Post by floydragsdale on Oct 29, 2013 10:39:05 GMT -5
Following is a letter to my Mother & sister-in-law written in March 1945. Doug, who signed the letter is is me. My Father's name was Floyd, so my middle name, Doug, was always used at home.
27 March 1945
France
Dear Mom & Betty:
Thought I would write you a letter as I have the afternoon off.
Mom, I got a letter from you dated 17 January 1945 last evening. It had a picture of Spot (family dog) in it.
We have had a change in the weather; rain. It rained most of yesterday evening. Today the sky is cloudy and it’s trying to rain.
Let me know if you sell the car and what you sold it for. I think it is a good idea to sell it while it’s worth something.
I guess by this time I can give you and idea of what happened to our outfit (424th Regiment) in December during the breakthrough (Battle of the Bulge).
On the 15th my buddy and I were on guard from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. The Krauts (Germans) had a 39 man patrol out in front of us. We could hear them but we couldn’t see them because they were unindefinable It sounded as if they were trying to cut our wire. We sat in our positions for about two and a half hours just listening and watching. Just as our relief was coming out we saw two Heinies (German Soldiers) skyllighted (image) and we shot them. All went well till 5:40 and then they started to shell us. All of our mortar squad was in the trenches (foxholes) and they couldn’t leave.
Two of us were left to fire the mortar and the squad leader to observe and give fire orders. I’d say we fired a good 500 rounds (mortar shells) that day. The Krauts just kept coming and the G.I.’s in our company mowed them down.
We had several close calls. One 88 shell just about dropped in our position. About noon the rest of the squad made it back to the mortar. Two of us carried ammunition all afternoon and part of the night. They shelled the hell out of us until 1:00 p.m. Then things began to quiet down a bit.
At two o’clock (a.m.) I went out to the lines to relieve another fellow. I stood there in six inches of ice cold water until 05:30 a.m. Then all hell broke loose.
The Jerries turned search lights on us and threw everything from mortar shells to shells from 16” guns at us. This lasted all day. That night we withdrew about four miles. We had to because they broke through on one of our flanks. We dug in and stayed there for three days. We were being surrounded so another withdrawal was necessary. Only one road was left open and that’s the one we took.
By this time our other two Regiments were completely cut off. They ran out of ammunition and food so there was only one thing to do and they did it. Surrender. Our Regiment, 424th, made it out with no time to spare. We stayed on line till the 23rd (Dec.) and was pulled back for a day to reorganize.
On the 24th (Dec.) we went on back on line again along side the 82nd Airborne (Div.). Boy what a rugged bunch they are.
I don‘t think anyone could have stopped the Germans when they first started.
I see that Drew Pearson said we turned tail and ran. It’s darn easy to sit in an easy chair and say “what you’d do” but it’s a horse of another color to be up here and try to do it. When our own tanks couldn’t stoop theirs how in the hell could anyone expect the Infantry to stop the tanks (German) with rifles?
I gave (a German soldier) a pint of blood while I was in the hospital. I don’t think he knew who gave it to him.
I received a box from you today. It had cigs (cigarettes), tobacco, candy bars and fruitcake in it. Many thanks for sending it.
I’m increasing my allotment to $50.00 and canceling my bond. The money is for you, Mom; so don’t save it for me. The allotment will not go into effect until the 1st of May. I’d like it to start immediately but there is nothing I can do about it.
I have some more letters to write so I’d better close. Will write again soon.
Love,
Doug
27 March 1945
France
Dear Mom & Betty:
Thought I would write you a letter as I have the afternoon off.
Mom, I got a letter from you dated 17 January 1945 last evening. It had a picture of Spot (family dog) in it.
We have had a change in the weather; rain. It rained most of yesterday evening. Today the sky is cloudy and it’s trying to rain.
Let me know if you sell the car and what you sold it for. I think it is a good idea to sell it while it’s worth something.
I guess by this time I can give you and idea of what happened to our outfit (424th Regiment) in December during the breakthrough (Battle of the Bulge).
On the 15th my buddy and I were on guard from 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. The Krauts (Germans) had a 39 man patrol out in front of us. We could hear them but we couldn’t see them because they were unindefinable It sounded as if they were trying to cut our wire. We sat in our positions for about two and a half hours just listening and watching. Just as our relief was coming out we saw two Heinies (German Soldiers) skyllighted (image) and we shot them. All went well till 5:40 and then they started to shell us. All of our mortar squad was in the trenches (foxholes) and they couldn’t leave.
Two of us were left to fire the mortar and the squad leader to observe and give fire orders. I’d say we fired a good 500 rounds (mortar shells) that day. The Krauts just kept coming and the G.I.’s in our company mowed them down.
We had several close calls. One 88 shell just about dropped in our position. About noon the rest of the squad made it back to the mortar. Two of us carried ammunition all afternoon and part of the night. They shelled the hell out of us until 1:00 p.m. Then things began to quiet down a bit.
At two o’clock (a.m.) I went out to the lines to relieve another fellow. I stood there in six inches of ice cold water until 05:30 a.m. Then all hell broke loose.
The Jerries turned search lights on us and threw everything from mortar shells to shells from 16” guns at us. This lasted all day. That night we withdrew about four miles. We had to because they broke through on one of our flanks. We dug in and stayed there for three days. We were being surrounded so another withdrawal was necessary. Only one road was left open and that’s the one we took.
By this time our other two Regiments were completely cut off. They ran out of ammunition and food so there was only one thing to do and they did it. Surrender. Our Regiment, 424th, made it out with no time to spare. We stayed on line till the 23rd (Dec.) and was pulled back for a day to reorganize.
On the 24th (Dec.) we went on back on line again along side the 82nd Airborne (Div.). Boy what a rugged bunch they are.
I don‘t think anyone could have stopped the Germans when they first started.
I see that Drew Pearson said we turned tail and ran. It’s darn easy to sit in an easy chair and say “what you’d do” but it’s a horse of another color to be up here and try to do it. When our own tanks couldn’t stoop theirs how in the hell could anyone expect the Infantry to stop the tanks (German) with rifles?
I gave (a German soldier) a pint of blood while I was in the hospital. I don’t think he knew who gave it to him.
I received a box from you today. It had cigs (cigarettes), tobacco, candy bars and fruitcake in it. Many thanks for sending it.
I’m increasing my allotment to $50.00 and canceling my bond. The money is for you, Mom; so don’t save it for me. The allotment will not go into effect until the 1st of May. I’d like it to start immediately but there is nothing I can do about it.
I have some more letters to write so I’d better close. Will write again soon.
Love,
Doug
