were shot out from underneath him. He almost died from the loss of blood that morning. Another man near me was shot in the hip. Of the 19 men on that hillside, not many if any at all, escaped being hit by that gunfire. Before long, wounded men all around me, were crying, “Medic, help me.”
This situation went on for some time until a heavy fog set in; consequently, the Germans could no longer see u s. Being unable to get on my feet I crawled toward better cover.
A near by Ambulance crew spotted several of us and came to our rescue. Soon we were on our way to an aide station.
My newly acquired Springfield rifle was thrust aside that morning, on a hillside near Ennal, Belgium.
I’m aware of the German’s part of the story as some of them were taken prisoner later that day and through questioning, they reveled their account. The particulars were told to me when I returned to front line duty later on.
There’s more to the story, nevertheless, I’ll stop here. Enough said!
Floyd
424th Rgt.
NOTE FROM CONNIE:
I am certain that Floyd would have approved to a correction to his account. I know he valued accuracy. Floyd was hospitalized after this attack. His commander's death occurred in a later attack. But when he learned his commander was dead it is likely he assumed that it happened in the attack on Ennal.
|
|
roger
Active Member
Posts: 134 
|
Post by roger on Dec 29, 2010 16:02:03 GMT -5
Floyd
As usual, you bring such a personal view of the war to us....so much more interesting and believable without "interpretation" through someone who writes about something that they have been told! I hope you will continue to share with all of us...
Hope you had a great Christmas...and, here is wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2011! Thank you for your service.
Roger
|
|
|
|
Post by floydragsdale on Dec 30, 2010 11:35:39 GMT -5
Thank you Roger. I visisted Ennal, Belgium last September. Thanks to Carl W. and several of his friends, we visited the very spot where the action of 15 January took place.
The night of 14 January 1945 I experienced a dream fortelling of the action the next day (15th). The terrain in my dream and the actual scene are remarkably close to being identicle.
For many years, I did not disclose this story to anyone for fear of being ridiculed. Fifty years after the fact my thoughts were "The truth is the the truth and if someone doesn't beleive me, so what. That dream saved my life, consequently that is what matters more than anything else.
Floyd
|
|
|
|
Post by connie on Jan 2, 2011 11:01:07 GMT -5
Floyd, I totally believe your account of the dream the night before that saved your life. I understand the courage it takes to share such details. Thank you for your trust in us and your willingness to share the whole truth of your history.
|
|
|
|
Post by connie on May 19, 2013 13:46:46 GMT -5
Thought I should add a link here to a photo posted by Carl. It is a picture of Floyd taken in 2010 by a fence just above the spot in the field where Floyd had this experience under fire in January 1945. You can see the village of Ennal, Belgium in the valley below. The village is where the occupying German forces fired from: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/2666/thread |
|
