HISTORY
SHORT
ACCOUNT ACCOUNT
OF
BATTERY BATTERY
OF
“A", “A", 680TH
I
ROSTER
IV
AWARDS
HISTORY
Compiled
By
-
S/Sgt
Written
By
-
Cpl.
By
Illustrated By
GLIDER GLIDER
FIELD FIELD
ARTILLERY ARTILLERY
BN.
HISTORY
111
THIS
BATTERY
DEDICATION
11
Edited
ABLE
T/5 -
Under the supervision Commanding Officer,
WAS
Pichler Pichler 6 Cpls. Syner, Mizler, & Buscher Betts Greenwald
T/4 Angove of Capt. Edward H. Geiger, Battery A, 680th Glider FA
Battalion.
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to all the men who have died, since the activation
of
.
this
Their
names
Capt.
John
H.
Sgt.
Sylvester
Sgt.
Alvin
Cpl.
Frederick
Pfc.
Arthur H. Westby
Pfc.
August
Sgt.
Charles
Pvt.
Joseph
Pvt.
Asa G. Gannon
Pvt.
Doyal Kincade
Pvt.
Alpha A. LaFavers
Pvt.
George
Pvt.
Harry
Pvt.
Ruppert
Pvt.
Curtis
E.
Robertson
Pvt.
Thomas
H.
Williams
battery.
are:
Featherston F.
P.
Bobovnik
Hymel B.
C.
Teresi
J.
Schoepf
C.
Brisach
F. J.
Cannon
Seibert Mancini
L.
Minnear
The following names are names of men who were assigned to Btry. A,
680th
Glider FA Bn. at the time of it's deactivation. The names of some
of
original
the
men
also
appear.
The only ones that do not appear here
are those of the deceased and those of some of the original men whose records
were
lost
when
our
plane
crashed
in
France.
Those
addresses
were
lost. Lyle Buscher Alta, LA
Willard Sandlin Crosstown, MO
James Snyder Box 115 Longue Vue Verona, PA RD 1
Donald Henry 1181 5th Ave. Pittsburg, PA
Charles Stein Abingdon, MD
Edmund Wasielewski 306 Sobieski Buffalo, N.Y.
John Smith RFD 2 Fayetteville,
Charles Webber Box 205 Rt. 50 W Salem, Illinois
TN
Robert Cullen 136 Elm Street River Route, Michigan
?
Lynn Parrott 101 Cedar Street Atlantic IA
John Cox 13 W. Dixie Drive
Dale Morris Urbana, Indiana
Edward Bender 71 Burkshire Road Towson MD
Arthur Herst Box 136 Levittsburg, Ohio
Rudolph Dahl 901 W. Brown St. Iron Mountain, Michigan
Rufus Tubby R 47, Box 160B Philadelphia, Miss.
James Rice 161 W. Patrick St. Fredericktown, MO
Peter Miller Main Street Tullytown, PA
I.B. Harrington 722 Hisey Street Mexico, MO
Stuart Rosier, Jr. 961 E. King St. York, PA
Lawrence Erwin 137 Emmett St. Phoenixville, PA
James DeMars 211 19th Street Toledo, Ohio
Robert Fleming Morris Estate Oakmont, PA
Ralph Eidsvig Kathryn, N. Dakota
Sylvester
Louis Visockas 101 Sterling St. Wooster, Mass.
Vincent
Johnnie Humphrey Box 524 Millen GA
John Ventura 1629 Dorothy St. Scranton, PA
Alvin Clausen 1001 Grandview Blvd. Sioux City, IA
Clayton Kirby 1420 N. Greenbries Arlington, VA
Bruce Flora L a G r o Indiana
Forest Alford Route 3, Box 465 Klamath Falls, Oregon
George Campbell 206 W. LaCled LaClede e Ave. Ave. Youngston, Ohio
Harold Richards 870 Johnson St. Lansing, Michigan
Vern Edwards Parma, Idaho
Martinez
646 6th St. South Mason
Monroe City, Iowa
Miszler
-2-
Billy
Vandemark
R R 1
Saranac,
Michigan
Melvin Ewing Box 24, Main Salina, PA
Street
John Zerwas 1918 Kinard St. St. Paul, Minnesota
Joseph Wojtowicz 530 Maryland St. N.E. Warren, Ohio
Silvio Filipetti 84 Pine Street Lackawana, N.Y.
Wendell R. Rickert 83 Milburn Ave. Buffalo, N.Y.
William Crockett Route 10 Springfield, MO
Willie Boykin, Jr. Route 2 Seminary, Mississippi
Thomas Colapietro 7311 Agnies St. Swissvale, PA
Lawrence Rhoades RR1 Miami, Oklahoma
Dale Mitchell Abingdon, VA RFD 3
Joseph Blume 1341 13413 3 Ben wwd Ave. Ave. Cleveland, Ohio
Gene Ensley Box 474 Fieldale, VA
Bob Edmiston 1196 Oak St. Indiana, PA
Elmer G. Benecke 357 Spruce St. Maple City, N.J.
Ronald Starck 1419 S. 79th St. West Allis, Wisconsin
James Bertoti Box 6 Warwick Pottstown, PA
Joseph Rocci 4956 Thompson Philadelphia,
James Lewin 521 Evans St. Covington, Indiana
Daniel Harned 419 N. Macq Macque uest sten en Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
Albert Miller 5511 Bower Ave. Cleveland, Ohio
Maurice Moore 301 S. Wilson Avenue Columbia, S. Carolina
Stanley A. Dunalew 3113 Arlington Ave. Pittsburg, PA
Irvin Amundsen 706 56th St. Brooklyn, N.Y.
Richard Rahn 3430 21 St. North St. Petersburg, Florida
John S. Halinski 353 Myrtle Ave. Irvington, N.J.
Arlin Watson 171 Lebanon St. Mt. Airy, N. Carolina
John Van Messe 59 S. Bewick Bewick Avenue Avenue Detroit, Michigan
Francis W. Walence Pennsylvania
Leroy Holmes Trego Washington Co.
Sam Gretz 811 Atlantic Ave. Atlantic City, N.J.
Watsy Marcantenio 549 Murdock St. Cannonsburg, PA
Ralph Grace 425 Mulberry St. Rising Sun, Indiana
Gayle Pichler 2 3 2 4 W. Grand Island,
Earl R. Dell 565 56th St. Altoona, PA
Charles Cemeron 2143 Nedro Ave. Philadelphia, PA
Harry Noyes Dicksfield,
MD
Settlement
Parkway Parkway
Nebraska
Maine
St. PA
John T. Cox 13 W. Dixie Drive Raleigh, N.C.
Larry M. RFD 55 Meherin,
E'saesse Virginia
-3-
Vaskin Hatchigan 249 14th St. Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Harry Van Wickle 56 W. Main St. Phelps, N.J.
Maurice T. Hickey 21105 Aberdeen Rd. Rocky River, Ohio
Albert A. Pete 159 1/2 Race St: Cambridge, MD
Robert Robertson Route 2 Caldwell, Idaho
Tom Smith 61 Cleveland Ave. Hamilton, Ohio
William H. Bland 24 S. Third St. Dennison, Ohio
Martin Moore 55 LaSa LaSall lle e Ave. Ave. Kenmore Kenmore lu, N.Y. N.Y.
Jimmy Taylor Russel Erskine Hotel Huntsville, Alabama
Edward C. Kantak 2412 Court St. Syracuse, N.Y.
Thomas Marciniak 109 Feed St. Buffalo, N.Y.
Carl Leydig Box 155 Ellerslic, MD
David Stoltz RR1 Buechel, Kentucky
Ramen Szewczuk 314 Olivia McKees Rocks, PA
Oscar Frost Midlothian, MD
Francis Hollman 5244 Larckwood Ave. Philadelphia, PA
Warren Thomas 6640 Vine St. Cinn., Ohio
Francis Garrow 133 Hudson St. Syracuse, N.Y.
Joseph Rodriquez 1052 Derweiler Ave. Hellertown, PA
Anthony Marino 14 S. Darien Philadelphia, PA
John Wild 6152 Ausdin Ave. Chicago, 38, Illinois
James Hardyman Blanchardville,
Cecil Mays Hermandale,
Raymond Steifler 4 Marlowe Ave. Blesdell, N.Y.
David L. Mayer 3712 E. 3rd St. Dayton, Ohio
Harold Madden Lakefield, Miss.
William Kalina 5320 Magnet Ave. Cleveland, Ohio
Charles Bridge Josephine, PA
Joseph Silbur Olasown, MD
Price Owens Clintwood, VA
Victor Wansing Westphalia, MO
Joseph Dors 2345 Tuxeao Ave. Detroit, Michigan
George Sandison 1181 N. Lockwood E. Cleveland, Ohio
Henry Kuhn 16 Memorial Cumberland,
Kenneth Carismen 1506 N. Rose St. Burbank, California
Vernon C. Holle 1451 Hemlock St. Shamskin, PA
William McGlocklin Glade Spring, VA
Edward Ammerman 909 Montgomery St. Jersey City, N.J.
Lawrence Belmont,
Louis Woods 306 W. 6th St. Rolla, MO
James M. Jones Montgomery City,
?
MO
Wisconsin
Ave. MD
L. Hackenbuck Kansas
MO
Thomas Liles 3412 Montgomery Hiway Fomewood, Alabama
-4-
Frank Kirchner 1913 N. 19th Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Paul Ossman Rt. 1 Ashland, PA
Carl Meyer 214 N. Elisna Waterloo, N.Y.
Ernest Kubanka 200 Ave. B Rochester, New York
Selher Owren 1714 South Pariarie Souix Falls, S. Dakota
Charles Palmer Box 153 Water St. Dexter, N.Y.
Rhinhardt L. Roth Route 2 Bloomsdale, MO
Roy Steele Ittabend, Mississippi
Earl Valentine 647 Grand St. Meyersdale, PA
Arthur Ellis 1203 1203 Geness Genessee ee Ave. Ave. Cleveland Heights,
Kestle Davis 242 Southern Ave. Anexville, Tennessee
John Rundall Cedar Rapids,
Joseph Maleckar 681 Denison Ave. Cleveland, Ohio
Chester Drinkard 306 306 Dunfo Dunford rd St. St. Jefferson City, MO
Kenneth Franklin 2320 Bellefontaine Kansas City, MO
Howard Childers 326 S. 5th Street Steubenville, Ohio
Dwight Campbell Shelocta, Pennsylivania
Orval Willis American Fork,
Ewin Troutman Hundman, PA
Donald Copp 418 Perry Street Elmira, New York
Lonnie Moore Route 3 Van Buren, Arkansas
Arthur Hiles Route 2 Missouri Valley,
Richard Owens Route 1 Oakdale, PA
Alton Wiles Route 3 Hayti, MO
Frank Cotman 14411 Thanes Ave. Cleveland, Ohio
Luther Lamb Rd. 1 Senath, MO
Robert Young Buzz Buzzard ard Bay, Bay, Mass.
Frank Odom 2146 Washington Ave. Granite City, Illinois
Arlin Long Route 1 Macungie, PA
Wilbur Zipp Shawnee, Kansas
Lawrence Verheyen West DePere Wisconsin
William Manteufel 134 E. 3rd St. Watsonville, CA
Albert Nickelson 2425 A. Ecoff Ave. St. Louis, MO
Mril Fisher Rt. 3 Mechanicsburg, PA
Francis Burlett 3924 Liberty Ave. Pittsburg, PA
Lowell Foster 5901 N. 42nd St. Omaha, Nebraska Roy Brown 2517 Exxes Kansas City,
Ohio
?
Kansas
Utah
Iowa
Iowa
Harold Robinson Box 222 Ceredox, W. Virginia
HISTORY Sometime Sometime two
Airborne
during during
the the
Divisions
OF
year year
would
THE
BATTERY
1942, 1942,
not
the
be
United United
enough
to
States
do
the
Army job
decided decided
and
bring
that that victory
to our arms and destroy the enemy in the long and bitter struggle ahead. Accordingly,
plans
were
made
the 11th and the 17th. mostly
from
101st
Airborne Airborne
partly
built
Divisi Division on 680th
was
activate
Infantry
Mackall
in
activa activated ted. . Field
Division,
Capt. Lt . Lt. Lt. 1/Sgt. S/Sgt. S/Sgt. S/Sgt. S/Sgt. Sgt. Sgt. Sgt.
North
And here here
Artillery
officers
to
Able
two
more
Airborne
Divisions---
On April 15th, 1943 an officer cadre, drawn
Division, Division, gathered gathered at
first
assigned
88th
Camp
Glider The
be
the
to
and
Battery
and
an
enlisted
cadre
from
the
the training training area which was the then
Carolina,
and
the
begins begins the histor history y
17th
Airborne
of Batter Battery y
A,
Battalion. enlisted were
men
to
arrive
at
Camp
Mackall
and
these:
George C. Wight Albe Albert rt C. Zimme immerm rman an Emil J. Geimer John B. Maxey Frank J. Kudla Maurice F. Hickay Joseph R. R. Ma Maleckar James C. Cathey Walter L. Blake Sylvester F. Bobovnik Tom J. Smith Joseph Bl Blume
Sgt. Sgt Sgt. Sgt. T/4 T/4 T/4 T/4 Cpl. Cpl. T/5 Pfc. Pfc.
William W. Buckworth, JR. Mari Marion on G. Blan Blans sett, ett, Jr. Jr. Frank J. Kirchner Harold S. Robinson Arthur Ellis Arthur J. Hurst John H . Smith Charles J. Schoepf Alvin P. Hymel Rudolph H. Dahl Kenneth L. Booth James R. Bell
These were the men whose job it was to first organize and hammer into
shape
grim
winter
make
the
final in
the
the
BATTLE
famous
great vast
battery OF
which THE
Airborne
victory
in
Ruhr
pocket
was
ultimately
BULGE,
to
cross
crossing
of
the
Europe in
by
helping
Northwestern
to
help stop
the
the
frontiers
of
RHINE,
and to
take
to
clean
Germany.
out
the
enemy
Germany, part
tough
in
in
the
to the
resistance
-2-
But back to those early days of 1943, much had to be done to prepare for
the
victorious
centers slow a
scattered
train
ahead.
throughout
rides
railroad
days
at
station
the
Hoffman,
and
a
Men
few
came
United
North
to
Able
Battery
from
States------arriving
Carolina,
dilapidated
that
buildings
induction
after
long
thriving
metropolis
along
highway.
a
of
During our ride from the station to Camp Mackall, we were told we were now
members
Parachutes might
be
of and
the
17th
gliders
AIRBORNE
and
DIVISION.
C=47's
A
new
AIRBORNE
DIVISION!
It sounded like the real McCoy. It
tough, but that's what we're in the army for. There's a big job
to be done, and it's a good deal to be doing it the Airborne way. started.
The
next
twenty-four
hours
we
had
time as we went to our organization, soft,
our
first
untrained
taste
of
We
double
civilians
in
uniform,
and there was many a sore back and shoulder among us as we came to a halt at Battery "A",
680th
Glider
F.A.
Battalion.
Those first few weeks we were more of a labor battalion than a field artillery
unit, because
Camp
Mackall
in
those
and it was our first job to finish it. cleared, cleared,
the
last last
shelv shelves es
nailed nailed up
days
was
only
half
finished
But in due course the area was
in the
barra barracks, cks, the
work work
KNOCK KNOCK
painted on the door of the orderly room, and on May 6, 1943 we began our thirteen thirteen weeks weeks drill,
of of
the the
well know Basic Basic
weapons, military
material,
road
Caro Caroli lina na. .
The The
Train Training. ing.
courtesy,
interior
marches,
reveille,
retreat.
heat heat
terr terrif ific ic. .
Ther There e
was was
guard,
Calesthe Calesthenics nics, , care
and
dismounted
cleaning
of
MAY, JUNE, & JULY in North
were were
twe twent ntyy-fi five ve
mile mile
hik hikes es, ,
fiv fivee-
,
mile-in-an-hour mile-in-an-hour road road
hikes, nine-miles-in-twonine-miles-in-two-hours hours
marche marches, s, marche marches s
Marches Marches
there, there, Marches Marches
strange
if
we
weren't
to the Fort Fort
afternoon afternoon
Marche Marches s
here, here,
Our Aching backs. We began to feel
everywhe everywhere. re. marching ---and
learning learning how how
regulation regulation
Bragg Bragg range range and back. back.
we
But But one one thin thing g we were were, , we were were gett gettin ing g of a soldier, soldier, we were
hikes,
to to
were
supposed
to
toug toughe her, r, we were tak take e
be
learning
car care e of ourselves
and to endure endure bad weather weather and cold nights nights on the ground. ground. we were leqrning to take it all on the chin and grin.
Airborne.
in
And,
the the
most
life field importan important, t,
.
-3By August of 1943, the job was done.
The
reward ----furloughs-------furloughs----
our first chance in months to eat a home-cooked meal, to show the best
girl
how swell we looked in a uniform with the Golden Talon insignia
on the shoulder and maybe a stripe or two on the sleeve---and our first chance not to hear'that blasted whistle at 5:30
in the blasted morning.
But the days shot by and before we knew it we were back with the battery, or if we didn't know it, a Sunday on KP soon wised us up. There passes
were
to
passes
to
Rockingham, Rockingham,
nearby
Southern Southern
towns
to
relieve
Pines, Pines, Hamlet
the
and
Army
routine,
Pinehurst, Pinehurst,
and and
foot-
ball season brought weekend trips to Charlotte and Durham. But we kept our eyes and minds and bodies on the main job. won, won, we
were were
There was a war to be
sold soldie iers rs, , and in fact the most important part of our train-
ing lay just ahead--ahead--- the
advance advanced d
training training
before before
combat combat
which which
turns turns
a
seasoned soldier into a specialist able to do his own job well and fast and at the same time, is doing, and why, his
battery,
his
be
able
to
understand
what
each
of
his
soldier
pals
and what it all means in the big picture of his section, battalio battalion, n, his division division and his Army. Army.
And And
the the
grew
game game
more and more interesting to us as we went out on field problems, more real to us as we began to fire our howitzers and see the rounds burst in the
target target
getting
area, as
the
every
wire
every
driver
rounds rounds and
we began
see
how how
out, every instrument instrument
radio
in
to to
man
getting
was
us
in
important important man was
getting
where
we
the
were
every every
in in
directing directing a
necessary
going,
cannoneer cannoneer
was was
in
fire, fire,
information
through,
every cook to see that we
got enough to to eat, every supply supply man man to see see that we got enough to to wear, yes, and every clerk to see we got our pay as well as our KP Duty. And with the passage of the months each man became more skilled and efficient efficient able
to
rolled rolled every we
at his
substitute around. around.
angle
were
survey carbines
job, some
was
for
another
learning learning man
vitally
classes, use other
important
canno cannoneer neers s and
in hop, hop,
nomenclature nomenclature
equipment
were
several several
when-the
The variety variety of subject subjects s
weaving, weaving, and
and
men
combat
studie studied d
the
skills skills
the
subjects
the yet yet
of
practice,
howitzers, howitzers,
dealt
thus,
of
great great, ,
design
communication of
days
was was
overall
and,
with
every
future each each and
victory Code
machine machine day
being being
that school,
guns, until
-4-
they were fast becoming second nature to us. and
bad
weather
slow
down
our
operations.
Nor did the coming of winter
They were carried on in rain and
snow with the same intensity as had been our earlier basic training in the summer summer
heat, and
the‘bat the‘battery tery
proved proved
over over
and
over over
again
in
Battali Battalion on
tests tests
that Able Battery was the pride of our Divisional Artillary, to be counted on to put the fire in fast where it was needed most. The time in fact had come when the Golden Talon Division was considered in shape and fit for bigger things and greater efforts than ever, and the end
of
January January, , 1944
maneuv maneuvers ers. .
Equipm Equipment ent
left neat as a pin, out
to
was was was
spent spent
preparing preparing
crated crated, ,
all all
to to
was was
leave
made made
for for
read ready, y,
the Able Able
and with with the "BATTL "BATTLE E OF GUADA-M GUADA-MACKAL ACKALL" L"
big big
Tennessee Tennessee
batter battery's y's
area area
over, over, we rolle rolled d
Tennessee.
Looking back on that phase of our army lives spend at Camp Mackall, we see it with mixed feelings. the
most most
inter interesti esting ng
and and
In some ways it was the toughest, in some ways
importan important t
period period
in in
our
entire entire
Army Army
career. career.
It was
there we first learned the business of soldiering and to swallow our homesickne sickness ss and and keep keep our eye on the the game game of war. war.
And it it was there there that that Able Able
Batt Batter ery y was was born born and and gre grew w up into into a toug tough h and and husk husky y GI JOE. JOE.
Wha tev er
might might happen in the future would would change us, but it it was at Camp Camp Mackall Mackall that we
beca became me
us, us, that that
we
became became
Able Able
battery battery. .
Nothing stays absolutely the same for long in the Army, and even during our training at Camp Mackall a good many changes took place amongst us .
And it was during this period that the following men left us for other
assignments
with
different
William Beckworth James Bell Marion Blanscott William Bottol Frederick Bond John Brown Kenneth Cantrell James Clark John Derbish Matthew Gordon Carl Harris Arthur Herst Joseph Hoff
outfits
and
are
now
scattered
Wilmer Knight Francis Joy Delmar Livesy Virgil Long Howard MacHenry John MacHugh Fred MacLeod Russel Moss Joseph Rudler Henry Sass Matthew Sebastiano John Selvaggio Marvin Shefler
over
the
world.
Walter Simonson LaVern Smith William Steele J. Suttle John Trembelas Johnny Vaca Lowry Wasson Charles Watson Edgar Wood Daniel Zaccerine Lt. Maxey Lt. Russell Lt. Knudsen
-5While men transferred to ASTP on August 30th, 1943, were: Carl Carlson Donald Crawford Joseph Granzier . Kenneth Holloway James Kinder
And during George George
Robert Paramentor Benjamin Powell Jay Rhoads Francis Taylor Thomas Ellis.
this period too, we had had the the bad bad luck luck to lose lose one man,
Siebert, Siebert, who
died
of
blood
poisoning. poisoning.
But on the other hand we
gained a few officers and men while at Camp Mackall: Lt. Freeman . Lt. MacFarland
Cpl. James Taylor T/5 Willie Boykin
And so we were set for the Tennessee Maneuvers, and on February 3, 1944, we took off for the hills of Tennessee. The motor convoy reached Portland a day or two ahead of the rest of the battery, which came in by rail. and
On
February
accounted
5th
for.
the
The
task
supply and PX tents began, rains
before
Tennessee
our
mud.
arrival There's
battery of
was
uncrating
packs,
slung
on
the
nothing
scene, else
with
cigarette
equipment
all and
personnel setting
up
present kitchen,
and
just
Tennessee
like
mud
it----and
is, we
well----
were
soon
to
for in a few days Able battery
carbines, carbines, and set off with the look of seasoned seasoned stride ---though
soldiers in our faces and in our crammed
and
all in a sea of mud, for there had be
find out more and more to our sorrow, hoisted
assembled
cartons
and
candy
with
bars.
our
packs
well
.
The 17th took part in the maneuvers with the 26th Infantry, the 78th and
106th 106th
triangu triangular lar
Divisio Divisions. ns.
These These
Maneu Maneuver vers s
assume assumed d
the
charac character ter
of of
series of tactical problems three to five days in duration with a few days rest
following
things things
like like
in
more more
between --which rain rain, , the
shrie shriek k
were of
filled whistles whistles, ,
with and
out for a shower, clean clothes, chow and the PX.
pleasantly long
hours
peaceful sweating
it
During these three-to-
five day problems elements of other divisions joined in with us so that we might get used to the idea of working with a strange but friendly outfit as we would would have have to to do do in in actu actual al combat combat. .
Armour Armoured ed
units units and and the the Air Air Forc Force e
did much to add to our knowledge of modern warfare. Some of the
things we
.
-6-
did
seemed
sense,
perhaps
unnecessary
and so we mad made the the
at
the
time, but
upon
reflection
they
made
best of it all, all, we managed managed to keep healthy, healthy, and
if our morale floundered a bit from time to time in the Tennessee mud, it always came back with a bang when we hit a rest period, a change of clothes and in
a
mail-call.
mind
and
experience
torrential
from
the
pride, pride,
came
soul.
to
be
effective
weather, to
a
through And
we
kind, that that Able Able
rains, eating
and
presents
this
weren't
fighting
we
body---and
of
obstacles
And
cold
rations while
in
actual
was
over
the
trials
we'd
our
and
and
like
no
problems
to
The
together with
add,
in in
a
protection
that
with
wiser
first
mountains
keeping
move, sleeping
the
And
it
tougher
fir first st rate rate job. job.
marches
the
all
combat.
a
continually,
on
short, facing
man
Long
flying,
considered
Bat Batte tery ry did did
at.
in
colors
felt,
sneezed
group
with
nature
justifiable
that that the 17th 17th Airborn Airborne e was the first first Red Red Force Force ever to win win a maneuve maneuver r
in the history history of Te nn es se e- -- for out of our
enem enemy y
from from
start start
we
attack attacked ed
and
whippe whipped d
the
you-kno you-know-wh w-what at
to finish. finish.
But it was also at this time that we lost sixteen men from Able Battery, who
were
They
called
were
as
the
reassignment
At battery
last,
havi having ng
March
became
honest-to-God honest-to-God to to
army
days
kept
midst
was the
man
It
1944, and
was was
could
busy
during
Pvt. Pvt. Pvt. Pvt. Pvt. Pvt. Pvt.
at
Camp
Butner,
North
Carolina.
with
George Brown Pvt. Martin Heinert Donald Crawford Pvt. Browder Holland Ray Raymo mond nd Hai Haine nes s Pvt. Pvt. Carr Carrl l Harr Harris is Glenn Kelly Pvt. Edward Leonhart Earl Johnson Pvt. William Yeagy Horrome Kazorowski.
the
rolled
away
camp, the first one
fini finish. sh. a
it
24,
motorized
facilities were
center
follows:
Pfc. Da Darwin As Ashley Pvt. Pvt. Oren Bamo Pvt. Kenneth Booth Pvt. Anderson Fuller Pvt. Steve Brodek a short time afte r this ,
and
And
to
following
Lt. Frank Poole T/5 John Va Van Neste Pfc. James DeMars
want--and
with
those
reall really y
a
first
officers
few and Pfc. Pfc. Pfc.
to
successfully
Camp
Forrest,
ended,
Able
Tennessee,
a
real
the 17th had ever moved into without
beau beautif tiful ul, , well kept Camp with all the
you
cleaning,
manouvers
can
bet
scrubbing, weeks
at
we
wanted
them.
painting
Forrest
and
that
we
So
the
repairing welcomed
following equipment.
to
our
men: Daniel Goldberg Jo John Co Cox Oscar Frost
Pfc. George Meek Pfc. Clayton Fogwell Pfc. Th Thomas Wi Williams
-7Well,
we
advanced
were
soldiers.
training.
weren't
been
We'd
Airborne.
We'd done our basic training. We'd done our through
maneuvers.
But "dammit",
So how about it? We're ready.
we still
How about it? What?
You want to be paratroopers? You want to be Glidermen? Okay! be
so sorry!
But Okay!
But
you'll
Here it is.
One day day late late in May, 1944, out out of a clear clear blue sky--b sky--but ut let us us tell the story of jump-training in the words of one of our own lads who went thro throug ugh h
it, it, PFC PFC
one
fine
all
men
day who
Hooray Hooray! !
STAN STANLE LEY Y
Captain had
Lured Lured
DUNA DUNALE LEWI WICZ CZ. .
Wight
ambitions
by the
last but not least,
called of
the
battery
becoming
thou thought ghts s
those
Here Here is what what he has has to say: say:
much
of
together
paratroopers
shini shining ng
coveted
boots boots, ,
silver
and
would
fifty fifty
wings,
announced
now
get
dolla dollars rs
our
"Well, that
their
extra extra
chance.
pay, pay,
excitement
ran
and and
high.
For the next few days all you could hear around the camp was "Hey Jonny! Hey Jack! Are you gonna be a jumper?
Enthusiasm
when
arrived,
the
first
answered
the
farsighted,
day
of
call.
trooper
training
spread almost
like
half
wildfire
the
and
battery
And what a motley crew we were! Young, old, nearsighted,
and yes, even a few of the boys who used to ride the sick book--
but we all had one thing in common and that was enthusiasm. And so started our two weeks of rugged training. And did we double-time? We
were
soon soon
even even
double-tim double-timing ing
in
our our
sleep, sleep, and
instead instead
of
counting counting
sheep
we counted push-ups in our bunks at night, that is, we would have had we not been been
do
dog-ti dog-tired red. .
The calest calesthen henics ics
we did every every mornin morning g would would have have done done
justice to even the most hardened Commando. We were rookies again, dolled up in fatigues and fatigue hats. because because of
they
manhood
all
sported sported
available,
down on us!
peaked peaked
each
For exa example
-
You caps.
resembled
a
Hey Jocko!
could Our
too. too.
robin?
Hey Hey
Joc Jocko ko, , what what you you
spot
instruc instructors tors
Charles
Atlas,
the
were were and
Missourians the the
they
best really
specimens specimens clamped
What State you from? PENNSYLVANIA.
Why ain't you from my state? Gimme 15. uncl uncle, e,
easily
Ya
laff laffin in at? at?
better
gimme
Gimme
fifteen
for
15! Who killed
my
Cock-
If you didn't know, you gave fifteen for being dumb, and if you did
know you gave fifteen for being a wise guy. And so our muscles hardened more than ever before and our wind length lengthene ened. d. tumbling,
And soon soon getting
into
we were were harness,
pract practici icing ng
stan standin ding g
manipulating
the
in the door, door, chute,
body
coun countin ting g
turns,
off, off,
preparing
-8for
a
water
first
landing,
time,
mock-up mock-up
bingo!
tower. tower.
etc.,
a few few
etc.,
etc .-and if we didn't get it right the
push-u push-ups ps
gave gave
us
inspir inspirati ation. on.
It was only thirty-f thirty-five ive feet high, high,
it you felt that
And then then
but but gazing gazing down from
at least a thousand foot up.
you were
came came the the
And of course at
first we jumped every way but the right one, some of us executing beautiful swan dives that would have been a credit to the most acroit
fancy diver but were way out of place among paratroopers. And then came the big day of our first actual jump. to
appear appear
calm, but
head to toe. reserve the
of
moment of
plain plain
enough enough
that we
were sweating it
tried
out from
Then, Then, a brisk brisk doubledouble-time time to to the hange hanger, r, a main main chute chute and and a
tossed
help
it was
Everyone
to
each
buddies buddies
man,
and
loading into
who
nervously
fitted
instructor instructors, s, assignment assignment
the
plane, the
and
adjusted
of a
take-off, take-off,
them
with
plane plane number, the big
each
man
fighting fighting
with
himself silently to resist the desire to quit at the last big moment. The jumpmasters did their best to keep up our spirits, coaxing us to sing, shout, shout,
wise-cra wise-crack. ck.
Then, Then,
standing standing at
the
door, door,
the
jump-mas jump-master ter
spots spots
panel panel which which is the signal signal for us to get ready ready to mump. mump.
He
then then
And then then he would would
"Hoo "Hook k
ask
"Are
And
at
up!" up!", , then then
you
"Soun "Sound d
happy?" and
last, last,
after what
"Stand "Stand in the door" door"! ! that he
famous
jumped
shuffle
out
into
we
off off would would
seemed seemed
grabbed abov above e
usually
high
you. you.
for
toward the
a
the
What What a
chec check"! k"!
shoult shoult back, liars
ages, came
the
the big
that that
moment moment
we
were, were, "Hell Yes'!
and the
sharp sharp
order order
blue,
door, each man receiving a pat on the rear as counting
getting
master to help him on his way. were
equi equipme pment nt
"Stand-u "Stand-up! p!
As the the number number one one man man got the 'go" 'go" signa signal, l, we all start started ed
if he seemed a bit hesitant,
opened
for for
shouts shouts
the
blank, risers
reli relief ef!. !.
a
Those
then and
"One
felt
looked
Floating
little few
you
thousand,
fleeting a
upward
down
extra
for
two
thousand,
foot-work seconds
from
before
terrific
jar
at
beautiful
the
that
first
etc",
and
time
the
or, jump-
the
chute
automatically
in
chute your
floating life
you realized that you had to come down to earth before you could land. To land -
that was the most important part of the whole business and about
which
most
were
coming
of up
our jump
trai traini ning ng
had
cent center ered ed. .
It seem seemed ed as though
to meet you and you had to be ready for it.
.
the
And as you
earth
-9-
relaxed
your
leg
muscles
in
the
prescribed
manner
at
the
right
instant,
you suddenly felt a sharp sting starting from your toes and working through chute, chute,
your
legs.
up
Then, sprawled on the ground in the tangles of your
you felt felt yourse yourself lf to see if if any bones bones had been been broken broken, , and, if
you were lucky, you realized in a dazed sort of way that you had made your
first
parachute
the
unlucky
jump
ones, and
of of
successfully. course course
there there
If you happened to be one of
were were
some amongst us,
you you
through the ordeal with a broken ankle, leg, or even worse. the law of averages averages in a game game like this. this. had made our jumps in the mornings, how to pack, pack, fold fold
and lace lace
we
came came
That is
And for that that reason, reason, after after we spent
our
afternoons
learning
our chutes chutes - and you can bet we were glad to
have experts to show us how it should be done. Our
next
four
jumps
went
off
smoothly
enough,
although
each
and
every one was sweated out as much as the first one, and then came the best jump of the lot, a night n ight jump jump the
most
uncertain
and,
best
therefore, the therefore,
because
most
being
at
interesting interesting
night
of
our
it
was
jumps, and
besides it was the jump that put the finishing touches to us as qualified paratr paratroo ooper pers s
and and
so, at last, last, we had had
earne earned d
those those covete coveted d
wings wings. .
And And we
were a happy bunch of Joes that next day when General Miley addressed us and complimented us on the job we had done and the spirit with which we had
come
through through
our jump
training, training, and
When the boys looked down at a
mistake
General,
and
they
grasping
had
the
presented presented us
their their wings,
been
given
situation
at
they
found found
sharpshooter once,
with with
our our
wings. wings.
that
someone someone
medals'instead.
expressed
his
regret,
had made
But the took
off
his own wings and pinned them on the chest of the nearest man, assuring us that we would all receive our had earned wings that same day And that night, night, believe believe me, we really really
we did. We
knew
we
weren't
supermen, but we
- which
spruced spruced up and and showe showed d off. off.
were were proud of ourselves ourselves
and and
of of
the the
job job
we had done and were going to do." And, thus, ends the story of our jump training as told by one of the lads of of Able batt battery ery who who went throu through gh it. only one. and
The
received
follo following wing men
their
wings:
of the
batte battery ry
But he was far from being being the the complet completed ed
this this
jump jump
trainin training g
-lO1st 1st Sgt. Sgt. S/Sgt. Sgt. Sgt. Sgt. Sgt. Cpl. Cpl. Cpl. Cpl. Cpl.
Jame James s Tayl Taylor or Tom Smith Howard Childers Kenneth L . Crisman Ralph Piosvig Dale Morris Lyle Buscher Frank Cotman William Crocket Vernon Ho Holle Arlin Long
T/5 Lowell Foster T/5 Carl Meyer T/5 Neil Wolf Pfc. Donald Copp Pfc. John Cox *Pfc. Stanley Lunalowicz Pfc. Rudolph Dahl Pfc. Melvin Iwing Pfc. Meril Fisher Pfc. James Jones Pfc. Clayton Kirby
Pfc. Pfc. Pfc. Pfc. Pfc. Pfc.
Peter Miller Richard Owens James Rice Joseph Rodriquez Rhinhardt Roth Victor Wansing Edmund Wasielewski Roy Brown Walter Chappell Alvin Clauson
Pfc. Pvt. Pvt. Pvt.
Pfc. Stanley Lunalowicz is the autor of the above account of our jump training. Due make
to injuri injuries es
an
without
omelette omelette breaking
pals, T/5
Tino Tino
during during the traini training ng we suffer suffered ed some some
without
breaking breaking
bones.
And
R oc k as
T/5
eggs, and
you you
can't can't
losses losses. .
go go
You
through through
can't
jump
training training
unfortunat unfortunately, ely, during during our training training a few of our Romayne Romayne
Decker Decker, ,
and
Pfc. Pfc.
Claude Claude
Ward Ward
received received
injuries and went to the hospital, never to return to us. And also during this period we lost a few men who were transferred to other
units: T/4 Walter Blake 1st/Sgt. Frank Rudla S/Sgt. Seth Watkins Pfc. Lawrence Torreyson
Pfc. Pvt. Pvt. Pvt.
Max Leach George Meek Nicholas Colamio Ernest Betchy
Meanwhile another vital branch of airborne training was under way the
glider glider
flight flights. s.
-
In the days days to to foll follow ow nearly nearly all the men of Able Able
battery rode the blue in the flimsy craft = carrying full combat equipment and
all
Although
qualified some
spectacular
as
people
than
the
glidermen consider job
of
and
received
this
branch
jumping
in
their
of
glider
airborne
parachutes,
the
= .
certificates.
activities
less
strategists,
the
boys who who know, will tell tell you that in combat, combat, in in an airborne airborne attack, attack, it's it's the glidermen, glidermen, effect, effect,
and
Thus,
coming coming
in
after
the
staying staying power to through
those
troopers troopers
the first first
beautiful
as
reinfo reinforceme rcements, nts,
brave brave
summer
and
months
who
savage savage attack attack of
1944,
as
give of
the
weight, weight,
the the roar
troopers troopers. . and
rumble of war mounted higher and higher among the hedges and fields of Normandy Normandy and on cent
the the
plains plains of
airborne, preparing
Poland Poland, , Able
steadily
for
the
battery battery fast
became
one
hundred hundred
approaching
day
when
it
perwould
-11-
take up the fight in the place of those who had fallen. we
concentrate
business
and
on
we
Airborne
still
had
training, modern plenty
to
learn.
war
is
a
We
knew
And not only did
mighty for
complex
example
that
when
we did come to gripes with the enemy it would no longer be far from his homeland but right on his doorstep, if not in his house. We could expect to
meet everythi everything ng
he
had, and
especial especially ly
mines. mines.
So,
under under
the the
sponsor sponsor-
ship of the the Second Second Army, a mine school school was was begun begun in our midst and and for a time we we talked, talked, ate, ate, and slept slept mines mines and our battle battle cry became became: : Gro Grope, pe,
and and
"Reach,
Pr Probe obe".
Also, Also,
for
obvious obvious
reasons, reasons, there there
were were
many many classes classes in tank and air-
.
craft craft
ident identif ifica icati tion. on.
greater greater
intensit intensity. y.
And, And, in fact, fact, every everythi thing ng we did took took on a new and and
The long European European war was mounting mounting to a
climax and we knew we were bound to get in on it. through
the
air
like
There
were
little
being being
held
at
mist.
Men
things!
Key Key
Headqu Headquarte arters. rs.
looked men
Some Someth thin ing g
was was in the the
win wind. d.
packed
equipment
and
a
On
August
16th
we
boarded arrived
far far from from the the port port of Bost Boston on. . move moveme ment nts s
were were
rest restri rict cted ed. .
clothing clothing
against against
chemical chemical
equi equipm pmen ent t Able out
was was
made made. .
the
Port
We
sailed
of
train Camp
Cens Censor orsh ship ip warfare
was
their
absen absent. t.
at at
with with Boston
the the
rest
onto of
the
to
float
laughter.
Confe Conferen rence ces s
night night
behind behind
were were
blackout blackout
On August 14th, 1944 Able Battery for Miles
We were were wrap wrappe ped d
east, most
due
late late
began
was was
an
-
Standish in in
in
a cloa cloak k
clam clampe ped d
issued. issued.
unknown
on, on,
destination. Massachusetts,
of of
of of
the
broad
sec secre recy cy. .
hard hard. .
not
Our
Impr Impreg egna nate ted d
A final final check check of our
A last last shot shot in the the arm arm was was give given n us. us.
battery, battery, together together from
at
behind
someti sometimes mes
burne burned d
curt curtai ains ns. . all
thoughtful
were were
Lights Lights
Rumors
crashing crashing
17th 17th
On
Airborn Airborne e
Aug Augus ust t
Division Division, ,
20, 20,
1944 1944
sailed sailed
Atlantic.
us packed on one huge boat, the U.S.S.
WAKEFIELD, and there was no doubt in any of our minds but that we were headed headed
for
ENGLAND. ENGLAND.
course course
every every
few
After After
a few days at sea the ship began began
minutes, minutes, and
rumor rumors s
began began
to to
fly thick thick
and and
chang changing ing her fast fast
that that
JERRY subs were chasing us or JERRY planes had spotted us. But as it turned
out, our
sorry, sorry,
and on August August 28th 28th we sailed sailed with with pennon pennons s flying flying into into the port port of
LIVERPOOL
on
the
trip trip
west
across across
coast
the drink
of
was was
ENGLAND.
uneventful, uneventful, for
which which
we weren't
-12-
We near
debarked
the
town
ENGLAND.
the
of
following
Swindon
in
day
the
and
boarded
pretty
a
train
country-side
of
for
Camp
Chiseldon,
south-central
But we arrived before daybreak, August 30th, in a drizzling
rain, so that that our camp camp wore wore a rather rather dismal dismal aspect aspect at first first sight. sight.
But
we soon settled down and made ourselves at home, and about two weeks later,
we
began
our
training
schedule
of
drill,
classes
and
filed
problems.
It was during this time that two good things happened to us in Able battery. second, second,
First,
we
our
receive received d
long-awaited the the
glider
followin following g
men men
into into
Robert J. Cullen Robert H. Krantz David I. Mayer William Manteuful Harry W. Noyes Harold A. Richards Curtis E. Robertson Warren Th Thomas Meantime, Meantime, We
found
we
the
began began
strange
to to
came the the
through
to
us,
and
of our
new new
surrou surrounding ndings. s.
battery battery: :
Rufus Tubby Billy J. Vandomark John Ventura Francis W. Wallence Arlin J. Watson Charles J. Webber Robert A. Young Gayle F. Pichler
look look
people
pay
about about
around
us
and and
take take
stock stock
friendly
and
we
enjoyed
the
old-fashioned
jolly atmosphere of the English pubs and the bright trim look of the English service
girls
the
-
ATS, ATS, the
WRENS WRENS, ,
the WAFTS, WAFTS,
and the
Land Land
Army Army
Girls Girls
who who
always gave us a cheery wave from the fields as we rode by in our trucks. Thanksgiving dinner was a big event and we began to look forward to Christmas Christmas
with
great
interest, interest, even though though
we we were far from home, home,
and and many
of us laid plans to go to SWINDON and LONDON for the coming holiday. But war is no respecter of individuals and the plans of mice and men oft
gang gang
alert. alert.
agloo. agloo. The
One
secr secret et
week week before before
telet teletype ypes s
in
Christm Christmas as the the
back back
the the
17th 17th
rooms rooms
of
Airbor Airborne ne Army Army
was was
put put
Head Headqua quarte rters rs
on the were were
chattering out a grim story that only slowly and much toned down was released to the daily papers and the reading public.
The
German
General
Staff
was
making one last desp rate effort to rally their nation and stave off ultimate ultimate
defeat. defeat.
With
and
infantry
troop
back
through
BELGIUM
the
famous famous
concentrations
to the Channel coast,
and
LUXEMBOURG
Von
Runstedt Runstedt
were
rolling
in
a
mighty
in and
command, command, driving
effort
to
vast
panzer panzer
ferociously strike
through
thus cutting off our great supply port of ANTWERP
.
-13.
.
and a vast body of our troops in the north. tha that
fre fresh sh crack rack, ,
the
well well-t -tr raine ained d troo troops ps
be
It
was
vitally
important
throw hrown n into into the the breach to stop stop
German drive. On the night of December 20th we hoisted our battle equipment and
made
ready
to
leave.
At 0400 the busses finally arrived to take us to
the airport airport
near near
OXFORD OXFORD. .
waiting
us.
We
for
ammu ammuni niti tion on, ,
set
guns guns, , all all
Soon Soon at at the the field, field, we saw long long rows rows of C-47's C-47's to
our our
work
at
batt battle le
once,
loading
equ equip ipme ment nt. .
jeeps,
That That nigh night t
trailers, we turn turned ed in
tired but excited by the thought of the morrow, when we hoped to be in the thick thick Our
of of
planes
trappe trapped d
the the
were
at
fight fight. . needed
But to
BASTOG BASTOGNE. NE.
that that
take
next next day we were were
supplies
to
the
doomed doomed
101st
to
disap disappoi pointm ntment ent. .
Airborne
which
was
We had had no choice choice but to unlo unload, ad, and then then to sweat sweat
it out (which we must admit we did do to some extent when the first planes returned that evening and we saw for the first time what enemy flak can do to a transport plane.) The following day we lay around waiting for the planes to be repaired and read ready y to fly fly again. again. equipment equipment reache reached d
in
an
the
engines
high. high.
By
roared.
1600 1600 we
were were loaded loaded in
the
same
Flying planes
on
as
skimmed
we
very of
thoughts ---------Where
southeast
the
bright along
beautiful
the
Channel
at
several
green like
beyond.
are
we
thousand
patchwork
alre already ady warmed warmed-up -up
going?---Will
feet,
quilt
and in each man's mind
-
of
we the
we
looked
make
down
English
it
from
okay?
our
countryside
As the sun began to set, we saw a
swallows.
sight, the
the the
excitement
The propeller blasts swept the field. At
1615 we soared gracefully into the English sky were
Our
planes, planes, that we would fly that evening. evening.
all-time all-time
The
planes.
The mornin morning g of the the 24th 24th we we were were told told to relo reload ad our our
WHITE
CLIFFS
OF
DOVER
Christmas
Eve
over
the
with WHITE
the
blue-gray
CLIFFS
OF
waves
DOVER.
There's something to tell your children about boys. We'll remember it a long time. As
we we
made made
the the
crossi crossing, ng, the
the air and, around around
2100,
FRANCE, -
Orlean Orlean
Chatea Chateaudu udun, n,
planes planes
landed
at
and
Leon. Leon.
ride we had ever taken, bar none.
of
three
But
We the
Able
batter battery y
different different all
agreed
following
separated separated
airports, airports, it
was
in the
morning,
in central
smoothest
Christmas
Day, after we took off again (for eastern FRANCE) we were not so lucky
-14-
as
before.
One
plane, plane, after after
climbing climbing
up up
and
into into
our
forma formation, tion,
turned her nose toward the earth and went down in smoke. taste of casualties and it was bitter.
ment was made - after we had landed at
lives
On Chris Christm tmas as day day
for
their
It was our first
Each man sweated it out waiting to
hear who it was that had been in that plane.
France.
suddenly suddenly
At
last,
an
official
announce-
1000 that morning at Laon in eastern
of 1944 these men of Able Battery had given their
country:
Pvt. Thomas W. Williams Cpl. Frederick B. Cannon PFC. August C. Teresi
Sgt. Alvin M. Hymel Pvt. Alpha A. Lafavers Pvt. Loyal Kincade
And, to add to our bad luck, after we had loaded onto trucks and arrived at the base camp of the 101st Airborne Division, we learned that party
had
been-strafed
Harry N o y e s
had
while
been
motoring
wounded
and
through
France
and
our
our seaborne
Mess
Sargeant,
hospitalized.
These events brought home to us the grimness of the game ahead that we were soon to play.
Very soon to play, play,
took off in trucks to parts unknown, through
war-torn
villages
and
towns
in in
and and
fact, fact, because because after
along
a
day
roads
the
next
spent
strewn
morning morning
traveling with
we
forwqrd
burned-out
tanks and smashed vehicles of all kinds, we arrived at the town of CHARLEVILLE, dug our foxholes and prepared our positions. We knew that we would soon be saying saying
to ourselves ourselves, ,
“This “This
is it", and
sure sure
drone of a Heinie plane headed in our direction foxholes
by
strafing
our
position
and
around around 2200 we heard the
enoug enough, h,
- who soon put us in our
plastering
the
town
But we soon got used to him him and called him "Old Bedcheck Bedcheck
of
CHARLEVILLE.
Charlie", for for he
always came over about bedtime each evening to see if we were tucked away. But we weren't there just to let Jerry come hunting us. We went after him. him. The
And And on on the the nigh night t of of Jan Janua uary ry 2, convoy
moved
along
in
a
1945, we started on the trip up front.
complete
black-out,
that time particularly intense. . Jerry
knew
we
German were
air
activity
bringing
up
being
at
reinforcements reinforcements
and his nighthawks were out swooping down along the roads with machine guns and
rockets, rockets, so we we all all had had our our fingers fingers and toes crossed crossed
through
the
bitter
cold.
And And was was it cold cold?! ?!
as we we nosed nosed ahead ahead
If any anyon one e ever ever ask asks s you you if you you
know what it is like to be really cold, just tell him "Do I"! Listen mister, I was in the BATTLE OF THE BULDGE. After six hours advance our convoy pulled off the road and into a woods for camofl camoflage age
and protec protectio tion n
again against st
an an
air air
raid. raid.
Here Here
we set up
our our
kitc kitchen hen
and ate, while while our dinner dinner music was the the roar and crash crash of American American artille artillery ry laying laying
it
down down
heavy heavy
on the
baffled baffled Jerries, Jerries,
and
the
clash clash
of
the
shellb shellbursts ursts
-15made a Northern Lights against the dark sky.
It was a weird sight and made
our blood tingle with excitement as well as with cold.
We itched to move on,
and soon we did - to
of
the
of famous BASTONNE
small
war-blasted
Belgian
town
SIBRE,
just
And it it was ther there, e, in the the outs outskir kirts ts of of SIBR SIBRET ET
south
that that we
went into our first position and fired our first round in the war. German
forces
of
tanks
and
infantry
were
counterattacking
determinedly
and were locked in a bitter struggle with our infantry for control of the town of MONTE a few miles ahead of us. come to
close closer r
grips grips with the enemy. enemy.
fell at about this time.
We
mean meanwh whil ile e
than
heavier
fighting
went
We moved moved in, To
into into
ever
was
then then
moved moved forwar forward d
make make matters matters easier, easier,
positio position n taking
again, again,
guns almost continuously for hours at a time.
a foot of
closer closer
place.
to
to
snow snow
MONTE, MONTE,
where where
Some days we fired our
It was in this battle and in
.
this and
position
that
wounding
a
shell
Frederick
came
Swartz
into
and
Able
Wendell
battery's
area,
killing killing
Asa
Gannon
Rickert.
And at this point we want to stop and mention that it was at about this time
Captain Captain
same day.
Dight, our
former former
battery battery
command commander, er,
was
wounde wounded d
twice
on
the the
He was was first first hit in the the forear forearm m by a fragmen fragment t from from a mortar mortar shell shell
and walked back to an aid station to have the wound dressed.
But on the way
back, he was caught in an artillery barrage and received a serious back wound which the
caused States States
England
to
commander
him for for
be
to
be
evacuated
operation operation our
having
and and
battalion
been
taken
and
hospitalized
recuperat recuperation. ion.
liaison over
Captain Captain
officer,
by
and
his
Captain
ultimately
Dight Dight
place
had had
as
returned
been
Able
to
promoted promoted
in
Battery
Weatherstone.
Another thing we want to mention right here and now is the superb work done by the battalion medics attached to us. In the BATTLE OF THE the two medics attached to us were T/5 Silber
BULDGE,
and PFC Ver Heyen, and later
on, in the airborne mission over the RHINE, T/5 Miller took the place of T/5
Silber.
These three lads were really on the ball and on the spot all
the time and they rendered the very finest aid and service whenever they were were
need needed ed
whic which h
was was
plen plenty ty
ofte often. n.
Than Thanks ks, ,
boys boys. . ABLE ABLE
battery feels mighty
lucky to have had you attached to us, especially at such a time. In due course the infantry won their battle, with the powerful help of those thousands and thousands of rounds put out by Battery A, and soon we were moving up to and through the rubble-heap that was once the little town of MONT MONTE. E.
Nor Nor
did did we stop stop ther there. e.
In our our
sec secto tor r
the the spea spearh rhea ead d
of of
the the Germ German an
attack
had
broken
and
stubborn
our
way
way
enemy
across
sectors, behind which that
but
slowly
baffled
hard
the
By
to
the
17th
capturing
and
this
of
time
retreat
On
first
DOSBURG.
the
weather
its
had
turned
to
line
much
we
the
we a
in
February.
The
spring
thaws
were
about
to
OUR
of
the our
changed miles
river,
GERMANY,
and of
set
made
few
course,
of two feet feet of snow we now had had two feet feet of mud to contend with. early
We
And it was here
state
warmer,
slow
battered
HOSENMEN
GERMANY.
a
pressing
border
along
tottering
and
enemy.
until
the
on
and
the
MONEREY,
actions
then
the
Airborne
by
to
reaching
LUXEMBOURG
entered
17th
begun
rearguard
LUXEMBOURG,
between
the
was
established
of
of
HONFFALIZE,
his
in
had
boundary
Talon
LUXEMBOURG.
which
town
sure
crushing
Airbourne
the
Golden
GIVET, to
BOCHOLTZ
infantry
forms
to
borders
moving
the
nonetheless
forward
the
the
against
in
and
instead
It was Europe
would
be a mass of mud and for a time armies would have to be immobilized. The campai campaign gn the
was
German
been
overover-and and
our our
had had
triumph triumphed ed
magnifi magnificen cently tly. .
We
had
stoppe stopped d
onrush, we have turned it back, we had recovered all that had
lost, and now we
BATTLE BATTLE OF
arms
THE THE
accomplished
BULD BULDGE GE
and
were were across across the border border and into into was was
then
over over. .
We
felt felt
that
our
Germ Germay ay
missi mission on
itse itself: lf:
was
Th e
defini definitel tely y
some.
On the 13th of February we pulled out of the Bulge and went by truck to
CHALONS,
FRANCE,
rested for of
in
another
Our
the
French French
personal
fields
training
classes
the past. past.
we
cleaned
a time, and then,
leaves on
where
as and and
the
and
repaired
first
valleys, we
to
be
very
began
pulled pulled
interesting
to
in our
beat peep
belts belts
up
equipment,
through and and
the
stared stared
to
us,
more
so
than
ever
in
Now we we were were tested tested and and battl battle-w e-wise ise troo troops, ps, now now we had had a basis basis of of from
which
to
judge
what
It waw a game that that gave us much pleasure pleasure, ,
wise
violets
badly
schedule.
proved
experience
observing
our
our
own
self-development.
we
were
doing
and
studying.
and we got got a real kick out of of
And of
course course, , like like
any
reall really y
battle battle-
veteran, veteran, we set set out to improve improve over our past past mistake mistakes s as well as as pride pride
ourselves ourselves
on
our
next
mission
And,
of
Germany battered battered
was
our
past
rolled
course, course, we not
by the
triumphs, triumphs, so that we could do an even better job when
yet
around. were
defeated.
Allied Allied
air air
absolut absolutely ely Her
certain certain
homeland
forces, forces, and
the
was
that that still
Allied Allied
it
would would
intact,
armies armies
were
roll
around. around.
though plowing plowing
badly
-17 steadily river
onward
RHINE.
up
to
Rumors
a
certain
began
to
great
fly
in
natural
all
defense
directions
barrier-the
at
once,
and
mighty the
trend
of events made it certain in our minds that we were to be called on for another
big
job,
because
this
perhaps
time
it
bigger
would
On the 21st of March marshalling gliders the us
area.
resting
23rd
we
be
than the
the
one
behind
had
just
finished -
kill.
we left Chalons by train and soon arrived at a
We saw saw at at onc once, e, from from the the long long lines lines of C-47' C-47's s
on
were
the
and and
field, that our mission was to be Airborne. On
briefed,
given
maps,
compasses,
escape, in case we were captured, captured, which
because,
we
could
and
sawblades
very
to
help
conceivably conceivably
happen,
as we had learn learned, ed, our airbor airborne ne mission mission was going going to carry carry us well well the
enemy
lines - on the eastern bank of the RHIME.
By the morning of March 24th all was ready and we were in the highest possible
state
morning towing
the
turned the
C-47
graceful
and and
east
great
tension.
first
two
anot anothe her, r,
of
At
whirred,
gliders
anot anothe her r and
headed headed
river
RHINE.
exactly
in
that
roared, and
took
it's
filling toward
0800
wake.
the the
sky last
Then
with
off
early
into
another
the
natural natural
beautiful
the
plane
magnificent
defence defence
spring
clear
blue,
rose,
and
sight
barrier
as
of
they
Germany, Germany,
Our flight was smooth as a ride on the back of a swan - until we came to the RHINE. RHINE. loos loose. e. The
As
Jerry Jerry
we
thre threw w
small-arms
fire
flew flew
over over
ever everyth ythin ing g rattled
against against a tin roof. roof.
the the
great great
river river, ,
all
Hell Hell
he had at us, inclu includin ding g
through
the
gliders
and
the
the the
green
lights lights gliders
pieces
air
whereupon
the the
men
break break sink. sink.
like
hail
The flak and smoke smoke made made such such a solid solid wall around around us us
of a bag, the in
to
kitc kitche hen n
transports
that it was almost impossible to see the drop and landing Then
seeme seemed d
flashed, flashed, the cut
but
loose loose
most
inside
troopers troopers
and
of.them
burst
floated landing
out,
ran
for
tumbled
zones below us.
out
like like
earthward, earthward,
some
miraculously
on
cover,
and
marbles marbles being being
the
began
out
shot
to
ground,
to
organize
in a hell of a hurry. And that was when ABLE battery of the 680th really got on the ball. In
less
than
three
hours
out the fire plenty plenty
we
had
fast, our
three
first first
guns
time time
to to
in
position
and
be firing in
were
combat combat
putting our our
new
105MM
Howitzers Howitzers for which we had exchanged our old 75's back at Chalons
after after
the
BULGE. BULGE.
These These
new 105's 105's
proved proved to be
excelle excellent nt weapons weapons and we
put them to good use fast on that unforgetable day. evening
we
operating
had
five
of
effectively.
our
guns
firing
and
By
three-fourths
1900 of
hours
the
that
battery
6
-18We
suffered
Captain to
a
tragic
Featherstone,
investigate
some
incident,
the
Captain
Our
Battery
Commander,
led a patrol of men out, shortly after we landed,
small-arms
a group of nearby houses. and
however.
fell,
fire
that
was
being
directed
at
us
As he approached the building a shot rang out
mortally
wounded.
After
clearing
the
houses,
discovered the sniper to have been a twelve year old German boy will
never
shoot
another
from
American
we who
-
soldier.
Nothing could have affected us more than the death of our brave leader. Ever since he had taken over Able battery back in England, he had commanded and led us bravely, firmly,
&
wisely.
We would miss him - miss him deeply.
But in the midst of battle one has little time for the emotion of grief. grief. avenge
It was was our our job job to to go on on fight fighting ing, , if for for no no other other reason reason than than to our
leader's
death.
But the more we attacked, the more the Germans
seemed to melt away like the spring snows,
falling
back
into
their
vast
hinterland. And so, from Wessel we advanced upon Dorsten, then upon Haltern, and further on until finally we reached and infested the great city of Munster, Munster,
one of
wa s fully
most most important important rail centers centers
in in
all all
German Germany. y.
The
enemy
aware aware of its importan importance ce and for a time time turned turned and gave gave battle. battle.
But after a again, again,
the the
long long and bloody bloody
leavin leaving g
the the
engage engagement, ment, they threw threw
up up
the the sponge sponge
and
retreate retreated d
city city in our hands. hands.
After we had re-established order in the city and turned to look about us and take a breather, breather, we saw quite quite clearly clearly that the mission mission of the RHINE RHINE crossing
had
been
done
break-up break-up
of
Germany Germany
Splendid Splendid
reports reports
of
so
well,
so
impending impending, , it other
units, units,
magnificent,
that not only was the final
was actually actually taking taking
tanks
MUREMBURG
and
were
rumbling The
AUSTRIA.
away
into
army was under under
way.
Great
corps, corps,
even
the
Wehrm Wehrmacht acht
gallant gallant
troops. troops.
comprising Germany, Germany,
the one
The
greatest greatest
industrial
of the
of Europe Europe and the world. world. several several
German German
army
of
region
riches richest t
the
dissolution
German German
armies armies of
unknown,
of
pockets pockets were were
all of
this
groups, and the
direction
were were
being being
carved carved
surrou surrounded nded
pockets pockets
RUHR
great great Lord Lord
the state
these these
the
in
German
being being
river
pocket pocket
and DENMARK.
HAMBURG
the
and most vital areas, areas,
Within Within
our eyes.
divisions, divisions, and corps were coming in to us. .
The British were striking far to the northeast toward Patton's
place place before before
was
and
by by
out, our
in
not only of caught caught
mighty
divis divisions, ions, swift swift
undoubtedl undoubtedly y
valley
were were
the
of
and and
that
northwestern Germany Germany, , elements elements
knows knows how many Nazi bigwigs. bigwigs.
The Golden Talon division was called in to aid in the reduction of this
but of of
-19vast
pocket.
BOTTROP, called RUHR of
We
moved
MULHEIM,
and
from
combat
pocket
having
the
WEHRMACHT
steadily
finally
and
from
DUISBURG,
assigned
by
that
safely
one
a
time
herded
triumph
where
mission
shrunk into
PW
at
of
to
to long
last
military
nothing
cages
another,
to
taking
we
were
re-
government,
and
the
think
army
the
groups
everything
over.
And so ended the war in Europe for the men of ABLE Battery. On the 8th day of May came the long-awaited armistice. The job that ABLE Battery had begun to prepare for way back in the early days of 1943 at Camp
Mackall
days
in
North
But
those
of
long
effort
was
now
done.
Carolina. us
at
who last
We
had
come
a
long
way
since
those
far-off
We had lost a lot of comrades along the way.
remained
had
crowned
the
with
great
satisfaction
of
seeing
our
victory.
And as we left the chaos of Germany for our rest camp near NEUFCHATEAU began
to
amon g
the
wonder,
tall
what
trees trees, , and and
next?
Where
green
does
But with our job in Europ Europe e done, done, the 17th
authorities
that
men of o f the
division divisi on to
AIRBORNE
meadows
our
duty
of
now
France,
we
lie?
it was determi determined ned by high
should
go home ho me and an d be
be
broken
up,
the
returned retur ned to t o civilian civ ilian
point men to go to the 82nd AIRBORNE and the 101st AIRBORNE AIRBORNE
eastern
high-point
life,
the lo low -
AIRBORNE and the 15th
Divisions, Divisions, where they would serve out their time and duty in
the
Army. It
would
be
tough
to
say
goodbye
to
pals
and
fighting
soldier
comrades
who had had come come the long road road with with us -- tough to be parted parted and shipped shipped out in different each each
directions
othe other r
besi beside des, s,
again again. .
to
the
four
corners
of
the
world,
But But ther there e was was no help help for for it. it.
our our job job was was done done. .
But
we
of
ABLE
Orde Orders rs
battery
had
a long time since those early days at CAMP MACKALL. a
lot
together,
matter
what
yes,
insignia
a we
powerful might
lot.
in
the
And this future
perhaps are are been
no
to
order orders, s,
and and
together
for
see
We had been through
we all of
wear,
never
us knew---knew-----no -no
matter
where
we
might be sent or what we might be called upon to do or to endure, the spirit of
old
ABLE
BATTERY
and
the
GOLDEN
TALON
DIVISION
would
make make us us face face up to it, and it would would see us throug through. h. Good Good
Luck Luck. .
And And
some some day day
we'l we'll l
be be
see seein ing g
you. you.
So
stick
with
Goodbye,
us Boys.
and
