Heroes: the Army
"...The Jerrys had the place zeroed in and big artillery shells started dropping around us. A big one fell about 50 yards in front of me and I could hear screaming and moaning of the wounded. Another fell much closer and it seemed everyone was hit. All around us medics, engineers, and infantrymen lay dead or wounded. Galloway was beside me when he was hit in the hip and the foot..."
the Men of the Ozarks
Branch of Service: Army
Unit: 102nd Infantry Division
Dates: 1942 - 1946
Location: European Theater
Rank: All Ranks
Birth Year:
Entered Service: U. S. A.
Roer River Crossing: Image Courtesy of Edward L. Souder
Crossing the Roer River
60th Anniversary
23 February 1945 -- 23 February 2005
The following is lasting tribute to the men of the "Ozarks", the 102nd Infantry Division.
The crossing of the Roer River -- into Germany -- was one of the pivotal moments in the history of the 102nd Division. The crossing was put off from December 1944 until the early morning hours of February 23, 1945...some 60 years ago.
We are now proudly presenting to you, the reader, a collection of accounts written by the men who made this historic crossing of a bitterly cold and swollen river near the border of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
You can read background information about the Roer River Crossing made by the 102nd Division at the following locations on this web site.
The Roer River Crossing: Battlefield Art
"the Ozarks" 102nd Infantry Division
Below are a collection of excerpts from various stories on this web site -- written by the men of the 102nd Division who experienced them.
At the time that the crossing of the Roer River took place, it was figured to be front page news back home. After all, a lot of preparations had been made to kick off the push into the home land of the "vaunted 3rd Reich" -- Germany.
However, as it turned out, the historic push into Germany by the Allies took second place to another historic event happened halfway across the globe. This battle took place on a tiny blood soaked island in the Pacific measuring a mere 2 1/2 by 5 miles in size. That island and battle was for the important island of Iwo Jima.
To read the complete story, click on the link following each story.
You may scroll down the page and read each story in sequence or if you wish to do so, you can click on one of the links below of your choice to read an individual's personal account of the Roer River Crossing.
Either way, the stories are small, but important pieces of American history written by the men who took part in this battle.
Taking the Roer and Beyond (from the Archives)
James J. "Jim" Brophy, Sgt., 405-F
Robert L. "Bob" Campbell, Pvt., 405-F
Robert "Bob" Fisher, PFC., 405-F
Eugene M. "Gene" Greenburg, Sgt., 405-F (From His War Diary)
Eugene M. "Gene" Greenburg, Sgt., 405-F (A Second Account)
James L. "Jim" Hansen, 2nd Lt., 405-F
Robert E. "Bob" Herrick, 1st Lt., 405-F
Albert A. "Al" Hottin, S/Sgt., 405-F
Robert M. "Bob" Lira, 1st Sgt., 405-F
Stanley J. "Stan" Pero, Pvt., 405-F
John M. "Dick" Skene, Pvt., 405-F
Lester H. "Les" Nordlund, PFC., 405-B
Fred O. Hunsdorfer, Sgt., 405-C
Samuel D. "Don" Egolf, PFC., 405-E
Donald E. "Swede" Larson, 1st Lt., 405-H
Richard F. Mitchell, Capt., 405-H
Ralph G. Neese, T/4, Cannon Co., 406
Salvatore J. Conigliaro, Jr., S/Sgt., 406-G
Robert W. "Bob" Lally, S/Sgt., 407-L
Edward "Ed" Furlow, T/5, Medic-407
Howard Brodie, Sgt., Yank Staff Correspondant
Taking the Roer and Beyond...
Gen. Keating went on to outline how the division, after seizing its initial bridgehead, would then swing north and later be passed through by the 5th Armored Division, which would attempt to break through to the Rhine. Gen. Keating predicted a hard fight and heavy casualties. At 2:45 on the 23rd of Feb. the division artillery opened up a forty-five minute preparation against the east bank of the Roer to soften up the enemy defenses before the infantry assault at 0330. The artillery's fire was supplemented by attached units and by tank destroyers and tank fire. No counter battery fire was received during the preparation, but the enemy almost immediately began laying heavy mortar fire along the river banks.
The first infantry to cross the river was a raiding patrol from the 407th Regiment which crossed just north of Linnich at 0300 hours and wiped out several machine gun nests along the dike paralleling the east bank. The patrol, led by 1st Lieut. Roy "Buck" Rogers- a veteran of many patrols across the river, stayed on the far bank when its work was completed. At 0325 the assault boats were lowered into the water and at 0330 the first assault wave started across the river.
The 405th attacked from Roerdorf by columns of battalions with the first battalion leading, followed by the second battalion and the 407th jumped at Linnich in line of battalion with the second battalion on the right and the first battalion on the left. All men crossing were in assault boats and all wore life belts. One attempt to use alligators was made. The crossing was opposed not only by small arms fire but by rocket and mortar fire going along the banks and into the river which upset some of the boats and others got out of control and drifted downstream. The writer was unable to find any example of men drowning in the stream and it is doubtful if many did (Ha!), but many were carried downstream and were unable to rejoin their units until later in the day.
As a result the companies were under strength and disorganized when the reached the far shore, even though actual battle casualties were far lighter than had been expected. The artillery preparation was largely responsible for the light small arms fire opposing the initial crossing. Many Germans had been killed in their foxholes along the river banks and we may be assured that others fled and still others were dazed and befuddled. Major George Domm, Division Chaplain, who said many of the prisoners taken in the first few hours of the attack told the writer on the morning of the 25th of February that they all seemed numb and half shell-shocked and many of the younger ones were shaking and crying.
Following their reorganization a short distance in shore the two lead battalions of the 407th pressed on toward their objective. The first battalion , led through the minefields by prisoners, moved on toward Gevenich with rifles cocked without firing a shot. By 0630 the battalion was in the town and had taken a number of prisoners, surprised by the silent and unexpected entry of the Americans.
On the left the second battalion reorganized after its crossing and attacked with all companies toward the first objective. Co. F moved quickly thru Breitender and passed thru Co. E which had been held up just short of Glimbach, and moved into the town. Meanwhile Co. G occupied the high grounds southeast of Glimbach without trouble. The third battalion of the 407th assisted the crossing of the assault battalion with fire of all varieties and after Glimbach and Gevenich had been secured, crossed and took positions on the left flank from north of Glimbach to contact the 84th division on the left. The 407th attacked no further on the 23rd of February after the capture of Glimbach and Gevenich, but spent the remained of the day in consolidating its positions.
At Roerdorf companies A, B, & C crossed at H hour, a company at a time, with Co. C in the lead, followed by companies A and B. The crossing was attended by considerable confusion because of the swift current, and enemy mortar fire and a number of the boats were washed downstream. The battalion, however, reorganized without too much difficulty about 500 yards inland and at 0745 attacked from a small patch of woods toward the railroad tracks running north of Tetz. The attack was slowed by automatic weapons fire but heavy artillery enabled the infantry to occupy the escarpment immediately east of the tracks by noon. That battalion remained there the remainder of the day and night.
The second battalion crossed at 0550 with company E in the lead, followed by companies G , F & H. Reorganization was effected near Bischof without opposition from the enemy other than small arms fire, and at 0650 the battalion attacked back toward Tetz which was occupied by Co. E with little difficulty at 0820. Meanwhile companies G & F advanced abreast passing south of Tetz and by 0930 had seized the high ground south and east of Boslar, During the afternoon the same two companies were shifted to fill the gap between Boslar and Gevenich and they dug in in the field between the two towns.
The third battalion of the 405th assisted the crossing of the first two battalions and by helping to carry the assault boats down to the water and later with support fire. After the first two battalions had crossed and moved on to their objections the third battalion crossed at about 1300 hours by means of the infantry support bridge which by that time had been put across the river. At 1535 the battalion attacked from the railroad north of Tetz, passing through the first and second battalions, in an assault on Boslar. There the stiffest opposition of the day was encountered and the battalion was able to enter the town only under heavy artillery support. Once within the town the battalion attempted to consolicate its position but beginning about dark the enemy began to strike back with its heaviest counter attack of the entire operation. Approximately seven attempts were made by enemy armor and infantry to drive the battalion out of the town, but the Germans were repeatedly driven back by heavy artillery fire which the battalion commander called on his own position.
The 406th infantry, which initially was in division reserve at Basweiler, began to move out by foot in the afternoon and at 1600 hours the Third battalion crossed by way of the Roerdorf footbridge. The first battalion followed a half hour later and the third battalion crossed about 2100. The third battalion moved to Tetz and after dark was ordered into the line to protect the right flank ofJthe division. Companies K & L moved into position facing south east along a line from southeast of Tetz.
During the night, Co. L on the left, received a small counter attack by the enemy without armor. It was easily repelled. The first battalion arrived in Tetz about 1800 hours and moved on to Mulefink creek, prepared to remain in division reserve, but it was also committed as was Co. K, to hold the right flank after the attacks began to develop against Boslar. The battalion moved directly to the high ground running from Boslar to the position occupied by the third battalion.
The first Battalion, during the night, was subjected to heavy artillery fire, some of which was supporting artillery called upon Boslar by the commander of the third battalion of the 405th. The First battalion also was hit by an infantry counterattack about 2300 and had a little trouble fending it off. The Second Battalion crossed the river about 2100 and was in reserve at Tetz during the night.
The 701st Tank Battalion began to cross the river early on the morning of the 24th and reached Tetz about 0900 2/24. The 771 Tank Destroyer Battalion likewise crossed early on Feb. 24 and after crossing, split into its various support objectives.
Co A. was in direct support of the 405th Infantry during the campaign. Co. B supported the 407th and Co. C initially was in reserve and later attached to the 406th.
Other that the counter attacks at Boslar and to the southeast, it is the writer's opinion that they constituted the only enemy coordinated attempt during the entire operation to fight other than the delaying actions.
From the Archives
"Taking the Roer and Beyond..."
James J. "Jim" Brophy, Sgt., 405-F
Tuesday, the 23rd then of February, we were up and Freialdenhoven and we were getting ready to go across the river again. We had a hot meal, put on our equipment, he said, shook hands with one another, wished luck, etc. and went outside. He mentioned, the new fellows were nervous on the 22nd, the day before. He said that he imagined that the old fellows felt no better. I know that I didn't. I share that with him. I know that we were all scared to death. We were scared of those boats, scared of that river and scared of the Germans.
I remember that night as we marched up to the river. We passed the big guns, 155's and 8 inch guns in the dark. They were all bellowing and firing across the river. Then as we moved up, we came pass the 105's and kept moving up and we finally came up where they even had the little 57mm anti tank guns firing across. Armor was lined up in the field firing across of us, across the river with the 75's on the tanks, the high velocity 76's and the 90mm guns. All of that was firing across. We could see the guns bellowing, could see the flash of the muzzles and the crews working them and we had never seen anything like that and we had never been back that far. Now we were moving up through the artillery. It was pretty impressive. On one hand it was heartening and on the other hand it was scary too. We knew it was a great big operation.
This march, I remember, when we got up to the river -- close to the river, Lt. Weigand was handing out bandoleers of ammunition for anyone that wanted them. Almost everybody took one. Some took two. Then we had a halt among some buildings up there. Then Galloway came around and told us to blow up our life preservers. These were two parallel tubes pretty much like bicycle inner tubes around your waist. They were on a single belt. In the front they had two CO2 cartridges. If you squeezed that together with your hand. The CO2 cartridges would pierced and they would inflate the belt. Fortunately most of us had been over once or twice and when you did that it was the same thing as squeezing them and the cartridges had inflated the belts and there weren't any cartridges to replace them or very few as I remember.
We had an auxiliary way of doing it. There was a rubber hose -- two actually, one for each of the two tubes. You could blow them up manually. Galloway was squad leader now, and he came around and had us blowing them up. I remember that and I remember doing it. I remember Tavarez fussing about doing it. I don't know if he actually did it or not. When we were waiting to get ready, you know, to go down to the river. This had been in the middle of the night sometime.
As we went down the hill on kind of a winding road that came into the river at a right angle to the river, and as I remember, turned left and down the hill and the river on our right and buildings on our left. All of a sudden a shell hit one and splattered the platoon ahead of us. You could hear the guys yelling, and [------] . It was pitch dark. The confusion [------] and I remember hitting the ground on top of a pile of rubble and bricks and stuff, my M-1 underneath me and Burke right next to me. And I thought, My God -- if we -- everybody had taken off for the buildings. I thought this was the end of the crossing and we never get everybody organized and back to the river. I thought it was crazy. Anyway, Burke and I scooted back among the buildings to and people got us organized. The I learned that Gallaway had been and I think at the time I didn't realize it but Lt. Fletcher had been hit and Shelly Overman, known as "Moonshine" had been hit. Jim White took over the squad and he made Burke his assistant squad leader. My immediate reaction to that was pissed because when Galloway had told me when White had made assistant squad leader, Fletcher, Lt. Fletcher had wanted him because of his national guard experience. Otherwise Galloway said he -- probably they might have made me the assistant squad leader.
I guess looking back at it is very unlikely, several of us, Greenburg among them, had bragged on Fletcher that he was likely to give us anything. We were lucky to get our rations I think.
I remember one time back around Baesweiler or someplace, we were hiking down a road going to Brachelen and we got pretty hot and steamy. I remember kneeling there in the road working on my boots or overshoes or something wailing about how Lieutenant had led us at too fast a pace and da-da-da. I looked down and there was a pair of overshoes and I followed them and sure enough there was Lt. Fletcher looking at me and he said something about the musette bag he was carrying was pretty heavy. I really had shot off my mouth that day -- it wasn't very bright of me.
Anyway when we got reorganized we headed down to the river and this time as I remember it we hit the ground a lot and I was lying in a ditch and there was a guy behind me and a guy in front of me and I was just about lying on the guys' legs in front of me. The guy behind me said, "Let's go, Let's go." I said, "Wait a minute, I can't go anywhere, this guy's in front of me." Well he said, "Well, push him out of the way." I said, "Well, he's dead I think." About that time the guy in front of me started to crawl down to the river.
So, we got down to the boats. I don't remember much about how that was except that there seemed to be too few combat engineers for the [---].
I remember we were paddling like crazy in that boat. Greenburg [Eugene "Gene" Greenburg -- foxhole buddy who also has a couple of exerpts in this section] observes that too few guys were paddling which was surely true. We got to the far shore in very quick time and bounced off. God Almighty -- we went spinning downstream and we hit something. Greenburg knows more about what we probably hit than I did because he spent a couple of hours sitting on top of whatever it was. He said a van with a large hole in it and kept going and we hit a submerged log and that was what I remember. I was on the downstream side. I passed my paddle to the guy up ahead of me and yelled at him to paddle. I was trying to get a paddle out from under a pile of feet and guns that were next to me and that was what I was grabbing for when we hit. That side of the boat I was on just slid under water and in an instant I was swimming.
Then as I remember, we hit this log after I passed the paddle up and I was digging up the other one. The next minute I was in the water. I remember bobbing, coming to the surface and thinking that I really didn't need that steel helmet anymore. I knocked that off and I don't think that I had gone under very far. I remember that I couldn't gone down too far. I don't think the helmet would have stayed on. I thought what a crazy place to die here in this black river in the midst of Germany. Next instant, I thought I had got to get rid of my equipment I had on -- a pack, a combat pack which was raincoat and rations and mess kit and stuff, the entrenching tool and I had an ammo bag. Had a sweater in it, rifle grenades, rifle grenade launcher and I had several bandoleers of ammunition, some BAR ammunition in BAR magazines as I remember it. So I had a lot of equipment. I got my pocked knife and started to cut on my webbing equipment. I couldn't cut the pack webbing, absolutely not. It just wouldn't cut. It was webbed and my hands were getting cold already. I knew that was going to come on fast. So I managed to cut, I think to cut the bandoleers off. Then I started swimming. I seemed to be floating OK, so I put the knife away. I was afraid of cutting the life preserver tubes. So I swam and I got to the kraut shore. The bank was almost chest high. I was standing in the water -- crawled up on the bank. I could see nothing. It was night time still. The bottom of the valley had fogged in by white phosphorus shells. As I crawled up I could hear a P-47 Thunderbolt coming from our side strafing. His 50 calibers going like crazy. Strafing the German positions. I thought, wow, if he comes down the least bit low I am a dead cookie. And of course he was probably shooting a mile or more inland -- I have no idea. But anyway, I could hear a German machine gun ahead of me there and that sucker could not have been more than 50 or 60 feet inland. I could hear him firing upstream at the bridgehead and I could hear him when he opened the action on the thing to load a new belt. I could hear him charge the gun and start shooting again. I crawled on my right front, which was upstream a bit maybe 30 feet or so into a shell hole and I lay there half paralyzed in cold and fear. After a while I became aware that it became a little lighter. There was a guy standing where I had come out of the river in the same position.
At this time then, I had figured out a few things. I got my pack off and I opened it up. I got my ammo bag and looked at that and I had lost my glasses in the river and I had lost my wrist watch someplace. I took out my spare glasses and put them up on the bank ahead of me because they were covered with water. I took out some chocolate and then I noticed this guy standing below me there. I couldn't tell if he was a German or American. I figured on that a while and I finally decided he was probably American. He was standing in the water.
So I crawled over there and I gave him help. He couldn't make it up the bank himself. He had been in the water too long I guess. I exhausted myself getting him up so I just waddled back to the hole on my belly and waited for him. After a while he crawled over. He said something about, "It was good I came him because he said I was going to holler to the Germans to come and get me. I was afraid I was going to fall back in the water and I couldn't get out and I didn't want to die." So I asked him if he wanted some chocolate. He said "Yea." It was a Hershey bar, commercial type. He was so cold he couldn't hold it. He couldn't feed himself. So I fed him the pieces. Slid little squares into his mouth. And after a while he felt better. And we decided -- we talked a little trying to decide what we were going to do. I kind of thought well, I said, "I speak just a little German. Maybe I could go around behind them and bluff them out. Maybe think they are surrounded. You could holler from this side. He said that he didn't think too much of that. He thought we ought to sneak up stream. I kind of thought there were krauts all the way along that bank on both sides of us. We took the smart path and started crawling upstream actually wriggling on our bellies first and then I think and then crawling and then finally getting far enough so we could stand up. As we moved upstream, eventually we could hear a voice calling upstream.
We got up there. It was somebody yelling for "doggie, doggie". As I remember the "doggie" was the nickname of one of the sergeants in the, I think, the heavy weapons platoon. Anyway we got behind a couple of big stout trees and yelled at the guy not to shoot, we were Americans. Then we moved in there. He was still looking for "Doggie". We said there is nobody behind us but krauts. So we turned around and all went up stream as I remember it and we got up to the site of the bridgehead. They said that there was a counter attack expected. I said, "Holy Christ, here I don't even have a gun." So I went around and I finally found a white phosphorus grenade that had it's handle bent and fallen off somebody's belt -- off his lapel or something and hung onto that.
After a little bit there was obviously no counter attack. So we hung around there until, I guess, one in the afternoon and there was nothing we could do. At one in the afternoon, they got a, had a little, infantry bridge across. Guys would come across single file. There was a break in the action there. I scooted back across and the engineers stayed on there to work. I saw one guy step on a shoe mine and get a hole in his foot.
As I got on to the opposite bank, coming down a column of troops. One of them was a guy named Gallager who I had met in basic training back in Camp Robinson, Arkansas a year and a half or so before. Here he was in the same division. We recognized each other, said hello and I went on up the hill to the aid station. Because I lost my glasses, they sent me back to the hospital, someplace, I don't remember in an ambulance to get new glasses.
I had a civilian pair in my pocket. I didn't tell anybody about it. I had it very clear in my mind, it made sense to me. If I used those glasses, they would never get me new ones. It would be three months or more. I would probably break these and stuff. And that was just a crock. The reason I was going back was I was scared to death.
So I got to the aid station and there were a few guys there I knew. I recognized Greenburg. I remember that. That's about all. I think that there must have been some others there. I went back to the hospital and I don't know...it was two days or so later I think. They had us unloading wounded at the hospital. I think, maybe two days later -- maybe it was longer, I don't remember actually getting back to the platoon. Greenburg was there already. Bustos [Oscar] had been killed and they put myself and Greenburg in Mucci's [Joe] squad. Mucci put me back, one guy ahead of the assistant squad leader, Wojciechowski [Edward C.]. That was the way it went until the end of the war. As I remember it, Greenburg and I were both in that squad and I remember Joe was so glad to see us back, he gave me a big "hello". I remember that big grin. I always thought Mucci was a great guy. He treated us great.
Greenburg and I were kind of like orphans. I imagine we were pretty sad sacks. We were pretty shook up by that whole thing.
So that is about all I remember of the river crossing. I don't know the day that I joined the platoon.
I walked up the road that we had come down a few hours earlier. I suppose it was ten hours earlier. By that time the potholes in the road were full of blood -- just like ketchup. By that time I think -- well I don't remember. I didn't see any casualties on the [road]. They must have been cleared away by then. The dead and wounded. Just the blood was there which was bad enough -- for Christ sake.
Left the river. They were trying to put a pontoon bridge across. This was before I got back to the aid station. I mean a big pontoon bridge for the armor. They had it across. It looked to me like they were within a few feet of the far bank. A guy took a -- There were two incidents there. One guy, a second lieutenant, took one of those boats, like we had, an assault boat and had a big outboard on the back. He headed upstream. He gunned the engine. The nose of the boat went up in the air and the stern went underneath. He was swimming for shore. Then someone took one of the great big great big "ducks", DKW or whatever they were. I had never seen one of them before into the river above the bridge. The engine stalled. That sucker was swept down by the current and it smashed the bridge. It took it right out. I don't know if anyone ever wrote about that one. But it sure happened. I couldn't believe it. I don't know how many hours that delayed the armor, but that must have been about one or two in the afternoon. They had been working on that bridge I suppose since early in the morning. I don't know how long it took them, because I left then to get it going again.
James J. "Jim" Brophy, Co. F., 405th Regiment (2nd Battalion)
Audio Tapes Transcription
Jim Brophy's WWII Recollections
Robert L. "Bob" Campbell, PFC., 405-F
One person I will never forget is George Orlowski. During the Roer River crossing our boat overturned and we lost Hurst, our BAR man. The shell fire was so bad we had to go back and wait and he deflated his life belt. At any rate, George and I and 2 engineers ended up in the 4 cornors of the boat. The Engineers heard us coming -- yelling for help. They threw us a line and pulled us to shore. I was on the end of the line, and when we let the boat go I went under water. George was up on the front end and when he saw me go under, he let go and let the current take him to where he pulled me up above the water. We got ashore, he got in one jeep and I into another. I went to the Battalion aid station, got dry clothes and a new rifle and was back with our platoon that afternoon. George went back to the general hospital and returned 3 days later, to take a terrible ribbing. I wrote him up for the Silver Star -- but the Company quota went to our Captain, Capt. Evenson, I believe. George and I got the Bronze Star tho.
Robert L. "Bob" Campbell, Co. F., 405th Regiment (2nd Battalion)
Bob Campbell Letter of 10 May 1988
Robert "Bob" Fisher, PFC., 405-F
The Roer River crossing
With the germans in control of the dam, each time we got ready to cross they flooded the river. When we finally got control of the dam we were prepared for the REAL crossing. Our part of the plan was for Sgt. Fisher to take his squad across the river 2 hours ahead of the main crossing and knock out a machine gun nest at a certain location. Fortunately this part of the plan got cancelled. The artillery barrage prior to the crossing was a continuous roar for hours. As we waited our turn a man standing near us (10 feet away), was hit in the thigh with a stray bullet. Every man who saw it happen said "You lucky SOB." As we approached the river carrying our assault boat we met several very wet members of our first squad (Their boat had been swept downstream and overturned when they hit an engineer bridge cable and they reported loosing 2 -- 3 men. You could say we were a little more than slightly apprehensive as we launched our boat in the swirling waters We turned around had around paddling as hard as we could, hit the shore and started to deploy, only to find out that we were on the same side of the river from whence we had started. We had to carry our boat back upstream and try again. This time we made it. Visability was almost nil due to the smoke screen. Our other squad also made it so -- with 2 squads under the leadership of Sgt. Hansen we killed or captured 25 -- 30 germans including the 7 machine gun nests, without loosing a man. Incidentaly, if Sgt. Fichers squad had crossed early, they would have run head on into those nests and likely been killed forthright.
Robert L. "Bob" Fisher, Co. F., 405th Regiment (2nd Battalion)
Eugene M. "Gene" Greenburg, Sgt., 405-F
Saturday, February 6.
We learned the plan of attack for the crossing of the Roer. The 405th and the 407th were to cross abreast. The 407th was on our right and the British on their right. The 405th was to cross by Roerdorf and the 29th div. was on our left. The 406th was in reserve. Of the 405th reg't the 1st battalion would cross first, we of the 2nd battalion would follow and then the 3rd battalion. The 1st battalion would cross first, gain some high ground and we would go thru them capturing the town of Tetz. In the second battalion the order of crossing would be "E", "F", "G", and "H". "F" co. was to keep contact with the 29th div. and flank Tetz while "E" entered the town. We could expect no armor for two days to support us and were to go as far forward as possible.
Monday, February 22.
Finally it had come. We were told that we were going to take off at 2 A.M the next morning and to get all our equipment ready. For the rest of the day fellows were cleaning rifles, writing letters, packing equipment or just laying around trying to sleep. The new fellows were nervous but I imagine the old fellows felt no better. I know I didn't. A big mail call helped build up our morale. We went to sleep at 6 P. M. cause we would be getting up around midnight. We took turns staying awake so that we would not oversleep.
Tuesday, February 23.
We awoke at midnight, had a hot meal, put on our equipment, shook hands with one another, wishing luck, etc. and went outside awaiting orders to move. At 2 A.M. we started down the road with very little talking among the men. We walked about a mile before reaching Edern. It was a clear night without a moon and wasn't a bad night for a crossing. As we left Edern and approached Welz the artillery started. This was really something. It seemed as if every large gun in the American Army was firing. The 155s and the 105s were booming behind us. We had passed them and seen and heard the firing orders. In front of us 75s, tanks, antitank guns, all types of mortars, cannons, and machine guns were firing. The noise was terrific and we could see the explosions of phosphorous shells on the other side of the river and tracer bullets from machine guns flying in an arc toward the other side of the stream. In Welz we were given more bandoleers and grenades we were soon near Roerdorf. Tanks and bulldozers moved up on the roads. Just outside of Roerdorf we halted and heard the Engineers had tried putting up a foot bridge but suffered too many casualties. There was some confusion as to what units were going first but that was straightened out and we moved thru the town to the river. We approached the river and were on a small hill overlooking it. A winding road for about 100 yards led down to the boats. We stopped on the top of this road when all hell broke loose. The Jerrys had the place zeroed in and big artillery shells started dropping around us. A big one fell about 50 yards in front of me and I could hear screaming and moaning of the wounded. Another fell much [183-40] closer and it seemed everyone was hit. All around us medics, engineers, and infantrymen lay dead or wounded. Galloway was beside me when he was hit in the hip and the foot. I brought him back to the medics and returned. Lt. Fletcher had been hit in the head but not badly. Overman had been hit in the arm and was evacuated. A bulldozer was repairing the road and bodies were pushed aside by the dozer. There was still a great deal of wounded, bleeding, dead and confused men around. E Co. just in front of us had a whole platoon wiped out. Remember all the time it was dark. What was left of us moved down to the boats and our platoon was to cross in three boats. Our squad jumped in a boat when there were three engineers and took off. The current was swift, the engineers excited, too few people paddling and perhaps too many men in the boat, but we were out of control and the boat was bing swept down the river without being able to do anything about it. The boat hit all kinds of objects and we approached a dam with a large hole in it -- out boat passed thru the dam and kept going. Suddenly the boat hit a submerged log and split the boat in two. We jumped out into the cold water. This was about 5 A.M. It was dark but my preserver helped little and I felt a branch in my hand and held on. I moved up on the branch till I came to a strong part and just held on exhausted. I was in water up to my neck and held on for dear life. I could hear other fellows calling for help and could see empty battered boats passing. Artillery shells were falling in the river and machine gun bullets passed overhead. I was forced or get under the water at times because of this. Everything seemed so unreal. I started taking off my equipment. My rifle and helmet was gone and I removed by overshoes, pack. belt, rations, ammo bag with grenades, 3 bandoleers, raincoat and kept the life preserver. My legs were numb and I worked myself up to where he water was up to my chest. As dawn came I was conscious of someone else holding on the tree at the opposite end. I called out and found out it was Bilyk. I crawled up to where Bilyk was, as it was higher out of the water. Bilyk told me he was in the boat with the 3rd squad and there boat had turned over just like our boat did. It started to get light but there was a thick fog descending which prevented visibility for more than 20 ft. The fog aided us from enemy fire but prevented us from being rescued. We were freezing and as I looked at Bilyk I thought there were two of him he was shaking so. I brought out a small bottle of whiskey that my parents had sent in a package and which I and the squad had agreed to save till we crossed the river as we thought we would be cold. Well we hadn't crossed the river but we were cold, so we finished it. Bilyk had thought I had gone nuts when I told him I had whiskey. We finished it We kept holding on and freezing. There was no more firing so we figured our boys had pushed on - we hoped. It would be bad for us if the Germans were still on the other side of the river when the fog lifted. After 3-1/2 hours we heard someone talking [184-41] on our side of the river. We both called and the voice answered saying he was going for help. The fog was too thick to wee him. After 20 minutes a boat suddenly appeared out of the mist -- no one in it, but a rope was attached to it. Our rescuers were trying to get the boat to us and then tow us in -- the current was too rapid for them to paddle out. After one half hour trying we were finally rescued. We were taken to a First Aid station where we were warmed by a fire and given dry clothing. We ate a K ration and after being out of the river five hours we were on our way back to rejoin our co. We walked down the same winding road where the shells had first dropped and in the light of day could see what had happened. The road was literally red and equipment was scattered all about. A footbridge had been erected and a pontoon bridge was being built. American wounded were being carried back by Jerry prisoners and Yank dead lined the road - some not in one piece. On all sides of the road were mine fields. When I reached the Co. I found that Tetz, our first objective, had been taken. I also learned the casualties - from my boat only I and Brophy, who had drifted to safety were safe. Taverez, Ybarra, Burke, Nolan, Ravera, White, Coudia and two engineers were missing in action. Later after the war was over we learned that Burke and White had been taken prisoner. In Bilyk's boat Tom White, Veit, Stivali, Wingate, Sloan, and Dryer were missing. Weit also turned up as a prisoner of war. We were all tired and feeling terrible over the losses we had suffered. We were quartered in a house and thought we would be able to sleep that night -- the 406th had gone through us so there was no danger of a frontal attack. Bilyk and I had been given up as dead, so the fellows were glad to see us.
Eugene M. "Gene" Greenburg, Co. F., 405th Regiment (2nd Battalion)
Eugene M. "Gene" Greenburg, Sgt., 405-F
From: "A River Crossing"
I was up to my armpits in the middle of the river, grimly holding on to a submerged branch of a sunken tree. I felt numb from the waist down and was wondering how much longer I would stay in the river.
Dawn was breaking, but I couldn't see more than two or three feet on either side of me because of the fog. It was not natural fog, but artificial fog that the Chemical Corps was using to cover the crossing of the river. There were a few breaks in the fog, but the shore was too far away to be visible.
I guessed that it was 0700 and I had been here for about two hours. It hardly seemed possible that only five hours ago, this catastrophe, that I hope I could awaken to find a nightmare, had begun.
It was at 0100 hours that "Red" Coudira [Richard J.] came down to awaken us. He came down the steps and cursed softly as he tripped over me while trying to get at the candle. "I'll light it, Red." I said as I sat up off the stone floor and reached for a match in my pocket. As the glow of the candle illuminated the room, I could see Coudira gently waking up the other fellows.
Usually the men swore, yelled, and gave their opinion of everything and everyone in the Army upon being awakened so eariy in the moming. This morning there was no cursing, no gripes, just the quiet efficiency of men knowing there was work to be done. Each of them folded his blanket and piled them neatly in a corner of the room. We had enough to carry tonight without burdening ourselves with blankets.
We quietly made our packs, hooked them on and started piling on everything else we might have a use for during the next two days. We had already been told we couldn't expect any additional food or ammo during the following 48 hours. My rifle belt and the two bandoleers around my neck assured me of plenty of rifle ammo. As I adjusted the straps on my ammo bag, the weight indicated enough grenades for any emergency. Six "K" rations in my pack would ease my hunger for some time.
I was set to go and sat down to await further orders. I pondered over what was supposed to happen in the next few hours. It all seemed so simple the way Lt. Fletcher [Walter A.] had explained it earlier that afternoon. He had first reminded us that the delay we had experienced in crossing the river was due to the Germans destroying dams further up the river and making it a raging torrent. The river was down a great deal now, but because of the heavy rains it wasn't the easiest thing in the world to cross. He assured us that because of our practice crossing the Maas River in Belgium a few days ago, we shouldn't have too much trouble in crossing this smaller river - - the Roer. Besides, we were all to carry life preservers.
The lieutenant further explained that before crossing we would have 45 minutes of the greatest artillery barrage ever directed against the Germans. If it were morning before we succeeded in completing the crossing, the Chemical Corps would aid in covering the whole river with artificial fog. As soon as we made the crossing our platoon was to assemble at a certain spot, cut through mine fields of which we had a faint idea as to location, meet the rest of the company and together with them capture a small town called Tetz. We couldn't expect any tanks or tank destroyers to help us for at least a day, as it would take that period of time to build a pontoon bridge over the river. It was also our job to keep contact with the 29th Division on our right. Our mission was a simple as that.
I was thinking these things over when Coudira sat sown beside me. He was older than most of us, about 35 I think he once told me. I knew all about Coudira because I used to write all his letters for him. Coudira had left France a few years before the war started and had gone to live in Louisiana. He had done rather well as a farmer before his induction.
"Do you know what, Greenie?" he asked, as I glanced blankly at the opposite wall of the cellar.
"What?"
"It may sound crazy, Greenie, but I think something is going to happen to me. I don't know if I'm going to be killed or wounded, but something tells me that this is my unlucky day. Will you write my wife a letter in case anything happens?
"You're nuts, you crazy, superstitious Frenchman," I yelled at him. 'This is the tenth time before an attack that you've told me it was your unlucky day and something would happen. Meantime everyone around you gets hit and you don't even get scratched. Go 'wan, you're just plain nuts."
Coudira was about to say something in reply when Galloway [Weldon C.] came down the steps and told us it was time to go. We grabbed our rifles and other weapons and crowded up the steps of the cellar, someone behind me blowing out the candle. We climbed the steps and stood alongside the building, awaiting the word to move.
It was dark, but the faint light of the stars prevented it from being totally black. We watched "E" Company slowly and silently file by on the other side of the road. I gave up trying to pick out my best friend who was in "E" Company to wish him luck. Our company was to follow directly behind.
Burke [John P.] moved over near me, "I wish I had written a letter home to my wife this afternoon," he said quietly.
"This is a hell of a time to think about that" I said. "Maybe the Chaplain will be waiting on the other side of the river to ask you what's you excuse this time."
Burke, on a number of occasions, had been brought before the Chaplain to explain why he didn't write home to his wife and two kids. It seemed his wife would get worried when she didn't hear from him for a couple of months and would write the Chaplain. Burke would come back from the Chaplain ranting. "God damn her," he would fume. "She didn't get any telegrams or Purple Heart from the War Department, so she knows I'm OK. What does she think I'm doing here...having a picnic? Does she think I can stop the war so I can scribble a few lines and tell her how much I dislike this damn place and how much I miss her? She knows that."
There was no use trying to reason with Burke. He just didn't like writing letters, although he became angry if he didn't receive them regularly.
As Burke stood beside me whispering, the last platoon of "E" Company passed in the darkness. Our platoon was to lead our company and as the first squad stepped out, the second moved out from behind a building and marched on the opposite side of the road. The third squad split into two parts and followed the others.
I had an eerie feeling plodding along the road in this bombed-out town. The gutted and grotesque shapes of what were once buildings could be seen outlined against the stars. It was very quiet, even the shuffle of the soldiers' boots against the frozen ground seemed muted.
We moved out of the village and the men spread out automatically to a fifteen foot interval. Now that we were out in the open it was possible to see slightly better. I could pick out the forms of three or four men walking in front of me. Brophy [James J.] was directly ahead of me, his hunched, long body, seemingly more hunched because of the load he carried.
The bazooka that Nolan [Leonard J.] clung to was sticking up against Brophy's bayonet scabbard. He shifted the bazooka to his right shoulder and his carbine to his left. I could just make out Taverez [Jesus A.] moving silently along with that heavy B.A.R. In a few minutes he would change over with Overman [Shellie J.], giving him the machine gun to struggle with awhile. Its 22 pound weight was no joke.
I considered myself lucky carrying just a rifle, although I did have two extra magazines for the B.A.R. in my jacket and a bazooka rocket in my ammo bag. The bands of the bandoleers were cutting into my shoulders. I tried to move them around to feel more comfortable, but knew from experience it would do no good.
The dirt road was very poor for walking and occasionally someone one would trip over a rut and fall. He would get up cursing the road, Hitler, the Army, while everyone else laughed and waited to see who would be the next victim. I was glad when we halted and the whisper came back that there would be a ten-minute break. I moved off the road and sad down next to Brophy. "Boy, do my shoulders hurt from these damn bandoleers," I told him.
"Same here. By the way," he said, "You'd better blow up your preserver now. You may not get another chance."
I removed the life preserver from my belt and started to blow it into shape. It was one of those type preservers that are really a round tube when fully inflated and placed around the waist. The usual manner of inflation is to squeeze two carbon dioxide capsules in the front, which crack the capsules and fill the tube with gas. These capsules are very delicate and most of us had broken them in the practice of crossing the Maas River in Belgium. Naturally in a couple of hours the carbon dioxide escapes and new capsules must be inserted. However, none of theme were available, so Brophy and I were inflating the preservers orally.
"I don't know why we're bothering with these damn things," I said to Brophy. "With all the weight we're carrying we'll sink like a rock." Brophy nodded as I placed my inflated tube around my waist. I felt silly with it there; we were not near the river and besides, we didn't expect any trouble in the crossing.
"On your feet," was whispered back to up. We stood up and started shuffling down the road again. We passed through another town that seemed exactly like the last one. I could never get over the similarity of all the small villages in France, the Lowlands and Germany. We stopped momentarily at a cross road to allow three British tanks with mine-clearing devices attached, to pass.
It was after we were out of town that I was considering the pro's and con's of a tanker's life in comparison with that of an infantryman, when it happened. It seemed as if the very ground I was standing on rocked to and fro. After a moment of fright, I realized what had happened. The artillery barrage that was supposed to be the most intensive ever directed against Jerry had started.
I could, in the light of these gun flashes, see the gun batteries and the crews working like mad around them. At various intervals, I could hear someone yell "Fire" which would be followed by a terrific blast. These big guns were practically side by side and I knew as we approached the river we would pass many more rows of guns. The nearer we were to the river, the smaller would be the caliber of the guns.
The noise was deafening and it was almost impossible to think. Because of the continuous flashes it was easy to see and the looks of awe on my buddies' faces disclosed that they were as surprised as I was by the intensity of the bombardment. We had been told many times before previous attacks that we would receive an intensive artillery barrage first. However, this usually resulted in a few shells coming over, falling nearer to us than to the enemy. But this time it was the real thing. It was the big push. We were expected to cross the Roer River and be on the banks of the Rhine within two weeks.
We moved on, leaving the roar of the big guns, but getting nearer to the noise of other guns directly in front of us. We passed through another town and saw signs in the distance. We could also see the red glow of the shell bursts.
While watching this spectacle I became aware of a jeep parked in the road. As we approached I could distinguish a man standing up in the vehicle. I recognized him as my supply sergeant who was offering bandoleers of ammo to anyone who would take it, with the advice, "This is your last chance." it's funny, but the sergeant standing there made me think of a vendor at the ball park back home, selling score cards with the warning that "You can't tell the players without a score card." However, the sergeant wasn't having much luck getting rid of the ammo as it seemed everyone was burdened down.
Long range machine gun tracers were arching up over the river. Phosphorous shells beautiful to the eye as they exploded, were burning out the lives of men directly across from us. Tanks and tank destroyers were lined up firing blindly. Because of the saturating artillery attack it wasn't necessary to have a target. No one could live through such a barrage we thought.
We approached the town that overlooked the Roer River. We stopped now, as we couldn't go on until the barrage had ceased. We were content to let the artillery blast away as long as they had ammo. Besides killing Germans, the shells were aiding us in another manner. Mine fields were being detonated by the explosions of the shells. This meant less of us would lose legs and arms as a result of shoe mines and anti-personnel mines.
However, the barrage stopped as suddenly as it had begun. The confidence that the artillery had installed in us began to drain. The stillness now seemed as deafening as did the explosions a few moments ago.
But this quiet was only temporary as things began to hum about us. Engineers carrying assault boats moved down the road to the river's edge. A bulldozer also clanked in close support of the Engineers, in case its services were needed. Medics and medical jeeps were stationed at intervals along the road, in preparation for what was about to occur. We knew Jerry wasn't going to let us cross without a struggle. The Roer River signified the end of the Siegfried Line and pillboxes wouldn't obstruct us on the other side.
The town, Linnich by name, was situated on a cliff over- looking the river. A narrow winding road about 200 yards long led down to the river's edge. There had once been a bridge here, but it had been blown up by the retreating Germans. Our Engineers had tried putting a foot bridge in its place, but it had been wiped out in the attempt.
We moved forward again, directly behind "E" company who would cross first. As soon as we reached the other side, we would fan out. The cliffs up and down the river prevented the crossing of more than one company at a time. Our platoon was now situated just atop the cliff where the road led down to the boat landings. It was at this point that the Germans made their first attempt to prevent our crossing. They knew that Linnich was the logical point where to cross and their guns that survived our terrific artillery barrage were zeroed in on that winding road. Big German mortar shells screamed in our direction. We dropped flat on our faces as a shell fell about 50 yards in front of us, another ten yards closer. Screams of dying and broken men filled the air. As the medics came dashing up, more shells came in. I decided to make a run for a nearby building. I started to move when another shell burst and I heard someone near me groan. I had dropped flat when the shell burst and now I crawled over a few feet to the fallen man. It was Galloway.
"Where are you hit?" I yelled at him.
"I think it's my foot and hip," he whispered weakly.
"Grab hold of me" I said.
I half carried and dragged him over to the shelter of the building and told him to remain there while I searched for a medic. I found a medical jeep on the other side of the building and returned to Galloway. I grabbed him again, brought him around to the jeep and sat him down in it.
"How's it feel Gally?"
"I'm O.K." he said.
"You'll be going back to the States, you lucky bastard. Take care of yourself and drop me a line."
"So long, Greenie,"
"So long, Gally,"
The medics had in the meantime placed a few more wounded men in the jeep. The driver jumped in and drove away, since the shelling had stopped. I returned to the road seeking the remainder of my squad. I found White [Thomas F.] crouching in a ditch. I slid down beside him. "Who else has been hit?" I asked.
"Lt. Fletcher was hit in the head and had to be taken back. Overman was hit in the arm. We're lucky though; the whole fourth platoon of "E" Company has been wiped out. God, it's terrible."
God, it was terrible. In spite of the darkness I could see quite a bit. Medics and stretcher bearers were all over the place. Engineers were bringing down more boats. The bulldozer was filling a shell hole with apparent disregard for the bodies lying about. I prayed that there wasn't a wounded man among those bodies. Equipment was scattered about and everyone seemed confused.
However, in a crisis men band together and in a brief period of time we were reorganized with Lira [Robert M.], our platoon sergeant, leading us down to the river. We knew what to do when we were there. Each squad was to get into a different boat and move across. My squad moved along the river's edge 'til we saw an assault boat with three engineers who were to direct the paddling across and return for another load.
The nine remaining men in the squad crowded into the boat and started paddling across. As we moved out from the shore it became increasingly difficult to go straight across. We were being swept down the river as we approached mid-stream.
"We started too far down the river," one of the Engineers screamed. "We should have towed the boat up further. The current's too strong here. There's a busted dam below us. Turn back."
We tried getting back to the shore but it was of no use. The boat was hopelessly out of control and we couldn't do a thing. The outline of a dam presented itself in our path, with a wide breach in the middle.
"We're going right through the hole" someone shouted.
The war was forgotten as we were carried through the breach. There wasn't a drop, fortunately, as the dam was of small size. We were moving along at an enormous speed when suddenly the boat hit something. The impact was so great that the boat split in two and I found myself in the water. I remember going down and seeing my life pass before my eyes in a few quick seconds. The next thing I knew was my hand clutching a branch of a submerged tree.
I sputtered and gasped as I pulled myself further up on the branch. For a minute I just held on recovering my breath. Panic seized me, but left when I realized how lucky I was to be alive.
I decided to first remove my equipment, but before I could start, mortar shells started falling in the water nearby. I ducked below water every time I heard the scream of a shell. The shelling stopped, but intermittently the sharp staccato of a German machine gun forced me again to submerge.
When all was quiet again, I held on to the branch with one hand, while removing all my other equipment in a slow lengthy process. While doing this, I noticed debris and wrecked boats swirling past me in the rapid current.
I didn't see or hear anything of the eleven other men who were in the boat with me. Perhaps they drifted to shore or were holding on to some other submerged tree in this flood swept river.
It was freezing in this icy water and I could feel a paralysis creeping up my legs. I had removed all my equipment, keeping only my life preserver. And so I continued to hold on, trying to pass the cold, wet hours recollecting what had happened to me.
I guessed I had been in the water three hours because it was full daylight now. The artificial fog still bore down on me relentlessly. It was quiet except for the bubbling, frothy water that rushed past. I was wondering for the hundreth time how long I would have to remain here, when I suddenly heard a voice calling out of the fog.
For a moment I was struck speechless, but I quickly regained my voice and screamed for help. The person on shore must have been surprised hearing a voice come from the middle of the river, but he called back and asked where I was.
"Out here in the middle of the river holding on to a tree. Get a boat and get me out of here." I yelled .
"Hold on soldier" the voice answered. "I'll mark this spot and go for some help. Hold on now. I'll be back as fast as I can. By the way, are you hurt?"
"No" I answered. "Not hurt, but freezing."
"OK. Hold on."
I was happy now. I was going to be rescued in a few moments. I'd soon be on shore and be able to inquire if any of my other buddies were safe.
It seemed ages, but it probably wasn't more than a half hour when I heard a number of voices approaching. They seemed to be looking for the spot where I was. I yelled to them, guiding them to my position. A voice then called to me and said "Look here soldier. We're going to get you out, but you'll have to help us. The current is too strong for us to paddle out to you, so here's what we're going to do. We have a rope attached to a boat and we're going upstream and let the boat drift out. You'll have to yell out in case you see it. Get it?"
"OK" was all I could say.
I could hear voices moving upstream and then stop. After a few minutes I heard them yell that the boat was drifting down the stream and that I should keep my eyes peeled.
"Damn that fog," I thought as I strained my eyes. "I can't see anything," I called to them.
"Don't worry. We'll move up further" the reassuring voice answered. A number of times this trial and error method was attempted 'til finally I saw coming out of the fog a most beautiful sight. It was an assault boat coming straight at me. I grabbed hold of it and at the same time yelled to my rescuers "I got it, I got it!"
I pulled myself into the boat and at my signal was pulled toward shore. In a few moments the boat hit the bank and a lieutenant and some enlisted men were pounding my back, congratulating me on my escape. The lieutenant then directed two of the men to lead me to the Aid Station.
I discarded the life preserver and started moving along the bank, up the river to the town I had started from. The two soldiers told me that a successful river crossing had been made, but that a large number of casualties had been suffered by the Infantry and the Engineers. One of the soldiers asked me for my story. I told it to him.
"Too bad" was all he said.
I never realized that our boat had drifted so far before our mishap, as it seemed we walked a mile before reaching our starting point. The Engineers pointed out the winding road that led up to the town and explained where I would find the medics. I thanked them both and shook hands with them.
"If you're ever in the middle of the river again, don't fail to call us." one of them joked.
"Sure will" I answered.
As I walked up the winding road it was not difficult to see there had been action here recently. Equipment was strewn all about and in places the ground was dark and sort of clotted. Plenty of blood around here", I thought. At the top of the hill I looked around and saw Engineers working on a pontoon bridge.
I hurried to the building that signs lead to and disclosed as being the Battalion Aid Station. I entered the building and found it a beehive of activity. There were wounded men all about, awaiting transportation to a field hospital for further treatment. I told a tired medic my story and he pointed to the door of a cellar. "Go down there." he said. "Maybe you'll find your buddies down there. You can warm up and get some dry clothing."
As I entered the cellar, I could see a stove in the middle of the room, surrounded by naked men. They were trying to keep warm while awaiting dry clothing. I started looking at the faces of the men in the dim light when I heard my name called.
"Greenie. Over here."
I looked around and found Skene [John M. "Dick"], Tideback [William, Jr.], Rackie [Frank A.] and Thompson [Walter L.] of the second squad. After the initial greetings I asked if they had seen anyone else of my squad. Yes, they had seen Brophy. He had drifted to shore but lost his glasses and had been sent to the rear for new ones. Brophy and I were the only survivors that they knew of. They told me of their experiences, which were similar to mine. They had lost eight men. My assault boat had lost ten.
I took off my wet clothing and boots and moved over to the fire to warm up. I was surprised to find I was hungry and finished two "K' rations that were lying about. I moved back to my friends and we further discussed what had happened. They all marvelled at my being in the water for four hours. They had simply drifted to shore. The medics had told them we might be given a few days rest to recover from our experiences. This was too much to expect, but we all silently hoped for it.
A couple of medics came down with dry clothing, distributed them and told us we would have to put our wet boots on again. New ones were not available. Also a lieutenant would be down in a few minutes to discuss what was to be done with us.
My buddies and I gave each other significant glances as if to say the rumor of us getting a rest might be true. In a few moments, a lieutenant came down the steps, stood in the middle of the room and spoke.
"Here's the deal, men. I know you're all tired and wet and deserve a rest. But Regiment just called saying they need every available man across the river. Their orders were to send every man who can walk. Up stairs you'll find rifles and helmets belonging to the wounded men who have been brought in. They won't need them. Be ready in half an hour. You'll cross the pontoon bridge and be directed to your respective companies. That's all."
I looked at my buddies and they at me. "Here we go again" I said quietly.
Eugene M. "Gene" Greenburg, Co. F., 405th Regiment (2nd Battalion)
James L. "Jim" Hansen, 2nd Lt., 405-F
Now we started to plan for our crossing of the Roer River. First on the agenda was more baths. If my memory serves me rightly, we were trucked to either Heerleen or Maastrict, Holland. There the facilities were GREAT. Supplies were trucked in and placed under cammoflege. This was the cold wet time of the year. Mud was over ankle deep and our feet were never dry. We had a good view of the german side of the river from our side. So sections were assigned to each platoon and company. Along about this time a new Lt. was assigned to Co. F. The 1st platoon had been without a Lt. for so long that we just had to [64-8] have him. At that time he was a young, clean -- cut young man. His name was Lt. Herrick. As I remarked to the CO, "MY God -- they are getting them right out of grade school now." The Capt. let me know that he was 2 years older than I was. Oh well -- a little mud and time between shaves would soon correct all that. I did nick name him JUNIOR -- and he remains by that same name to this day. He was fondly called that by all the men and was terrific.
He and I went to observe the river. We had an AP reported assigned to us at that time. He then took all the squad leaders up to view the river, and most of the men. also got to see the crossing point. The river was real swift and fast, but gradually it slowed down We spent most of the day looking at the river and the 4 buildings we were supposed to capture on the other side. This was our objective. The night before the crossing we were supposed to be real calm and quiet. But we talked, sang, and slept very little. The combat engineers were assembling on the river where we were to cross. They were to get a cable across and later in the day to build a heavy equipment bridge as soon as possible after we got on the other side. As I recall, we were to move out about 0230 or so. We assembled as a company unit and Capt. Evenson moved us into a line behind the Co. ahead of us. It was some distance from the river bank. This allowed us to see all the artillery lined up, hub to hub to support our crossing. We stumbled along inthe ankle dep mud and the tankers and artillery men would call out to us. At a pre arranged time they all opened up and caused us to jump out of our shoes. The noise was deafening. What a fire works display. Star shells burst high in the air over german territory. We reached the town of Roersdorf, where we were to cross the river, and each squad grabbed a boat and headed down the rather steep road to the river bank. By this time the germans were laying down their own barrage on our side of the river. During the winter they had zeroed in on every possible crossing site too. We were in one of those spots.
I have great admiration for those Combat engineers as they had to work in spite of the shelling. Many were already lying along the road, in the mud, as we passed by. Hundreds were dead.
I don't recall which squad I was supposed to cross with. We reached the edge of the water and slid the nose of the boat into the water, jumped in and did just as we were tought in the training sessions. To help our crossing, the artillery loaded smoke-shells and we couldn't see the other river bank. The river was very swift and the boats were impossible to guide. We whirled around and around and what seemed like 15 minutes we hit the shore, an we jumped out to hold the boat while the rest scrambled out. I said, "Lets get away from this Da--- river," and we really got a move on. As I ran I spotted some building that looked like the objective of the 1st platoon. We fanned out in a fighting formation and started to move out. One of the men called out, "Hey Sgt., we better get back to the river. I think the rest are retreating." The smoke cleared a little and we saw more GIs carrying boats down to the river. I replyed, "HELL, were on the same side of the river we started out from." Back to the Roer we ran , grabbed a boat and jumped in. The current grabbed the boat and tore it out of the grasp of the men. Not wanting to be an admiral without a crew I bailed out. Luckily as the boat hit the shore again, I jumped, and we went back to get another [65-9] boat. As the smoke cleared we paddled like hell and got to the other shore. By this time the engineers had a cable on the other side. It almost swamped us, but we were across this time.
As we moved away from the river I found another of the 1st platoon squads and a squad of the 2nd Platoon. There was no sign of Junior or the other squads. We headed for the 1st platoon objective hoping to ftnd Jr. on the way. The smoke cleared and all we could see were german land mines. I halted everyone and got them in a single file and told them to step only in my shoe tracks. I was not that brave, but got caught in front and it would have been hard to order out scouts at that time. After what seemed like hours, we passed thru the mine field. I held my breath as the last man cleared the field. I now turned my attention to the buildings which I could see more clearly. I saw two germans looking at us from a clump of trees I again spread the men out in fighting formation and laid down fire on the woods and we moved on at a run. We had quite a fire fight. The BARs jammed and a german was only 20 feet from me. His rifle was on the other side of the tree and couldn't fire on me. As he started to raise his rifle, Sgt. Smith baksted him. I owe him my life. The shooting stopped and there was not one live german in sight. I was amazed that they could disapear so fast. I ordered my men to hit the dirt and lie quiet for a while. Soon a white flag came up from a hole. Then the head of a german soldier.
Now there appeared a german officer, who stood up tall. He walked over to me and my men kept him covered. He had come out of a bunker. He spoke perfect English AND WANTED TO KNOW HOW MANY MEN I HAD WITH ME? TOLD HIM IT WAS NONE OF HIS DAMMED BUSINESS AND THEN HE SAID HE WANTED TO SURRENDER HIS MEN. He wanted 5 minutes to contact the other men he had in the other bunkers. So he left the man with the white flag standing there. Then he disappeared into the bunker. He did this about 4 times as he went from bunker to bunker. Soon, out of the ground there were germans all over the place. They threw their weapons in a pile and we lined then up in columns of four. I believe we captured 76 of them. My Lord, they could have captured us without any weapons.
Now the fun really started.
It all seemed so quiet and I didn't know where the rest of the company was nor where the Bn. Hqtrs was either. I told the german officer to march his men to Tetz. As soon as he started them I regretted telling him where to march them. german soldiers had marching down to a science.Not a single head was bobbing. As we walked on their left and right, I was thinking that actually we might be going to be the real prisoners when we reached Tetz. I had no idea who held it. It was only a little farming community and had one street &. As we went into the town, a door opened and out of the door stepped Col. Bryant, our Bn. CO. He almost fainted. He jumped back thru the door and then looked out again and said, "Where the hell did you find all those?" I told him they were manning the 1st platoon position objective and if he had some spare people to take then from us, we'd like to get back to our company and rejoin the action. Col. Bryant assigned some MP's to the job and told me that F. Co. was pinned down just out of town on a hill. I told him we were low on ammo, and that we would have to wait before going on for the supply Sgt. to come with more.
I dozed for a few minutes and then headed up the hill. When we got to the crest, not a man was to be seen. Then I spotted Capt. Evenson' s head and crawled to him. The most pleasant surprise of my life. Who in the world was with him? None other than Jr. The boat he was in when crossing the Roer River sank and he and his squad went for a swim.
Capt. Evenson said that extreme fire was hitting them from the flank. I crawled back down the hill and got my people and plenty of ammo and headed up a draw between Co. F. and the germans. They did not see us until we were right on top of then. Then all hell broke loose again. There is nothing more confusing than to have a lot of rifles going off all at once. You lose control of your sense of direction, time and your bladder. The firing soon stopped and they hid in the bottom of their holes. A german appeared. He was carrying a Red Cross Flag and a medic patch on his uniform. Other members of his unit followed him. They were carrying a stretcher to evacuate the wounded. Now they were known to shoot our medics when they tried this before. We didn't know whether they were carrying a wounded man or one that was supposedly wounded. So we shot the ones on the stretcher. We were right as a man jumped off the stretcher and out ran the medics over the hill. Not a single bullet found him. I was going to send the 1st platoon back to the rifle ranges but I was doing some shooting at that time too -- and so decided against it.
By that time a Division moved up on our right flank and wiped out the german units. At darkness we moved back up the hill and rejoined Jr. and the rest of the platoon. Everyone found his correct platoon and we were a company once again. It sure was good to see Jr. again. That night the usual counter attack came. We could handle the infantry but had only a few bazooka rounds to handle the tanks with. I was never sold on our tank fighting equipment when compared with what the germans had. I Co.really took the brunt of the tank attack but they did come thru the situation in pretty good shape. Tank crews don't like darkness. Our artillery, back across the river laid fire on them pretty [67-11] good and we laid it on the infantry and ak1 in all, we did alright.
James L. "Jim" Hansen, Co. F., 405th Regiment (2nd Battalion)
Robert E. "Bob" Herrick, 1st Lt., 405-F
The Ninth Army was poised on the west bank of the Roer river in February 1945 regaining its full complement of Divisions after furnishing assistance to the Battle of the Bulge. At Rurdorf, which was to the launching site of the 405th Regiment, the Roer river is a meandering river with a flood plain about a mile wide. The town of Rurdorf sat about a 100 feet above the river, immediately adjacent to it. The slope down to the River was heavily wooded. Preparations for the crossing had been underway for some time. During the latter part of January and into early February the terrain was carefully studied, sand tables set up and studied, objectives assigned and orders drafted. The 405th Inf Regt was to cross the Roer at Rurdorf which meant a narrow site and well known to the German forces who had it well sited in by their artillery. The 2nd Battalion was to follow the 1st Battalion. The 2nd Bn was to be led by E Co, followed and in turn was followed by the 3rd Battalion. The 2nd Bn was to be led by E Co, followed by G and F Cos. With F in Bn reserve. F Co was to move quickly to Tetz with the 1st platoon swinging wide to clear Pickhartholtz, a on the way to Tetz. A change later in orders directed the 1st Plt to bypass the Chateau.[28-05]
The original crossing was planned for February 9, 1945, however, the Germans, I assume were well aware of our plans to cross at some time and they released a huge quantity of water from an upstream dam and flooded the area so at the time of the actual crossing the river was flowing very rapidly, and I was told it flowed at a rate of between 7 and 8 miles per hour, which is quite rapid. The flooding caused a postponement and final orders were received with the crossing finally set for February 23, 1945. On February 22, Co F moved into Freialdenhoven and during the afternoon, we tried to find quarters for everyone to have a dry place to rest before the attack. The snow had melted and it seemed to be a cold, muddy, wet world. I remember one instance coming out of the Company Command Post and watching some clown leading a yearling heifer, which was not overly fat to begin with, up the street with a sign reading "Steaks" at a certain time that very evening and it actually happened. I understand the steaks were as tough as boot leather.
That evening the Platoon was together and we were going over our equipment. Every man had been issued a belt type life preserver that had 2 small compressed air cylinders which were to be activated to inflate the belt when needed. We kept telling everyone not to inflate the belt until needed as it made it difficult to move and hit the ground with the belt inflated. Naturally, some just had to see if they would inflate - they did.
Everyone was apprehensive, nervous, and it was a difficult time to get any rest or sleep. Early on the men joked around and sang a bit, but then it gradually grew quiet with some subdued talking and lots of cigarette smoking and nervous energy expended. Plans were reviewed in detail and everyone knew what we were expected to do, and in what order events were to take place. Hansen and I went over details again and again, but while apprehensive, we knew we had a good platoon that would acquit itself well.[29-06]
About 1:30am we assembled the Platoon, checked equipment again and I vent to the Co CP one more time, but orders were set. The sign and countersign were "Veal Vendor". First Platoon was the last unit of Co F to clear the IP as planned. The road was a muddy mess and the sloshing of all those feet in the mud made an interesting sound, but it was the only sound as everyone was quiet. We had marched about a mile in our usual stop and start fashion, when all of a sudden our world seemed to explode. In the darkness, we couldn't see all the artillery around us, and even though we knew the barrage started at a certain time, it really shook us up. I have never heard of so much artillery support for a land action. There were 36 Battalions of artillery of various calibers supporting the Division which meant 18 Battalions per lead Regiment. A Division only has 4 Battalions organically. It seemed to us that they must be absolutely destroying all of Germany and there couldn't be many Krauts left for us to fight - Wrong. This merely kept them in their shelters as the first units crossed the river. As the artillery had to lift, out came the Germans and on came their artillery and very good it was, too.
Further down the road toward Rurdorf, we passed an ammunition point, and since we might not be resupplied too quickly, everyone carried an extra load of some type. Mine was a bag of Bazooka shells, awkward and heavy with all the other gear. Others carried bangalore torpedos, mortar shells, satchel charges or boxes of MG ammo. This was besides our own extra ammunition and rations. All in all we felt like pack animals, but the adrenalin was flowing and we moved along anxiously wondering what was next. The column would move a bit, half, move some more, then halt and wait again. The delays were due to our bunching up and waiting while the lead units hit the launching site and moved across the river.
During one of these short halt as we approached Rurdorf, we took our first company casuality. A Sgt further back in the column was hit in the knee by small arms fire.[30-07]
As to be expected there is great confusion, at a time like this and small arms fire occurs. It certainly wasn't needed and didn't accomplish anything.
Just before we entered the village, the Germans started pouring artillery rounds on the small launching site and the village were they knew there would be a concentration of Americans. Crossing a regiment at such a restricted known site invited a great and accurate shelling which we received and cost the 405th Regiment over 50% casualties earning a Presidential Unit Citation for that days work.
As we came to the first of the remmants of buildings, we took refuge behind them and as the shells came in we waited to move forward.
Rurdorf sits on a bluff maybe 100 feet above the river with the near bluff and bank heavily wooded and the distance from bluff to river about 150 to 200 yards. The flood plain extended about one mile to the bluff on the east where the, town of Tetz was located, which was the Battalion objective. The woods near the village of Rurdorf and the launching site made the German Artillery very effective with the resulting tree bursts. When a shell hit a tree the shrapnel went down to the ground causing a great number of casualties. Lying flat did little to protect one from the tree bursts. The shelling would be heavy for a while then pause a bit and after a short while it would come on heavy again.
It seemed to take forever to move through the village to the road down the bluff. I remember seeing Capt. Al Schwabacher encouraging everyone and giving me a pat on the back and saying "get one for me".
We moved about 100 to 150 feet down the sloping road when the German artillery opened up again and we all hit the ground and prayed the tree bursts, which have a devastating sound, would miss us. Those who had fooled around with their life belts and inflated it were now having a problem, as it made you bounce when you hit the ground. Some bled the air off which was a mistake if it was needed and in some cases it was.[31-08]
We slowly worked our way down the road to the flat area adjacent to the river. Their was great confusion and evidence of shelling. We had been told the Engineers would meet us, give each squad a boat and get us launched. At that time the Engineers had been decimated and were few and far between. I told Sgt Jim Hansen to stay with the Platoon, while I tried to find some boats and an engineer. I went to the rivers edge and could not find an engineer or any boats. There were a bunch of us looking for boats or direction but all we found was confusion. I started searching a bit further for boats when the shelling started again and I had shells land within ten and twelve feet on either side of me. All of which does little for your hearing. At any rate I remember figuring the next one would be in my back pocket. I raised up and charged across the narrow road and dove into a ditch landing on top of someone only to have someone else land on me. In a moment or two the shelling let up and I saw some men running back up the road toward the village. I recognized the men as being my platoon and took off after them. Reaching the top of the hill, Sgt Hansen told me he had pulled the platoon out rather than wait there under intense shelling with no boats available. I was immediately accosted by an Assistant Bn S-3 who proceeded to chew me out and called us cowards for running from the enemy under fire. At that moment, I was in no mood for that kind of comment from someone who had not been at the launching site. Our discussion became very heated, profane and I was more than ready to fight, in fact anxious to do so. It turned out that Lt. Col. Bryant (Bn GO) was right behind this clown and he immediately wanted to know the problem. I explained what had happened and that his boy wanted us to go back down and cross as the boats were waiting there for us. I told him I had just left the river bank, there were no boats there and that Sgt Hansen had done the right thing. I suggested that when more boats arrived, each squad could carry a boat down and cross, which we were anxious to do to support our Company. Lt. Col Bryant agreed this was proper at this time. (Note: The Lt. who accosted me was [32-09] awarded a Silver Star for his actions that day as a Platoon leader in Co F which he was not and did not so function).
Hansen and I checked out the platoon and held them ready for the boats.
I remember the medical litter teams taking a break (and they had worked hard) while there were still wounded needing evacuation and attention. Some of our men helped with the evacuation while we waited.
It is hard to remember the time of day, but it was still kind of dark when we started down the first time but it was light when we returned to town.
A short time later a truck load of boats arrived and each squad took one and we proceeded down to cross the river. I was with one squad, Hansen with another and Smith with the other.
When we reached the river bank, there was no one in the immediate area or directing operations. It didn't seem to be a good idea to just wait so I had the boat put in the water. We boarded and started to paddle across. We'd gone about 30 feet when someone yelled "Look out for the cable". Too late! We hit the cable and the swift flow turned us over. With our heavy loads we sank like rocks. I remember my gloves catching on the cable and I could see some light through the water pouring over me. The water was melted snow and extremely cold. I am an excellent swimmer, but it was a struggle to get to shore. The water was flowing so swiftly you couldn't stand at knee depth.
Three of us got out of the river in maybe 100 - 150 feet, the others were scattered further down stream. One went quite a ways before getting out.
As I reached the bank, I was devastated, thinking I had lost nine men due to my wrong decision as to where to enter the river. This plus the cold and the effects of the shelling did nothing for my mental state, and we all shook uncontrollably. We were sent to the aid station, stripped, given a blanket and placed in a small room jammed with similar [33-10] victims of the cold river. After warming up and getting back to normal temperature, I was trying to figure how to get out and rejoin the Company. The Germans were still shelling the town sporadically and landing close to the first aid station building. Those medics treating the wounded were magnificent under such conditions. Wrapped in a blanket, I went outside looking for help. Shortly I made contact with a Sgt. of F Co and asked him to find me some clothes. He returned a bit later with the necessaries and I proceeded to dress. The fit wasn't perfect and there was no belt so I tied the pants with the strap from arm ammo bandolier. From the pile at the aid station, I reoutfitted, helmet liner, helmet, web belt, ammo pouches, first aid packet, canteen, trenching tool, and carbine. The new one was better than my original carbine. The new one had the adjustable sight instead of the old leaf sight. It turned out to be a great weapon.
The Sgt and I immediately sought out the 2nd Bn CP and talked to Capt. Petersen the S-3 who was limited in his movement due to a bad knee, but was running the CP and monitoring the action by radio. He said the Company was on its objective outside Tetz but was under a strong German counter attack and running low on ammunition, particularly machine gun ammo. The Sgt and I hurried off to the ammo depot in Rurdorf, loaded up on bandoliers of rifle ammo and a couple boxes each of machine gun ammo. We headed immediately to the launch site and the engineers had just finished a foot bridge and we were, I believe, the first to cross. We took off alternating walking and trotting in order to get there as quickly as possible, imagining all sorts of problems for the Company if it was low on ammo About three quarters of the way to Tetz, Lt. Col Bryant passed us in his jeep trying to catch up with his Bn in and around Tetz. About that time we would have dearly loved to hitch a ride with the load we were carrying, but we didn't even get a wave.
We joined up with the Company outside of Tetz and learned they had been actively fighting, but were not under a severe attack and had lots of ammo. Meanwhile we were worn to a frazzle.
I [34-11] rejoined Hansen and time two squads of the 1st Plt. Jim gave me an update on their activities of the day. After crossing the river with two squads, Jim took charge arid started toward the Company objective intending to bypass the Chateau (Pickhartholtz) which was our original objective. While trying to skirt the Chateau, they were taken under fire by machine guns located in the Chateau grounds. In order to move forward, they would have to clear the area. It turned out the area was defended by a Company of Germans - at that time a German Co was about the size of one of our platoons. The Germans were lying in shallow trenches behind the small pines and firing from these positions with both MG 42's and rifles. A fire fight developed and Hansen who carried mostly armor piercing ammo for his M-1, started shooting through the base of the small trees and killing Germans. After a while this seemed to unnerve them and the platoon was able to roll up the defense and captured a large group of prisoners. I wasn't there, but the after action report was such that Sgt Hansen due to his leadership and performance under fire was awarded the Distingunished Service Cross. He was an outstanding combat soldier, and was later given a battlefield promotion to Second Lieutenant.
Later, when they joined the rest of the Company outside of Tetz in some trenches, the Co was in a fire fight with the Germans. At some point the Germans put up a white flag to recover their wounded. Unfortunately, in the lull before the flag went down they started firing again. One of my runners who was with Hansen had raised his head into an exposed position and the firing
