 | 2nd US Cav | Oct 31, 2008 |
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Hi! I'm Wally with the 2nd US Cavalry History Group, Preserving this Proud Unit's History fron 1836 through Present Day. Being a Military History Site, I feel that it is important to represent the TRUTH, and not glamorize war by distorting facts so as not to offend or turning Life and Death Conflicts into Fairy Tales. THIS IS A MILITARY HISTORY SITE. All Articles and Photos (Except From Reenactmentments) in the Photo Albums are from Life and Death Struggles, and are Historic, bringing the Reader back to the Time Period. Some, As in the case of the Indian Wars, The Mountain Meadows Massacre or Sand Creek Massacre, ETC. show the ruthless depravity of man against mankind. Not all articles or photos are suitable for small children, as they would not understand the barbaric cruelty. The 2nd Dragoons (Cavalry), as Peacekeepers and many times the only Law in the New Territories, were sent to investigate and restore order.
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THIS GROUP WAS CREATED PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TOWARD THE GATHERING OF SOLDIERS INTO "MILITARY BROTHERHOOD" THRU HEART-FELT COMMUNICATIONS. WE ARE ALREADY BROTHERS, WHY SHOULD WE KNOW YOU IF YOU ARE OR HAVE EVER BEEN IN THE MILITARY . THIS GROUP IS TRIBUTE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY AND ALL PERSONS WITH A DESIRE TO COMMUNICATE. Raid On Rehlingen 19 - 20 January 1945 Troop C, 2d Squadron The Troop outposted the town of Machtum (33) until the 19th of January, when it pulled a raid on Rehlingen, Germany (33), across the Moselle, which we thought was one of our smoothest operations.
Lt. Little was put in charge and after a days preparation and reconnaissance, 30 picked men, 10 from each platoon, proceeded at 1700 to Ahn (33), the jump off point. At 1800 we started across the river in six man groups and assembled on the other side. Of course at this critical moment the ‘536′ radios refused to work, but the mission continued regardless. The evenings job was to clear the town, capture a prisoner and withdraw. Not knowing the strength of the enemy we used a different method of attack than we ordinarily used, and it proved successful. Immediately after the artillery concentration lifted to the high ground in back of the town, the patrol entered, firing all it’s small arms, using flashlights, throwing grenades and blasting with TNT. We must have looked and sounded like a full scale Regimental attack. Without wasting any time in scouting around we proceeded right through the town, which turned out to be considerably larger than originally reported, and reached the last house in town before the enemy began to react. We received small arms fire from the house, and because of it’s location had to use up some valuable time in surrounding it. During this fight one of our best soldiers, Sgt. Beecher Gates, was killed. When we broke into the house, we captured the man who had killed Sgt. Gates and found one man dead from the effects of the artillery barrage. We proceeded back with the prisoner and the body of Sgt. Gates, and when we reached the river bank we came under the heaviest enemy artillery concentration we had yet encountered. Approximately 250 to 300 rounds came into our immediate area within an hour, making the return crossing a little rough. At about 2400 we were back in friendly territory again with another very successful mission under our belts. On the 20th our TD’s emplaced on the heights overlooking the sloping ground across the river, reported that they had fired on six Mark V tanks, destroying one, crippling one and forcing the rest to withdraw. Our old enemy of the Luneville (IV)(25)(NS) days, Lt. Graf von Hoyos, being on the receiving end of this fire, had a slightly more accurate picture of the actual happenings. Viel Pak 20 January 1945 Lt. Hoyos, 11th Panzer Division The 11th Panzer Division pulled into the Saar Moselle Triangle through Merzig (V) after the Ardennes Front failed. My tank Company was composed only of Mark IV’s; we had no more of the beloved Panthers. We had orders for the Division to smash the American bridgehead at Nennig (33) - Thorn (33) and drive them across the river.
(note: The Germans were mistaken here as it was not a bridgehead in this area but an extension of the 94th Division’s flank which had been pushed up from the south) So on 20 January my tank Company, 4 Mark IV’s, moved from Sinz (33) to Hill 300 where we went into position defilade and engaged the American fire positions above Remich (33) to find their defensive set-up. We drew some artillery fire but it was not effective. We started down toward the Nennig AT ditch. Suddenly a great number of American Pak (anti-tank) guns opened fire and instantly knocked out my two flank tanks. I dove out of my tank just before it and the remaining tank were hit. The Division fought it’s way to the AT ditch in much schwer (heavy) fighting, hand to hand combat, but we were finally repulsed. We had high losses; 30 tanks were destroyed that day. It was the worst for the panzers. The 11th Panzer never fully recovered from that fight. 2d Cavalry note: The same day heavy artillery fire on Kleinmacher (33) forced our OP there to change positions. Six inches of snow covered the ground, and being hard packed on the roads made driving very dangerous. Engineers diverted men and equipment to work on the roads. Patrolling continued, a patol on the 21st to Palzem (33) encountered 30 to 40 enemy, killed several and withdrew without casualties or prisoners. Patrol To Palzem 21 - 25 January 1945 Major Andrews, 42d Squadron Palzem (33) is a small German town on the Moselle river directly across from Stadtbredimus, Luxembourg (33). After about 3 weeks of routine patrolling into Palzem after a prisoner, I finally decided to try it myself. I had picked 16 men to go with me as this was the patrol that was going to do or die. I can remember a few of those on the patrol - Sgt. Roy, 1st Sgt. Beasley, S/Sgt. Magnum, Sgt. Benvenuto, Cpl. Francis, Cpl. Bower, Cpl. Brady.
I gave them such a pep talk about how we were going to stay over there until we got a prisoner that it wasn’t long until I believed it myself. I gave them 24 hours off prior to the jump off to rest up, and for the assistant patrol leaders to make their reconnaissance. We really had the plan down to perfection. I still can’t figure out how we missed getting a Kraut. We were to cross at midnight in three waves. Roy, myself and Beasley in charge of the boats. From about 8 o’clock until we moved down to the river you never saw such dead pan faces as those 16 men had, as they were dead set on staying over there until we got that prisoner. At midnight, Lt. Catlett loaded us into the boats and shoved us off. Once in the middle of the river we all started going around in circles, and this helped considerably because everyone had to laugh. We got on the far side O.K. and really took the town apart. After going through the entire area, we started searching the houses with flashlights. I guess we never would have had any excitement if Brady hadn’t winged one Kraut. That started things a-buzzing as they sent in about a platoon to reinforce the town garrison, and also ran in a couple mounted 20mm’s. Benvenuto, carrying our radio, wound up right in the middle of about 20 of the Germans, and after being stepped on by one decided it was time to leave. He had been keeping contact with Catlett for me, and consequently the Krauts started talking to Catlett on the radio. We were outnumbered considerably, and after 4 or 5 different fire fights we decided it was time to get out. It took us until 6 o’clock to get everyone assembled and we crossed back to the west side just before dawn, without a prisoner but much more experienced. All during the patrol from midnight to 0600, we had artillery coverage from Welch’s AG’s and from Davis’ FA Bn. He was angry at us for staying over so long, said it wasn’t in accordance with the school solution for a patrol to stay over so long, and they used too much ammo covering us. By the 22nd, high water, ice, and bright moonlight made the river extremely difficult to cross. Nevertheless patrols managed to get to Palzem and Wehr (33), and reported no enemy contact. On this day the Jerries added to our many war time experiences by showering us with Nebelwerfers at Kleinmacher (33). Nebelwerfers, for the information of those who have never had the delightful experience of being subjected to their visitations, arrive with the wail of a banshee with hydrophobia, explode like a junior atom bomb, and shake the ground with all the vigor of a California earthquake. Our soldiers aptly call them the “screaming meemies”. Actually, however, they are not as bad as it sounds, for the effect on the average nervous system is not much worse than a severe attack of delerium tremens. To repay Heinie for this sole stirring demonstration of his new toy, our artillery and TD’s broke up a happy sounding party at the Chateau Thorn (33) during the night. The 24th and 25th were passed in comparative quiet. Patrols were unable to cross the river because of bright moonlight and enemy small arms fire. To the north, Von Rundstedt’s bulge was now bulging in the other direction and the battle of the Ardennes was officially declared at an end. So the Second Cavalry, without changing their normal activities or positions, again entered the campaign of the Rhineland. Rhineland II January 25 - February 11, 1945 The Second Cavalry Group (Reinforced), still designated Task Force Reed, continued to hold the snow covered banks of the Moselle, with no major changes in mission or composition. Ice in the river made patrolling, as far as the enemy side of the bank is concerned, extremely impractical, and for a few days the exchange of courtesies between the enemy and ourselves was limited to artillery and mortar shells and an occasional burst of machine gun fire. On the 28th a patrol under S/Sgt. Pajdzch, C Troop, 2d Squadron, attempted nine times to cross the river but was repulsed each time by the ice.
Although German patrolling was not as active or as vigorous as ours, they did indulge to some extent in this unpleasent pastime. A week before, a two man patrol dressed in snow suits crossed in a rubber boat, situated themselves near our OP in the vicinity of Ahn (33), and remained 48 hours. They reported the OP as a company CP, due to the vehicular activity and the frequent passing of officers, so Jerry fixed up a little suprise party for us. The night of the 29th, a 15 man patrol, armed with machine pistols, 4 bazookas, 2 grenade launchers, 30 potatoe mashers, knives, wool caps and 4 ladders, crossed the Moselle by placing the ladders on the ice and walking along them, and raided our OP at Ahn. One German deserted and was picked up at Machtum (33) before the raid, but due to a misunderstanding of what he was attempting to say, the warning was not received in time to prevent the attack and the enemy mission was successful. Five men, Pvt. William W. Rhodes, Pfc. Leo F. Cycon, Pfc. Hastings, T/5 Albert M. Shousky and Pvt. Bob E. Alcorn were captured and Sgt. James B. Dunn was wounded. The next night a 15 man patrol under Lt. Chrisman attempted a retaliation raid on the enemy position at Kollig (33), engaged in a brisk fire fight and returned, mission unnaccomplished. So ended the month of January, a month of miserable weather, of watchful waiting, of long monotonous outposting and observing, of many alerts, and of almost daily and nightly patrol clashes. These were indeed the times that try mens souls. During the first few days of February TF Reed was extended farther to the north, the left flank stretching as far as the high ground north of Born (34) on the Sauer river. During the period of Troop shifting to encompass this enlarged zone, no patrols were sent out. The extension brought into our boundries the enemy bridgeheads at Wasserbillig (34) and Born. A patrol into either of these places was good for a thrill a minute, we were soon to discover. On the 6th of February the 94th Division made another limited objective attack in the Triangle, and we staged our usual demonstration, as well as assisting them by directing fire on an enemy activity to their front. The enemy reacted with a mild attempt at a patrol over the Sauer on the 7th. We broke it up with artillery fire. They were content to remain inactive for a few days as far as offensive missions were concerned, but reacted vigorously at any attempt of our patrols to enter Born or Wasserbillig. In fact our patrols reported them as being “unusually alert”. A fifteen man patrol under Lt. Mitchel, the night of the 11th, attempted a raid on Kollig. Unfortunately it ran into a German patrol before reaching the objective, and during the ensuing firefight we had six men slightly wounded. The Germans lost three dead and one known seriously wounded. The fight, of course, alerted everybody in the area and it was necessary for the patrol to withdraw. Patrol To Wincheringen 15 - 18 February 1945 Troop A, 2d Squadron An 18 man patrol and a 4 man boat guard, led by Lt. Brown, A Troop, 2d Squadron, crossed the Moselle river at Ehnen (33) at 2030 the night of the 15th. They proceeded cross country to the edge of the woods just south of Wincheringen (33). The prearranged plans were for the patrol to split up into three teams. Lt. Brown and three men were to approach the crossroads to the south end of Wincheringen from the east. Sgt. Fontenot was to take three men and cover Lt. Brown from the right. Sgt. Kinley, with the remainder of the patrol, was to be about 50 yards from the town on Lt. Brown’s left.
Brown and his three men circled around through an orchard and approached the crossroad from the east. He checked the houses around there but found no enemy. He also checked the schoolhouse and the house in the middle of the road junction, plus one other house close by. He found no enemy in any of these buildings. After completing this check, he moved back to pick up Sgt. Fontenot and Sgt. Kinley. Just as he was moving away, a German yelled something and one machine gun from the vicinity of the schoolhouse and one from the northwest part of town opened fire on them. At the same time several flares went up. The patrol took cover and threw a grenade at the spot in which they thought the machine gun to be. They didn’t know if they killed the crew or not, but at least the gun quit firing. Lt. Brown then moved back to Sgt. Fontenot. They saw Sgt. Kinley, with his men, moving toward the river. Lt. Brown, with his men, started walking south along the draw to the woods and then to the river. Sgt. Fontenot sent two men back to see if any of the men were behind. They searched but could find no trace of any men except some Germans who were trying to follow the patrol to the river. Upon arriving at the river bank at 0340, Lt. Brown checked and found ten men missing. He left two men behind to wait for the missing men and guard the two boats, with instructions to leave just before daylight. Following orders, the men waited until just before daybreak then took one boat and came back, leaving the other boat for the missing men. At 0530 the ten men found their way to the river bank. Seeing one boat, they put in their two wounded and three men to row, and started it for the friendly side of the river. The boat got about 20 or 30 feet from the shore and the Germans opened fire with machine guns. The five men remaining on the bank lost sight of the boat as it disappeared into the heavy fog. As yet, this boat and the five men have not been found. At about 0800 our OP’s saw the five men on the other bank and notified Lt. Brown, who under cover of fire from B Troop, immediately went across to get them. As they started back the Germans again opened fire, but all men succeeded in making it back to our side of the river. All OP’s were notified to be on the lookout for the missing men and the boat. Lt. Lasswell, A Troop, led a group of men along the river from Wormeldange (33) to Ahn, but found no trace of the boat or men. Group report 15 February. “No changes, continued on mission.” The Jerries must have had a feeling that trouble was on the way, because the night of the 17th some of them were evidently operating on the principle of “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die”. Our outpost between Grevenmacher (33) and Machtum (33) reported hearing music from 2200 to 2300, with American music leading the German hit parade. Songs rendered for our enjoyment were, “This is the Night for Love”, “Strip Polka” and “I’ll be Seeing You.” The next day Col. Reed received orders which insured that the Heinies would soon be seeing us in a manner to which they did not wish to become accustomed. Orders from Third Army were that we would cross the Moselle by 0200 February 19, and sieze and hold the road center of Wincheringen, until relieved by CCR of the 10th Armored Division, attacking that morning from the Switch Line, then to clear any pockets of enemy resistance remaining in that area before withdrawing back across the Moselle. Troops A and C of the 2d Squadron were chosen as the assault waves and C Company, 285th Engineer Combat Battalion, was to cross later as the reserve. Attack On Wincheringen 19 - 22 February 1945 T/5 Charles F. Dale The evening of February 19th didn’t seem much different from any other February evening, although we knew that something was definitely up. Troop A had been in Squadron reserve for the past week or so back in Flaxweiler (33). Around seven o’clock all the officers and platoon sergeants were called to the Troop CP to be briefed for some new mission. In the houses where the men of A Troop had been living, the tension rose steadily. The writer was in the first platoon, and our house was probably no different than any other combat platoon’s that night. Occasionally someone would say, “Jeez, I wish they’d tell us something anyway!” Finally someone suggested that we go to the movies and several of us went. After seeing about half of a very dull and old picture, a head poked in the doorway and a voice barked “All the men of A Troop report back to your billets immediately”. The lights were switched on and we, the men of A Troop, trying to look nonchalant, walked out.
When we got back to our house we were told by S/Sgt. Croasmun, our platoon Sgt., to get ready, that we were all going across the river to attack Wincheringen (33) dismounted. Some of the men were bitching, “what the hell do they think we are, infantry?” Most of us were too busy trying to get the lumps out of our throats to bitch. It seemed that none of us could get enough hand grenades, though we had plenty. We were briefed, and I mean briefed, in about half an hour by our platoon leader, Lt. Lasswell. He started talking at 2230, and we were to leave Flaxweiler at 2300 for Ehnen (33). Upon reaching Ehnen about 2345, many of us were herded into a house to think about the crossing that was to take place at 0100. As anybody knows who has ever taken that cold, wet plunge into action, it isn’t the fight that gets on a mans nerves, its the waiting for it to start that sends the Section 8 shivers up and down the soldiers spine. As there was a slight delay and we didn’t actually shove off until 0130, we had a delightful extra half hour in which to meditate on our past sins and the probabilities of our sudden and unpleasant demise in the near future. Once we were in the boats and had started paddling for the other side, our fear seemed to vanish. We were to busy with the task at hand to have time to worry. The only mishap of the crossing was the fact that it landed us in Germany, and from here on out, anything could happen and probably would. After climbing a ten foot bank we reached the road which ran parallel to the river, and there were reformed. The 1st and 3rd platoons started moving northward along the road in the single file. Some carried machine guns, others bazookas. Most of us carried boxes of machine gun ammunition or bazooka shells. Almost every man had plenty of hand and rifle grenades. We climbed another bank to the railroad tracks, went down it for about a hundred yards and then turning right again, were confronted by a steep cliff. For the next hour or so we climbed up and up, making more noise than a herd of elephants. Just as we reached the top, German artillery and mortar started falling on the river bank, which was now rear echelon as far as we were concerned. We were resting on top of the ridge and those shells seemed to be just clearing the top of our helmets. We started moving toward our objective and although we had about two kilometers to go, we reached the outskirts of town at 0545. Here we halted again while Lt. Lasswell went back to see if he could contact the 3rd platoon who had been following us all the way. They were nowhere to be found! He decided to wait until the last moment before dawn because they might have been held up for some reason. Also we were hoping that B Troop had gotten through on the east side of town. The fog which had covered our movements all the way from the top of the hill started to lift and it began to get light, so the Lieutenant had no alternative but to commence the attack. We started to move cautiously toward the first few buildings in town. We were moving through an orchard with half of the platoon on the left side of the road and the other half on the other side. They must have known we were coming because hell really broke loose. Mortar shells began falling among us like rain drops. The first building on the right was a schoolhouse, so we made for it. Behind the school was a machine gun nest which had not opened fire on us and we captured the two gunners. From the mortar barrage we had one man killed, Pfc. Carlton Musser, and eight or nine wounded. That left us a little understrength, so we decided to hold out in the house as long as we could, and let the Germans worry about the rest of our outfit which would be attacking from the other side of town. Anyway, tanks from the 10th Armored Division were on the way and should arrive to relieve us about ten o’clock. The mortar shells kept falling outside and on the roof, but they couldn’t hurt us much as long as we stayed in the house. Three Heinies came running up the road yelling “Kamerad”, so we invited them in and took them prisoner. Fortunately for us, the house had a nice substantial cellar so we sent the wounded and the prisoners downstairs, with enough men to guard them and outpost the cellar windows. The remainder of us stayed together in one big room that had windows on every side, so we could cover every approach to the house with small arms fire. Cpl. Charles Deptola and T/5 Eddie Bafs stayed outside in fox holes to man the captured machine gun. Commencing at 0730 the Jerries really started to throw the book at us. They gave up on the mortars and started using bazookas, which were a lot more effective as far as we were concerned. Bazooka shells tore holes in the walls, and some came through the holes and went off inside. Machine guns fired through the holes and sprayed the inside of the room. We danced a merry jig to the tune of humming ricochets. Just to add variety to the various types of hell they were giving us, several Germans ran up to the house to drop grenades in the cellar or try to throw them through the windows into the room. The only medical facilities for our wounded were our first aid kits, and a Heinie who happened to be a medic and took good care for our wounded down in the cellar. All this and frustration too! Where was the 3rd platoon? Where was B Troop? Ten o’clock came and where the hell were the tanks? But we were giving the Jerries plenty at the same time, it wasn’t all one way by a long shot. Sgt. Ralph Kinley had a bazooka in his hands trying to locate a choice target. Strank pointed out a Heinie that he had observed in a window in a house across the street. Sgt. Kinley got set and fired a round which hit just below the window as the Kraut was raising his bazooka to fire into our house. That was the last we were bothered by that particular German! Joe Strank and T/5 Red Lamberton shot several of the Heinies who were attempting to throw grenades into the house. S/Sgt. Croasmun, T/5 Kreczmer and Pfc. Woltor located a machine gun nest and put it out of commission with small arms fire. There was one particular panzerfaust nest behind a little knoll part of the way down into town, that was causing us most of the trouble. It was so situated that we couldn’t get at it with our weapons. The enemy was gradually taking his toll with his bazookas, and most of the fire was coming from the one we couldn’t reach. Pfc. Bunch was killed when a shell came through a window near which he was standing. Another shell wounded T/5 John Leewas and he had to be taken downstairs. Evidently the Germans decided that we were getting weak enough to whip because at one o’clock they began to attack in earnest. They came down the hill through the orchard on the east side of the house, where the captured machine gun was. The machine gun jammed after the first few rounds so Bafs, Deptola and Roberson stood up to surrender. Deptola was shot and killed. Bafs and Roberson made a break for it and jumped through a window into the house. Somehow or other, from the inside of the house, we managed to repulse that attack with small arms fire. After the attack came a lull and we had an opportunity to think over our situation. The question was, just how long could we hold out? Our situation was definitely not good. In a nutshell it was this; we were be
ing pounded on the east, west and north sides of the house by the enemy. If we tried to make a break of it to the south, we had to cross wide open terrain which, we knew, could be covered easily and thouroughly by at least two enemy machine guns and mortar fire. And then even though we wanted to try it, there were the wounded to consider. We certainly couldn’t carry them and just as certainly weren’t going to leave them. Some thought that surrender would be the best because, “something must have happened to the rest of the Squadron or we wouldn’t be stranded here”. Others elected to fight it out until help arrived. Lt. Lasswell was in the later category so, of course, that’s what we decided to do. But we all agreed on one thing, and that was that we would definitely not spend the night in the house! The afternoon dragged by with an occasional machine gun burst or a rifle shot. During the long periods of relative quiet we looked longingly southward for signs of approaching Americans. Finally we did see some soldiers a long ways off whom we thought to be GIs. We yelled and waved and at last managed to get them to hear us. They wanted to know the enemy strength, and we told them we thought about three platoons. This exchange of information was carried out by shouting as they could not approach us over the open ground. “They must be going to attack”, we assured one another, and breathed a little easier. Another half hour dragged by. Nothing happened! It was now about four-thirty and would soon be dark. T/5 Roberson rushed up to Lt. Lasswell and asked if it would be alright for him and another man to take off across the open field and try to find Capt. Cunningham to tell him the situation. The Lieutenant flashed the green light, so Roberson and Bafs jumped out of a window and ran. The rest of us watched them go, hoping they would make it. They were not fired on! When we saw that, two more tried it, and gradually in ones and twos, prisoners and wounded, we all left. About five minutes later tanks of the 10th Armored came rolling into Wincheringen. Of the enemy only a few stragglers were left, hanging around waiting to be taken prisoner. After this burst of activity the front settled down again for a considerable period of time and the Second Cavalry resumed it’s patrolling and harrassing of the enemy, who remained very passive except in a few isolated instances. On the 22nd our patrols to Wasserbillig (34) and Born (34) found the enemy still present. Patrol To Born 22 February 1945 Troop B, 42d Squadron The patrol moved east on the road entering Born (34). Sgt. Lowrey, leading the point, drew rifle fire (five shots) just before entering the town. Lt. Calderwood moved the patrol into position south of the road and went forward to make a personal reconnaissance.
He heard what he estimated to be 8 or 10 men running around in town, as though moving to a position. This was followed by machine gun fire from the southernmost street in town and from across the river. Later an undetermined number of machine guns and rifles opened fire from the town, and signal lights were seen across the river. Lt. Calderwood heard what he believes was a motor boat cross the river three times. The machine gun and mortar across the river searched the road on which the patrol had moved into town. The patrol leader also reported hearing two trucks on the opposite bank come up from Metzdorf (34). Patrol To Wasserbillig 22 - 26 February 1945 Troop C, 42nd Squadron Lt. Williams, following closely behind the point as they moved carefully down the railroad track, heard the sound of a falling body, muffled profanity and scrambling around. After some fumbling around in the dark he found a trip wire over which one of the men had stumbled. Fortunately there was something wrong with the hookup and this mishap did not cause an explosion. At least not immediately.
Soon after the rest of the point had passed the trip wire there was a loud explosion from the track. A machine gun opened fire from a nearby house, and a 20mm gun in the vicinity of the house began firing down the track. One man of the point jumped down the north side of the embankment and the rest scrambled down the south side, and started back along the spur. They ran into another embankment and had to return to the main track. As they reached it several more machine guns opened up and three loud explosions, believed caused by controlled mines, were heard in the vicinity of the spur which they had just left. The main body of the patrol had remained on the trestle in the vicinity of Hill 141 to cover the advance of the point and was receiving cross fire from Hill 235 nearby and machine guns on the right. Cpl. Welt had fired a rifle grenade at the house after being forced off the tracks by machine gun fire and grenades. A German came out of the house at that time and began tossing grenades around in general. He was not fired on by the point as they did not wish to further disclose their position. On the return the patrol drew fire from a point along the river bank near where a listening post had been established when the patrol first moved out. During this engagement the enemy used six or eight white flares. The patrol returned to our outpost line without further incident. A patrol of ours on the 26th into Wasserbillig found that our enemy, like the Arab, had quietly folded his tent and stolen away in the night. The next day, patrols sent to other trouble spots in the area were not so fortunate, as they found the enemy still present and alert. Patrol To Steinheim 27 February 1945 Troop A, 2d Squadron Lt. Brown and 8 men of A Troop left from the OP at 1900. They went across country to the edge of a woods on a hill. Here they left two men with the telephone. The remainder of the patrol went on down toward the river until they came to the railroad tracks. They turned northwest and followed the tracks toward Steinheim (34).
At varying intervals the patrol stopped and listened for enemy movements, but heard nothing. When they were about 300 yards from the town a mortar barrage of about ten rounds of 81mm landed just to the right of the patrol. About two minutes later the mortars started firing fairly steadily, and the shells kept moving a little closer to the patrol. In all there were about 25 rounds. The firing seemed to be coming from the vicinity of Edingen (34) across the river. Between the patrol and the town the ground was flat and open. It seemed like every time the patrol started to make a move toward the town, that mortar would fall all around them. Finally they decided not to try to enter the town. Observing from where they were, the reported visibility was fair and they could see the houses plainly, but did not see or hear any movements. The patrol started back and picked up the two men they had left behind. These men reported that about 2130 they received about 18 rounds of artillery, estimated as 75mm, which fell a little to their left rear. No one was injured but the shells did break the telephone line, which had to be repaired. The patrol returned at 2300. They did find a good place in the side of the cliff which they were going to use for an OP. The men will go in before daylight and stay till after dark. From here they can observe both Steinheim and Edingen and the surrounding ground. |
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Troop B, 42d Squadron 20 March 1945 The town of Bingen (V)(37) is a rail, water and general communications center on the Rhine at the mouth of the Nahe river. Surrounding Bingen are the towns of Dietersheim (37), Budesheim (37) and Kempten (37). On the morning of 20 March, the TD Platoon of F Troop, and the assault guns of E Troop, were deployed on the high ground north of the Nahe river where it joins the Rhine. They were trained on the locality of Bingen, prepared to support the attack of the 42d Squadron.
Troop B, reinforced, crossed the Nahe at Bretzenheim (37) and attacked north. This force moved toward Bingen via Dietersheim (37) and Budesheim. First enemy opposition was encountered on the outside of Dietersheim, just after we passed through that town. The enemy outposts had blown the RR trestle bridges over all roads leading to Dietersheim and Bingen. The blocking of these underpasses proved a very effective roadblock, since the RR embankment was too high for our tanks to climb. While we were held up in front of these obstacles, enemy artillery sporadically hammered our column. One of the blocks was finally cleared by alternately firing the 75mm from the light tanks into the debris and then using the beef and brawn of man power to clear the rubble. On the other side of this block was an enemy machine gun position which quickly surrendered after a fierce exchange of fire. The ground between the RR and Budesheim was as flat as a pancake, and as previously planned, the recon platoon left their vehicles behind and accompanied the tanks, first riding them and then on foot. The tanks advanced in a line across country, firing at likely enemy positions as they drove. During the advance on Budesheim, the supporting artillery pasted the town and kept the enemy pinned down. With so much direct fire from HE projectiles flying through the town, the local civilians started putting up white flags just as the attacking force closed in. All the German soldiers, however, didn’t agree to this and there was a little excitement before the surrender was final. Pvt. Lester Wolf, for instance, had a fine game of hop scotch with a panzerfaust man before he finally ran him to ground behind a stone wall and wafted him out of this world with a well lobbed grenade. Approximately 100 prisoners were taken at this first position. The attack was led by Lt. Sidney Zecher, with Lt. Tom Yates and Lt. Henry Lane as platoon leaders of the tank and recon platoons respectively. The 1st Platoon of B Troop under S/Sgt. Danny Roscoe was in support and the 2d, under Lt. Calderwood, in reserve. After Budesheim was consolidated, the 2d platoon passed through town to advance on the final objective, Bingen. Here again the recon men were used to give close-in support to the tanks, now a fresh platoon led by Lt. Fowler. The force had to move on the road along the Nahe river. It reached the outskirts of Bingen and encountered blocks of trolly cars. However, these blocks had been hastily erected, and were as hastily surmounted. The panzerfaust and small arms were the enemy’s main weapons, and consequently street fighting ensued. Pfc. John P. Florio, while riding on a tank which was rolling down the streets, sighted and killed the members of an enemy bazooka team with the tank’s AA machine gun. A little later as he was walking down the street with his platoon leader, he shot and killed a sniper who was in the act of aiming his rifle at the officer. Cpl. James D. Reeves was working dismounted with a tank platoon, and during the fight in town he noticed a bazooka team to the flank of the tank he was helping to support. He charged the enemy group, firing as he ran. He succeeded in killing one German, and his furious assault caused the remaining two to turn in full flight and race off through the buildings. Many other incidents similar to these occurred, but went unnoticed due to the excitement and confusion of battle. At the same time that part of the Troop advanced on Bingen, Lts. Lane and Zecher bypassed Bingen to the south and moved toward Kempten. Their small force moved so quickly that it over-ran enemy positions without giving them much of a chance to put up a fight. On one occasion, to the surprise of both concerned, Lt. Lane walked around the bend in a gulley and came face to face with a group of Germans manning an AA gun. Quick Yankee bluff, which included a verbal picture of advancing hordes of bloodthirsty Americans, convinced the German commander that discretion was the better part of valor, and he surrendered his entire command. By nightfall, Zecher and Lane had consolidated Kempten, and had the Burgermeister jumping around transmitting their orders to the populace. Those orders included, of course, detailed instructions for the disposal of the days crop of eggs. While all this was going on, A Troop, in support, had swung to the right, capturing Gau Algesheim (37) and Ockenheim (37). A platoon of A Troop advancing on Gaulsheim (37) was halted a half kilometer south of the town by direct artillery fire from the high ground north of the Rhine. Advance elements occupied the forward positions and prepared to continue the attack. A total of 450 prisoners were sent back. Back in Bingen the fight was still going on. It was larger than Kempten, and in addition, the center of resistance. By dark our Troops had taken one third of the town, and elected to hang on to that until morning. At first light they rounded up the remaining enemy in town, and by 1100 most of the excitement was over. Organized and active resistance had ceased once we had gained our first hold on the town, but there are always a few people that don’t know when they are whipped. Many frantic calls were made to Squadron Headquarters for trucks to haul prisoners to the rear. The final count went well over the 500 mark. One of the prisoners was the commander of all the troops in Bingen, and he sadly told his side of the story to our attached IPW team. Kamerad 18 - 20 March, 1945 Bingen (V)(37) was defended by the 1st Company of the 12th Landes Schuetzen Battalion, together with some elements of the 3rd and 4th Companies. The 1st Company alone had a strength of 412 men. The men had all been drafted about three weeks before and lacked any military training whatsoever. Their equipment was rifles and one rusty light machine gun for the whole bunch. The men were all over 40 years old and fed up.
Five days before, the Battalion commander had the mission to march his Battalion towards Mainz (V)(VI)(37) and across the Rhine. But, highhandedly, he decided to defend the town. Great was, therefore, the astonishment of the CO of the 1st Company when around midnight of 18 March, a sentry reported to him that the Battalion CO had crossed the Rhine in a boat without further comments. This put the CO of 1st Company in charge. He requested further orders and was told that ferry boats would take him and his men across the Rhine after dark on 19 March. During the morning of this same day his troubles began. All of a sudden he saw a big white flag being hoisted above his headquarters. When investigating, his guards caught a civilian in this act. He was courtmartialed and condemned to death, but the local mayor and the police, with some citizens armed with makeshift weapons, forced him to release the man. Shortly afterwards the officer went on inspection, and discovered the citizens at the entrance of Bingen tearing down the roadblocks. On the streets, he encountered some “civilians” who had discharged themselves from his Company. This was discouraging. Eventually it became time to assemble at the pier and wait for the boats to get them across the Rhine. They waited from 2000 to 0200, but no gallant navy came to their rescue. In the meantime, our Troops had penetrated his “defenses” and the men started to surrender. The officer decided that it was time he gave up. Some 600 followed him. After clearing Bingen in the morning, the 42d Squadron extended along the Rhine to Frei Weinheim (37), with A Troop attacking to clear Gaulsheim (37), Spotkenheim and Frei Weinheim (37), taking 101 more prisoners. Troop E, firing in support of A, knocked out a locomotive at Mittelheim (37) north of the Rhine, and placed highly effective fire on an enemy troop concentration at the railroad station in Rudesheim (37), causing an estimated 40 casualties. The Rhineland Campaign ended on this high note of a very successful attack by the Second Cavalry. Though we were not yet across the Rhine, we were poised and ready, as we officially entered into the campaign of CENTRAL EUROPE. Central Europe 21 March - 1 April 1945 The campaign of Central Europe was to be, for the Second Cavalry Group, a typical Cavalry campaign, somewhat on the order of the mad dash across France. Long jumps, spotty resistance, and then short, sharp, bitter fights, followed by another long jump, characterized the campaign. The Group completed the relief of the 90th Infantry Division, between Bingen (V)(37) and Mainz (V)(VI)(37), on the 22nd of March. At 1500 both Squadrons started a crossing demonstration along the Rhine in that sector. Troops moved around, artillery fire was increased, and we indulged in the usual scrambling about trying to simulate an infantry or armored Division. The enemy showed his appreciation of our efforts by showering us with artillery in Bingen and Frei Weinheim (37).
The Group was attached to the 26th Division on the 23rd and directed to be prepared to cross the Rhine and advance to the northeast. The next day a change of orders was received. The 16th Cavalry Group was to relieve the Second on the 25th, and upon relief we were to cross the Rhine and screen Corps north flank along the south bank of the Main river. The relief went off as scheduled. To pass away the time, while waiting for relief, Troop E, 42d Squadron, lobbed shells over the Rhine and knocked out two machine gun nests, one AT gun and one house occupied by enemy troops. The Group crossed the Rhine (38) on the 26th. 2d Squadron relieved the 2d Infantry Regiment along the Main river from Gustavburg to Kleisterbach, while the 42d, extended a screen along the line Gernsheim (38), Waschenbach (38), Zeilhard (38), Reinheim (VI)(38), Altheim. Movement is now becoming so rapid that new orders were received daily. On the 27th the Group was to move in with the 26th Division and ensure the security of the Hanau (VI) bridgehead. On the 28th, Group reverted to Corps control and was to screen the Corps right flank. Elements of the 42d Squadron were ferried across the Main river on the 29th. The next day A Troop took up positions on the line Wasserlos, Albstadt. 2d Squadron established contact with the 106th Cavalry Group at Oberredenbach. XII Corps directed the Group to hold that portion of the bridgehead at Hanau below the Third Army boundry until relieved by 7th Army units, and protect the Corps right flank. The 42d Squadron leapfrogged far to the north and located in the vicinity of Spielberg (39), with elements out as far as Udenhain (39) and Bad Soden (39) where enemy resistance was found to be almost negligible. The 2d Squadron continued screening on the right flank of Corps pushing the screen, on the 31st, northeast to Gelnhausen (VI)(39). In this area the enemy began to show signs of active resentment at our rapid advance. S/Sgt. Sander’s platoon of A Troop in attempting to enter Eidengesass (39), engaged the enemy in an intense fire fight. The Germans were fighting fanatically from dug-in positions, and were not inclined to give up. Sgt. Sander exposed himself continuously to enemy fire in an attempt to gather his scattered force and place them in positions from which to liquidate the enemy. He drove up, in his armored car, near a German strong point and eliminated it with his machine gun. However, the Germans were well located in that area and a supporting gun killed Sgt. Sander while he was exposed in the turret of the armored car, firing the anti-aircraft machine guns. In the meantime we had also encountered stiff resistance at Altenhasslau (39). As a platoon neared the town they encountered intense small arms fire and part of the platoon was pinned down. Lt. Roberts pulled his armored car into an open field to bring fire on the enemy, and one of the car’s crew was seriously wounded and fell from the car to the ground. Lt. Roberts leaped from the armored car and although slightly wounded from the intense fire, managed to get the wounded soldier to a covered position. In another part of the field, Corporal Bill Young noticed that a wounded man and several of his buddies were pinned down by enemy fire. He grabbed a jeep, drove through the enemy fire to the wounded soldier, placed him in the jeep, and managed to return safely. Sgt. Wendall S. Young was all over the area that day, exposing himself, directing fire, selecting better positions, and personally leading support forward to where they were most needed. His personal courage played a large part in the killing of an estimated hundred enemy, and the taking of more than 250 prisoners during the fighting this and the next day when Altenhasslau was finally secured. As the platoon of which Corporal Law and Pfc. Thomas were members continued the investigation and last cleanup of Altenhasslau, the point vehicle, in which they were riding, suddenly came under intense mortar and small arms fire, and the driver was seriously wounded. Law and Thomas managed to carry the injured soldier to comparative safety in spite of the heavy fire, and then remained dismounted with the platoon and supported the armored cars with rifle fire. Altenhasslau was finally taken during the fight. The same day, April 1st, 2d Squadron pushed northeast toward Bad Orb (VI)(39), where several thousand American prisoners were reported to be held. Troop A reached Hochst (39) and Wirtheim (39) and Troop B to Kassel (39) in the initial attack. In the 42d Squadron zone, enemy rifle units were encountered by Troop B on the high ground southwest of Wachterbach (VI)(39). Troop B was relieved by elements of the 2
d Squadron which had pushed that far north by 1300 after driving the Krauts from Haitz (39). Troop C with one platoon, Sam Fowler’s of F Troop, advanced southeast from Salmunster(VI)(39) through the Bad Orb forest, reaching Merns (39), and thus intercepting enemy groups leaving Bad Orb. Troop A was at the outskirts of Niederzell to the northeast and Squadron Headquarters had moved to Ulmbach. Enemy Aircraft! April 1 - 2, 1945 Lt. Bob McCaleb, Troop C, 42d Squadron The Luftwaffe was not yet kaput. Just after C Troop jumped off from Salmunster (VI)(39) on the Bad Orb (VI)(39) deal, four German fighters came in out of the sun for a strafing run at the south edge of town. Our AAA half track was back in town and couldn’t fire. I remember quite plainly what a quiet sunny day it was as I stood in the road with Bancroft, watching Arno’s jeep approach with a message. There was an old man walking past us with a tiny girl of about four.
Suddenly there was a roar of motors overhead and Bancroft dove for one ditch while I hit the other, as steel slugs slashed the buildings and tore into the road. I looked up, felt myself, and noticed Arno’s jeep standing empty in the road. I ran to it and jumped on the AA machine gun as the Krauts pulled up for another pass; it never came. They ran into the fighter escort of an American bomber formation and were all shot down. Just then Bancroft, sensing an all-clear, came crawling out of a filthy culvert under the road, and tightly wrapped around his neck were two tiny arms belonging to a very frightened little girl. On the 2nd of April our practically uninterrupted drive continued vigorously, for a time. A and B of the 2d Squadron drove into Bad Orb by 0810, effecting the release of 6533 Allied prisoners, including 3328 Americans. Troop F received a counter-attack at Haussen (39) at the same time that a large enemy column of elements of the 6th SS Mountain Division passed through Waldensberg (39), where the 2d Squadron trains were assembled, and ran into the rear outpost of the 2d Squadron Headquarters at Wittgenborn (39). This started a day of mad, confused and bitter fighting, from which the Germans finally came off second best, though for a time it looked like anybody’s battle. Attack From The Rear 1 Apr - 20 Apr 1945 On the night of April 1, 1945, the 2d Squadron Rear Echelon moved into the town of Waldensberg, Germany (39). At this time the Squadron Headquarters was located at Wittgenborn, about three kilometers away. During the night four guards were posted throughout the town. This seemed like more than an adequate number, as after all we were far in the rear and the German army was on the run, according to our latest papers.
The Rear Echelon had one armored car with them for the purpose of radio communication with Squadron Headquarters. At approximately 0430 the next morning, one of the guards came running to the Commanding Officer, Capt. John W. Mayfield, to report that eight German vehicles had just passed through town. It was still quite dark out, but T/5 Walter S. Wojciechowski, one of the roving guards, positively identified them as enemy vehicles. The radio operator, T/4 Marion E. Harsla, immediately radioed the information to Squadron. Runners were sent out to alert the men. The crew of the armored car hastily mounted up and stood by. About half an hour later the guard came running to report that another German column with about 38 vehicles, led by a tank, was starting through the town. A flash message was sent to Squadron by T/5 Sidney Berg, informing them of the number and type of vehicles headed their way. Due to their lack of fire power and poor position, Capt. Mayfield ordered his men to hold their fire until they were fired upon. It was still quite dim, so that the German column went by without noticing the American vehicles parked throughout the town. About 0530 a third column, which consisted of 10 or 12 vehicles loaded with men, started through town. A German officer in the lead vehicle, which was an American jeep, noticed T/5 Dwight Gardner, 2d Squadron water truck driver, standing near an armored car which had been brought to the rear for repair. The German officer yelled, “Amerikaners!” and halted his column. Gardner jumped into the armored car, opened up on the lead vehicle with a .50 caliber MG and knocked it out. That started the big fight! The Germans piled out of their vehicles and opened fire. The armored car crew, Sgt. Godfrey V. Dwyer, T/5 Rodney Bridges, and T/5 Sidney Berg, were ordered to move out to the edge of town and cover the flank. Berg immediately opened fire with his 37mm and .30 caliber co-axial on the enemy vehicles which had stopped outside of the town. The car commander observed some dismounted men coming up on the right flank of the armored car. Berg stopped their advance with the machine gun. By this time the Germans had an AT gun set up and were trying to knock out the armored car. One shell hit the left side but the shrapnel did not penetrate the armor. After a couple of more close ones, Dwyer ordered the driver to move back and cover the other flank. T/Sgt. Charles A. Franz of the S-4 section was the first one in his section to find out the German column was in town. He immediately woke up all the men in his group. A few minutes later the S-4 men heard the chatter of machine guns outside. T/5 John E. Donohue was so surprised at the suddeness of it all, that he started to take his bedroll out to the vehicle. T/5 Joseph V. Ferrizzi saw him and yelled, “Get the hell out of the doorway, the streets are full of Krauts!” That sort of brought Donohue to his senses. Ferrizzi was shooting at the Germans with his M1 through the front room window. The men that did not get out of the house in time, stayed upstairs until the Germans started shelling the town and throwing grenades. They had no other choice then to take to the cellar. T/5 Frank Veldhuis was on guard when the German column came through town. After reporting to Capt. Mayfield, he ran down to wake up S/Sgt. Mike Bellanca of the Transportation Platoon. By the time everybody was dressed the shooting had started, and Bellanca and his men were cut off from the CP. Pfc. Roland R. Guay started out the back door, but two Germans were out back, so he called Sgt. Ballanca to aid him. Bellanca killed one of them and Pfc. Ben Sowers, who just came up, saw the other one and shot him. They were all standing around in the street wondering what to do next, when they saw Pfc. William E. Roots standing by the corner of a building with the barrel of his carbine in his hand. At first they couldn’t figure out what he was up to, but then they saw a German soldier creeping along the side of the building. Roots broke his carbine over the German’s face. He had run out of ammo and was using his weapon for a club. Bellanca decided to try to make a break for the CP and Pfc. Glenn T. Page volunteered to go with him. The small arms fire was so intense that they had to turn back. On the way back Page was hit and fell in the street. Bellanca started back up the street to get him, but two of his buddies, Cpl. Paul H. Brooks and Pfc. Harold H. Friedly, yelled at him to stay back, and said that they could get Page as he had fallen right near their house. That was the last time Bellanca saw those three men because they were all seriously wounded during the day. After fighting from house to house, Sgt. Bellanca, with about 13 other men, made a break for the woods. After walking four hours and hiding from German patrols, they met a German Major, one Captain and two Lieutenants who wanted to surrender. They questioned the Major and he told them that there were some American troops in Budingen (VI)(39). The Major finally led them to the town, where they were picked up by the 204th Engineers, who in turn took them to C Troop of the 2d Squadron. Meanwhile the armored car started to move towards the other flank, but was stopped by a warning shout from one of the men fighting dismounted, “There’s some Krauts coming up behind the car!” Sgt. Dwyer saw them and opened up with his tommy gun. T/5 Bridges slammed open his front hatch and picked off a couple of Jerries who were sneaking up with grenades. The armored car then proceeded across the road to the other side of town. As they moved into position Dwyer observed at least 10 Germans about 500 yards away, coming up on a straight line. Berg immediately started cutting them down with MG fire. Harsla was fighting dismounted, so the driver operated the radio and gave Squadron a running account of the battle until the Jerries shot the radio antenna off. There were about 15 men fighting dismounted around the CP. Most of them were from the Squadron Maintenance Platoon. They did everything they could to keep the Germans from coming in and surrounding them, but the odds were too great. It seemed like practically every building in town was burning from mortar and shell fire. The Germans were coming in from four sides. Captain Mayfield and his driver, T/4 Perry J. Long, were standing out in front of the CP building when a sniper opened up and killed them both. Capt. Winston C. Hill assumed command of the remaining members of the Rear Echelon. He saw that the situation was almost hopeless, so he ordered the remaining men around him to mount up on the armored car and the two jeeps that were parked nearby. Under a hail of small arms fire, these men started across the open field for the woods. After going about 200 yards the vehicles all bogged down in a creek. The men jumped out and started running for the woods. The Germans saw them and opened up with a heavy machine gun barrage. Luckily none of the men were hit and all made it to the woods. After they arrived and got their breath back, S/Sgt. Harold T. Cooley volunteered to take a patrol out and try to locate friendly forces. Harsla volunteered to crawl back out to the armored car and radio Squadron Headquarters, to bring them up to date on the latest ha
ppenings. After Harsla returned, Capt. Hill decided that the best thing to do was to try and contact a friendly unit. Luckily Lt. Matthew F. Hardee, Transportation Officer, had brought a compass and map with him. Lt. Hardee set the course and led the remaining eight men through the woods. After walking about three hours, in which time they had to by-pass a German patrol, they finally met a C Troop combat team, which took the men to the Troop CP. In the meantime 2d Squadron Headquarters were having their own troubles. The head of the German column which had passed on through Waldensberg, ran into the rear of and promptly attacked the headquarters installation. Major Wyles hastily assembled a small group of armored cars and light tanks and moved out to repel the attack. Rapid and accurate fire soon destroyed the head of the enemy column, and with a small force the Major moved to the flank where, while part of his force kept the enemy from advancing down the road, he and his men prevented deployment by attacking the flank of the German column. Despite heavy enemy attacks and continuous fire throughout the day, the two small groups held the Germans in position until mdday, when a Battalion of the 71st Division arrived and settled the situation. While the 2d Squadron Headquarters was having it’s hands full trying to defend itself, other units were forming and moving to the relief of Waldensberg. T/4 Chester Harmon, after his radio failed, voluntarily started out for help, and making his way across an open field under heavy fire, finally succeeded in reaching elements of an Infantry Battalion. He explained the situation to the Battalion Commander and his Squadron Commander whom he contacted a little later, and led the way back to town, personnally fighting dismounted against the enemy and leading tanks back to the survivors of the Rear Echelon. Major Steinmetz, with two tanks and the security platoon of Group Headquarters, was moving rapidly up to the relief. His group attacked the enemy on the flank and stopped their advance. Although the Major was slightly wounded, he stayed with and directed his group until they succeeded in making contact with the Infantry Battalion that was moving to the relief of the town. Both groups then moved to the attack together. The 42d Squadron Rear Echelon, stationed in a nearby town, also sent a relief column consisting of all available men. Sgt. Peterson especially distinguished himself by killing at least 15 of the enemy and taking 18 prisoners in one house alone. Sgt. Peterson and his men traveled 3,000 yards across open fields to secure the help of an Infantry unit halted in a wood. He returned and he and his men cleared the ditches of the enemy, advancing as far as our outposts. Just at this point they were pinned down by enemy fire from a nearby hill and a stone wall. Sgt. Peterson, defying almost certain death, made a run for help and returned with a tank. With this additional fire power he and his men soon disposed of the snipers. By this time the Infantry was moving up to take the situation in hand. Lt. Kraatz of the 42d Squadron, organized a tank platoon out of hastily gathered elements of a Headquarters platoon and quickly moved to attack a vastly superior enemy. He was painfully injured and though relieved by a friendly element, volunteered to assist in the mop-up. His unit accounted for 300 enemy dead. In the meantime, the men of S-4 section that had remained in the cellar had no idea of what became of the rest of the Rear Echelon, or what various columns were on the way to their relief. About 10:30 A.M. they heard the rumble of tanks, then there was a terrific explosion upstairs, followed by a great deal of small arms fire. They later learned that the explosion was caused by one of the tanks attached to Group Headquarters, which was knocked out right in front of their house. T/5 William A. Stehley of the 42d was riding the rear deck of that tank when it was hit. When the attack of the Germans rolled into the area, Stehley was in an assembly area nearby distributing ammunition from his truck. When elements of the security section prepared to counter-attack for the relief of our men in town, Stehley boarded one of the supporting tanks to assist in the assault. Upon entering town Stehley was riding the rear deck manning the .50 caliber machine gun. In the course of the fight an enemy panzerfaust team succeeded in taking the tank under fire and knocking it out, killing two of the crew. Stehley was knocked from the tank and painfully wounded in the neck, but nevertheless secured a rifle, killed several of the enemy who were holding up the advance, and assisted in the capture of 40 prisoners while clearing houses. For the next half hour the S-4 men waited, listening and praying with all their might. About 11:30 A.M., they heard the rumble of more tanks, then hell really broke loose. There was explosion after explosion, shrapnel was flying all over the house. After the shooting quieted down the men in the cellar heard a voice outside, which sounded like an angel from Heaven saying, “Give me a grenade, there’s somebody in the cellar”. There was no mistaking that voice. It was a real live American. T/5 Henry A. Harrison, one of the men in the cellar, hastily opened the door and shouted, “Hold it fellows, we’re GI’s”. After relating their story to their rescuers, who were members of the 71st Infantry Division, some of them went along with the Infantry in the mopping up operations. The rest of the S-4 men went to seek their missing comrades. The Germans were eventually driven into the woods north of Breitenborn (39). Elements of the 71st Division were called on to pocket the German force from the south and to clear the town of Liesenwald (39). The 42d Squadron was given a new mission, following the attack, and deployed B and C Troops on the line Hellstein (39), Holzmuhl to intercept enemy groups infiltrating to the southeast. During the days operations the losses for the Group were 7 killed, 10 wounded, 20 missing, 2 tanks knocked out and 10 other vehicles missing. 40 enemy vehicles were destroyed, 150 enemy killed and 200 captured. PW statements indicated that the attack of the 6th SS Mountain Division on our rear was almost entirely an accident, as the Division had split up and was merely trying to escape. One PW stated that the Division was 26,000 strong when it left Finland, and was considered the strongest and best equipped fighting unit among the SS Divisions. After having been engaged in the fighting along the Mosel river, the Division assembled and reorganized in Usingen (VI), where approximately 8,000 men were loaded on German and American trucks. There was also enough gasoline captured to carry the remnants of this Division into the central part of Germany. On the route of this column, stretching for miles, they traveled only by night, by-passing any towns or larger villages. They reached Osrossbach the first day, and after a few artillery engagements, arrived at a point 2 kilometers west of VI>Bad Nauheim (VI). In spite of casualties on the way, the Division strength increased on account of more stragglers being picked up from various reserve and training Battalions as the Division moved along. On 1 April, the column was split at Kefenroth in two columns, of which the larger one headed southeast while 12 vehicles with 80 men traveled due south to Waldensberg. There, after a short engagement, about 200 men were liberated from an American PW cage. Then the column turned southwest, heading for the Budingen woods where they were surprised by five American vehicles plus one assault gun. One PW stated that these were knocked out and the personnel killed, while they themselves, suffered minor losses in men and vehicles. The officer in charge decided to go ahead without vehicles, and selected a new route to Gelnhausen (VI)(39) by circling the woods in a northwest direction, then bearing south along the edge of the woods. Two Frenchmen of the SS, members of the French contingent of the Division, stated that it split into three columns the night of 30 - 31 March in the vicinity of Butzbach (VI), with the mission to move southeast, break through the American rear lines and try to reach the German lines. The three columns followed one another on the same route. The spearhead column consisted of 400 men with two American tanks, two anti-tank guns, 8 jeeps and twelve 2 1/2 ton trucks. All the spearhead column was equipped with captured American vehicles. After the fight on April 2, the elements of the Division still intact received orders from Division Headquarters, then in Liesenwald, that the Division was dissolved as such that the men were to make their way through the American lines in small groups. Shortly after this order was issued, we attacked the remnants of the force at Liesenwald and dispersed it. On the 3rd of April, 2d Squadron was attached to the 71st Division for operational control. They intercepted small enemy groups infiltrating to the south toward Wirtheim (39). 42d Squadron sent Troop A to Rommert, screening between Flieden, where the 121st Cavalry was contacted, and Dorfborn. 2d Squadron was attached to the 17th Armored Group on the 4th, while the Group, minus 2d Squadron, was ordered to protect Corps south flank from Fulda (VI) to the Ulster river. The next day 42d Squadron moved to Hofbieber and established a screen along the line Bockeis - Batten. Group moved to Hofbieber, 2d Squadron moved to Bermutshain, A Troop patrolled the MSR while B, C and F Troops cleared a woods of enemy forces. On April 6, 2d Squadron minus, moved to vicinity of Schlitz (VI). In this vicinity the Germans tried to counter-attack with about 100 men on one of our platoons. Sgt. Charles D. Turner and T/5 Joseph A. Mitchell, with two other men, established themselves on the flank of the platoon. Every German effort to turn that flank and drive the platoon out of position was repulsed, and the attack soon petered out. The Group less the 2d Squadron was relieved of it’s mission and assembled in the vicinity of Hofbieber, Langer and Eschwisbach. The screen established by the 42d Squadron on the 7th was soon uncovered by advancing elements of the Seventh Army. The 8th brought another long jump. 42d Squadron moved to Henneberg and Troop C had forward elements as far as Exdorf (40). B Troop was held up at Nordheim (40) where an enemy Company supported by two AT guns resisted strongly. Troop B jumped off at 0700 the morning of the 9th and cleared the town of Nordheim by 0900. Troop C captured Rentswerthuasen (40) and took two 280mm railroad guns intact. The attack continued on through Queienfeld (40) and Wolfmannshausen (40). Troop A attacked at 0730, and by 1120 had pushed as far as Romhild (VI)(40) and Dingsleben (40). By 1700 the Troop was in Bedheim (40). To the north the 2d Squadron was echeloned slightly to the rear, with A Troop at Borsch and B Troop at Mannsbach. On the 10th A Troop, 42d Squadron, ran into resistance at Seidlingstadt (40), and an organized position running along the woods to the northeast. Troops B and C reinforced, were committed, B pushing to the south from Linden (40) and meeting resistance at Huabinda (40). One kilometer to the NW Henry Lane’s platoon mowed down a fanatical German force that attacked until they were destroyed. C moved south from Gleicherwiesen (40) and met resistance in the woods. However, with one platoon of Troop E in close support, the vicinity was cleared by 1630. Troop A was still unable to enter Seidlingstadt and lost one M24 tank to AT fire. The platoon of which Pvt. William V. Wood was a member, approached the town in a heavy ground fog that sharply curtailed visibility. They engaged the enemy entrenched in the town in a sharp exchange of small arms fire. While attempting to deploy their vehicles to more advantageous positions, the unit was suddenly hit on the right flank by point-blank AT fire from Hill 344 (40) in the adjacent woods. The fire knocked out one of the light tanks, killing three of the crew and wounding the fourth. Caught in this cross-fire, a prompt withdrawal was indicated, but the enemy AT fire made this impossible. Seeing the perilous predicament of the entire platoon, < b>Pvt. Wood, disregarding his own personal safety, directed machine gun fire so effectively upon the enemy gun emplacement as to pin down its crew. He maintained his fire until his entire platoon had effected a safe withdrawal. Troop A partially surrounded the town to seal it in and sent a platoon on to Holzhausen (40). Troop B pushed on to the south taking Gompertshausen (40) at 1715. Another long jump on the 11th. By evening the 42d Squadron had pushed to a line Coburg (VII), Haarth, Gleussen. The next day Troop C reached the Main river again and pushed reconnaissance east looking for possible crossing sites. A bridge site was located at Miehelau, where Sgt. Quinn of C Troop Maintenance Section went to work. Meredith blew some steel stringers hanging in the way, and by winching and floating on logs, some ten jeeps and a force of men were crossed to the south bank and established a bridgehead. Company C of the 285th Combat Engineer Battalion had a bridge in by 2100. Squadron Headquarters moved to Miehelau. B Troop maintained contact with the 5th Infantry Division. Elements of the 2d Squadron were still patrolling the MSR, occasionally meeting slight resistance. During the 13th, the 42d Squadron made a 20 mile jump to the south, reaching Thurnau (41). On the morning of the 14th, the 42d Squadron jumped off at 0700 to make a run for the south side of ery/album18/Map_overlay_VII>Bayreuth (VII)(41) to cut off German columns passing through the city ahead of the charging 11th Armored. Troops A and B reached the Busbach (41), Bayreuth highway by 1100. By 1450 the autobahn south of Bayreuth was cut just south of Gesees (41) by A Troop. Troop B passed through A Troop and pushed east across the autobahn, penetrating to Weidenberg (41) and setting up a screen which cut off relief from Bayreuth as well as sealing the routes of withdrawal. During the days action 444 prisoners were taken. 2d Squadron continued to patrol the MSR, Squadron Headquarters moving to Mistelgau (41). The following morning Troop C pushed into the south part of Bayreuth and aided the 71st Division in mopping up the town, taking 580 prisoners. Corps directed the Second Cavalry Group to assemble for a 48 hour maintenance period, which we sorely needed. The next two days were spent in maintenance, and of course, patrolling the roads and sending small groups here and there to investigate reported enemy activity. 2d Squadron continued it’s MSR security mission. On the 18th the 42d Squadron moved far north to Hof (41), Troop A going into the lines between Viedenberg (42) and Passack, between the 28th Cavalry of the 1st Army on the north and the 338th Infantry on the south, and patrolled to the Czech border. The 2d Squadron was returned to Group control this day, and moved to Hof on the 19th. Troop A of the 42d moved out at 0700, clearing the woods north of Rehau (42). At 1300 Troop C moved into it’s zone and began pushing east from Rehau, encountering road blocks and small arms fire. Troop B moved up in preparation for a move to the south around Asch (VII)(42) to cut all escape routes. Advance elements of the Squadron closed on Asch and prepared to assault the town. Attempts to force an entry into the city before dark failed, so on the morning of the 20th, C Troop was sent to work around the north and B to the south of the city. About noon, S/Sgt. Garo’s reconnaissance platoon plus S/Sgt. Joseph Carpenter’s section, supported by the tank platoon led by Lt. Samuel Fowler, entered the city from the north. Asch 20 Apr - 27 Apr 1945 Lt. Bob McCaleb, Troop C, 42d Squadron. After considerable interception of German vehicles of all types outside of the city, the 2d platoon, part of the 1st, and one platoon of tanks proceeded into the town from the north, with the remainder of the 1st platoon under Lt. Williams on the left flank heading for the tower on the high ground called Hill 752.
As we entered the town our AAA half-track started the works by destroying a motorcycle with 3 men on it, killing two and seriously wounding one. One tank proceeded up the street and we cleaned out the houses as we went. Major Andrews was manning the .50 cal AA MG on the tank, when there suddenly appeared three Krauts, who for some peculiar reason walked jauntily up to within 50 yds of the tank. They were talking and joking among themselves, with their rifles slung on their shoulders, before realizing what they saw before them; a platoon of men and a fully manned tank with the gun looking down their throats. Surprised and puzzled, they slowed their pace. I was standing on the right of the tank and waved my pistol invitingly, calling “kommen Sie hier!” With this they tried to dart to the left and get under cover. Major Andrews ripped out a burst which knocked two down on the curb. The gunner of the tank cut loose immediately with an HE shell, which promptly ended their suffering in a puff of dirt and smoke, and spattered them in small portions all over the front of the buildings. The third Kraut crossed over and disappeared into a driveway which later was the nemesis of the tank. Another burst of fifty, at Capt. Harris’ yell, went after him as he disappeared. The gunner pleaded to let another shell go at him. By this time the houses were cleared up to the tank, and the unit started to roll forward slowly but surely. Just prior to this, a disgruntled old bald-headed man paused to give a very definite Bronx cheer to the men by the tank, ignoring my order to get in the house. After the third order moved him only a few paces and drew another Bronx cheer, I snapped a .38 short over his head and he promptly disappeared. About 100 yards forward, as we attempted to locate some burp guns which were firing overhead from a position off to the left, a burst of smoke from a loading platform, a quick shadow through the air, and the group around the tank was enveloped in smoke. Helmets flew as the concussion momentarily gripped and shook the men. Major Andrews flew off the tank without much effort on his own part. Later, I discovered my combat jacket and pants both front and rear were sliced neatly as by a handfull of razor-like claws, yet not one scratch did I have on my skin. Capt. Harris later found that he was more seriously wounded than he knew. He was walking on the left side of the street and received the full ricochet effect of the blast on that side of the tank. Unknown to those on the ground at the time, the driver, gunner and tank commander were dead as the tank stepped up its speed and cut in a long diagonal to the left and rammed into the corner of the building at the entrance of a driveway. The same driveway up which one of the escaping Krauts had previously run. Here another blast rocked the forward part of the machine. Disorganized by the sudden turn of events and the unknown locations of the burp guns, the troops withdrew and after reorganizing, plunged through to contact B Troop as it entered from the right. Troop C followed behind B Troop until the next intersection was gained, and then the Troop cut to the left and took up a defensive screen on the high ground at the east side of the town, covering more than 3 miles. Capt. Harris had been evacuated for the remainder of the war and I took over the Troop at this time. Lt. Harry A. Lanes platoon attacked, supported by Jerry Hann’s assault guns. Then the rest of B Troop entered from the west and continued through the city to the high ground commanding the eastern approaches. The city was far from being cleared, snipers remained active, and there was still considerable street fighting to be done. S/Sgt. Magnum of Troop A led his platoon in a thrust through the city in an attempt to prevent the enemy from bringing up reinforcements. When they reached the further edge of the city, they found that the railroad lay in such a position that it could be easily defended because of the many boxcars and railroad buildings. The platoon took positions and opened fire on the enemy. A terrific firefight resulted. Sgt. Magnum left part of the platoon to occupy the enemy from the front, and took 15 men with him to covered positions on the enemy’s flank. Upon his signal they charged, so surprising the Germans that they were unable to swing to meet the new attack, and soon surrendered. This ended the heavy fighting in that immediate vicinity. Sgt. Hinman’s section forced it’s way up the streets, ducking sniper fire and occasional machine gun bursts. At one place, in order to keep advancing, he had to secure the surrender of a large number of enemy in a building to which the only approach was over the open ground. Hinman picked two men to accompany him and instructed the remainder of his section to cover them during the dash to the building. Zig-zagging through heavy machine gun and rifle fire, they somehow made the gauntlet, and arrived at the edge of the building. Sgt. Hinman threw grenades in the lower window, and rushed into the building firing his sub-machine gun as he went from room to room. The Germans who were not killed or wounded soon realized their plight, and surrendered. Asch (VII)(42)was finally cleared by 1830 with 90 to 100 enemy killed and 250 prisoners taken. And so fell the first city in Czechoslovakia to American troops. The following day the 42d Squadron extended it’s screen south from Asch as B Troop advanced to Libsten (42) and Hohenberg (42). Troop C pushed patrols to Gurth (42). 2d Squadron moved to Selb(VII)(42) and established a screen to the east. On the 22nd the 2d Squadron extended the screen as far south as Schirnding (42), while the 42d extended to the north to take Thonbrunn (42) and Rossbach (42). At Schirnding a Kraut ambush hit a B Troop platoon, capturing Joe Goviet and killing Fred Johnson . Wheeler, Staton and Donovon broke in a Purple Heart in that action. On being relieved by the 303rd and 386th Infantry Regiments, the next day, 2d Squadron moved further south to positions at Seetort and Schotzenhof with the CP at Konnersreuth. The 42d in it’s turn passed below the 2d and established a connecting screen east of Tirschenreuth (VII), into which town Group Headquarters moved. The 24th was another day of leapfrogging, the 2d moving south to Hottenhann, Flossenberg (43), Waldkirch (43) and Rehberg (43). The 42d also shifted slightly south. The enemy began to come to life again in our area. Near Arzberg, Sgt. William Tate, leading a patrol from Linden (40) to Arzberg, passed a hidden patrol of 15 enemy. On the return trip his armored car and jeep were disabled by mines laid on the road by the enemy. The driver of the jeep and Sgt. Tate were both injured, the driver very seriously. The Sergeant organized his group and engaged the enemy in a sharp firefight while the wounded man was being carried to safety. Help was sent from the platoon CP and the enemy detachment soon defeated. Another southward move on the 25th. the 2d moved to the line Losimtal (43) - Waidhaus (43), and the 42d to Pfrentsch (43) - Eisendorf (43). The following day both Squadrons pushed forward in their zones, crossing the Czechoslovakian border in several places. Troop C of the 2d was ordered to move through the woods to their front and cross the border. Because of enemy road blocks and mine fields, progress was slow at first, but after securing engineer help to clear up the obstacles, the Troop continued on it’s mission. About half way through the woods, more road blocks were encountered. These the enemy defended with small arms fire. After a sharp fight in which T/5 Chatterton and Pfc. McFarland were wounded, the enemy was driven out. As darkness was fast approaching, the Troop withdrew till the following morning. In the meantime, Capt. Ferdinand P. Sperl of IPW Team No 10 received information of a German staff group with highly valuable documents located within the enemy lines. He volunteered to secure the capture of the staff and the documents. Taking a prisoner as a guide, he managed to pass through the outpost lines of an SS outfit, reach the German staff commander, and convince him of the advisability of surrendering the documents undamaged to a task force. Then, under the necessity of producing the task force to which the staff would surrender, Capt. Sperl returned through the SS lines, secured a task force, and led them back to secure the German staff and the documents. The morning of the 27th, C Troop of the 42d returned to the woods from which they had withdrawn the night before. The 1st and 3rd platoons finally worked their way through, and in attempting to spread out after clearing the woods, caught the enemy forces completely by surprise. A sudden rush, a sharp fight, and the enemy lost approximately 100 dead and 20 prisoners. The attack carried through to the town of Schonwald. The same day Sgt. Duch Marich of the 42d also took heavy toll of the enemy. Leading the point of his section toward Dehetne (43), an important junction town in Czechoslovakia, he entered the town of Babice (43) where only scattered resistance was met. But he learned that in Dehetne, a large force of the enemy was well armed and prepared to offer resistance. He left his section to outpost Babice while he went with the Mayor of Babice to offer surrender terms to the enemy garrison at Dehetne. The enemy commander not only would not surrender, but boasted that he had sent for reinforcements. Sgt. Marich returned to his section, told them the situation, moved up into position and laid a heavy and accurate concentration of fire on the stubborn enemy garrison. His 10 men killed and wounded 15 of the enemy. The rest changed their minds about resisting and the section collected 20 prisoners. The 42d Squadron pushed forward with Troop C capturing Bel n Radb (43) and Vjezd Su Krise (43), 416 prisoners were taken and 150 Allied prisoners released. Hostau break-through 26 Apr - 8 May 1945 VE-Day Lt. Bob McCaleb, Troop C, 42d Squadron The night of 26 April, two British and one American escapee were picked up by one of the outposts of Sgt. Carpenter’s section, 3rd platoon. Their information stated that there was a moving prisoner group of about 350 British and American prisoners in a town on the plain in front of and between us, and some 10km to the right.
At first under suspicion, they were thoroughly questioned. They then requested we try to release the prisoners. They offered to guide us and also act as intermediaries to get the Krauts in charge to surrender.
After talking it over with Col. Hargis and getting his permission, C Troop, reinforced with one platoon of light tanks, prepared to dash out to their task. Sgt. Carpenter requested to point the attack, as he had made the original contact. This granted, the attack was launched through the wooded strip along the ridge and poured into the first town. The people seemed to be completely surprised and unaware of the previous proximity of the Americans. This helped to chase away the last lingering doubt as to the integrity of our “guide”. I followed Carpenter’s vehicle until he was just outside of his objective, the entire distance being covered without incident. I went back and consolidated the rest of the command so as to cover the open route of the “spearhead”. Due to a small town being passed through which did not show on the map (and therefore was mistaken for a different town farther along the route) Carpenter was delayed an hour under direct orders of Col. Reed, pending arrival of additional forces in the form of A Troop, which was heading for one of the greatest prizes of the Squadron’s experience. This objective was unknown to C Troop at the time, and the Sergeant was literally champing at the bit with impatience to be on his way. Finally he did get the go-signal upon identification of his location as being one town west of what was understood originally. He then sped forward and was highly succesful in accomplishing his mission and completing a dash of 12 kilometers into enemy territory to the town of Bela n Radb (43). A Troop then passed through C Troop and captured the great horse breeding farm of Hostau (or Hostoun) (43), one of the most outstanding in Europe**. In the meantime Headquarters sent up all available trucks to help evacuate the exceptional load of 670 Allied and German prisoners. All night long the trucks droned by with the shipment of “sour” Krauts. That is, they did until a road block of heavy logs was placed across the road through the woods between the C Troop CP and the 1st platoon at about 0230 hrs. The 1st platoon was cautioned by radio to be on the alert, and a pre-dawn check proved the block unmanned. It was left till daylight to commence to remove the block due to the danger of booby traps, plus the fact that the day’s action had well established there was no longer an organized force before us of any size to be a threat. **Troop A, reinforced, passed through on the 28th to seize Hostau (Hostoun) and Cecin (43). The enemy tried a counter-attack at Hostau, but A Troop beat them off. When the opportunity arose to capture a valuable horse breeding depot intact, near Hostau, Capt. Thomas M. Stewart, accompanied by a German guide, proceeded on horseback through the mountains at night, evaded outposts of SS troops along the border, made contact with the commander of the depot, and by tactful presentation of the strength of the American forces, persuaded the depot commander to surrender if the border outposts of the SS troops could be overrun. Later, Capt. Stewart returned with a task force, attacked and disposed of the outposts and received the surrender of the depot. Upon being counter-attacked he organized a force of liberated Allied PW’s, and with them and his small task force, not only repelled the attack but also captured 200 prisoners. In addition to the human prisoners, which were getting to be a drug on the Cavalry market, 670 horses and 750 new aircraft engines were captured. In accordance with a Corps Directive which directed the Group to secure the pass northeast of Regen (VII), and protect the Corps flank, the 2d Squadron and Group Headquarters moved far to the south to Zwiesel (VII)(44) on the 29th. The following day 2d Squadron established a screen to the northeast and received the surrender of 4,696 White Russian troops. 42d Squadron moved south of the 2d to Grafenau, contacted the 5th Infantry, and established a screen facing generally northeast. On May 1 the entire screen moved toward the Czech border. In the 42d zone there was no resistance. The 6981st Rifle Co (Prov) was attached to the Squadron and designated Troop D. The 2d cleared Eisenstein Pass against moderate small arms fire and reached Prokop (44) with Troop F. Troop C cleared the woods near Lindbergmuhle (44). 42d patrols the following day reported no enemy encountered except small groups of deserters. The 2d was established with Troop A north of Zwiesel, Troop B at Rabenstein (44) and Ragenhutte (44), Troop C at Ludwigsthal (44) and Eisenstein (VII)(44), and Troop F at Mestys Zelezny Ruda (VII)(44) and Hotprokop (44). Thus disposed, the Squadron lined the entire Eisenstein Pass, keeping the gateway into Czechoslovakia open. 463 PW’s were taken during the day. The following day we continued to work our way through the forests and mountains into Czechoslovakia, some slight resistance was met by elements of the 2d Squadron as they pushed out to the flanks of the Eisenstein Pass. Resistance stiffened on the 4th. The 42d Squadron started Troops forward to cross the Czech border in difficult terrain. 40 prisoners were taken during the day, and some fighting occured where Troop D was pushing northeast th
rough the forests. There was also a defended road block at Hohenrohrn. The situation was a little rougher in the 2d’s zone. 1st platoon of A Troop, attacking Zejbis, was forced to withdraw when the Germans suddenly and violently came to life and almost enveloped them. Troop C had one of it’s worst days. The 3rd platoon, under Lt. Capewell, was with the A Troop platoon attacking Zejbis, and had to fight their way back when they found the enemy had moved to their rear. The 2d platoon lost an armored car and had Pvt. Lubus and Pvt. Williams wounded. The unlucky 1st platoon, under Lt. Gannaway, had reached and set up a strong point in Paseka, Czechoslavakia. The Lieutenant had reported to the Troop CP and was on his way back to the platoon when his jeep was fired on by bazooka and small arms. The enemy had surrounded and set on the 1st platoon in strength. The platoon leader, sizing up the situation, abandoned his jeep, which had fallen in a ditch and was stuck, and returned to the CP for help. The 3rd platoon and a platoon of tanks were dispatched to the aid of the beleaguered 1st. As they neared the town they ran into determined resistance and killed ten enemy and captured two. An officer PW informed them that the platoon had been captured and was already gone, so the woods were held for the night and the enemy area well watered with artillery. The survivors of the 1st platoon were rescued by B Troop of the 42d a couple of days later. Sgt. Bonte, T/5 Corell, and Pfc. Hancock were wounded, and Pfc. Buttron and Pvt. Ashley were killed in the fight. These were the last two men of the Second Cavalry to die in action. Troop C of the 2d Squadron, who lost the first man back in Normandy, France, on August 3, 1944, lost the last two on May 4, 1945, in Czechoslovakia. A PW captured shortly after this fight stated that he was in the reserve squad which attacked the reconnaissance platoon. The attack was well planned the day before when, under a Captain, 50 men observed the platoon from a hill to the northwest of their position. The Germans decided to attack the next day if the platoon was still there, and it was, by breaking up into three groups and encircling the village from the north, south and southeast. The prisoner belonged to the squad in reserve which was located on the southeast side of the village. To the prisoners knowledge, one American was killed and 22 captured. The prisoners were taken away in two jeeps. The 2d Squadron pushed to Klatovy (VII)(45) on the 5th of May, and there 936 Germans surrendered without resistance. The 42d continued to push through the mountains, meeting some resistance north of Mouth at 1400. Troop D reached Praisly (44) after cleaning up one small pocket of resistance. B Troop moved through the 2d Squadron zone and then swung east and south to meet our Troops advancing from the south. Troops C and E were combined into Task Force Welsh to make a drive to the north on the flank of the 5th Division, independent of the Squadron. The 6th still found the 42d meeting spotty resistance, though nothing of a serious nature. Troop D met small arms fire from the forest south of Praisly. B Troop, which had moved far to the east, was contacted by enemy officers who wished to arrange the surrender of a Regimental size unit. The 2d Squadron continued north and east of Klatovy. Group Headquarters moved to Klatovy. The following day the 2d pushed A Troop to Zinkovy (45) and Stibrin (45) and B Troop to Nepomuk (45). The 42d Squadron accepted the surrender of OCS Rotekan, an officer candidate unit of Regimental size. On the 8th, A Troop, which had been left in Hostau to guard the depot there, rejoined the 42d Squadron. Task Force Welsh dissolved and Troops C and E rejoined the Squadron. The remainder of the Group held their positions as the European campaign ended officially at 0001 9 May 1945. |
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WW2-2nd US Cavalry  
The invasion of Poland by the blitzing German panzers in 1939 accelerated the movement to mechanize American forces and led to the first extensive mechanized maneuvers in 1940. By 1941, the Second Calvary was participating in similar large-scale maneuvers in Louisiana. The headquarters for the Louisiana Maneuvers were in the Bentley Hotel in Alexandria, Louisiana. In January 1942, the Second Cavalry served a period on border duty at Tucson, Arizona. Since the emphasis in the Army was shifting to armor, the Regiment, still a horse outfit, returned to Camp Funston, Fort Riley Kansas for refitting. It was there on 15 May 1942 that it was redesignated and refitted to form the Second Armored Regiment of the Ninth Armored Division. It was this outfit that spawned specific armored units composed initially of men and equipment from the Second Cavalry. These units, the Second Tank Battalion, the 19th Tank Battalion and the 746th Tank Battalion, would distinguish themselves in combat through the European and Pacific Theaters of Operation. In June 1943, the Regiment was renamed the Second Cavalry Group, Mechanized. Colonel Charles Hancock Reed became the 31st Colonel of the Regiment. In December the Regiment was again reorganized, its elements being Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, Second Cavalry Group, Mechanized, and the Second (now First Squadron) and 42nd (now Second Squadron) Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadrons, Mechanized. Elements of the Regiment landed in Normandy in July 1944 and immediately distinguished themselves as part of General Patton 's Third Army. The Regiment performed such daring reconnaissance missions that it became known to the German High Command as the "Ghosts of Patton's Army," seemingly materializing at different points behind the German lines. 
On 17 September 1944, German Army Group "G" was preparing to make a major armored effort against the Nancy salient to stabilize the line along the forts of Belfort, Epinal, Nancy, and Metz. Prominent armored units among the enemy Army Group included the 2nd and 11th Panzer Divisions, and elements of the 16th Panzer Division, the 130th Panzer Lehr Division, and the 111th Panzer Brigade. This armored force, though under strength, was still a formidable enemy. Holding the point of the Nancy salient was the Second Cavalry. What the first scouts reported as "six Tiger tanks with infantry support" became a major clash that sent the Regiment reeling. It became apparent that the Regiment was bearing the brunt of the 5th Panzer Army's attack. As a result of the accurate and timely reporting of the Regiment and the valuable time gained by its vigorous delaying action, the German attack ground to a halt far short of its objective. The key city of Luneville remained secure and under the control of the Second Cavalry Regiment. The Germans suffered irreparable damage in the battle and were unable to mount another offensive until the Ardennes campaign three months later. While Patton’s Third Army was poised to continue offensive operations to the east into Germany, Hitler’s war machine had secretly assembled a large force of kids and schoolteachers (Malitia) for what would become Germany’s last counter-offensive in the West. The Germans massed 25 divisions in a thinly manned, "quiet sector" along the Ardennes region of Belgium and Luxembourg. Before daylight on 16 December 1944, the Germans attacked along a 60-mile front. The American units in this sector were either full of inexperienced soldiers or depleted from earlier combat. All were stretched thin. 
The German offensive gained ground quickly and a "bulge" within the American lines formed. This characteristic gave the combat its name, "The Battle of the Bulge". Though cut off and surrounded, many small units continued to fight. These pockets of resistance seriously disrupted the German timetable and bought precious time for the American and British forces to reinforce the area to stop the penetration. Many of these actions were conducted by the Second and 19th Armored Battalions of the Ninth Armored Division, which trace their lineage to the Second Cavalry. The Second Armored Cavalry Regiment (Second Tank Battalion), cited, would earn the Presidential Unit Citation for their heroic efforts in the early part of the battle. The Fourth Infantry Division holding the southern shoulder of the bulge, bent but did not break. This would be key to the successful operations of the Third Army as they moved to relieve the beleaguered forces in the bulge and the surrounded town of Bastogne. The Third Army was oriented east as they prepared to move north to hit the penetration and drive through to Bastogne to relieve the 101st Airborne Division. After breaking contact with the enemy, the Regiment screened the movement of the Third Army as General Patton made good on his promise to have his army redirected and in the new battle within 48 hours. This rapid shift and change of direction of attack from the east to the north was one of the most noteworthy instances during the war of the successful employment of the principle of maneuver. The Second Cavalry Group moved into positions along the southern shoulder of the Bulge, relieving those elements of the Fourth Infantry Division holding onto this key terrain. Elements of the Third Army drove through the German formations to reach the encircled forces at Bastogne. The 37th Tank Battalion, lead by Lieutenant Colonel Creighton Abrams, officially relieved the 101st on 26 December 1944. Abrams later became the 38th Colonel of the Regiment. 
Colonel Reed led the Regiment in the deepest American penetration of the war, all the way into Czechoslovakia. Under Colonel Reed's leadership, the Second Dragoons rescued the world famous Lippizaner stallions in a daring raid through German lines to an area that was to be the Soviet Zone of Occupation. Colonel Reed defied Soviet threats and herded the Lippizaners safely back to Germany. In 1960, Walt Disney Productions released a full-length (though historically flawed) motion picture entitled "The Miracle of the White Stallions" that captured the drama of these events. As significant as this raid has become to all the horse lovers of the world, the real reason for the raid may have been to capture key intelligence from a senior officer of the German intelligence service. Concurrently, a force from the Second Dragoons moved to a POW camp near by to rescue American and Allied prisoners. Not only was the rescue of the Lippizaners a success, but the Regiment also secured the surrender of the 11th Panzer Division. This ended the wartime relationship between the 11th Panzers and the Second Dragoons and began the peacetime relationship that continues to this day. 
On 8 May 1945, Germany surrendered. The Second Cavalry had driven well into Czechoslovakia when orders came to occupy a restraining line. The objective had been the capture of Prague, but for political reasons the Soviets were to capture the city. The Russians also had orders to take Pilsen, which was already in American hands. Even though the Soviets knew the American disposition, they were determined to continue their march on Pilsen. On 11 May 1945, Soviet Major General Fomenich of the 35th Tank Brigade told Colonel Reed to move the Second Cavalry aside -- his forces were moving forward. Colonel Reed, then under orders to hold his present line, told the Soviet commander, "If you go forward, remember, our guns are still loaded." Fomenich gave no response. That night, the Regiment received a message from Corps to begin movement back to the U.S. zone, and the Second Cavalry eventually left Czechoslovakia on 14 May without incident. Colonel Reed exemplified the cavalryman’s will and determination in this prelude to the Cold War. Not only did the Regiment participate in the European Theater, but elements of the Regiment, designated as the 776th Amphibious Tank Battalion, also took part in amphibious operations throughout the Pacific. These elements earned a Philippine Presidential Citation and battle streamers in Leyte and the Ryukyus campaigns for island-hopping and jungle warfare efforts. This unit, an amphibious reconnaissance force equipped with 75mm pack howitzers, mounted on amphibious tracked vehicles (AMTRAC’s) often spearheaded the landings of the Seventh Infantry Division. Once ashore, their guns were used for close artillery support to the vanguard elements of the division. In all, the Regiment earned five brown campaign streamers for actions in Europe and two yellow streamers for battles in the islands of the Pacific. The Presidential Unit Citation for Bastogne is represented by a blue embroidered streamer. |
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They Saved Horses
 
The casualties of Operation Cowboy finally get their due By Brandon Swanson Staff Writer, The Prague Post, May 10, 2006 Disney was clearly more interested in tugging heartstrings than in recounting history when it released the 1963 action movie Miracle of the White Stallions, about the Allied effort to save hundreds of famed Lipizzaner horses from the Nazis in Czechoslovakia during the last days of World War II. Now, 61 years after the event, the mayor of a small west Bohemian town and a handful of war veterans want to reframe the conventional version of the mission to honor the soldiers who lost their lives to save a piece of European culture. "It's a very nice movie," says Gaylord Jerry Toole, a Plzen resident, Vietnam veteran and member of the Military Car Club. "But they don't say anything about the people that died. They Disney-fied the bad parts. " Belá nad Radbuzou Mayor Libor Picka and a delegation of U.S. military veterans laid the foundation stone April 28 for a monument to the two U.S. soldiers - Sgt. Owen Sutton and Pvt. Raymond Manz - who were killed outside of the town while trying to save the horses in the mild cusp of April and May, 1945. Their memorial will be officially dedicated Sept. 16. Picka says it is important to set the record straight and give credit to those who've been neglected by popular culture. "People forgot about the war and about how everything really was," he says. "So we put the information together, found out the names and did something." Operation Cowboy In late April 1945 U.S. General George Patton's 2nd Cavalry was holed up in west Bohemia near the dividing line agreed upon earlier that year by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Soviet leader Josef Stalin at the Yalta conference. Meanwhile, a few miles away, on the Soviet side of the Yalta line, some 300 Lipizzaner horses from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna had been moved to a farm in Hostoun, Czechoslovakia, in 1942. As the famished and fatigued Soviet Army approached from the east, the Germans worried that the horses were in danger. A Wermacht veterinarian, Capt. Rudolph Lessing, thought the Lipizzaners "would have been horse burgers for the Russian soldiers," as he put it at a 2nd Cavalry reunion years later. Knowing that the Americans were near, Lessing sneaked behind enemy lines to the U.S. side with two Lipizzaners to convince the Army to rescue them from what he feared was certain death. U.S. Col. Charles Reed, an equestrian aficionado, immediately recognized the significance of the horses. Austrian rulers began breeding Spanish horses in the mid-16th century. Within a few decades, they established a royal stud farm in Lipica, in present-day Slovenia, from which the breed gets its name. In that mountainous region, the white horse gained its reputation as a sturdy and highly trainable animal. The breed became the exclusive stock of the nobility, and was used for battle and transportation by the Habsburg elite for centuries. Reed realized that if the horses died, the famous breed would go with it. Lessing convinced Reed to launch Operation Cowboy in response. Reed sent Alpha Troop, 42nd Cavalry Squadron, to Hostoun to gather the horses and herd them to Bavaria. Soldiers put foals, which would not have been able to walk that distance, in trucks. Only later did Col. Alois Podhajsky, the head of the Spanish Riding School, officially ask for protection by Patton's army, which was granted. The Army returned the horses to the stables a few months later. Sutton and Manz Records of just how Sutton and Manz died during Operation Cowboy are muddled - the memoirs of Patton himself make no reference to casualties during the operation. According to the 2nd Cavalry Association Historical Archive, Sutton, 28, was wounded during a German attack on the farm while the soldiers were trying to take the horses. He died a few days later at an Army field hospital in Nuremberg. Archive records show Manz was killed while attempting to destroy a German roadblock. He died two weeks short of his 20th birthday. Toole and several others here have created and cared for memorials throughout the country similar to the one being built for Sutton and Manz, with the help of organizations such as the Military Car Club in Plzen. "It's my baby, so I'm going to spank it," he says. "We need to make sure the memories of the dead people always continue on." Toole says he has helped establish about 22 such monuments in west Bohemia to commemorate Allied heroism that was erased from history books by the pre-1989 regime. Patton Pending Last year, Plzen dedicated a museum to Patton in recognition for his army liberating the city May 6, 1945. The grandson of "Old Blood and Guts," George Patton Waters, returned this year to donate some family artifacts to the museum. Waters saw the Spanish Riding School's Lipizzaner horses when they were toured through the U.S. recently. He was reminded of a book that Podhajsky´ dedicated to Patton's wife, Beatrice, in honor of Operation Cowboy. Later this month, Waters will embark on a mission of his own: to return the book to the Spanish Riding School. "It really belongs in their archives," he says. - Sylvie Dejmková contributed to this report. Brandon Swanson can be reached at bswanson@praguepost.com
The Prague Post Online contains a selection of articles that have been printed in The Prague Post, a weekly newspaper published in the Czech Republic.
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|  Memorial to Pfc Raymond Manz and T/5 Charles Sutton, Trp A, 42nd Reconnaissance Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Group (Mecz)
It was arguably one of the darkest periods in recent world history. For the second time in barely as many decades, huge armies from around the world had amassed to rend and tear at each other to the point of brushing entire civilizations and cultures to the brink of destruction in the struggle. Europe had been laid to waste, and the life span of Hitler’s thousand-year Reiche had been reduced to a matter of days. Dulled to the sights, sounds and smells of death and devastation, battle weary troopers longed for home as they continued swapping their lives for plots of pounded earth.
With scarcely a week till the end of the fighting in this theater, two troopers of the Second Cavalry added their names to the growing list of tens of millions of lives lost during WW II. Countless are the stories of sacrifice, yet these troopers are set apart. Their mission so unique, years later Walt Disney would base a movie on it, however with the typical Hollywood disregard for accuracy and a need to omit the horrors of war, their part of the story went untold. Now, over sixty years since the selfless act that earned these two troopers a place in eternity, an unexpected someone wants to say thank you.
At the now wooded site of the former village of Rosendorf, Czechoslovakia, on the 28th of April, 2006, sixty-one years to the day since the mission started that cost these two young troopers their lives, the foot-stone for a monument will be laid by Mayor Picka of Bela nad Radbuzou, Gaylord Jerry Toole of the Pilsen Military Car Club and also representing the Society of the 5th Infantry Division, and by other visiting government officials, each in turn tapping the foot-stone with a golden hammer. Flowers will be placed on the foot-stone and the path marked by children and people from the village of Bela nad Radbuzou, where another foot-stone will also be placed this day.
Cavdoc in Czech Republic, April 28, 2006. Left: Gaylord Jerry Toole, Pilsen Military Car Club and 5th Infantry Association. A Vietnam vet living in the Czech Republic and teaching school. Center: Our very own Patrick Biddy, who was kind enough to provide Stetson's for several of the dignitaries, hand carried all the way from North Carolina, and a US flag for the ceremony, as one could not be found. How about a big salute! Right: Rudolf Bayer, President of the Pilsen Military Car Club.
On Sept. 15th, 2006, during the traditional local festival, monuments will be unveiled at these sites to honor the memory of troopers Pfc. Raymond E. Manz and T/5 Owen W. Sutton, both with Troop A, 42nd Rcn Sqdn, 2nd Cav Grp (Mecz).
As part of Task Force Stewart, a hastily assembled task force consisting of Troop A, 42nd Rcn Sqdn, elements of Troop C, and a platoon each of tanks from F Troop and assault guns from E Troop, all under the command of Maj. Robert. P. Andrews and with Capt. Thomas M. Stewart as his assistant, on the 28th of April were given a top-secret mission to break through enemy lines held by German SS troops, fight their way into the restricted Russian zone, and capture and hold the horse breeding farms at Hostau, Czechoslovakia, where among the over 1200 horses gathered there by the German Army were 3oo from the Piber breeding herd of Lipizzan’s, the lifeblood of one of the purest breeds of horse in the world and the foundation of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, dating back hundreds of years. The horses were to be protected not only from the German SS troops, but also from the advancing Russian Army.
Among some of the other amazing acts that made this mission so unique, is the fact that Capt. Lessing, the German staff veterinarian at the horse farm, had snuck through the lines with two of the white horses to convince the Americans to come rescue them, and he and Capt. Stewart, in a show of faith from the US troops, rode the two white horses secretly back through the SS lines and arranged for the surrender of the town if Capt. Stewart could return with a task force, which he did. After the task force fought it’s way through the SS troops, it was welcomed by the German garrison at Hostau with music and salutes.
Also among the “captured” bootey were several hundred Allied P.O.W.’s from England, America, France and Poland. In return, a couple thousand German’s, Russian’s fighting for the German’s, and Czech’s fighting for the German’s, were all taken prisoner. The released British and French troops were sent on their way back towards their armies, while the Pole’s had no where to go so remained with the task force guarding the area around the horse farm. The German’s, Russian’s, Czech’s and Pole’s were later re-armed with captured weapons and helped the task force repel a counter-attack by the SS troops trying to recapture the area on the 30th of April. Pfc. Manz was later posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest award for valor presented by the United States, for his actions this day.
T/5 Owen W. Sutton, service number 346 647 02, was from Kinston, N.C. He was born Dec. 8th, 1916, and was undoubtedly called “Pops” or “Old Man” or the like by his troop-mates during the fight across Europe, before he died in an Army field hospital in Nurnberg, Germany, on May 1st, 1945, at the ripe old age of 28, from wounds received the previous day in defense of the Hostau horse farms.
Pfc. Raymond E. Manz, service number 368 705 34, was born May 16, 1925 in Toledo, Ohio, and later moved with his family to Detroit, Michigan, where he attended Southeastern High School. After graduation, he entered the Army in July 1943 and a year later found himself landing on Utah Beach, Normandy, France. Having survived the hedgerows of Northern France, the sweep across France once the hedgerows had been broken through, racing to join the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, and fighting across the width and much of the depth of Germany with Owen Sutton and his other troop-mates, Raymond lost his life in Czechoslovakia after already being wounded while destroying a Nazi SS roadblock and while trying to reposition himself for a better field of fire to continue the fight. Ever a teenager, he was just sixteen days shy of his twentieth birthday and seven days short of the end of fighting in Europe. As with almost all Soldiers who die in combat, they do so never knowing the reason or importance of their mission, only that it must be accomplished. Thanks to brave men like Pfc. Manz and T/5 Sutton, that mission was accomplished, and a very beautiful breed of horse was saved from sure destruction. There reward was a temporary plot of ground in Nurenberg, Germany, then another one in St. Avold, France, and finally when their families could afford it and make arrangements, the troopers were laid to rest in their home towns, Owen Sutton by his wife Beulah at Westview Cemetery in Kinston, N.C., and on Jan. 9th, 1949, Raymond Manz was laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio, by his father.
Through the finance and efforts of Mayor Picka and Mr. Toole, the sacrifices of these two 2nd Cavalry troopers have been brought to light and steps are being taken that they will not be forgotten. In the 170 year history of the 2nd Cavalry, it’s longest mission by far has been to guard the Cold War border of West Germany from East Germany and Czechoslovakia, a mission that spanned five decades and helped to check the further spread of Communism in Europe. Now the iron curtain is gone and there is only one Germany. 2nd Cavalry troopers no longer fear the hordes of Russian tanks streaming through the Eisenstein Pass across the Czechoslovakian border. How ironic that one of the 2nd Cavalry’s greatest threats from the past would wish to bestow such honors on two of it’s lost troopers all but forgotten by the rest of the world. |
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Bela Municipality Unveils Monument to Fallen WW2 U.S. Soldiers Bela nad Radbuzou, West Bohemia, Sept 16, 2006 (CTK) The local officials today unveiled a monument to two U.S. soldiers who fell while liberating the area during World War Two, which also commemorates the town´s foundation in 1121 and the birth of Czechoslovakia in 1918. The unveiling ceremony was attended by 65 U.S. soldiers from a base in Germany and an honorary unit of the Czech military. Relatives of one of the fallen soldiers, Manz, were present as well. The monument features a marble statue of an ancient Greek man wearing a helmet and lying on the ground, with a group of running horses passing by. The names of the fallen soldiers, Raymond Manz and Owen Sutton, remind of the operation codenamed Cowboy, that took place near Bela at the end of the war, the aim to save rare horses, mainly Lipizzans, from local stables. Hundreds of rare horses, including the stallion of Yugoslav King Peter, the horse of Nazi Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, and the whole of the imperial riding academy of Hofburg near Vienna, famous for its Lipizzan dressage, were kept in the former military stables in Bela´s vicinity. In an effort to save the horses, the Americans liberated the stables. On their way back, however, they went through an intense shoot-out in which the SS troops killed two of them. Apart from the U.S. soldiers´ names on its front part, the monument also features the Czech emblem, along with the date 1918, and the date 1121 on its sides. A commemorative plaque was unveiled this May in the Ruzov village (former Rosenberg) on the spot where the soldiers fell. Cavdoc in Czech Republic, April 28, 2006. Left: Gaylord Jerry Toole, Pilsen Military Car Club and 5th Infantry Association. A Vietnam vet living in the Czech Republic and teaching school. Center: Our very own Patrick Biddy, who was kind enough to provide Stetson's for several of the dignitaries, hand carried all the way from North Carolina, and a US flag for the ceremony, as one could not be found. How about a big salute! Right: Rudolf Bayer, President of the Pilsen Military Car Club. |
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November 11th, 2007 In honor of Veteran’s Day. The following is from a two page article printed in Warweek, dated Saturday, November 11, 1944. Hitler, you never stopped them…Here are THE GHOSTS OF PATTON'S THIRD ARMY By France Herron Warweek Combat Correspondent An infantry colonel called the men who do patrol work the tough guys of the war. He also referred to them as the loneliest men in the Army because they operate behind enemy lines, surrounded by enemy guns. Some do reconnaissance work on foot, some do it in vehicles but all of them draw rugged assignments. They become the eyes and ears of an outfit; on them depends the answer to the question of what has the enemy got in store for us. Here is a view of the tough guys, these loneliest of men. This story is typical of all reconnaissance units. Phantom Cavalry Raiders Spring from Hill and Dale to Haunt Enemy Communications You âre the Ghosts, aren't you? The Ghosts of Pattons Army. The SS officer spoke pretty fair English. He stood on the road side, far behind his own lines, while a young American lieutenant disarmed him and his four companions as they poked their hands toward the sky. Their staff car had been halted by one of our M8 recon jobs, and a 37mm gun on its turret stood ready to blow the Germans off the earth. Around the prisoners were some mud-streaked Yanks; hard-bitten guys whose helmeted faces bore two days growth of beard. They stood silently with their carbines leveled at the Germans. Yeah, Herman, said the lieutenant. Since you put it that way, we are the Ghosts. Cracked Superman Myth Not long before this the German radio accustomed to making errors had announced that the Ghosts have been wiped out. But the five SS elites, now fresh captives, had their doubts. But that is how it has been ever since the tough and rugged days of Cherbourg and Brittany. The Germans have been fooled many times. These Ghosts in reality the 2nd Cavalry Group, have tacked up a remarkable record, and have had the Germans referring to them as a crack armored division, sent behind the lines on suicide missions. The Ghosts have ridden roughshod over the flat lands and hilly regions of France with complete disregard for the superman myth. They've bucked tough jobs and easy jobs and they make them all look alike. Operating way out in front of their own Army and behind the German front lines as they strike with deadly accuracy at supply trains and moving columns of enemy vehicles. They ride out of the night like roving highwaymen, pounce on the Germans with incredible speed, and then make a clean getaway faster than a couple of Notre Dame halfbacks. During General Patton's sweep through France the 2nd Cavalry clicked off more than 3,000 miles laying down reconnaissance screens and most of the route was strewn with dead Germans and kayoed German equipment. By all rules of logic, these unsung Ghost guys should have been annihilated on numerous occasions because they are light and small, and no match for some of the Nazi big stuff. However, rules don't count any more with them; they've used up all the tricks and are inventing new ones each day. Speed, teamwork and fast, straight shooting does it, said Lt. Raymond J. Kraatz, tank man from Chicago. Those are our bywords. There can be no SNAFU when the noise starts. We make our hits then we get out. These ghostly road agents who wear the Always Ready insignia on their helmets manage to get into more stiff scrapes than a pack of school kids in a farmer's orchard and their specialty is getting out of these scrapes with few or no casualties. Their job, basically, is to get information about the enemy while keeping the enemy from getting information about the Americans. They call this a reconnaissance screen, and the idea is to get hold of vital dope and shoot it back to HQ, either by courier or radio. But to get information from the Germans is no goldbrick assignment, therefore the Ghosts usually find themselves in some crazy trap with less than a rat's chance of getting out half alive. It is in these spots that they turn on the heat and commence shooting up the works. Smell Traps Now On one occasion, said a high ranking officer, we took 500 prisoners in one week, killed I don't know how many, shot more than 30 vehicles to pieces and nine-tenths of the fighting came as a result of stumbling into it. The 2nd has been in and out of traps so many times that the boys think they can actually smell one coming up. Probably the toughest trap of all came when the Germans were retreating before Patton's onslaught. The Ghosts, as usual, were behind the Germans, and were threatened to be caught by the retreating forces. One Ghost unit, in fact, found itself surrounded by the enemy and cut off from its main units. Its only hope of ever getting back intact involved a wild scheme of racing through a German bivouac area. This, they figured, was better than tossing in the sponge and becoming prisoners. They assembled their vehicles for a discussion of the touchy matter, then like the Dalton Boys at Coffeeville they moved in. Drivers kept the gas pedals pressed against the floor, MG's blazed from both sides of their cars, and they thundered through the bivouac while a lot of surprised Germans looked up to see their area being shot to bits by some Americans who should have been some twenty miles to the west. Adding insult to surprise one of the drivers pulled over to the side. A GI in his car reached out and yanked a shaving German into the jeep and they kept on going. It was their old elements against surprise, quick, straight shooting and lots of fast movement. With these advantages, Lt. Marvin J. Heffner, Racine, Wis., CO of the unit, led his men and vehicles to safety without suffering a casualty or a lost vehicle. Said one of the men who was on the amazing ride: Of course, we don't go around looking for German bivouac areas so we can ride through them, but when you're trapped like we were you've got to do something. Good soldiering, believe it or not, can accomplish a lot. (Editors note: The story of this amazing ride through the bivouc area can be read here: Hit the Leather and Ride) We got stuck in a Jerry trap, said S/Sgt. John F. Morano, Patterson, N.J. And we had to wheel our jeep between two 88’s. We went through firing our carbines at the gun crews and we made it. My pal was hit in the side and was pretty bad off. Then we ran into a roadblock, so we steered into an open field. We left the car and crawled into a ditch. All hell was breaking loose. There were Germans all around us shooting and shouting. We got into a stream. It was cold, so to keep our teeth from chattering we put sticks in our mouths. We had to stay in the water all day long. About a quarter of a mile downstream we crawled out and lay under a willow tree while American artillery broke around us. Then we walked through a field and saw some Doughboys. They looked awfully good. We got out of that trap because luck was with us and we kept our wits and didn't give up. If you can stick it out, sometimes, you can make it. Lt. William C. Pridgen, a good looking kid from Cordele, Ga., was snooping around in the dark behind enemy lines. He was in charge of an M8 and two jeeps and was cut off from the rest of his outfit. I got out to read a signpost, by shining a light through my fingers, says Pridgen. Then I heard three vehicles draw up about thirty yards apart. They didn't see us and, frankly, I couldn't tell if they were Yanks or Germans. I sneaked up out of the ditch to see what was up. When I got right by the car I shone the light in and found it full of Germans. I rolled into the ditch, after throwing my flashlight at the first face in the car and my boys opened up. An M1 rifle was shooting up the first car, my armored car MG was getting the second, and the jeep's MG was turned on the third. We wiped them out to the man. Lieutenant Pridgen described why this operation was a success. If we hadn't placed our vehicles in strategic positions even though it was only a simple little thing like reading a signpost we might have been surprised and mopped up. But the breaks were with us and at five in the morning we got five more enemy cars and an ammunition truck. A good haul eight vehicles and their personnel. After that we got the hell out. Jerries were dead all over the place. Among other notches on the Ghost Cavalry's record is the shooting up of a German horse-drawn artillery, which might have been maneuvered into position to raise Cain with Yank forces. Another assignment was to clear a route into a town, the entrance of which was mined for 300 yards. Between these 100-yard-long minefields were cleared spaces, then at the end was a roadblock and a tank trap. The cavalrymen dismounted, probed the roads with bayonets and called in assault guns to help blast the mines. All the time German fire from the town small arms and 88 burst arouind them. But they got into the town, cleared out the Germans and had it ready for the infantry when the Doughboys arrived. They attacked a trainload of equipment which was heavily guarded by German troops. To carry out this operation they decided it was a good idea to shoot up the engine with a couple of rounds of HE, and then spray the cars with MG fire. When the train was knocked out, the Ghosts took a prize in concrete-mixers, bulldozers and small weapons plus 27 prisoners. (Editors note: The train mission can be read here: THE TRAIN) In the Toul sector the 2nd Cavalry received word that the Germans were sending a column of 15 vehicles over a certain highway and it was important that this column be detained. They situated themselves into the wooded hills that overlooked the highway, mapped out their plan of attack and then waited. Word was passed along to let all of the vehicles come over the rise and get into the valley below before any shots were fired. Without this caution, there was fear that the rear vehicles would make a break and escape. Up came the column, led by a motorcycle. Without warning the lead vehicle was stopped cold when a 37mm shell ripped through it. This stopped the rest of the column and the fireworks began in earnest. When the last shot died away, all 15 vehicles lay destroyed; 135 Germans were dead and 150 were wounded while 68 were taken prisoner. We have many advantages in these actions, said Lt. Burton W. Mitchell, Glen Ellyn, Ill. You see, we are so far behind the German lines that they never expect to see us. Then when we open up on them they are so surprised and frustrated that we manage to beat them to the punch. By this surprise process we are able to play havoc with forces larger than ours. Our slogan is to hit hard and fast. No hesitation allowed. We can't afford to loaf around and sweat out these jobs, says S/Sgt. Raymond Gaynor, of Philadelphia. These Germans are pretty good scrappers, and if you don't beat them to the punch your sunk. We hit and run, hit and run, but mostly hit. At Bainville the Ghosts moved in during early evening and surprised some German paratroopers and got them into a wild fight. The paratroopers beat it out of town to the high ground beyond. At least 30 of the enemy were killed. But you can't always consider the German out of the picture just because you beat him once, said 1/Sgt. Elmer C. George, Junction City, Kan. We got in a beautiful ambush on account of that kind of thinking. After we had declared a road clear, some of us went up to draw supplies. This same road had been used by our men at least four times after we drove the Jerries out. Yet, on our way back we ran into an 88, which was set up so it could command a curve in the road. We suffered very slight casualties but it was a lesson learned. From now on we don't get caught off-guard by cleared roads. Another headache which confronts the rambling Ghosts is that of planes which swoop down to strafe them on the highways. At one time American planes having been told to hit anything that moves on the roads back there came across a Ghost unit. Somehow, the airmen didn't spot the identification panels, so they came down to give them the works. Miraculously the cavalrymen got away without casualties. Here is how one of them Capt. Henry J. Ebrey, Lansdown, Pa. puts it: The best thing is not to get caught in a ditch or alongside the road when planes come after you. Don't pull up and stop your vehicles, keep them moving. Zig-zag, if you can. If possible, get into a wooded sector where the trees offer protective camouflage. But above all, don't stall around. Traps always threaten the cavalryman. Men who do their type of work become the greatest trap-breakers of all and they learn, too, a whale of a lot about avoiding traps. Says Sgt. John Kelly, Ogden, Utah: To avoid traps you've got to watch everything. Trust nobody and nothing. Don't jump eagerly to attack a lone motorcycle or other lone vehicles. Many times they are decoys used purposely to draw your fire. Remember, every man is a potential enemy. Every hill, shrub or curve is a potential trap. Think it over make sure you're right! Sometimes the Ghost raiders learn more about the Germans than the Germans themselves know or realize. One of these instances was the case of the enemy attempting to use the cavalrymen as artillery spotters, a wonderful trick if it works. German artillery was coming in and hitting but it still was considered anything but close. Then a voice came over the radio: Hello, this is Tom. We are trying to hit the Germans behind you, but we're afraid our shells are landing near you. Where are you? Are we right? Are they hitting near you? The voice on the air sounded American enough legitimate enough, yet those cavalrymen had to be sure. The Yank CO said back: Tom? Tom who? Just call me Tom, said the voice. You know, Tom. Hell, man, I gotta know if our shells are landing too close. Again the CO demanded: Tom who? Just Tom that's all. The American commander told him to blow it out his duffle bag and then turned off the radio. Later it was confirmed that the man Tom was a speculating Jerry. He was hoping to talk the Americans into giving away their positions. Had we done that, said the CO, had we been fooled by Tom's American-sounding voice, we would have zeroed those shells right in on top of us. You can't afford to give out any information concerning your position or anything else unless you know for damned sure that the guy you give it to is on your side. Take no chances. Another thread-bare trick which still works on occasions is exposed by the 2nd Cavalry men. They'll tell you that the Germans will place a captured jeep or other vehicle in front of their columns. This old trick always draws a sucker out into the open. Thus far in their ramblings they have turned up trumps and aces on each play. They have topped the German hand on each occasion. They are elusive and lightning fast, and they have learned to melt into the shadows and hills before the enemy can lay anything on them but a nickname. Queried as to what they would like to do next, an officer summed it up this way: We're waiting for the old man to turn us loose. The boys are champing at the bits. Remember, the Germans first called us the Ghosts so when we're turned loose we're going out to do some more haunting! How Recon Men Trick Foe Like so many other GI Joes the men of the 2nd Cavalry got their first glimpse of a mighty Nazi Army when they watched the newsreels back home. The Germans pulverized Europe and set up some sort of idea that they were unbeatable. On newsreels they looked just about like that. But that was before Pearl Harbor Day, D-Day and lots of other days. It is no longer newsreels for GI Joe. The war is a real McCoy business now, and Americans know quite a bit about this business because they've done a good deal of fighting. They know a lot of brand new fresh tricks which were trial and error stuff yesterday. In the school of war they are graduates, and their diplomas are the flags of freedom that bedeck the streets of liberated France and other lands. Through Warweek the students of yesterday who are today's teachers pass on the lessons of battle. Many of them will tell you that they wished they could have learned simply by reading a book or a paper but these combat lessons were just discovered recently in the mud of France. Here's an example of what fellows can do when they're cut off and surrounded by Germans, says Sgt. James M. Hart, of Frederick, Md. “The boys and I had an M8 recon car guarding a bridge. The Germans counter-attacked, and we were cut off and left alone. They were all around us. We first maintained radio silence so we wouldn't give away our position. Then we got into a woods to hide, fight, sweat it out or whatever came our way. We figured that we had to keep an eye on the Germans yet keep them from seeing us. We watched their Tiger tanks and infantry prowling around us. We were tempted to make a break but realized that was a dumb trick. About fifty German infantrymen infiltrated the woods and were getting close so we opened up with some shots. They scattered and ran because they didn't know how strong we were. Then we moved to another place. A Tiger tank spotted us, but when it got close we threw eight shots at him with our 37mm gun and knocked out his turret 88. The Tiger also ran away. We got out without a casualty. I think the fellows with me did a great job. Remember, we were in that woods surrounded by the enemy for three days and three nights. Many Americans have been doing jobs similar to this. Another boy and I got in a trap,said Sgt. Robert Magner, Kearney, N.J., and we had to wade through a wet, muddy field. We were going too slow, and it looked as if the Germans would catch us. We slipped off our shoes in a hurry and found that we could move a lot faster in our bare feet. We made it okay. Lt. Thomas W. Kelly, of New Orleans, was in some stiff going with a 2nd Cavalry unit in the Loire River sector. He says: Stress that a man shouldn't expose himself while leaving and taking up positions. A lot of us know already that you don't expose yourself while actually in position. But keep under cover while getting there and leaving. Another thing is keeping clean. That's awfully tough for frontline boys. But if a guy can sneak in a good washing or bath, he'll feel much better and be more alert and, therefore, fight better. (Editors note: Lt. Kelly was later killed in action) Lt. George R. Lindoerfe, Elgin, Ill., says: Men have done everything and anything in combat. We had cooks rebuilding bridges at one point – and they did a grand job. Yanks up at the front see a lot of signs that read Mines Cleared to Hedgesâ and it means just exactly that. It pays to be aware of small trails that lead from the main highway trails that are marked with car tracks. The Germans might have made those trails themselves but an unwary GI driver figures that any marked by vehicular tracks is safe. So in he goes so in he stays. |
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THE RESCUE OF THE LIPIZZANER HORSES
A personal account written by Colonel Charles Hancock Reed  
The rescue of the breeding herd of the Piber Austrian Lipizzaner horses, which supplied the stallions for use in the Spanische Reitschule took place on the 28th of April 1945 at Hostau, Czechoslovakia. It was accomplished by a small force formed for the mission from Task Force Reed - which was composed of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Group, 2nd and 42nd Squadrons, an Artillery Battalion, Engineer Battalion and an Anti-Aircraft Unit. It must be admitted that a great element of chance gave the opportunity for this happy event. On the 25th of April, Captain Ferdinand P. Sperl, I.P.W. Team No. 10 attached to the Group received information of a large German Intelligence Unit bivouacked in and around the Hunting Lodge on the Czechoslovakian Border - it lacked transportation to proceed further on its flight from Berlin to the proposed Bavarian Bastion. After some dangerous negotiations with the Commander of the unit, Captain Sperl, on the 26th of April, led an attack on the unit, which after the arranged formal exchange of harmless gun fire, surrendered most promptly. The commander of the Intelligence Unit - a fine appearing German General proved most hospitable and finding that on this early advance, I had missed my breakfast, invited me to join him and his staff for theirs. We found that we had mutual horse interests and he showed me quite beautiful pictures of the Lipizzans and Arabs, which he had recently taken at Hostau. He also stated that several hundred Allied Prisoners of War were held there. We mutually agreed that these fine animals should not fall into the Communists hands, and the prisoners should be rescued. A German bicyclist was sent to Hostau to arrange for a German Officer to come through our lines that night to arrange terms. A radio message was sent through XII Corps to 3rd Army Headquarters requesting permission for the operation. Shortly, a laconic message was relayed from General Patton - “Get them. Make it fast! You will have a new mission.” About 8:00 P.M. - Captain Lessing, Staff Veterinarian at Hostau arrived at one of our border outposts riding one Lipizzaner stallion and leading a second. He was brought to 2nd Cavalry Headquarters - dinner had been delayed pending his arrival - after cocktails and dinner, agreement was reached that, provided we furnished an officer to show good faith to ride back with him, he, Captain Lessing, would be able to arrange for the surrender of Hostau (Officers and men there were mostly ex-horsemen). He stated however, that between us and Hostau were stationed elements of an SS Division who would fight. That bothered us very little as we planned a quiet day or so - then a great attack to over-run them. Captain Thomas M. Stewart of Tennessee, a fine horseman and son of the then Senator from Tennessee, volunteered and rode back with Captain Lessing. On the night of the 27th of April, he was returned to our lines by Lessing in a motercycle - side car - after some rather harrowing experiences behind the German line - for which he was decorated. He reported that all was arranged in Hostau - except for one Czech Lt. Colonel in the German Army, who opposed this - but had no support from the German Officers. A small task force for the operation had already been formed from the 42nd Squadron - A Troop - elements of Troop C - a platoon of tanks from F-Troop and a platoon of Troop E Assault Guns. All under the command of Major Robert P. Andrews, with Captain Stewart and his assistant. At daylight all elements in the front line opened a fire fight - the Task Force broke through and after some fighting at Bela N RADB and a delay caused by an unmapped town showing up in their line of march, the town of Hostau was reached - no problem there - appeared as a fiesta rather than a battle. Townspeople and Allied Prisoners of War lined the streets - the German soldiers presented Arms - German Flag went down - ours went up and after placing outposts the officers, Intelligence Personnel and as many soldiers as could be spared, went to look at the wonderful array of captured Horses. Allied Prisoner of War released totaled about 400 Americans, British, French and Polish. Regulations required the immediate return of all of these to their own Nations - the Poles could not go at that time - but we immediately started the evacuation of the others. Here we ran into an unexpected problem. Many of the prisoners has been at Hostau several years - had achieved a kind of “trusty” status and were well fed and cared for. Many had married or taken up living with Czech or German girls - some even had children - these men refused to be evacuated except with their families - a problem not easily solved to everyone’s satisfaction. Horses captured consisted of about 300 Lippmann's, the Piber Breeding Herd plus the Royal Lipizzaner Stud from Yugoslavia - well mixed together. Over one-hundred of the best Arabs in Europe, about two-hundred thoroughbred and trotting bred race horses collected from all of Europe - finally about 600 Cossacks breeding horses - Don and Urals.
Enemy captured consisted of about one Battalion of Germans, about the same of Czech volunteers in the German Army and a Sotnia of White Russian Cossacks who, opposing Communism, had joined the German Army in its invasion of Russia, bringing with them the Cossack horses mentioned above. The Cossacks were commanded by an Ex-Cossack Prince and Colonel who was a most pleasant and helpful person during the time we had the animals under our care. The following morning - 29th of April - part of the force under Major Andrews rejoined the 2nd Cavalry Group preparatory to assuming a new mission of advancing towards Pilsen via the Eisenstein Pass. Troop A - under Captain Carter Catlett, with one platoon of Tanks were left to control Hostau - under the command of Captain Stewart. He immediately organized a defense force with the American Troops as a base - but included the German Troops - who seemed anxious to maintain the Horse Farm, plus the Cossacks and some of the released Polish prisoners whom he armed with captured weapons. This was done as we feared a counterattack by the SS troops defeated at the border - it was an excellent plan as, late on the 30th of April, they attempted an attack on Hostau - our multi-national force defeated them with heavy losses - as the attacking Germans had no tanks and ours proved most effective weapons. The 2nd Armored Cavalry Group with additional attachments proceeded on its new mission - leaving Captain Stewart and his command to control Hostau. By May 7th, date of the complete surrender of Germany, the Task Force was on the General line about 10 miles southeast of Pilsen - Horsice - Zinkovy - Nepomuk in Czechoslovakia facing the Russians and preventing their penetration into American held territory. Headquarters were established at the Skoda Schloss at Zinkovy. It was here about May 9th that I received a message from 3rd Army that General Patton had been in contact with Colonel Alois Podhajsky, head of the Spanische Reitschule. That the Colonel with the trained Lipizzaner Stallions was at St. Martin in Austria. That he would be flown up to my Headquarters as soon as practical - to check the breeding herd and arrange for its repatriation to Austria in the vicinity of St. Martin. Here it is best to clarify a certain misunderstanding of the sequence of events surrounding the rescue of the Piber breeding herd. The actual rescue took place on the 28th of April - nine days before Colonel Podhajsky’s meeting with General Patton and pleading for their rescue.
When General Patton answered Podhajsky’s request, either through language difficulties or a misunderstanding on the part of the officer who transmitted the message to Podhajsky, he understood that General Patton was sending the 2nd Cavalry Group to rescue these breeding horses. Actually General Patton knew by the 29th or 30 of April that the herd was in our possession at Hostau. He probably sent this information with the word that Podhajsky would be sent up to check them. This error in sequence was perpetuated by the Walt Disney Movie whose script writer interviewed me in Virginia and seemed attached to the idea of the rescue taking place after Patton saw the School Horses perform at St. Martin. It made better "show business". On or about the 14th of May, Podhajsky arrived at Zinkovy by American plane where he spent the night and was entertained at dinner by our staff. Most cordial relations were established that evening and basic plans were laid for the return of the breeding herd to him in the vicinity of St. Martin as soon as practical. A day or so after the German surrender it became evident to me that the Czech and Russian Communists were showing a great interest in the captured horses - in fact, they made several stealthy visits to Hostau, apparently to connive with the Czech born Lt. Colonel, who was 2nd in command when we arrived. This information was transmitted to General Patton’s Headquarters, with recommendations that the entire herd of horses be transferred to a safer base in Bavaria at a large installation at Schwarzenburg, where the Communists would not be tempted to claim the animals. None of the herds or individual animals came from Czechoslovakia but had been transported there from other German controlled countries because of the fine grazing and other facilities. The Army promptly authorized the operation and issued orders giving the horse movement priority on all needed roads during the time necessary. The movement was started at dawn on the 12th of May and the entire plan was completed by late that night. Since few trucks were available most of the animals were driven in small herds - each preceded and followed by an American vehicle - outriders and guides for each herd were provided from German personnel and the Russian Cossacks assisted by a few volunteer Cavalrymen from the Americans - very young colts were with their dams and mares heavy in foal were moved in trucks - personnel - German and Polish - and Russian - women and children with scanty possessions and as much food for men and horses as possible were moved on some trucks and in horse drawn wagons and carriages, pulled by animals broken to harness. The day after Podhajsky’s arrival at Zinkovy he and I drove together to Schwarzenburg where he closely checked and identified the animals belonging to the Piber herd. His intimate knowledge and quick recognition of them was most helpful and he seemed quite pleased with their condition. He evidenced no interest in he Yugoslavian Lippmann's as he did not wish their blood crossed with the Austrian strain. Since the distance to St. Martin was so great the move had to be made by available trucks - refitted to carry horses. These were not ideal and unfortunately, a few horses were injured in transport and two mares suffered broken legs requiring their destruction. The movement was made on two convoys the 18th and the 25th of May and was fairly well carried out considering the lack of transportation and personnel difficulties - a total of 215 animals were returned to Austrian control. The remaining horse were later transferred to the large and most suitable German Horse Breeding establishment of a Remount Depot in Hessia - this included the Arabians, racing horses, the Yugoslav Lippmann's and a portion of the Cossack horses. Since all were War Booty of the American Army, the best of these and other captured animals were later shipped to the United States for use by the United States Remount Service. The 2nd Armored Cavalry Group (now 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and still stationed in Germany) performed admirably many more difficult and dangerous operations in the European Campaigns. However, all of our members - recall with especial pride their contribution to Austrian Culture and happiness - "The Rescue of the Lipizzaner's At Hostau”. Lipizzaner Photos! Written by Colonel Charles Hancock Reed (Ret.)
November 4, 1970 (Exert from obituary supplied by Jane Reed.)
Colonel Reed, a career soldier, was born in Richmond, VA and was an undergraduate at the University of Virginia before going to West Point, where he graduated in 1922. He was assigned to the Second Cavalry from 1931 until his retirement from active service in 1949. In civilian life he served as president of Williams & Reed of Richmond, a wholesale dry goods distributor. He was president of the Virginia State Fair for 20 years and a director of the Bank of Virginia.
Colonel Charles H. Reed died following a stroke. He was 79 years old. 
Col. Reed, 1931, Ft. Riley, Kansas LETTER FROM SERGENT VITO SPADAFINO, TROOP A, 42ND SQUADRON, 2ND U.S. CAVALRY
I'm a WW2 veteran formerly with the 2nd Cavalry Recon and Mechanized unit of the 3rd Army in the European Theater. My unit was responsible in re-capturing the Stallions and numerous other horses prior to the end of hostilities somewhere in Czechoslavakia. The Stallions were turned over to The Spanish Riding Academy and the mares in foal and other breeds were shipped to a huge estate somewhere in the American zone. My platoon and I were responsible for the protection and care of these precious animals. I have some photos of the great, great, grandmothers of some of today’s offspring’s. Two German veterinarians and the grooms and family that we brought back with the animals tended to them. We were also keeping watch on all the horses in different parts of the estate. Our main concern was the Russians who were on the other side of the hedges that separated our sector from theirs. We had constant patrols around our perimeter because of them. I was fortunate enough to be able to assist the Polish cook in the kitchen who provided us with delicious meals. We had two German Vets who cared for the horses and also bred some of them. The Lipizzaner mares were in separate corrals of their own. I have one amusing anecdote to tell you. One day Unit Commander Colonel Reed came to visit to see how things were going along. He and I walked down to see the Lipizzaner mare. While we observed them, I turned to the Colonel and said, "They look like they are pregnant.” Colonel Reed looks at me and says, "Sergeant, where do you come from?” I replied, “The Bronx, sir.” Well the Colonel says, "Where I come from we say they are in foal," as he smiled. After a while my buddies got me on a horse to teach me to ride. I learned pretty fast and the grooms picked out a nice even gaited one and every once in a while I would go out riding after dinner with one of the platoon members. Strangely enough that was the last time I was on a horse. Soon I was ready to return to the USA to be discharged into civilian life. It just so happens that I did and came face to face with General George Patton for a brief moment as our unit was going to the front. My encounter with General Patton was in late August of 1944 when we were going to the front line to go and reconnoiter for the division in our area. We were known as "The Ghosts of Patton's Army" and there was a write up in The Stars and Stripes about our exploits behind enemy lines for 39 days. We had been travelling down this road in France when we came to an abrupt halt. In the early stages of war, anytime you came to a stop; you have to keep a lookout for enemy aircraft above. I climbed out of my front seat and up to the turret of the armored car to relieve Geski our gunner to keep an eye in the skies. After some time had passed, a jeep was spotted barreling down the road and it was coming towards us. As it neared us we could see it had the four-star insignia on the bumper and sitting next to the driver was General Patton in all his splendor. He ordered his driver to stop alongside my armored car. He had a shiny helmet with four stars and his famous pearl handled guns on his gun belt. He stood and I immediately saluted and he saluted me back. He asked, "Sergeant, what seems to be the problem here?" I answered, "I don't know Sir." Then he asked how long had we been sitting there and I said about half an hour. He said carry on and sat down and told his driver to move on. Sometime later we got orders to mount up and make ready to move on, so I got back down in my front seat as always. As the column gained speed there was General Patton waving us on like a traffic cop. He was in my opinion the best General in the Army. |
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UNITED STATES 2ND CAVALRY RESCUED
RARE AND NOBLE LIPIZZANER STALLIONS In April 1945, the heroic efforts of the 42nd Squadron of the United States Army's 2nd Cavalry were responsible for the rescue and ultimate preservation of the Lipizzans. The rescue of the horses was conducted under the orders of General George S. Patton and was carried out under the direct command of Colonel Charles H. Reed. The story of the rescue operation is most dramatic. In early 1945, Vienna was under attack by allied bombers. Colonel Alois Podjahsky, head of the famed Spanish Riding School in Vienna, feared the valuable Lipizzaner Stallions would be destroyed and arranged for the stallions to be transferred by train to St. Martin's in Upper Austria, 200 miles from Vienna. Fodder was scarce and starving refugees attempted to steal the horses for food.
Coincidentally, elements of the U.S. Third Army moved into St. Martin's at the time Podhajsky had quartered the horses there at the estate of a friend. An officer recognized Podhajsky and the stallions, and sent word to General Patton's headquarters. Patton and Podhajsky had been old friends; they competed together in equestrian events at the Olympic Games. Podhajsky arranged to show the Lipizzans to Undersecretary of War Robert Patterson, and General Patton the following day. Patterson and Patton were so impressed by the performance of these aristocratic white horses that the General, at the request of Podhajsky, promised to make the stallions wards of the U.S. Army until they could be safely returned to their home at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. While the stallions were sheltered at St. Martin's, the mares and foals had been separated from the stallions and were being held at the German Remount Depot in Hostau, Czechoslovakia. American forces became aware of their location through Colonel Reed. On April 26, 42nd Squadron captured a German general and his staff near Hostau. Reed and the General dined together and developed a friendship. The General showed Reed photographs of the Lipizzaner horses. When questioned further, the General confessed that the horses were being held at the German Remount Depot along with allied prisoners of war who cared for the horses.
Later that day Reed contacted Patton to ask permission to attack Hostau to liberate the prisoners and horses. Permission was granted. Later, an agreement was made with the Germans to allow American forces to go into Hostau and rescue the horses from the oncoming Russian troops. German officers, great admirers of the Lipizzans, willingly cooperated with the Americans fearing that approaching Russian troops would destroy the breed. On April 28, members of Troops A, C and F of the 42nd Squadron attacked the German lines and accepted the surrender of the Germans at Hostau. The surrender, according to Reed, was "more a fiesta than a military operation, as the German troops drew up an honor guard and saluted the American troops as they came in." The Americans found at Hostau a population of some 150 Lipizzans, including a few stallions, mares and their colts of two and three years of age. The first day was spent inspecting the horses. Two days later, German SS troops organized a counter attack on the 42nd Squadron as it moved eastward along the Czechoslovakian border. The Germans were driven off and a week later, the war had ended. Plans were then made for the disposition of the horses. Colonel Podhajsky was flown in to inspect his horses. It was at this time that the Russian and Czech governments argued over possession of the horses. To prevent the horses from falling into their hands, the Lipizzans were quickly moved across the border to safety in Germany. Shortly thereafter, the Lipizzans were returned to the control of Colonel Podhajsky at Linz. 
Click This Photo  For Riding Music Introduction To The Lipizzaner Stallions
The Lipizzaner Stallions are on their 31st Anniversary Tour in 2001. In 1970, Producer Gary Lashinsky created a new family arena attraction, starring The "World Famous" LIPIZZANER STALLIONS. Many horses and riders were brought from Europe to perform in this unique family oriented arena attraction. Over the years, twenty-three million people throughout North and South America, Great Britain, Europe, Australia and Hawaii have seen this internationally acclaimed spectacle. 2001 represents the 31st Anniversary season of The Lipizzaner Stallions. All new music, choreography and routines have been incorporated in this anniversary edition with a major emphasis on the historical background and foundation of the Lipizzaner breed, from its original breeding and use as a horse of war to a horse of nobility and aristocracy to a living form of equestrian art. The show emulates the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, Austria, in its presentation of Lipizzans, and maintains a traditional as well as entertaining performance similar in many ways to what you would see at the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. Also included in the performance is a segment called the "Airs Above the Ground." These are the spectacular leaps and maneuvers, once used by riders in saddle to protect and defend themselves on the battlefield, which are now preserved as an equestrian work of art. When you see the Lipizzans perform, it is like stepping back four hundred years and viewing one of the greatest equine ballets in history. The Lipizzan is a rare and unique breed; its history and culture is known worldwide. The Walt Disney movie The Miracle of the White Stallions, depicting General George S. Patton saving them at the end of World War II from certain extinction, created an even greater world-wide interest in the Lipizzaner breed. Had it not been for Patton, there would be no Lipizzans today. Although the Lipizzans star in this presentation, other show breeds are included in this 31st Anniversary Edition including the ancestral forefathers of the Lipizzan, the Spanish Andalusian and the Arabian. Spanish Andalusians are featured in high school presentations with special wardrobe and presentations themed to traditional Spanish music. Not only is the Andalusian shown in saddle, but also in a unique presentation where the rider performs all the maneuvers of the Grand Prix Olympic level dressage on the longline, while walking behind the horse and guiding him through his paces. The current tour features 14 stallions performing selected maneuvers as described above in an exciting presentation. The conclusion of the performance of The Lipizzaner Stallions is the traditional Grand Quadrille, featuring six to eight Lipizzaner Stallions with their riders performing an intricate, equine ballet, exhibiting maneuvers through the highest level of dressage. The Lipizzans prance, march and intricately weave their way across the floor to the music of the Masters in a spectacular ballet of four-footed white dancers. Harkening back to time when the horse was a symbol of grace and majesty, the Lipizzaner Stallions are truly a great experience to be enjoyed by the entire family. One does not need to be a horse lover to enjoy "The Equestrian Treat of the Century"!
"Not affiliated in any way with the Spanish Riding School" |
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The Saga The Lipizzaner Stallion has galloped boldly out of the pages of 400 years of European history into the hearts of millions of Americans. Walt Disney's motion picture, The Miracle of the White Stallions, depicting the rescue of the horses by General Patton's men during World War II, did much to publicize and to create sympathy and admiration for the Lipizzaners in the United States. The Lipizzan is the aristocrat, the royalty, the light and the nimble dancer and the aerialist of the equestrian world. His distant ancestors from the Orient bore Ghengis Khan out of the wastes of Asia to conquer much of the then-known world. The fleet Arabic strain in the Lipizzaners patrolled, guarded and raided treasure-laden caravans in the golden sands of the Sahara. Their masters were Bedouins, Tuaregs and riders from a dozen long forgotten tribes. It is believed that the forerunner of the Lipizzan was bred in Carthage, more than 2,000 years ago. The Carthaginian stock was bred to the Vilano, a sturdy Pyrenees horse, and with Arab and Barbary strains. The result became the fabled Andalusian of ancient Spain. During Spain's 700 years of Moorish domination, the breed remained essentially the same. Occasional crossing with fresh Arab and Oriental blood by the breeders of Cordoba and Granada assured that the fleetness and agility so prized by the Arabs remained qualities inherent in the stock. The Spanish began to export the horses after Spain rid itself of Moorish rule. The most notable stud farms were established in Italy and Frederiksborg, Denmark. The Danes produced excellent stock from the Spanish progenitors; the Italian "Neapolitan" bloodline became famous in Europe. Archduke Maximilian, later Emperor of Austria, began breeding Spanish horses there about 1562. Eighteen years later, Archduke Karl, ruler of four Austrian provinces, established a royal stud farm in Lipizza, located in the hills of Karst, near Trieste. It was rugged, craggy country with little vegetation or water, but the Lipizzans thrived on it, lending to their endurance, strength and speed. They became almost exclusively the property of the nobility and the military aristocracy. The stallions were trained for battle. Their great leaps and caprioles struck fear in the hearts of foot soldiers who opposed their well-born riders. The gentle intelligent white mares became the coach horses of the elite. Fresh Spanish stock was systematically added to the blood line at intervals to maintain the strength of the breed. Oriental stallions were used occasionally for the same purpose. In the 17th and 18th centuries, horses from the northern Italian stud farm at Polesnia and the highly regarded Neapolitan strain were brought to Lipizza to mingle with the resident stock and the descendants of the original Spanish line out of Denmark and Germany. General Patton was not the first to rescue the Lipizzans from the exigencies of war. In 1781, during the Napoleonic Wars, 300 horses were evacuated in a forty-day march to Stuhlweissenburg. They returned to Lipizza after peace was established. In 1805 they were moved again to Slavonia, and in 1806 to Karad, a Hungarian village with a population of less than 4,000. They returned to Lipizza, only to flee the advancing armies of France. From 1809 to 1815 they lived in the lowlands of the Pisza River, a tributary of the Danube. The land was hard on them. It took several years and an infusion of fresh blood to recapture the vitality and high standard of the line. In May of 1915, the Lipizzans were split up. One group was taken to Laxenburg, near Vienna, and the other to Kladrub. The fall of the Austrian House of Hapsburg in 1918 brought about the break up of the old Austrian Empire. Lipizza became a part of Italy. The Italian and Austrian governments divided the Lipizzaner herd equally. The Republic of Austria took their horses to Piber in Steiermark. Piber, a privately owned stud farm, was founded in 1798 to breed calvary mounts for the army. In 1858, it became a government breeding farm and produced Lipizzans of another and lighter strain for stud purposes in the provinces. Although "The World Famous" Lipizzaner Stallions are not affiliated with "The Spanish Riding School," a number of the Lipizzans appearing in the show were purchased from the School or born at the Piber Stud Farm. The Lipizzan is a long-lived horse. Thirty to thirty-five years is their average life span. They are usually born black and change slowly through a period of six to ten years to their final, pure white color. Occasionally a Lipizzaner colt is born pure white, but they are rarities. Those, so born, in the days of the Hapsburg were chosen to draw the royal equipages. There are six significant bloodlines in today's Lipizzaner breed. They originated with and date back to the following stallions: The Dane, "Pluto," 1765; The Neapolitan, "Conversano," 1767; "Maestosa," 1773; "Favory," 1799; "Neapolitano," 1790; and the Arab, "Siglavy," from the stables of Prince Schwarzenberg, 1810. |
In The Air Preserved as classical equestrian art, these awe-inspiring movements were originally intended to be used in warfare.
Only Stallions with the greatest strength, talent and athletic ability were chosen for training in these ancient manuvers. You will be amazed and delighted with the results.... The Airs Above the Ground.
 | Levade...
The horse must maintain a haunched position at a 45-degree angle to the ground, requiring muscle control and perfection of balance almost beyond belief. |
Courbette...
The horse balances on the hind legs and then jumps, keeping the hind legs together and the forelegs off the ground. |  |
 | Capriole...
The stallion leaps into the air, drawing his forelegs under his chest at the height of elevation, and kicks out violently with his hind legs. |
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Definitions Airs Above the Ground: This is a series of maneuvers where
the horse leaps above the ground. These include the Capriole, Courbette, and Levade. They are performed with or without a rider.
Capriole: The horse finds his tempo, leaps into the air, drawing his forelegs under his chest and, at the height of elevation, kicks out violently with the hind legs.
Courbette: The horse balances on the hind legs and then jumps, keeping the hind legs together and the forelegs off the ground.
Croupade: The jump is similar to the Capriole, but in this maneuver, the horse tucks both his fore and hind legs under his body at the height of elevation
Dressage: The guidance of a mount through a set of maneuvers without the perceptible use of hands, reins, legs, etc. It is a French word for "schooling of the horse," and it simply means harmony between horse and rider.
Haute Ecole: The advanced art of High School riding… the highest level of dressage.
Levade: The horse must maintain a haunched position at a 45-degree angle to the ground, requiring muscle control and balance that is most difficult to perfect. Lineage: There are six significant bloodlines represented in today’s Lipizzan breed. The names of the horses in the show indicate these bloodlines, allowing one to trace the stallion’s lineage. The names are: the Dane, PLUTO, 1765; the Neapolitan, CONVERSANO, 1767; MAESTOSO, 1773; FAVORY, 1799; NEAPOLITANO, 1790; and the Arab, SIGLAVY, 1810. Movements: Also called Maneuvers, these are the actions of the horse in presentation…and they are never referred to as "tricks." Piaffe: The horse stands in one spot while performing a cadence trot. Pirouette: While balanced on his hind legs, the horse is required to pivot in a half circle or full circle before coming down on all four legs. Quadrille: As it applies to the Lipizzan’s performance, it is a military drill performed to music and features several horses and riders. Spanish Riding School of Vienna: A centuries-old training center in Austria, considered the "Harvard" of the equestrian world. The "World Famous" Lipizzaner Stallions is an authentic presentation of this style, but is not affiliated with the Spanish Riding School. |
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Ten Minutes To Save A Bridge
The bridge—large and ugly—and the river loomed ahead. Floor plankings had been laid over the tracks on the bridge to convert the span from railroad to vehicular traffic. The river ran swift and deep between the towering cliffs. No one knew the strength of the enemy on the other side of the river or just when the explosions would be touched off.
Lt. Timmermann gathered his forces near the bridge, gave them instructions. It was 1550. In the face of murderous fire, the 27th Armd. doughs had just 10 minutes to cross the river if the Germans were running on schedule. As the men started onto the bridge, a heavy blast rocked the span two-thirds of the way across. The attacking platoon halted momentarily, then took off again when it saw the three spans still standing. Three members of the 9th Armd. Engr. Bn.—1st Lt. Hugh Mott, Nashville, Tenn.; Sgt. Eugene Dorland, Manhattan, Kan.; S/Sgt. John Reynolds, Lincolnton, N.C.—dashed onto the bridge to cut the demolition wires. All hands, especially the engineers, worked with a speed never attained before. As the doughs rushed ahead, engineers cut all the wires below the bridge deck, preventing the Nazis from touching off a 40-pound charge planted on the crossbeams underneath. Next, engineers raced across to the far side of the bridge to cut the main cable. Sgt. Dorland squeezed the cable with a pair of small pliers but couldn't even dent it. Without hesitating, he fired three shots into the cable with his carbine, smashing the line completely. Ninth Armd. men later learned how close they came to disaster. Engineers located one 500-pound charge of TNT about two thirds of the way across the river. Its cap had gone off but the charge failed to explode. Lt. Mott and his two sergeants also found 350-pound charges, which had not been set off, in the piers. One of the cables leading to the main charge had been severed, possibly by artillery. While engineers were hard at work, doughs dashed across the bridge, firing as they went. Enemy fire didn't disturb them nearly as much as the thought that the bridge might be blown up at any minute. It was a long drop to the river. The leader of the first platoon, T/Sgt. Joseph Delisio, New York City, silenced the machine gun fire from the right tower by rushing up the stairs and capturing the two-man crew. Sgt. Mike Chinchar, Rochelle Park, N.J., assisted by S/Sgt. Anthony Samele, Bronx, N.Y., and Pfc Artus Massie, Patterson's Creek, W.Va., took care of the machine gun in the left tower. They threw the gun into the Rhine and took the gunner prisoner.
Now, infantrymen received covering fire from the towers. First across the Rhine was Sgt. Alexander A. Drabik, Holland, O., who was closely followed by Pfc Marvin Jensen, Slayton, Minn. On their heels were Samele, Delisio, Chinchar, Massie, S/Sgt. Carmine J. Sabia, Brooklyn; Pfc Martin Reed, Assaria, Kan.; Pvt. Joseph K. Peoples, Warrenton, N.C. Reaching the east end of the bridge, Drabik and several others cut to the left. Some moved into the railroad tunnel while the remainder, led by Lt. Emmet Burrows, Jersey City, N.J., started up a steep basaltic cliff to wipe out snipers in a house on the cliff. The climb was so steep that the men used shrubbery and trees to pull themselves up. After clearing out the snipers, Burrows and his men underwent a terrific artillery and mortar shelling. The hill later was called "Suicide Cliff" and "Flak Hill." A complicated command problem developed for Gen. Hoge at the time of the crossing. The III Corps had not yet received word that the Remagen bridge had been captured and sent down orders for the 9th to move south across the Ahr River.
By driving swiftly along the west bank of the Rhine, the 9th could link up with Third Army forces and prevent thousands of Germans from crossing the Rhine to the south.
But the division already had troops on the east bank of the Rhine and needed all its forces for the bridgehead operation. Gen. Hoge held those troops on the east bank while he contacted Maj. Gen. John W. Leonard, Toledo, O., division commander. The decision to hold the bridgehead will live in military history. It brought highest praise from Allied commanders. Gen. Hoge had sensed every hazard. German forces across the river were an unknown quantity. This could well be a trap. Artillery might knock out the bridge after the division had crossed over.
The reward seemed worth all risks. An Allied bridge across the Rhine would be of immense strategic and tactical importance. It might be a blow from which the Germans never could recover. Gen. Hoge, with full confidence in his troops, obtained authority from Gen. Leonard to stick with the bridgehead and to expand it. "A moment for history" was Time Magazine's comment later. While awaiting III Corps confirmation of the decision, CC B prepared to spring its might on the bridgehead as Combat Command A was ordered to relieve CC B's south column at Sinzig. On the north, the 89th Cavalry Recon Sqdn. (Mecz.), relieved 1st Bn., 310th Regt., 78th Div., which had been attached to the 9th. Third Corps ordered an all-out fight to build up the bridgehead as soon as it was informed of the Rhine crossing. CC A was instructed to hold the bridgehead over the Ahr River.
Foot troops—doughs who could dig in and hold their positions—rushed across the bridge. A heavy fog cloaked the span that first night as the first tanks started across about midnight. They were Shermans of the 14th Tank Bn.; the roadway wasn't wide enough for the new Pershings. Sgt. William. J. Goodson, Rushville, Ind., commanded the first tank to span the river. A serious threat to the over-all operation loomed when a tank destroyer from the 656th TD Bn. slipped into a hole in the bridge flooring, then balanced precariously on two beams. Because of the delicate balance, the vehicle was unable to use its own power to extricate itself. Meanwhile, armored reinforcements, sorely needed to repel the inevitable German counter-attacks, were prevented from crossing. Commanders worked feverishly to remove this obstacle. For a time they considered dumping the tank destroyer into the river but decided against that move because it might further damage the bridge. Meanwhile, foot troops continued to make progress. Moving with extreme caution, salvage crews finally towed the TD from the bridge, enabling men and vehicles again to pour across the bridge in an unending stream.
9th Armored Division Photos
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9TH ARMORED DIVISION World War II
Activated: 15 July 1942. Overseas: 26 August 1944. Campaigns: Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe. Days of combat: 91. Distinguished Unit Citations: 11. Awards: MH-1 ; DSC-1 ; DSM-2 ; SS-191 ; LM-13; SM-11 ; BSM-1,263 ; AM-28. Commanders: Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Keyes (JuneSeptember 1942), Maj. Gen. John W. Leonard (October 1942 to inactivation). Returned to U. S.: 10 October 1945. Inactivated: 13 October 1945. Combat Chronicle The 9th Armored Division landed in Normandy late in September 1944, and first went into line, 23 October, on patrol duty in a quiet sector along the Luxembourg-German frontier. When the Germans launched their winter offensive, the 9th, with no real combat experience, suddenly found itself engaged in heavy fighting. The Division saw its severest action at St. Vith, Echternach, and Bastogne, its units fighting in widely separated areas. Its stand at Bastogne held off the Germans long enough to enable the 101st Airborne to dig in for a defense of the city. After a rest period in January 1945, the Division made preparations for a drive across the Roer River. The offensive was launched, 28 February, and the 9th smashed across the Roer to Rheinbach, sending patrols into Remagen. The Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen was found intact, and was seized by elements of the 9th Armored minutes before demolition charges were set to explode on 7 March 1945. The Division exploited the bridgehead, moving south and east across the Lahn River toward Limburg, where thousands of Allied prisoners were liberated. The Division drove on to Frankfurt and then turned to assist in the closing of the Ruhr Pocket. In April it continued east, encircled Leipzig and secured a line along the Mulde River. The Division was shifting south to Czechoslovakia when the war in Europe ended. 
Assignments in the ETO* 29 July 1944: Ninth Army. 28 August 1944: III Corps, Ninth Army, 12th Army Group. 5 September 1944: XIII Corps. 28 September 1944: III Corps. 15 October 1944: VIII Corps. 22 October 1944: VIII Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group. 20 December 1944: III Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group. 21 December 1944: VIII Corps. 30 December 1944: VIII Corps, Third Army, 12th Army Group, but attached to Oise Section, Communication Zone, for supply. 31 December 1944: SHAEF. 8 January 1945: Fifteenth Army, 12th Army Group. 22 February 1945: III Corps, First Army, 12th Army Group. 21 March 1945: V Corps. 28 April 1945: VII Corps. 30 April 1945: VIII Corps. 4 May 1945: V Corps. 6 May 1945: Third Army, 12th Army Group. General Nickname: Sometimes called Phantom Division. Shoulder patch: Same as the 1st Armored with a number "9" in the upper portion of the triangle. Association: 9th Armored Division Association, The Armored School, Fort Knox, Ky. (Capt. Louis Gelling, acting secretary). Publications: .Bridge; by unit members; Carl Giesel, Bayreuth, Germany; 1945. History of the 9th Armored Division; by unit members; Albert Love Enterprises, Atlanta 2, Ga.; 1947. The 9th, The Story of the 9th Armored Division; U. S. Army Forces in the European Theater; Paris, P. Dupont, 1945 ; 31 pp. [Nota Bene: These combat chronicles, current as of October 1948, are reproduced from The Army Almanac: A Book of Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1950, pp. 510-592.]
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Fact Sheet of the 9th Armored Division 
TYPE OF DIVISION: Regular Army. NICKNAME: While the men of the division adopted no nickname, the Germans dubbed it the “Phantom Division.” SHOULDER PATCH: Triangular design divided into three area: red (representing Field Artillery), blue (representing Infantry), and yellow (representing Cavalry). Superimposed on three areas, in black, are a canon and the track of a tank. A bolt of lightning, in red, is superimposed on these. The division‘s number appears in the upper portion of the triangle.. ACTIVATION DATE: 15 Jul 1942. 
INACTIVATION DATE: 13 October 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry VA.. COMPONENT UNITS: Hq Co; Res Comd, CCA; CCB; 2nd, 14th and 19th Tank Bns; 9th Armored Engineering Bn; 89th Cav Rcn Sq (Mech); 149th Armd Signal Co; Division Artillery: 3rd, 16th and 73rd Armored Field Artillery BNs; Division Trains: 2nd Armored Medical Bn, 131st Ordnance Maintenance Bn, MP platoon and Band. 27th, 52nd and 60th Armored Infantry Bns.. TRAINING UNDER ARMY GROUND FORCES: Division was activated at Fort Riley KS and assigned to the Armored Force. The unit was composed in large part of the old 2nd Cavalry Division. Other organizations, famed in American Military History, were incorporated into the 9th, such as the 2nd Cavalry FA Bn, which stems from units dated back to Revolutionary War days. Almost a year later, in June 43, it moved to the Desert Training Center, with station at Camp Young CA. In Oct 1943 the division was transferred to Camp Polk LA coming under the Third Army. The 9th participated in Third Army maneuvers held in Louisiana between Nov 1943 and Jan 1944. DEPARTED U.S. FOR FOREIGN DUTY: 26 August 1944 from NYPE. COMBAT DAYS (Div): 91.: . DATE ENTERED COMBAT: DIVISION 18 Dec 1944. FIRST ELEMENTS 23 October 1944 BATTLE CREDITS: (Division) Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe... RETURNED TO US: 10 Oct 1945 at NYPE and Boston.. SUCCESSIVE COMMANDING GENERALS: Major General Geoffrey Keyes from June to September 1942 and Major General John W Leonard from October 1942 until inactivation. DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION: Combat Command B for 28 Feb – 9 Mar 1945 action in Germany; Hq Res Comd, (w/101st Abn Div) for 18 – 27 Dec 1944 action in Belgium; Reserve Command for 18 – 27 Dec 1944 action in Belgium; 2nd Tank Bn for 18-27 Dec 1944 action in Belgium; Co C 9th Armored Engineering Bn, 8-10 Mar 1945 action in Germany; Co C 9th Armored Engineering Bn (w/101st Abn Div) for 18-27 action in Belgium; 16th Armored Field Artillery Bn 28 Feb – 9 Mar 1945 action in Germany; 27th Armored Infantry Bn for 28 Feb – 9 Mar 1945 action in Germany; 52nd Armored Inf Bn for 28 Feb – 9 Mar 1945 action in Germany; 52nd Armored Inf Bn for 18 – 27 Dec 44 action in Belgium and 73rd Armored Field Artillery Bn (w/101st Abn Div) for 18 –27 Dec 1944 action in Belgium; As this article is being written on 7/28/2001 the Combat Command A was just notified of it award for action 18 – 27 Dec 1944, almost 57 years later. CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER: Cpl Horace M Thorne, 89th Cavalry Recn Sqdn (Mech) for 21 Dec 1944 action at Grufflingen, Belgium. COMBAT HIGHLIGHTS: Seizure of the Ludendorf Bridge across the Rhine at Remagen, a coup which undoubtedly saved thousands of American lives and helped shorten the war, is a triumph of which the 9th Armored Division can proudly boast. Back of that achievement, however , lay other successes. The 9th first went into the line in Oct 1944, in the relatively quiet sector along the Luxembourg-German frontier. First real action for the division can in Dec 1944, when it was sent in to help stem the Von Runstedt offensive at Bastogne and elsewhere along the front. German prisoners spoke of it as the “Phantom Division” because it seemed to be everywhere there was action. In the vital sectors of the front, at Bastogne, St Vith and Echternach there were 9th Armored Division combat teams fighting. During the winter fighting the 9th wiped out large numbers of hardened enemy troops, captured hundreds of German prisoners and destroyed many hostile tanks. Combat teams helped defend Bastogne itself thus splitting the wedge the Germans had driven into Belgium and sapping the force of their efforts to wheel northward and capture vital Belgium cities. Early in 1945 the 9th began to drive on the West Wall and to the Roer River. Next month the Division smashed across the Cologne Plain. Main objective was the Rhine River. Then, in March 1945, the 9th electrified the Allied Armies and brought despair to the Germans by seizing the Ludendorf Bridge across the Rhine. The 9th had driven hard during the previous to reaching the Remagen, capturing thousands of German soldiers. When the 9th reached Remagen, Brig Gen William M Hoge, commanding Combat Command B of the Division, saw the bridge was intact. He scrapped other plans to move south along the Rhine and ordered his men across the span. His troops moved out into heavy antiaircraft and sniper fire. His orders were followed to the letter, however, and a handful of 9th Armored troopers fort to the east bank of the river to establish a bridgehead, and the ground around the bridge as well as the span itself was seized. Next month the 9th continued to press into Germany, taking Limberg and pulling up just before Frankfurt. In May the Division captured Leipzig and just before V-E day was heading into Czechoslovakia. After V-E day, the Division assumed occupational duties and upon being relieved, elements sailed for the United States on 2 October 1945. These Army Ground Forces Fact Sheets were prepared at the end of the war (1 March 1947) by The Information Section, Analysis Branch, Headquarters Army Ground Forces on each division. They may be found in Record Group 407, Unit Records, for each division, under the file number 3 (Division #) - 0 at the National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Rd, College Park MD. |
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746th TANK BATTALION HISTORY, 9th ARMORED DIVISION The history of a separate fighting unit like the 746th is a difficult task to write because of the structure of warfare that existed during World War II. Units were shifted from one Division to another depending on the necessities of the moment. Constantly shifting priorities mandated these separate units move to support infantry, fighting side- by- side to eliminate a stubborn foe. Often these separate units lost their identities to the larger and more publicize Armor and Infantry divisions. The 746th Tank Battalion was activated on August 20, 1942 at Camp Rucker, Alabama. The initial activating officers came from an existing unit, the 760th Tank Battalion; and the initial cadre of enlisted men came from the existing 70th Tank Battalion. In time, the Battalion grew to its assigned strength of 750 men through assignments of new personnel from the Armor School at Fort Knox, Kentucky and from various units throughout the country. ( Many of the young recruits were drawn from Texas and Louisiana). The 746th underwent extensive training at Camp Rucker, Alabama until late summer of 1943. It then moved to Camp Pickett, Virginia for final preparations for embarkation overseas. At the end of January 1944, the Battalion boarded the U.S.S Acquantia and sailed from New York to England. There it was assigned to Headquarters, European Theater of Operations (ETO). It was further assigned to the United States First Army and was based in Fairford, England. At Fairford, the Battalion received advanced training for what everyone expected to be an assault on the European continent. The 746th Tank Battalion was committed into action with an assault landing in Normandy, France (Utah Beach) on D-Day, the 6th of June 1944. The Battalion landed on Utah Beach between 0900 and 1100 hours. As part of the 4th Infantry Division, it played and immediate role in the initial breakout to secure a beachhead. Moving inland, the Unit teamed up with the 82nd Airborne, who had parachuted into Normandy during the night, and was instrumental in securing the town of St. Mere Eglise ( click here to see map ) . During the remainder of June and most of July, the Battalion fought its way through Normandy. As was the case with most separate Tank Battalions during World War II, the 746th was attached to various front-line divisions to support infantry units. During mid -June through early July, the Battalion was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division and participated in cutting off the Cotentin (Normandy) peninsula, thus entrapping all the German troops above the line at Barneville-sur-mer ( click here to see map ). Turning northward on the Peninsula, the 746th with infantry support, had a direct role in the capture of the great port city of Cherbourgh. As part of the 9th, during the attack on Cherbough from 22- 26 June 1944, the Battalion fought side-by -side with elements of the 47th, 60th and 39th Infantry Regiments until the capture of Cherbough on 27 June 1944. From the 5th July - 16th July 1944, the Battalion was attached to the 83rd Infantry Division. After the 16th of July, the Battalion, with its companies, platoons and service company, was permanently assigned to the 9th Infantry Division; which it supported during the remainder of the War in Europe. The month of July was a difficult time for the 746th as evidenced from the official combat tank loses: 44 tanks were destroyed that month. The Battalion participated in the St. Lo (France) breakout; after which, with the 9th Infantry Division, made a rapid pace drive across France and into Belgium. The Battalion earned a Special Belgium Order of The Day Citation for its actions during the 3rd - 13th September, in crossing the Meuse River at Dinant on the Belgium border; thereby liberating Belgium territory in that zone. Some elements of the Battalion, with the 47th Combat Regiment, liberated the Belgium town of Liege on the 9th of September before crossing the Seigfried Line on the 14th of September 1944, near the German frontier town of Roetgen. The weather during October was the enemy of both sides. Rainy weather mired down jeeps, tanks and the legs of men on the line. The Battalion found itself stretched along a line from Mausback, northeast to Schevenhuette and turning south to the forest areas east of Roetgen and Lammersdorf. In late October 1944, orders were issued to relieve the 9th from front line duty and to proceed to Camp Elsenborn, Belgium for a well deserved rest, less the 47th Combat Regiment. At the same time the 9th became attached to the V Corps, while the 47th stayed with the VII Corps and continued the northern push into the Huertgen Forest area. The composition of the 47th Combat Regiment (C.R.) at this time consisted of the following:  47th Infantry Regiment
84th Field Artillery Battery
Co B 9th Medical Battalion
Co C 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Co A 746th Tank Battalion
Co D 87th Mortar Battalion
9th Signal Company
D battery 376th AAA .
During early November, as part of the 47th Combat Regiment, Co A of the 746th Tank Battalion participated in a coordinated offensive with the 104th Infantry Division to secure the Northern tip of the Huertgen Forest. This resulted in the capture of the towns of Schevenhuette, Gressenich , Huecheln, Langerwehe and the great fortress Castle of Frenzerberg, located east of the town of Weisweiler, by the 28 of November (click here to see map ) . Winter was already bearing down on the soldiers and equipment and there was anticipation in the air that something was about to change. On the 16th of December 1944, the Germans launched the counteroffensive
action later known as the "Battle of the Bulge" (click here to see map ). The Battalion had an active part in the Ardennes since they were positioned on the northern flank of the German penetration with the mission of containing the advance. This would also prevent an expansion of the movement toward the Meuse River and on to Brussels. Elements of the Battalion assigned to the 47th Combat Regiment together with a host of other units were cast in the role of defending the Monschau-Elsenbron area against Germany's best. The Battalion, for its role during the period from 20th December to 26th January 1945, in defending and repelling the German offensive, was awarded its second Special Belgium Order of The Day Citation by the Belgium Government. January and February 1945 were spent in Germany primarily in the battles of the Huertgen Forest, the capture of the famous Schammapuel (Schmidt) Dam, and the Roer River crossing. This was all part of a giant pincer movement to close the Ruhr pocket aimed at closing down the German industrial capabilities and trapping thousands of enemy troops. In early March, the 47th Combat Regiment, with elements of the 746th Tank Battalion, was attached to the 9th Armor Division preparatory to moving south and across the Rhine. The crossing of the Rhine occurred at the Ludendoff bridge(click here to see ) near the small town of Remagen. Thus, the Battalion became the first separate Tank Battalion to cross the Rhine and help establish a bridgehead. For this action, Co. A of the Battalion won a Distinguish Unit Citation. There was still heavy fighting ahead as the Germans were being pressed from the East as well as the West.
But as April drew to a close, the fighting eased, and on May 8th the Germans signed the unconditional terms of surrender. The Battalion was just a few miles from Berlin at that point in time. Shortly after the end of the war, the 746th was moved to Bavaria in Southern Germany. There it performed occupation duty until October, at which time it returned to the United States. On 26th of October 1945, the 746th Tank Battalion was inactivated at Camp Shanks, New York marking 38 months of proud and distinguished service to its country.
CAMPAIGN STREAMERS
World War II Normandy (with arrowhead)
Northern France
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
DECORATIONS Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered REMAGEN BRIDGEHEAD (Co A, 746th Tank Bn
cited for period 8-19 Mar 1945) Meritorious Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered EUROPEAN THEATER (Service Co, 746th Tank Bn
cited for period 6 June-31 Aug 1944) Special Order of the Day of the Belgium Army Citation for action along the MEUSE RIVER (746th Tank Bn
cited for period 3-13 Sept 1944) Special Order of the Day of the Belgium Army Citation for action in the ARDENNES (746th Tank Bn cited
for period 20 Dec 1944- 26 Jan 1945)
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| 776th Tank Destroyer Battalion | Combat History | The 776th Tank Destroyer Battalion was activated at Fort Lewis, Washington, on 20 December 1941, as part of the newly formed 9th Armored Division. The unit which served as the basis for its formation was the Provisional Antitank Battalion of the National Guard’s 76th Field Artillery Brigade, which had been called into Federal service (on active duty) in April of the same year. At the time of formal activation, the 776th’s personnel were Guardsmen from the following units and areas: Headquarters Company: Battery G, 183rd Field Artillery Regiment; Pocatello, Idaho, as well as individual soldiers from Headquarters Battery, 76th Field Artillery Brigade and from the 183rd and 188th Field Artillery Regiments. Company A: Battery G, 188th Field Artillery Regiment; Minot, North Dakota. Company B: Battery H, 188th Field Artillery Regiment; Lisbon, North Dakota. Company C: Formed in January, 1942, consisting of personnel from the other companies within the battalion. Recon Company: Battery H, 183rd Field Artillery Regiment; Rexburg, Idaho. Initially, the battalion was equipped with truck-drawn 75mm guns of WWI vintage. In April, 1942, the Battalion was reequipped with half tracks mounting the same type of 75mm gun on which the Battalion’s soldiers were already highly trained. Additional equipment included 37mm antitank guns mounted on M1937 weapons carriers and .50-caliber machine guns. | 
M3 Self-Propelled Gun. Nothing more than a half-track with a WWI-vintage 75mm field gun welded to the back deck, this was nevertheless an improvement over the truck-drawn 75s first issued to the 776th upon formation. (US Army Military History Institute) The Battalion departed Fort Lewis in late July 1942 for further training at Fort Hood, Texas. Fortunately for the soldiers of the Battalion, in November 1942, the M-10 Tank Destroyer was issued to the 776th to replace the primitive and obsolescent weapons with which they had previously trained. With its 76mm gun, the M-10 was, at that time, the most heavily armed armored vehicle possessed by the Western Allies, capable of outgunning all but the newest of German tanks or tank destroyers. Its men and equipment departed the New York Port of Embarkation on 14 January and arrived in Casablanca, French Morocco, eleven days later. In late February, the Battalion moved to Algeria, and in March, it was committed to combat in Tunisia. The 776th experienced its baptism of fire at the battle of El Guettar, the first major victory by the US Army against the Germans. Throughout the next two months, often attached to the 1st Armored Division, the 776th saw a great deal of action against the veterans of Army Group Afrika, as they took part in most of the important battles of the Tunisian campaign. The veterans of the 776th next saw combat in Italy, where they went ashore at Salerno in mid-September 1943. Attached to the 34th Infantry Division, the Battalion conducted extensive reconnaissance and countermine support for the infantry and indirect fire missions in reinforcement of the Red Bull Division field artillery. Subsequent Battalion operations in Italy included the fiercely-contested assault crossing of the Volturno River, the infamous and costly battle for San Pietro, the crossing of the Rapido, and the legendary battle for Cassino. After a brief period off the line in March/April, the 776th was attached to the 85th Infantry Division and participated the great drive on Rome. After the fall of Rome, the Battalion supported the 34th and 91st Infantry Divisions and the 1st Armored Division as the Fifth Army continued its offensive up the “boot” of Italy. In early September 1944, the Battalion was relieved from assignment to Fifth Army and ordered to embark from Naples for France, where it would be reassigned to the Seventh Army. Before the 776th left Naples, however, it was reequipped with the most powerful antitank weapon in the Allied inventory: the M36 “Slugger” tank destroyer, mounting a high velocity 90mm main gun. 
776th TD Battalion Slugger, displaying its powerful 90mm main gun. (Informal History of the 776th TD Battalion) |
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| The Last Ride of the 1st German Cavalry!
January 11th, 1944 | 
 1944 A bad year all round for the Wehrmacht
Early in January 1944, the Russians renewed their operations against the 2nd Parachute Division and 1st Cavalry Brigade in Westcentral Russia. The 2nd Regiment and the 1st Battalion, 5th Parachute Regiment held a sector around the town of Plavny near Novorodka, either side of the Kirovgrad highway. Early on the 5th January the Russians began their offensive against positions held by the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment. Within half an hour a whole regiment of T-34's had been destroyed with minimal losses to the SP Brigade. The line held by the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment was broken in several locations as massed Russian armour broke through the weak line. Russian tanks broke through east of Plavny and the remaining reserve SP artillery pieces were rushed in to halt the advance. Many T-34's were destroyed by individual acts of heroism using mines, satchel charges and panzerfaust's.
The 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment was mostly destroyed as massed Russian forces swept over their positions north of the Kirovgrad highway. The survivors were rescued by several SP guns, along with the 1st Cavalry Brigade (Mounted), who broke through the Russian forces, whereafter they successfully withdrew (although it was several days before they turned up at the Divisions lines).
Late on the 5th, the SP Brigade was ordered to Ruptschina where the Russians had managed to cut the Kirovgrad-Novorodka highway. As they neared their objective they came across a Russian tank unit in the process of being refuelled. The SP guns along with their Fallschirmjäger passengers successfully destroyed them. By the 6th January, the 7th, 5th and 2nd Regiments had been forced to pull out of the Novorodka area due to mounting Russian pressure. Due to concrete pilasters along the border and blocking roadways so that tanks and heavy equipment could not pass, the Russian Troops were massing for a "Human Wave" Assult.
On 11th January, 1944, the 1st Cavalry, with all of the remaining men and horses numbering less than 500, outnumbered hundreds to one, rode out in formation, on the "Last Ride" of the German Cavalry. They lined up in single file, facing the Russian Hoard. This confused and bewildered the Russians, which brought the Russian advance to a temporary halt as the Russians watched in awe as the 1st Cavalry was lining up for formation, as if "Going on Parade", while the band played.
When the Russian advance continued, the 1st Cavalry "Charged" into the oncomming Russians. The 1st Cavalry then split in 2, and hit the flanks of the advancing hoards. While the flanks were being pushed back, a number of the cavalrymen dismounted and set up machine gun nests. The Russians that day staged 17 massed "Human Wave" assults. Thousands upon thousands of Russian Troops lay dead or wounded. There was not a man or horse left of the 1st Cavalry that rode out that day. They managed to hold a line outside of Kirovgrad denying the Russians this objective.
On the 12th January the survivors of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment, and 1st Cavalry Brigade were returned to Germany as they had ceased to exist as fighting formations. After the intense fighting around Novorodka, the front around Kirovgrad slipped into stalemate. The remaining guns of the 286th SP Brigade were transferred elsewhere on the Eastern Front.
 1st German Cavalry Photos | | | | | | A Letter for a Fallen Soldier!  
Fieldpostnumber 15422C In Ampleben, Number 6/OverSchoeningen/Brunswick Mrs.Emma Michaelis, Nee(Rose) My Dear Mrs. Michaelis! I have the tragic plight, of telling you, that your husband, My Under-Officer Gustav Michaelis, who was awarded the Medal of Valor, And the War Earned Iron Cross With Oak Cluster, a Heavily Decorated Soldier, was on the Morning of 11 January, 1944, during very heavy fighting, in the midst of the masses of the enemy, a True Hero of the Reich, who gave his finest unto the Fatherland, now is Fallen! As Group Commander of this Unit, they either had to fight against impossible odds or flee. All Hope Was Lost! As the good Soldier that he was, he led a mounted charge against the enemy to halt their Advance, and in the Heat of Battle, was shot in the head. The Wound was so Severe, that he died instantly. I am speaking as one who has known him by name and as a friend and as a Comrad in Arms. His Warm Friendship was Very Dear to me. The Company, on 10 January, 1944, making the decision to hold the Advance, fed extra grain to the Horses, brushed and groomed them, and polished the saddles and tack. The Soldiers polished their Boots and Belts, and Brushed and Cleaned their Uniforms. That Evening, they went to a Local "Establishment", and held a Party. They Drank a Toast, Danced and Sang Songs. All this while 7 Russian Divisions were converging against us. Rather than Surrender, they would all Ride Out Together in the Morning for the People, the Fatherland, and their Friends and Family. Holding the line, even for a few hours, to give Precious Moments for the Troops and Civilians behind them to get Home! It was Magnificent as they rode out in the Morning! I ordered the Band to Play! It was not a Hopeless Cause, as none of us would have made it Back Alive, or Worse would have been Bondsmen in our own Country! I am not understanding of this! In all honesty I do not have the Words, for One so Outstanding a Sacrifice, in the Service of One's Country. The Standoff, and Personal and Military Sacrifice, that he and his Company Achieved, Bewildered and Halted the Enemy, giving Time for those Camped Against Us In the West to Secure the Homeland, and for Us to Escape! It is with the Greatest of Admiration, and from the Bottom of my Heart, that I send this Greeting, and Hope that it will Uplift You, to know that he died with Honor, fighting mostly to Protect You and his Home. CL. BRECHT, Lieutenant and Camp Commander
Click "Gott Verlaub Mich Nicht" Click "Mein Schatz Reise Nicht" "Am Amfang War's Auf Erden" "11:00AM, 11 Januar, 1944, Die Ende" | | |  Despite highly ballyhooed emphasis on employment of mechanized forces and on rapid movement, the bulk of German combat divisions were horse drawn throughout World War II. Early in the war it was the common belief of the American public that the German Siegfrieds of Hitler's Blitz rode forth to battle on swift tanks and motor vehicles. But the notion of the mechanized might of the German Wehrmacht was largely a glamorized myth born in the fertile brains of newspapermen. Actually, the lowly horse played a most important part in enabling the German Army to move about Europe.  Public opinion to the contrary, so great was the dependence of the Nazi Blitzkrieg upon the horse that the numerical strength of German Army horses maintained during the entire war period averaged around 1,100,000. Of the 322 German Army and SS divisions extant in November 1943, only 52 were armored or motorized. Of the November 1944 total of 264 combat divisions, only 42 were armored or motorized. The great bulk of the German combat strength—the old-type infantry divisions—marched into battle on foot, with their weapons and supply trains propelled almost entirely by four-legged horsepower. The light and mountain divisions had an even greater proportion of animals, and the cavalry divisions were naturally mainly dependent on the horse. 
Light and mountain divisions, of which the Germans had many, used great numbers of animals for transport. Their employment of footsoldiers and animals made them useful on the trackless Russian steppes as well as in difficult and mountainous terrain.
The bulk of the German Army—the dough feet of the normal infantry divisions—moved on shank's mare. The rifle companies' transport consisted of three-horse wagons, on which the troops loaded their packs, as did this outfit on campaign in Russia in the summer of 1941.
The old-type German infantry division had approximately 5,300 horses, 1,100 horse-drawn vehicles, 950 motor vehicles, and 430 motorcycles. In 1943, due to the great difficulties in supply and upkeep of motor vehicles in the wide stretches of the Eastern Front, the allotment to divisions in that theater was reduced to approximately 400 motor vehicles and 400 motorcycles, and the number of horses was increased to some 6,300. The 1944-type divisions had about 4,600 horses, 1,400 horse-drawn vehicles, 600 motor vehicles, and 150 motorcycles. The only fully motorized unit in the old-type infantry division was the antitank battalion. Most of the divisional supply trains were horse drawn, motor vehicles being used chiefly to transport fuel and for the workshop company. A far greater degree of motorization existed among German GHQ troops, the supply units of which were mostly motorized. Motorization of GHQ troops was to a large degree a necessity, since these units included such types of outfits as heavy artillery, for which horse draft would have been a practical impossibility. These motorized GHQ units were assigned to armies, corps, and divisions as originally required. INDEPENDENT CAVALRY UNITS While the horse played a big role in the average infantry division, the Germans placed no complete confidence in cavalry itself as an arm of extensive usefulness and dependability. The extent of use of independent horse cavalry units by the Germans varied inversely with German fortunes. During the first 3 years of the war, when Germany was ascendant, such units were almost abandoned completely; they never exceeded one division. From 1943, new cavalry units were formed, and by early 1945 there were six cavalry divisions and two cavalry corps. The marked growth of independent cavalry toward the end of the war is not to be interpreted as signifying a basic change in German military theory. The new units were required primarily to protect communication lines in the Balkans, where they operated in small independent groups, or to cover the flanks of armies during large-scale withdrawals on the Eastern Front. In both cases, the use of cavalry was largely dictated by lack of motor transport. In late 1943 and early 1944 German military requirements began seriously to exceed production capacities. This was also the period in which strategic bombardment began to cripple the ability of German factories to meet established production targets. The great East Prussian horse-breeding farms not being affected by B-17's and Lancasters, the availability of horseflesh continued undiminished. The later use of cavalry units also was necessary from a military standpoint. Balkan and Russian terrain conditions favored the use of mounted units. The Balkans were mountainous, while the trackless wastes of Russia had few roads and many swamps and forests. The steppes, which might be flat and smooth for cross-country motor travel in summer, became morasses after heavy rains. Most roads were almost bottomless in spring and fall. But the Germans had numbers of light (Jäger) and mountain (Gebirgsjäger) divisions to cope with such conditions, so that cavalry units were not the only element of the German Army useful in mud and difficult terrain. The employment of horse cavalry in an old-fashioned offensive role was confined to the early campaigns, when Germany enjoyed overwhelming air superiority. Even then, cavalry operations were on a small scale. Indications are that the German High Command had no intention of reviving the offensive use of large numbers of mounted units in normal terrain, but that it did intend, in the event of victory, to organize such units on a considerable scale for screening and reconnaissance activities in Eastern Europe and the Near East. Questions of expense and materials involved in the provision of motorized and armored equipment probably played a part in this decision, as did the ability of cavalry to live off the country, especially in agricultural areas. HISTORY OF GERMAN CAVALRY A review of the tradition-studded history of German cavalry provides significant background for a study of World War II experience. Prussian cavalry, which grew from less than 1,000 sabers in the early 17th century to some 6,000 by 1740, reached the peak of its fame and its most extensive and successful employment under Frederick the Great. During the Seven Years War (1756-1763) it was decisive in a number of victorious battles, both by bold charges and enveloping operations, and on several occasions it prevented disaster by covering infantry retreats. Prussian cavalry made a relatively poor showing in the war with Austria in 1866 when the cavalry corps (copied from Napoleon) was found unwieldy. It was then reorganized with greater fire power and played an important part, under brilliant tactical leadership, in the Franco-Prussian War. In the early 20th century the German Army included 46 cavalry brigades, each consisting of two regiments of five troops each, with a total of 69,000 men. By 1914 there were 110 regiments with 87,000 men, but there was no further expansion during World War I. German cavalry was used successfully in World War I during the advances in the West, in Poland, and in Rumania; in these campaigns it was employed principally for reconnaissance and screening. To a lesser extent, it was also useful in conjunction with trench warfare and for covering operations during the German retreats in 1918. Occasionally, after using their horses for swift movement to critical sectors, cavalrymen went into action dismounted. Following the World War I defeat, the German General Staff organized the new Reichswehr so that it would be capable of rapid conversion into a large and powerful modern army when the Treaty of Versailles restrictions were relaxed or abrogated. The 100,000-man army consisted of seven infantry divisions and three cavalry divisions. Each of the latter had 5,500 men and included six regiments of five troops each and one battalion of horse artillery. This cavalry strength was envisaged to be quickly adaptable to the formation of armored and motorized units. Between 1934 and 1939 the German Army expanded to a total of 52 divisions: 35 infantry, 5 Panzer, 4 light (mechanized cavalry), 4 motorized, and 4 mountain. The only independent cavalry unit with which Germany started World War II was the 1st Cavalry Brigade. On 19 September 1939 the cavalry arm was abolished and the "mobile troops" (Schnelle Truppen) were created to embrace all GHQ cavalry, reconnaissance, tank, antitank, bicycle, motorcycle, and armored infantry units. In April 1943 the term "mobile troops" was abandoned and a new arm known as "Panzer troops" was created to embrace tank and antitank, heavy assault gun, armored reconnaissance, armored infantry, and motorized infantry units. The cavalry, instead of being restored to its former status as an independent arm, was absorbed into the infantry, but members of former cavalry units were still permitted to wear their traditional golden yellow piping, and original cavalry officers were still allowed to call themselves cavalrymen. GHQ CAVALRY IN WORLD WAR II Development of independent, cavalry units during World War II is best described by surveying the operations of the four following classifications: early army units (1939-41), Waffen-SS units (1941-45), Cossack units (1943-45), and later army units (1944-45). 
Organic cavalry included mounted troops in both the reconnaissance battalion and infantry regiment of the normal infantry division. These men wore the normal infantry uniform, except for breeches and high boots.
The 1st Cavalry Brigade with which Germany started the war included two horse cavalry regiments, one mixed (partly mechanized) cavalry regiment, a horse artillery battalion, a mechanized reconnaissance battalion, and a bicycle battalion. Its T/O strength was 6,200 men and 4,200 horses. This unit participated in the Polish campaign from the first day with considerable distinction, though its exploits were almost unnoticed among the more spectacular and novel operations of the new Panzer divisions. Under the Third Army, but not subordinated to a corps, the brigade moved rapidly from the assembly area in Prussia north of Mlawa to the Narew River, took part in the crossings of that river and the Bug against strong resistance, and reached the area east of Warsaw on the 12th day. As part of one wing of a huge enveloping movement against the Polish capital it attacked both frontally and from the flanks and at times pushed far ahead of the main forces to disrupt enemy communications. This was the only time during the war that a German horse cavalry unit operated successfully against a determined enemy, in the "traditional" offensive role of cavalry. After the Polish campaign, the brigade was expanded into the 1st Cavalry Division. The 1st Cavalry Division was an orthodox-type cavalry division, with motorized or semi-motorized reconnaissance, signal, engineer, and antitank battalions. It started the Western Campaign in May 1940 in the Aachen sector under the Eighteenth Army. The cavalrymen were on the right flank of the initial drive through northern and western Belgium and into northern France. The division did not see much action at the front, however, until the second phase of the campaign, when it took part with armored forces in the crossing of the Somme and Seine, and later reached the Loire near Saumur. In these operations it played an important part in beating the enemy to vital river crossings, thus isolating large bodies of demoralized French troops. The division was able to travel 45 to 60 miles a day, and on one occasion it was credited (in a German report) with destroying 34 out of 40 attacking tanks. 
The 1st German Cavalry Division’s Triumphant Ride Into Paris, France 1940.
In the first 2 months of the Russian campaign, when the German armies were advancing rapidly, the 1st Cavalry Division was almost continuously in action in the central sector. It had been expanded further to a total of six regiments, probably organized under three brigades. But the tactics it had mastered in Poland and France, where Germany controlled the air and enjoyed fire power and mobility superiority, were apparently not too successful when applied to the conditions in Russia. The division was withdrawn at the height of German success, sent to occupied France, and converted into the 24th Panzer Division (later to be destroyed at Stalingrad, though subsequently reformed in France). No more cavalry units above squadron size were formed until the latter part of 1943. WAFFEN-SS CAVALRY UNITS The Waffen-SS, recognized as Himmler's "elite" military organization in competition with the army, took an early interest in horse cavalry. By 1941 the General SS (the "non-military" part time branch of the SS) had 23 cavalry regiments of from five to eight troops each. These were intended for equitation training and policing purposes. Shortly after the beginning of the Russian campaign, an SS brigade of two regiments was sent to the front. It operated largely in the front line of the central and southern sectors; it also fought partisans behind the lines. In mid-1942 it had expanded and been converted into the SS Cavalry Division. A high-caliber division, it was part of the force which tried unsuccessfully to relieve the Sixth Army at Stalingrad, and besides engaging in several severe flank-covering retreats it fought in the losing battles for Kharkov and Dnepropetrovsk. Late in 1943 it was withdrawn first to Poland and then to Yugoslavia. In March 1944 it entered Hungary as the principal part of the coercive force sent there to insure that country's continued collaboration. While there, it furnished one full regiment and cadres for two additional horse cavalry regiments to form the 22d SS Cavalry Division. Both original SS cavalry divisions were organized along identical lines, each with three horse cavalry regiments, a machine gun troop, a heavy weapons troop, and a headquarters troop; a horse artillery regiment, of three light battalions; a bicycle battalion; an antitank battalion; partly motorized signal and engineer battalions; and a motorized supply regiment. T/O strength was about 10,000 men. While it operated in small groups against Yugoslav partisans, the first SS cavalry division nevertheless retained its supporting arms. These included field artillery with thirty-two 105-mm gun-howitzers and four 150-mm howitzers; antiaircraft, with 20-mm and 37-mm gun; and thirty-five 75-mm or 88-mm antitank guns. Infantry weapons included thirty 81-mm mortars, 4 Russian-type 120-mm mortars, 213 light machine guns, and 42 heavy machine guns. The two SS cavalry divisions operated together in the defensive battles in the difficult terrain of Transylvania. The Germans probably intended to organize them into a cavalry corps, but due to the exigencies of the campaign this was never accomplished and they came under the control of the IX SS Mountain Corps. The two SS cavalry divisions fell back on Budapest and were among the German units which were encircled in that city and finally destroyed in January 1945. Remnants which escaped combined with replacements to form the new 37th SS Cavalry Division, but this unit never reached full strength and did not distinguish itself in the final confused battles against the Russians in Austria. 
The Waffen-SS cavalry brigade which served in Russian in 1941 was an elite unit, and like other Waffen-SS outfits had special clothing and equipment.
COSSACK UNITS Beginning in the summer of 1942, as a part of the German policy of employing ex-Soviet personnel (prisoners of war and deserters), a number of independent Cossack cavalry squadrons and troops were formed under the First Panzer Army in southern Russia. Under German commanders, these units successfully performed long-range reconnaissance and staged raids behind enemy lines in the steppes beyond the lower Don and in the northern Caucasus. In general, however, it was found that foreign units were unreliable in the German retreats during the winter of 1942-43, and all such units were transferred to Poland. 
Cossack cavalry units in German service were weak in supporting arms, and relied upon cavalry proper for strength. These men are armed with the standard German rifle, but German Cossacks also used captured Soviet arms.
The 1st Cossack Division was officially formed on 1 May 1943. This division was transferred to Yugoslavia in October for protection of German lines of communication, especially the vital stretch of railway between Sisak and Brod. Its strength lay in cavalry proper, for it was very weak in supporting arms. Originally provided with two brigades and later with three, the 1st Cossack Division had two regiments per brigade. One of a regiment's two squadrons could have been bicycle mounted. Each squadron had three or four horse or cycle troops and machine gun troops. The regiment had a heavy weapons troop. Although the German commander complained to his superiors of difficulties in maintaining discipline and loyalty, and the Yugoslav population complained of atrocities committed by the division, this unit performed its specialized mission with success until the Germans began withdrawing from the Balkans in the latter part of 1944. The division was split into the 1st and 2d Cossack Cavalry Divisions. These were absorbed into the Waffen-SS, and the XV SS Cossack Cavalry Corps was set up to control them. By March 1945 the corps was in Slavonia with the new mission of protecting the left flank of Army Group E against Russian attacks. Late in April the army group swung back rapidly to the north-west against the Austrian frontier, with this Cossack corps at the pivot. In those last hectic days of the war, the cavalry corps was characterized not only by its superior mobility, but by the intense fear on the part of its personnel of being captured by the Russians. Thus it was among the first units to reach Austria and surrender to the western Allies—only to be turned over to the Red Army.
SS cavalry divisions were characterized by good armament, and had a full quota of supporting arms. This photo shows part of a machine gun troop of the original SS cavalry brigade in Russia in '41, and demonstrates the ability of horse transport to negotiate obstacles uncrossable by motors without engineer aid.
LATE ARMY UNITS Early in 1944 the German Army decided to revive the use of independent cavalry units as a means of covering withdrawals on the long Eastern Front. The initial brigades were upgraded into "divisions" in February 1945 and a cavalry corps established. Each new cavalry "division" consisted of two horse cavalry regiments of two squadrons each, a horse artillery regiment of three battalions, a partly motorized signal battalion, an armored reconnaissance battalion, and an engineer troop. The artillery armament was weaker than that of the SS cavalry divisions, since only twenty-four 105-mm were allotted. The number of 120-mm mortars was increased to 24, with thirty 81-mm mortars, 72 bazookas. thirty-nine 75-mm or 88-mm antitank guns, 347 light machine guns, 29 heavy machine guns, and nineteen 20-mm antiaircraft or automatic cannon. The cavalry corps controlled mechanized as well as horse cavalry units. It fought severe defensive battles throughout the summer and fall of 1944 on the Eastern Front. Its principal achievement was successfully covering the northern flank of the Second Army, which was occupying an important salient in the area of Brest-Litovsk. Subsequently the corps was shifted to a relatively quiet sector farther north under the Fourth Army and then, at the beginning of 1945, to western Hungary. The corps ended the war in the vicinity of Graz, controlling the 2d and 4th Cavalry Divisions, the 23rd Panzer Division, and the 6th SS Panzer Grenadier Division. 
ORGANIC CAVALRY IN WORLD WAR II German doctrine has always laid great emphasis on strong and aggressive reconnaissance at all echelons as a basis for dispositions and operations. This ranged from distant strategic reconnaissance by air forces and by large cavalry or motorized units to constant local patrolling by groups of four or five men from a rifle platoon. In planning for World War II, the German High Command allotted a full, organic reconnaissance battalion to each division, except for coast defense and other static divisions. The organization of the battalion was identical in virtually all German infantry divisions and was retained without any essential change until 1943, except that there was a tendency in some units to replace the horses by bicycles. Basically, the battalion consisted of one horse troop, one bicycle troop, a heavy weapons troop, and a communications platoon. The horse troop had three platoons (each of three squads) and a heavy machine gun section. The heavy machine gun section had 21 heavy machine guns; each squad had one light machine gun. The troop's strength was 205 men, 213 horses, and 3 horse-drawn wagons. 
Towards the end of the war the bicycle replaced the horse to an increasing extent in organic German infantry reconnaissance units. This view shows one of the earlier bicycle troops operating in the Arctic. Note the terrain.
In 1943 a new and smaller type of infantry division was introduced in which the reconnaissance battalion was replaced by a shock infantry unit known as the Fusilier battalion. One company of this unit was mounted on bicycles while the rest were horse mounted. It had to serve both as the divisional reconnaissance element and as the reserve battalion for all three infantry regiments, which had been reduced to two battalions each. The Germans experimented with even smaller divisional setups, but this Fusilier battalion was restored in the 1945-type division, with the horses eliminated and the entire battalion (except heavy weapons elements) mounted on bicycles. The employment of divisional reconnaissance battalions adhered to the usual principles of modern cavalry tactics. The units were used aggressively and skillfully for counterreconnaissance, screening, flank protection, and covering withdrawals.  Though not strictly a part of the cavalry arm, the mounted platoon in the headquarters company of each infantry regiment in the German Army was used to spearhead regimental movements, for reconnaissance before and during action, and for screening and covering purposes. It consisted of three squads, a headquarters section, and a train, totaling 31 men and 31 horses. In later war operations some horses of the platoon were replaced by bicycles. This replacement was true of all divisions of the Volksgrenadier and 1945 types. SUMMARY It is clear that the bulk of the German Army would have continued to be horse drawn unless much more bountiful sources of liquid fuel had become available than the Germans expected, even with full control of the Caucasus oil fields. Automotive production capacity would also have affected the degree of German motorization, even without the impact of war to complicate the procurement picture. Certainly, in an economy like the German, provision of motor vehicles on a U.S. scale was impossible. Extensive mass production of vehicles—with its corollary rapid quantity production at low unit cost—did not exist in Germany to the extent common in the United States.  Economic factors, aggravated by the effects of air bombardment, also played a part in the revival of independent horse cavalry toward the end of the war. The horse re-entered the picture, if for no other reason than that he provided a mode of transport not suffering from related procurement shortages other than that of fodder. Just how largely tactical usefulness weighed in the decision to re-emphasize cavalry remains an open question. The dissolution of the cavalry school, the failure to train new cavalry officers to any significant extent, and the virtual abandonment of GHQ horse cavalry during Germany's victorious surge—all suggest the trend at that time to drop the independent unit altogether. Later developments may have caused the Germans to reconsider their position. Soviet cavalry, which had suffered from some initial reverses during the early campaigns, quickly adjusted its doctrine, tactics, and technique to warfare as fought on the Eastern Front. German forces also found advantages in the employment of independent cavalry, particularly in rough terrain where partisans usually operated. Himmler, in a confidential speech in October 1943, implied that "mobile frontier" would be established as far cast as possible at the cessation of open hostilities, German youth was to be trained and toughened in policing the native population and the "barbarians beyond." Such a situation might call for the extensive use of cavalry on the enormous trackless wastes of the steppes: Himmler probably believed, also, that the horse was a better "youth-toughener" than the effete motor vehicle. Evidently, Himmler intended to use cavalry for pacification purposes, as opposed to cavalry in full-scale combat against units comprising all arms and services. The German lesson on the horse in transport and in cavalry units appears to be simple. If horsed units exist, they form a nucleus which can be rapidly expanded should economic and terrain conditions call for extensive use of animals. There seems to be no hard and set rule as to when an army is likely to feel the need for horsed units, since that need is based upon estimates of economic and terrain conditions and of the capabilities of the troops. From the experience of the Germans and of other foreign armies, it is evident that the horse has yet to be supplanted under all conditions. Should Germany ever be permitted to build up any army of its own again, it is probable that it would include a horse cavalry element—if only to preserve the proud tradition of German cavalry with its motto "Paradise on earth is on the backs of horses" (Das Paradies der Erde liegt auf den Rucken der Pferda). | | More About WW2 US & German Mounted Horse Cavalry! WW2 US Cavalry On Border Patrol, Occupied Germany 1945 At the outbreak of World War II the Wehrmacht was still in a reorganising phase and in 1940, at the beginning of the Blitzkrieg against France, the French army still had more tanks than the Wehrmacht. On the other hand the Wehrmacht had many more horses. However this was not necessarily a disadvantage. The Dutch and French were well informed about the German intentions and destroyed many bridges in the attempt to stop or delay the German advance. They also installed a large number of anti-tank obstacles. While this kind of obstacle was designed to stop armoured vehicles, they could easily be passed by the cavalry units with no delay. On June 9th, 1940, a battalion of French armoured fighting vehicles was sent against the 1st German Cavalry Division to stop its advance. From 30 tanks, 28 were destroyed in the battle. A very different scenario to the attacks of Polish units against German tanks just a few months before. One year later the 1st Cavalry Division took part in the Operation Barbarossa, the war against the Soviet Union. Despite impressive successes at the beginning of the operation the Division was also driven to its limits: the horses, already exhausted from the burning sun of southern France and by the journey of thousands of miles through Western Europe, seemed barely able to go any further into the Russian wilderness. On October 10th 1941, The German higher command (Oberkommando) decided to mechanise the 1st Cavalry Division. The symbol of the newly formed 24th Panzer-Division became a jumping horseman. Even the most passionate horsemen were not against this, disgusted by all the suffering the horses had to endure. Many soldiers hoped to see their horses on a way back home, for a peaceful life on farms. Their hopes were dashed. Only some of the steeds of high ranking officers were sent back to Germany. The rest of the horses had to serve in the army to pull the artillery and transport assets. Even after this point in time the Wehrmacht still had a large number of riders, but not as cavalry units. However only one year later, in 1942, new cavalry units were formed: the units were the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reiter Regiment under the command of the Army Cavalry Command (Oberst Holste). A great part of this last renaissance of the German cavalry was due to Freiherr von Boeselager, a cavalry man by heart who called himself a "riding Infantryman". But the set-up of cavalry units was hindered by the lack of good horses. The best horses the Wehrmacht ever had, were those from the former 1st Cavalry Division. But these were now sweating by pulling old, dirty wagons somewhere in the mud of Russia. So everything else remaining on four legs had to be saddled: little fat ponies, old heavy farming horses and horses captured from the enemy. The question remains if it was really a good idea to give up the 1st Cavalry Division, only to rebuild a lesser one, one year later. While in the Philippines, the last American cavalry horses finalised their career between rice and curry in the soldier's stomachs. In the USA, the Shore Patrol Sucessfully used Horses while Patrolling US Beaches. Horses remained vital at the Eastern Front for Russian and for German troops. In the rainy season tanks and trucks were trapped on muddy roads. In Winter their motors failed as a result of frozen engines. Only the horse-drawn vehicles had a chance to make their way. Adolf Hitler, who never cared much for the cavalry was persuaded by the successes of German and also Russian cavalry units in 1944 that this might be one of the "miracle-weapons" he always looked for. Therefore he ordered the formation of new cavalry units. But at this time in the war, it was impossible to get enough well trained men and horses. The command remained incomplete. Nevertheless, these new units were able to delay the advance of the Soviet Army for a short time as the Heeresgruppe Mitte was overrun by the Soviets. These delaying tactics took a heavy toll in the lives of experienced cavalrymen and horses. The first German Cavalry, after their last glorious ride of 11 January, 1944, mainly consisted of Dismounted Cavalry, the sick and walking wounded. The horses that also remained were sickly and near death or scragly old farm animals. While there was some limited success of German cavalry units in the east, the German horse-drawn convoys were smashed by the bombs of the American "flying fortresses" and low flying attack aircraft on the Western Front in 1944/45. On May 8th 1945 the last German Cavalry, the 1st Cavalry Corps surrendered to the British Army. The Germans soldiers and their horses were treated well in the POW camp, but one day, the British ordered the slaughter of the horses and to feed the meat to the inmates. To avoid this, the Germans had the idea to organise a tournament with empty ammunition-boxes as obstacles for the horses. The British, passionate sportsmen, could not resist to watch this event every evening, forgetting what they had in mind. So the British Divisional-Commander collaborated with the Germans to get the necessary papers for taking the horses with them into the American Zone. There, the Americans could be persuaded that the German soldiers would need their horses for farming and to rebuild Germany in the future. 1941 2nd US Cavalry Patrol Along The Mexico/Arizona Border | | | | VOLHYNIA 
LYDIA GASCHKE, BORN 1917, PASSED 2007: Notes from a phone conversation with Lydia Gaschke on 19 June 2001: Dad’s father was a young boy when the Tomtschik family moved from Königsberg to the Ukraine, not his grandfather as I had originally thought. Lydia was certain that her father Gustav and aunt Augusta were both born in Königsberg since the fact that her father was born a German and had German citizenship papers was very important later as they were trying to get out of the Ukraine and back to Germany. This would put the family’s date of departure from Königsberg much later than I originally thought, somewhere around the early 1870’s. Lydia said her grandfather told them their land in Königsberg was very poor with sandy soil and lots of rocks. He had always heard the land in the Ukraine was very fertile, so he decided to sell the farm in Königsberg and move the family to the Ukraine where he was able to buy land and start a new farm. Lydia described the farm as having a large fruit orchard with apple and pear trees, and two fields of hops. There was a pond near the orchard. They kept some geese on the pond and would also go swimming there. Aunt Olga nearly drowned in the pond one day. She had gone under, and they had to pull her out of the water. She had stopped breathing, but they were able to get her to spit all the water back out and revive her. There was also a piece of woods on their land. There was a road coming out of Fedorowka that split the farm into two halves. Apparently they also raised pigs on the farm since Oma Tomtschik would go to market to sell the Ferkel, or baby pigs. Lydia thought the size of the farm was 18 desiatina, which equates to around 500 acres of land, but wasn’t sure of the exact size. Dad’s grandfather was named Johann Tomtschik and his Grandmother was named Regina. Lydia didn’t remember Amalia Konetzke’s (Oma Tomtschik’s) parents, as they were already dead when she was born. Oma’s dad was named Johann Konetzke. Amalia was the oldest of the children, and Emil Konetzke was the second. Amalia’s mother died after she was born. Lydia did not know her name. After this Amalia’s father married a woman named Bertha and the remaining seven children were born. Bertha died in 1934. Lydia wasn’t sure what Johann Konetzke did for a living, but he probably farmed too. He also died at a young age but both Lydia and Waldemar Konetzke are unsure of how or why he died. The other children were named Lydia, Emma, Paulina, Bertha, Johann and Waldemar. Lydia and Emma married Charntezke brothers. Lydia moved to the US with her husband and they were both killed in a car accident. Emma stayed in Germany near the city of Jena in the former east zone and died there. Paulina stayed in Poland and married a polish man. Bertha was sent away to Siberia. Bertha has a daughter named Tanya living in Russia who the family tried to contact once, but she wrote back that she didn’t want to be contacted any more. Johann is dead, but she doesn’t know what happened to him. Waldemar was the youngest. He had to fight in the war for the German army. He was last heard from as he was going to fight in Holland near the end of the war. They don’t know what happened to him after that. In 1915 the Russians deported most of the Germans living in the Ukraine. Gustav and Amalia Tomtschik were sent to Astrakhan. Lydia was born in Astrakhan on March 16, 1916. Martha was also born in Astrakhan in 1920, so the family spent at least five years there. She said her dad worked on buildings while they were in Astrakhan. Her grandfather Johann was not deported because he was considered too old. He was allowed to stay on the farm. When conditions improved somewhat in the area, he wrote a letter to his son saying that he should come back and then he would sign the farm over to him. Gustav left the family behind in Astrakhan and went back to complete the transaction on the farm, and probably to see if the area was safe. After this, he went back to Astrakhan to get his family and then brought them all to the farm in Fedorowka. As part of the transaction for the farm Gustav had to pay Augusta 400 Rubles. Amalia Konetzke (Tomtschik) was born in the Ukraine. She and her family were Masuren. From the readings I have done I found out the Masuren were a race of people originating in southern East Prussia and northern Poland. Masuren were characterized by their short, stocky stature and their own language, which was a combination of German, Polish and some Russian. Dad’s father was shot by two men who were brothers as he was coming back from selling hops at the market in Tschernjachow, a town about 13KM south of Fedorowka. He was alone on a horse drawn wagon when he was killed. The two men took his money, tied the horse to a telegraph pole and then ran away. The men were caught some time later at which time one of them committed suicide by slitting his wrists. Lydia said after that the parents and family of the brothers were all rounded up and shot because they had raised murderers. Opa Tomtschik was buried in Fedorowka. -Martha, Emma and Olga were all baptized in the church in Neudorf. Lydia was baptized in a river somewhere with 30 other people. Around the time the communists seized the farm all the churches were closed as well. For a time they had no church to go to. After a while they started having church meetings in peoples homes. A few small churches were then built. Lydia said their pastor, and most of the other pastors, were all arrested and shot. When Lydia got married she was not allowed to get married in the church. She had to go to Zhitomir and was married in the courthouse there. According to Waldemar Konetzke, the Konetzke side of the family did not regularly attend church and he didn’t know what denomination or religion they claimed. -All of the children except Lydia went to school in Neudorf. Oma Tomtschik didn’t let Lydia go to school because she needed her to work at home. After Opa Tomtschik was killed Lydia had to do a lot of work around the house. She spent a lot of her time caring for Dad and the other younger children and said she practically raised the family. -John Tucholke’s father was named Julius. Oma had another Tucholke baby who died. Julius Tucholke was usually drunk and was very abusive. He would beat Oma and the children. Lydia said that after Dad was burned Julius Tucholke would torment him by picking at his sores. Oma Tomtschik finally had enough and chased him away. He never came back. Life was very hard after the communists took the farm. The communists not only seized the land, but all the animals and anything else of value. They weren’t allowed to own anything. They were given little food and often had to scavenge in the fields for potatoes or anything else that might have been left behind. The communists didn’t care if they starved to death. Lydia’s father-in-law Julius Gaschke was taken away one day by the communists and shot for no apparent reason. Many of their neighbors were rounded up and deported to Siberia. One day in winter men came to the Tomtschik house with three wagons and were going to take Oma and the family away. Somehow Oma knew they were coming and told all the children to act like they were sick, and she did the same. When the communists came to take them away she convinced them that they were all very ill and would be dead before long and it wasn’t worth trying to send them away. The men left them alone and didn’t take any of them away. Around 1935 Dad’s Aunt Augusta left the Ukraine and went back to Königsberg. Lydia doesn’t know what happened to her after that. Life improved a bit when the Germans occupied the region during the war, but that was short lived. One day the German troops came and told them they had to leave right away and that the Russians were only 5KM away. They had to leave all their belongings in their house and flee. When they got to the Polish border there was a checkpoint manned by German guards. They were asked about their citizenship and where they were born. They were all born in Ukraine, but they claimed German citizenship because Gustav Tomtschik had been born in Königsberg. Luckily for them one of the border guards was also from Königsberg and he helped them get through the checkpoint into Poland. Many of the refugees trying to get into Poland were turned back and fell into Russian hands. -Uncle Otto’s real name was Anton. When they got to the Polish border the guards weren’t going to let him through because he had a Russian name, but then Lydia told them his name was really Otto, and that is what was put on his papers. Similarly, Lydia’s daughter Emma was originally named Tanya, but this too was changed because it was a Russian name. Lydia left Ukraine with three children, Irene, Emma and Julius who were all born in Olschewka. Little Julius died at the age of 8 months while they were in Poland. When he got sick he was taken away to a hospital where he later died. After this his body was given back to them. Somehow they were able to get a small coffin for him and they used white cloth from Irene and Emma’s dresses to make an outfit to bury him in. He was buried in a mass grave in Poland. -During the war uncles Otto and Julius both had to go in the Wehrmacht, or German army. Julius was sent to Berlin where he had to work in the fire department. He was kept busy trying to put out all the fires started by allied bombing. Otto was drafted and trained, but never actually went to combat. After the war they were both released from service. -The Germans needed field workers in the Beienrode area. That is why the family was sent to that area. Lydia said she worked in the fields there for a total of 8 years before leaving to go to the US. -Martha’s husband Anton Artikov was medically disqualified from immigrating so they had to stay behind when all the other relatives immigrated to the US. Martha was later killed. Her body was found beaten and stuffed into a sewer pipe with her sitting on her knees and a lot of her hair pulled out. WALDEMAR KONETZKE, MY FATHERS COUSIN From : John Tomtschik Subject : Oma Tomtschik's Family Date : Thu, 7 Jun 2001 11:01:13 -0700 (PDT) Hi, Today I talked on the phone with Dad's cousin Waldemar Konetzke and he told me some stuff about Oma Tomtschik's side of the family I never knew. He told me she was the oldest of eight children, five girls and three boys. The next oldest was Emil Konetzke, born on November 27, 1898. He was the father of Dads cousin Waldemar. The other siblings were named Johann, Waldemar, Lydia, Emma, Paulina, and Bertha. Waldemar Konetzke went back to visit his former home in the Ukraine in 1994. He was born in the village of Olschewka, which was only three kilometers northeast of Fedorowka. He said the village of Olschowka is gone. There are still some remaining buildings in Fedorowka, but nothing was recognizable. He found where the Olschowka cemetery used to be, but no grave markers were there. He said many of his (and our) relatives were buried in that cemetery and it was sad that nothing remains to remember them by. We plan to visit him again some time. He seems to really like talking about this stuff and I'm interested in it too, so we always seem to have plenty to talk about. Someone should make a list of questions to ask and go talk to Aunt Lydia and see what she remembers about all this. I guess that's all for today. Hope everyone is well. We are doing good here. Take care. GERMAN BAPTISTS RETURN TO GERMANY FROM VOLHYNIA -It was March 1949 and the Baptist church in Beienrode was holding a revival in the hall they met in. The pastor’s name from the church was Pastor Lutz. (Several years later he ended up going to Canada to preach.) Dad’s sister Olga invited mom to the revival meeting where a young traveling evangelist named Pastor Goetz was preaching. There was a piano and they sang songs and then heard a message. Mutti figures there were about 80 people there and the room was packed. She attended for a few nights, and then one night when Pastor Goetz gave the invitation Mutti raised her hand. A lady named Mrs. Miller came over by her and took her aside to pray with her. Mutti already knew Mrs. Miller as a friend. She is the lady who borrowed her wedding dress to Mutti to get married in June of 1948. Mutti also remembers that Mrs. Miller’s husband had gone to the war and lost both legs. -There was a baptism that was held on June 6th and the entire town of Beienrode showed up. Mutti said it was like nothing they’d ever seen and there were people everywhere watching. There were two tents near the river for them to get ready, one for boys and one for girls. Mutti recalls about 7 girls and 5 boys were all baptized at this time. They all wore white and went into the river to be baptized. John Tucholke and Dad’s cousin Irene were baptized at the same time Mutti was, but she wasn't sure if they became Christians at the same revival. It was in the river to the right of the road as you’re going into town just at the end of where the big Schloss still stands today. -Dad did not come to know the Lord until more than 10 years later in the United States. Mutti and Dad went to church every Sunday, but Dad hadn’t accepted the Lord. Somewhere around 1960-61 a pastor of their church came to the house and was talking with Dad and finally prayed with him to accept Christ. His name was pastor Kroecker. REMEBRANCES OF WW2 IN GERMANY -When Mutti lived in Ampleben, there were many air raids and the sirens would go off frequently. There was a fall-out shelter in town. When the sirens went off, everyone was supposed to go to the fall out shelter. The shelter was a wine cellar, which was also located in the same place where Mutti picked up mail. Mutti said that many times they didn’t go to the shelter when the sirens went off though, because there were lots of false alarms and they were always tired from working so hard all day that sometimes they just stayed home. One time when they actually did go to the shelter, they came home to discover a bomb had fallen through their roof and was lodged in the attic. Mutti said that every once in a while this would happen to others in the town also. Sometimes you’d even see a bomb in the ground and officials would put a barricade around it until it could be taken away. They called some officials who came to take away the one in their attic and defused it. Once, a bomb did go off in a barn in Ampleben and everyone had to get buckets of water to help put the fire out. | |   
Official Narrative
For Medal of Honor Recipient
MURPHY, AUDIE L.
Rank and organization:
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company B, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Holtzwihr France,
26 January 1945.
Entered service at: Dallas, Tex.
Birth: Hunt County, near Kingston, Tex.
G.O. No.65, 9 August 1945. CITATION: 2d Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone.
Behind him, to his right, 1 of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry.
With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back.
For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2d Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. 2d Lt. Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective.
On March 5, 1945, 1st Lieutenant Audie Murphy was called to Nancy, France by order of the 3rd Infantry Division Commander, Major General John "Iron-Mike" O'Daniel. On this day, General O'Daniel presented to 1st Lieutenant Murphy the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star.
After 'Iron Mike" pinned the medals on Audie's uniform, he pulled out of his pocket a Medal of Honor. Without giving it to Audie, O'Daniel showed the medal to him and stated that General Alexander Patch, the 7th Army Commander, would soon pin it on Audie during a different ceremony. He was America's greatest World War II hero, at one point single-handedly holding off 250 German soldiers and six tanks. But despite winning acclaim and stardom, he could never escape the pain and trauma of the conflict that made him a hero. Through clips from his films, newsreel footage and the memories of those who knew him including his sister the heroic but tragic tale of Audie Murphy comes to life. Biographical Sketch of
AUDIE LEON MURPHY
Courtesy of Richard L. Rodgers
Webmaster of the
Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website
http://www.audiemurphy.com/
Audie Leon Murphy, son of poor Texas sharecroppers, rose to national fame as the most decorated U.S. combat soldier of World War II. Among his 33 awards and decorations was the Medal of Honor, the highest military award for bravery that can be given to any individual in the United States of America, for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." He also received every decoration for valor that his country had to offer, some of them more than once, including 5 decorations by France and Belgium. Credited with either killing over 240 of the enemy while wounding and capturing many others, he became a legend within the 3rd Infantry Division. Beginning his service as an Army Private, Audie quickly rose to the enlisted rank of Staff Sergeant, was given a "battle field" commission as 2nd Lieutenant, was wounded three times, fought in 9 major campaigns across the European Theater, and survived the war. During Murphy's 3 years active service as a combat soldier in World War II, Audie became one of the best fighting combat soldiers of this or any other century. What Audie accomplished during this period is most significant and probably will never be repeated by another soldier, given today's high-tech warfare. The U.S. Army has always declared that there will never be another Audie Murphy. On 21 September, 1945, Audie was released from the Army as an active member and reassigned to inactive status. During this same time, actor James Cagney invited Murphy to Hollywood in September 1945, when he saw Murphy's photo on the cover of Life Magazine. The next couple of years in California were hard times for Audie Murphy. Struggling and becoming disillusioned from lack of work while sleeping in a local gymnasium, he finally received token acting parts in his first two films. His first starring role came in a 1949 released film by Allied Artists called, Bad Boy. In 1950 Murphy eventually got a contract with Universal-International (later called Universal) where he starred in 26 films, 23 of them westerns over the next 15 years. His 1949 autobiography To Hell And Back was a best seller. Murphy starred as himself in a film biography released by Universal-International in 1955 with the same title. The movie, To Hell and Back, held the record as Universal's highest grossing picture until 1975 when it was finally surpassed by the movie Jaws.
In the mid-60s the studios switched from contract players to hiring actors on a picture-by-picture basis. Consequently, when his contract expired in 1965 Universal did not renew. This gave him the opportunity to work with other studios and independent film producers. In the 25 years that Audie spent in Hollywood, he made a total of 44 feature films.
Despite his success in Hollywood, Audie never forgot his rural Texas roots. He returned frequently to the Dallas area where he owned a small ranch for a while. He also had ranches in Perris, California and near Tucson, Arizona. He was a successful Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racehorse owner and breeder, having interests in such great horses as "Depth Charge."
His films earned him close to 3 million dollars in 23 years as an actor. Audie loved to gamble, and he bet on horses and different sporting events. He was also a great poker player. In his role as a prodigious gambler, he won and lost fortunes. Audie Murphy wrote some poetry and was quite successful as a songwriter. He usually teamed up with talented artists and composers such as Guy Mitchell, Jimmy Bryant, Scott Turner, Coy Ziegler, or Terri Eddleman. Dozens of Audie Murphy's songs were recorded and released by such great performers as Dean Martin, Eddy Arnold, Charley Pride, Jimmy Bryant, Porter Waggoner, Jerry Wallace, Roy Clark, Harry Nilsson and many, many others. His two biggest hits were Shutters and Boards and When the Wind Blows in Chicago. Eddy Arnold recorded When the Wind Blows in Chicago for his 1993 album Last of the Love Song Singers which is currently in release by RCA. Audie suffered from what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTS) and was plagued by insomnia and depression. During the mid-60's he became dependent for a time on doctor prescribed sleeping pills called Placidyl. When he recognized that he had become addicted to this prescription drug, he locked himself in a motel room, stopped taking the sleeping pills and went through withdrawal symptoms for a week.
Always an advocate for the needs of veterans, he broke the taboo about discussing war related mental problems after this experience. In a effort to draw attention to the problems of returning Korean and Vietnam War veterans, Audie Murphy spoke-out candidly about his personal problems with PTS, then known as "Battle Fatigue". He publicly called for United States government to give more consideration and study to the emotional impact war has on veterans and to extend health care benefits to address PTS and other mental health problems of returning war vets. While on a business trip on May 28, 1971, (Memorial Day Weekend) he was killed at the age of 46. A private plane flying in fog and rain crashed in the side of a mountain near Roanoke, Virginia. Five others including the pilot were also killed. Although Audie owned and flew his own plane earlier in his career at Hollywood, he was among the passengers that tragic day.
On June 7th, Audie Murphy was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. His gravesite, near the Amphitheater, is second most visited gravesite year round. President Kennedy's grave is the most visited. In 1996 the Texas Legislature officially designated his birthday, June 20th, as Audie Murphy Day.
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The Glenn Miller Story  
Glenn Miller's new swing style was first heard in public at the Raymor April 16, 1938, with an emphasis on reeds, especially clarinet leads that replaced the high notes of the trumpet. Miller's arrangements had a broad sweeping legato style, evident in the band's first hit song Little Brown Jug. His theme song Moonlight Serenade, written in 1935 and recorded for the RCA Bluebird label in 1939, became "America's 2nd national anthem" during the war years, according to Dave Garroway. Miller enlisted as an "instant Captain" in the Army Air Force in 1942 and developed a new military "superband" that marched to swing songs rather than marches. The band first played in the Yale Bowl July 28, 1943, with 2 string bass instruments riding on 2 jeeps. His band played for the AAF radio series I Sustain the ngs in 1943 and recorded 12-inch vinyl V-discs distributed to troops overseas. He was one of the most effective war bond salesmen, rasing $4 million in 2 rallies in Chicago and St. Louis in 1943. Home Base is a selection from one of the radio shows produced by the Treasury Department. It was at this time that he and Helen adopted their first baby Stevie. Miller wanted to play for the troops in England and overcame AAF opposition with the help of Ike aide Col. Ed Kirby who loved Miller's music. In May 1944 he received his assignment to take 62 musicians to England, where he played 71 concerts from June to November 1944. He was first stationed in "buzz bomb alley" at 25 Sloane Court where 90% of the German V1s passed over, adding a new sound to Miller's music. The band moved to Bedford in July to perform in a BBC studio for 13 radio shows per week. The band flew by airplane to perform at different bases, and Miller suffered from ringing in the ears due to the unpressurized cabins.  Writing A New Song |
Unfortunately, few of Miller's performances in England were recorded due to war shortages of metal used to make master discs. In November, the band moved to London to record V-discs and was almost hit by one the new V2 rockets while performing at the Mount Royal Hotel. Miller was planning a tour in France at the request of SHAEF when his plane was lost over the Channel Dec. 14-15, 1944. The log book of RAF navigator Fred Shaw recorded an entry for Dec. 14 "Ops. Siegen Canceled. Jettison Southern Area" after a bombing raid was aborted and his group dropped their 4,000 bombs over the English Channel so they could safely land. Shaw remembered seeing a small plane spiraling out of control and plunging into the water. However, Fred W. Atkinson, Jr. , argues that it was a negligent U.S. general who allowed Miller's planes to fly in bad weather that caused the disappearance of Glenn Miller.
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Waterloo, Iowa had a population of less than 50,000 in 1942. Among that number were the eight members of the Sullivan family who lived at 98 Adams St. Thomas F. Sullivan, the head of the family, worked for the Illinois Central railroad. He was named after his grandfather who had been born in Ireland. Tom Sullivan married Alleta Abel in 1914 at St. Joseph’s Catholic church. As was typical of Irish-Catholic families of that generation, they lost no time in starting a large family. December 14, 1914—George Thomas February 18, 1916—Francis Henry February 19, 1917—Genevieve Marie August 28, 1918—Joseph Eugene November 8, 1919—Madison Abel July 8, 1922—Albert Leo April 1, 1931—Kathleen Mae (Died of pneumonia 5 months later) "This is a true story." What follows is the account of five young men named Sullivan. They enjoy a typical all-American small town childhood as they share youthful adventures and mischief. The Sullivans go fishing and boating. They worship in church. They boyishly slide down the banister of their house and squabble among themselves and with others. Their hardworking father tries to set for them a good example. Their mother cooks their meals, cleans their clothes and mediates their differences. The years pass too quickly and the Sullivans become young men. They date and go to dances. One of them falls in love and marries. Then terrible news comes, on December 7, 1941. The Japanese have launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. America is at war. "Its always been the five of us," one of the Sullivans proclaims. So they join the navy to do their patriotic duty. 
They were among the most famous of all the fighting men of World War II. The five Sullivan brothers, serving together in the Pacific, symbolized America's commitment to winning the war. But their deaths caused outrage and forced the military to change longstanding policies that allowed a family to lose an entire generation at once. On Friday, November 13, 1942, a Japanese torpedo struck the USS Juneau at Guadalcanal. Hundreds of sailors were left bobbing in shark infested waters, waiting for rescue. Most of them, including all five Sullivan brothers, died. The True Story Of The Fighting Sullivans revisits that fateful day with the help of Frank Holmgren, the last crewmember of the USS Juneau to be rescued. It sheds light on the decisions that conspired to create the tragedy, one of the most infamous disasters of World War II. 
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| | | | The Fighting Sullivans (Photo Album) | 
The Sullivan Brothers: The Loss of USS Juneau, (CL-52) When the United States and Japan went to war in December 1941, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese military quickly conquered what is now Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines. By the spring of 1942, Southeast Asia was in Japanese hands. In early May 1942, a Japanese naval operation aimed at capturing Port Moresby, on the southeastern coast of New Guinea, for use as a base to attack Allied communications with Australia was turned back in the Battle of the Coral Sea. A month later a powerful Japanese carrier force near Midway Atoll, northwest of Hawaii, was defeated in the Battle of Midway by American naval forces. After Midway, the Japanese turned their attention back toward Port Moresby, landing on the north coast of New Guinea to attack overland, and began to build an air base on Guadalcanal, in the eastern end of the Solomon Islands chain, to support their drive attack on Port Moresby. This serious threat was countered by the U. S. Marines landing on Guadalcanal on 8 August 1942. After the Marines had quickly captured the partially completed Japanese airstrip, it was completed and put into service as Henderson Field. This action was only the beginning of a long land, sea, and air battle for control of this strategic island that would not be resolved until the last Japanese troops evacuated Guadalcanal in early February 1943. For over seven months American and Japanese troops on the ground, Japanese landbased aircraft from Rabaul, New Britain and American planes from Henderson Field, as well as Allied and Japanese task forces of carriers and surface warships fought for control of Guadalcanal. One of naval battles was the cruiser night action, fought during the night of 12-13 November 1942, that made up part of what came to be called the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.  
In early November 1942, as the struggle for control of Guadalcanal remained undecided, both the Allies and the Japanese were desperately trying to reinforce the island with troops, food, and ammunition while trying to prevent the other side from doing the same. Although two American convoys arrived safely on 11 and 12 November, they had only partially unloaded their cargoes when Magic (intercepted Japanese messages) intelligence and reconnaissance reports indicated strong Japanese naval forces were approaching the island on a shore bombardment mission. As the American transports steamed eastwards for safety, an American force of five cruisers and eight destroyers, under command of Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan took up station in the strait between Guadalcanal and Florida Island, called "Ironbottom Sound" owing to the many sunken ships littering the sea floor from the naval battles. After midnight on 13 November, a Japanese formation of two battleships, a light cruiser, and eleven destroyers steamed past Savo Island, heading toward Guadalcanal. At 0124, these warships appeared on American radar and the two forces closed rapidly. Poor radar coordination, however, left the American warships vainly trying to pin down the location of the Japanese warships. The leading destroyers of both forces sighted each other briefly in the darkness and at 0145 USS Juneau received the order, "Stand by to open fire." A few minutes later, just after a Japanese searchlight flicked on, the lead American destroyers opened fire at the Japanese warships at a mere 1,600 yards. The Japanese replied in kind and the two formations quickly mingled together, firing into each other at point-blank range in the glare-lit darkness. At the first glint of light, as if from nowhere, Kamakazi Torpedo planes came into sight. (See Arrows) The gunners would put everything they had into them and still some got through, dropping their torpedoes just above the water line, and then crashing into the ships. 
Within minutes, the Japanese destroyer Akatsuki and the American cruiser USS Atlanta lay dead in the water, victims of shell and torpedo hits. Meanwhile, the two Japanese battleships, worried that American torpedo-armed destroyers were too close for comfort, tried to turn away. Still, the four American destroyers in lead fired guns and torpedoes at Hiei, the nearest Japanese battleship, damaging her superstructure with numerous shell hits. Two of the American destroyers USS Cushing and USS Laffey were mortally wounded after a brief fire fight, with Laffey exploding and sinking shortly thereafter. The engagement turned against the American task force when three Japanese destroyers conducted a torpedo attack from the northern flank. Torpedo hits damaged cruiser USS Portland and sank destroyer USS Barton. Gunfire from these and other Japanese warships turned USS Monssen into a smoking wreck and damaged both cruiser USS San Francisco and destroyer USS Aaron Ward. In return, by the time the fifteen-minute battle ended, destroyer Yudachi was a burning hulk and battleship Hiei was left crippled, steering an erratic course to the northwest. By the following afternoon, owing to scuttling charges or damage, Atlanta, Cushing, and Monssen had all sunk. Two Japanese ships soon joined them when Yudachi exploded under shell fire from Portland, and Hiei went under following bomb and torpedo hits delivered by Navy and Marine aircraft. 
The light cruiser Juneau (CL-52), in which the five Sullivan brothers were surviving, suffered a different fate. Just a few minutes into the battle, Juneau was hit by a Japanese torpedo on the port side near the forward fire room. The shock wave from the explosion buckled the deck, shattered the fire control computers, and knocked out power. The cruiser limped away from the battle, down by the bow and struggling to maintain 18 knots.She rejoined the surviving American warships at dawn on 13 November and zig-zagged to the southeast in company with two other cruisers and three destroyers. About an hour before noon, the task force crossed paths with Japanese submarine I-26. At 1101, the submarine fired a three torpedoes at San Francisco. None hit that cruiser, but one passed beyond and struck Juneau on the port side very near the previous hit. The ensuing magazine explosion blew the light cruiser in half, killing most of the crew. A message from USS Helena to a nearby B-17 search plane reported that Juneau was lost at latitude 10 degrees South and longitude 161 degrees East and that survivors were in the water. The sinking location was subsequently modified to 10 degrees South and 161 degrees East. Owing to the risk of another submarine attack and because the sections of Juneau sank in only a few minutes, the American task force did not stay to check for survivors. However, approximately 215 of Juneau's crew survived the explosion. But, as Helena's message unfortunately did not reach Noumea and there remained uncertainty about the number of Japanese ships in the area, rescue efforts did not begin for several days. Because of the coordinates being modified, it took anoter 5 days to find the location. One or more of the Sullivan Brothers survived the attack and were able to get their life vests on and abandon ship. Many of the crewmen of the USS Juneau were either burned in the explosion or injured. The sea around the sinking ship was tainted with blood. The burned, seeking releif from the pain found none in the sea, as the salt penetrated their wounds. They screamed in agony and prayed for death, but death did not come quickly. Next came the greatest terror to befall mankind, that of being eaten alive! As lone swimmers tried in vain to repel the circleing sharks, one by one they were pulled under, screaming in fear, only to bob up in a little while, missing arms, legs and heads. Those were the lucky ones, being attacked by the big Tiger Sharks and the Oceanic White Tips. Others were attacked by the smaller Black Tipped and White Tipped Reef Sharks, that would tear out a smaller portion of flesh, and come back again and again. The main group of survivors, about 150, felt that there would be more safety in numbers, and joined together in a group circle. At first, the sharks kept their distance, circleing outside the group. They felt that hopefully they could hold off the sharks for several hours until the rescue boats arrived. The sharks kept circleing, hour after hour, and without notice, would dart into the group of men, and drag one away, then another, then another. The men prayed for rescue, some died of pure freight, but hour after hour, day after day, the shark attacks whittled down the number of survivors. Only ten men were rescued from the water eight days after the sinking. | | | | DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060 The Sullivan Brothers: Report on Loss of USS Juneau (CL-52) [Copy of original document held by Textual Reference Branch, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740, except ship names were italicized and unfamiliar terms are explained in brackets]
USS Helena
November 17, 1942. From: Senior Known Survivor, USS Juneau (Lieutenant
Roger O'Neill, MC-V(G), U.S. Naval Reserve).
To: Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet.
Via: Commanding Officer, USS Helena.
Subject: Report of USS Juneau Activity from November 11 to
13, 1942, inclusive.
Ref: (a) U.S. Navy Regulations, 1940, Arts. 712 and 874(6).
(b) PacFlt Conf. Ltr. 24CL-42.
1) In accordance with references (a) and (b) the following report covering the activity of the USS Juneau from November 11 to 13, 1942 inclusive is submitted.
November 11
Occupied our positions in formation of Task Force. Nothing of unusual note occurred aboard ship.
November 12
Captain and Gunnery Officer are very much satisfied with antiaircraft performance during afternoon air attack by Japanese planes. They felt that we had accounted for a good percentage of planes destroyed. Planes were described as twin engine bombers of Mitsubishi type and very large. There were no casualties on board the Juneau during this attack. At nightfall we were on our way out the channel and to the best of my knowledge we were outside the channel about 2230. We reentered with the Task Force sometime later, approximately between 2300 and 2400. We had radar contact about 2400 which was at first thought to have been enemy contact but later found to be land. We were advised on station at approximately 0130 of November 13 to expect enemy contact momentarily. Scene of action illuminated by star shells, searchlights, and some of Juneau personnel thought also enemy planes dropping flares. We commenced firing somewhere in the vicinity of 0140 to 0150, at which time we were on the port side of the San Francisco. I understand that she ordered us to get out of the way in order that she might get a broadside on a heavier Japanese warship on the port side. We proceeded to pick up speed, cross the San Francisco's bow, and came back on her starboard side where we were when hit by an enemy torpedo which I feel was originally intended for the San Francisco. We had fired a very small amount of ammunition. I would say appropriately 25 rounds of 5" plus some 20 mm and 1.1" ammunition. The torpedo hit was of sufficient concussion to buckle the deck just aft of turret 8 plus throwing 3 depth charges overboard. The port motor whaleboat was also torn to pieces and lost by the impact of that hit. I should say that the torpedo hit somewhere between frames 42 and 45 on the port side and entered the forward fireroom. The hit was below armor belt and above rolling chalks. All hands, approximately 17 inside, were lost immediately. Immediately forward to the forward fireroom was the plotting room, and later on I learned from Ensign Kloter, who had been there, that they were thrown to the floor but were protected from the forward fireroom by a double bulkhead. The first one had given away and the second had buckled somewhat and was leaking in spots at seams. The deck had also buckled and oil fumes were coming through. They attempted to carry on but had to secure a short time following this. The Chief Engineer was quoted as having said that in his opinion the torpedo hit had broken the keel. Immediately following the hit the ship seemed to rise and settle deeper and listed somewhat to port. All lighting forward of after mess hall was lost. I understood that immediately following the hit we shifted to the after engine room generators for power but that they could not carry the load, so we shifted immediately back to emergency diesel for our power. We had lost all fire control of our turrets. We immediately left the scene of action; to the best of my knowledge proceeded through Sealark channel, and headed northeast for Malaita Island. I had occasion to do some minor surgery on the Navigator and Chief Engineer about dawn. I had occasion to overhear their discussion from which I was given to understand that we were running on our after fire and engine room and doing approximately 20 knots. We were headed towards Malaita where Captain Swenson had hopes of finding a cove which might offer sufficient shelter to enable us to accomplish temporary repairs before making a dash for Button ["Button" was the code name for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands]. By dawn we had accomplished sufficient repairs so that we had local fire control in one turret at a time. This was previous to sighting the remainder of the Task Force - Helena, San Francisco, etc. We sighted them about dawn on our starboard side until which time we thought we were alone. We were not sure at this time whether they were friendly or enemy ships. Also at dawn there was evidence the Juneau was 10 to 12 feet down by the bow with approximately 2 degrees list. I understood this remark was attributed to the First Lieutenant. We had also lost suction in the main feed pump causing reduced pressure and the ship to go dead in the water several times about dawn. We were making turns for 27 knots and doing approximately 20, according to Dennis, who was a throttleman in the after engine room. Due to the excessive casualties on the San Francisco, the senior medical officer of the latter asked for assistance. My senior medical officer, Lieutenant Commander James G. Neff, (MC), USN, who had struck his head at the time of the first torpedo hit, asked me if I would care to go over. The destroyer O'Bannon a short time later, sent over a boat and I took three of my corpsmen, namely Theodore D. Merchant, Orrel G. Cecil, and William T. Sims, plus some medical supplies, and proceeded to the San Francisco. I was in the Admiral's cabin just donning a mask prior to assisting Lieutenant Commander Lowe to operate on Captain Young of the San Francisco, when the Juneau was torpedoed the second time at approximately 1101, November 13th. In view of the fact that the Admiral's cabin is located on the port side, and the Juneau was on the starboard side when hit, I did not see the actual hit. However, the San Francisco swung to the starboard side and within 30 seconds of the hit I saw the spot where the Juneau had been. The only things visible were tremendous clouds of gray and black smoke. I could not see any debris in the water but I was at least two to three thousand yards distant. Later on I questioned men on the San Francisco, who had been on watch on the starboard side and had witnessed the incident, from the gist of which I gathered that three torpedoes had been fired. The first crossed the San Francisco's bow and just missed astern of the Juneau. The second appeared to come from beneath the San Francisco and its wake was not visible immediately. The third came aft of both ships. It was the second torpedo that struck Juneau on its port side very close to the location of the first torpedo hit in the early morning. It was impossible for San Francisco to inform Juneau of its imminent attack, and if the Juneau actually saw the torpedo wake I am of the belief that it was impossible to heel hard starboard because of its broken keel and the possibility of breaking the ship in two. The men told me that the Juneau appeared to explode instantaneously and appeared to break in two, both segments of which sunk within 20 seconds. The debris from the explosion flew many feet in the air, one portion of which struck the number 1 gun of the San Francisco, putting it out of commission. The signalmen on the bridge of the Helena was in the process of taking a message from the Juneau and had his glass trained on the signalman of that ship and reports that the signalman was blown at least 30 feet into the air.
2) I wish to state emphatically, that during the operations described above, my shipmates conducted themselves magnificently.
Roger W. O'Neil | | | |
Service Records
Sullivan, Albert Leo, Seaman Second Class, V-6, USNR; Transcript of service | 1- 3-1942 | Enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V-6, as Apprentice Seaman to serve for two (2) years at the Naval Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa | | 1- 3-1942 | Transferred to the Naval Training Station. Great Lakes, Illinois. | | 2- 3-1942 | Transferred to the receiving ship, New York, for duty in USS Juneau detail and on board when commissioned. | | 5- 3-1942 | Rating changed to Seaman second class. | | 11-14-1942 | Reported missing in action. |
Place of birth: Waterloo, Iowa
Date of birth: July 8, 1922
(2) Francis Henry Sullivan, Coxswain, V-6, USNR; Transcript of service. | 5-11-1937 | Enlisted in the U.S. Navy as Apprentice Seaman, to serve for four (4) years at the Navy Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa and transferred to the Naval Training Station, San Diego, California, for recruit training.. | | 9-11-1937 | Rating changed to Seaman second class. | | 9-15-1937 | Transferred to the USS Hovey. | | 3-25-1938 | Transferred to the U.S. Naval Hospital, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California, for treatment | | 4- 9-1938 | Transferred to the USS Hovey. | | 2-16-1939 | Rating changed to Seaman first class. | | 3-18-1939 | Transferred to the USS Melville for temporary duty involving medical treatment. | | 4-22-1939 | Transferred to the USS Hovey. | | 5-13-1941 | Transferred to the USS Dunlap for transportation to the West Coast and further transfer to the Receiving Ship on that coast for discharge. | | 5-20-1941 | Received at the Receiving Station, San Diego, California. | | 5-27-1941 | Issued an honorable discharge by reason of expiration of enlistment. | | 1- 3-1942 | Enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V-6, as Coxswain to serve for two (2) years at the Naval Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa. | | 1- 3-1942 | Transferred to the Naval Training Station. Great Lakes, Illinois. | | 2- 3-1942 | Transferred to the receiving ship, New York, for duty in the USS Juneau detail and on board when commissioned. | | 11-14-1942 | Reported missing in action. |
Place of birth: Waterloo, Iowa
Date of birth: February 18, 1916
SULLIVAN, George Thomas, Gunner's Mate Second Class, V-6, USNR
Transcript of service. | 5-11-1937 | Enlisted in the U.S. Navy as Apprentice Seaman, to serve for four (4) years at the Navy Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa and transferred to the Naval Training Station, San Diego, California, for recruit training. | | 9-11-1937 | Rating changed to Seaman second class. | | 9-15-1937 | Transferred to the USS Hovey. | | 10-11-1937 | Transferred to the USS Melville for treatment. | | 10-15-1937 | Transferred to the USS Hovey for duty. | | 10-16-1939 | Rating changed to Seaman first class. | | 2-16-1941 | Rating changed to Gunner's Mate third class. | | 4-22-1941 | Transferred to the USS Santee for transportation to the West Coast and further transfer to the Receiving Ship, San Diego, California, for discharge. | | 4-30-1941 | Received at the Receiving Ship, San Diego, California. | | 5-16-1941 | Issued an honorable discharge by reason of expiration of enlistment. | | 1- 3-1942 | Enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V-6, as Gunner's Mate second class to serve for two (2) years at the Naval Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa. | | 1- 3-1942 | Transferred to the Naval Training Station. Great Lakes, Illinois. | | 2- 3-1942 | Transferred to the receiving ship, New York, for duty in the USS Juneau detail and on board when commissioned. | | 11-14-1942 | Reported missing in action. |
Place of birth: Waterloo, Iowa
Date of birth: December 14, 1914
(4) SULLIVAN, Joseph Eugene, Seaman Second Class, V-6, USNR
Transcript of service. | 1- 3-1942 | Enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V-6, as Apprentice Seaman to serve for two (2) years at the Naval Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa. | | 1- 3-1942 | Transferred to the Naval Training Station. Great Lakes, Illinois. | | 2- 3-1942 | Transferred to the receiving ship, New York, for duty in the USS Juneau detail and on board when commissioned. | | 5- 3-1942 | Rating changed to Seaman second class. | | 11-14-1942 | Reported missing in action. |
Place of birth: Waterloo, Iowa
Date of birth: August 28, 1918
(5) SULLIVAN, Madison Abel, Seaman Second Class, V-6, USNR
Transcript of service. | 1- 3-1942 | Enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Class V-6, as Apprentice Seaman to serve for two (2) years at the Naval Recruiting Station, Des Moines, Iowa. | | 1- 3-1942 | Transferred to the Naval Training Station. Great Lakes, Illinois. | | 2- 3-1942 | Transferred to the receiving ship, New York, for duty in the USS Juneau detail and on board when commissioned. | | 5- 3-1942 | Rating changed to Seaman second class. | | 11-14-1942 | Reported missing in action |
Place of birth: Waterloo, Iowa
Date of birth: November 8, 1919
The Sullivan Brothers: In the aftermath of Juneau's loss, the Navy notified Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Sullivan of Waterloo, Iowa, that all five of their sons were missing in action. Two of the brothers had served previous four-year enlistments in the Navy and so, when all five brothers enlisted together on 3 January 1942. The Navy was the obvious choice. They had also insisted on serving together on the same ship. Although the accepted Navy Policy was to separate family members, the brothers had persisted and their request was approved. It was later learned, through survivors' accounts that four of the brothers died in the initial explosion. The fifth, George Thomas, despite being wounded the night before, made it onto a raft where he survived for five days before succumbing either to wounds and exhaustion or a shark attack. The brothers received the Purple Heart Medal posthumously and were entitled to the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four engagement stars and the World War II Victory Medal. They had also earned the Good Conduct Medal. They were survived by their parents, Mr. Thomas F. Sullivan and Mrs. Alleta Sullivan, a sister, Genevieve Sullivan, and by Albert Leo Sullivan's wife, Katherine Mary Sullivan. Their son, James Thomas, was twenty-two months old at the time of his father's death. USS Juneau survivors Only ten who were on board Juneau when the light cruiser was torpedoed and destroyed on 13 November 1942 survived:
Seaman First Class Wyart Bertram Butterfield, USN
Seaman First Class Victor James Fitzgerald, USN
Seaman First Class Arthur Theodore Friend, USN
Machinist Mate Second Class Henry Jordan Gardner, USN
Signalman Second Class Joseph Patrick Francis Hartney, USN
Seaman Second Class Allen Clifton Heyn, USN
Seaman Second Class Frank Alfred Holmgren, USN
Chief Gunner's Mate George Imari Mantere, USN
Lieutenant Junior Grade Charles Wang, USNR
Signalman FIrst Class Lester Eugene Zook, USN
Four other crew members who transferred to USS San Francisco the morning of 13 November to assist with battle casualties also survived.
Pharmacist Mate First Class Orrel G. Cecil, USN
Pharmacist Mate Second Class Theodore D. Merchant, USN
Lieutenant Roger W. O'Neil, MC-V(G), USNR [senior surviving officer]
Pharmacist Mate First Class William T. Sims, USN | | | | 
John R. Radford-Machinist Mate | 
John R. Radford 8-2-1919/9-18-2004 | John R. Radford was a Machinist's Mate on the USS New Orleans during WW2. He was a Watchstander and Repairman on the Vessel, primarily with the main propultion turbines, turbo-generators and pumps. His is one of many untold stories from WW2, of those who fought for God and Country, doing their duty, and then returning home. Like many who fought in WW2, he didn't talk much about the war afterwards. However, there is a paper-trail, and those that remember him. This Story will be told. Pearle Harbor: The USS New Orleans joined the Hawaiian Detachment on 12 October 1939 for exercises, training, and, as war drew close, vigilant patrol. Moored in Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941, John R. Radford was working on the engines of the USS New Orleans when the Japanese Attacked. He fought to raise steam, whereby the vessel could make it out to deep water, where it survived the attack. Battle of Coral Sea: The cruiser convoyed troops to Palmyra and Johnston, she then returned to San Francisco 13 January 1942 for engineering repairs and installation of new search radar and 20mm guns. She sailed 12 February 1942 commanding the escort for a troop convoy to Brisbane, From Australia she screened a convoy to Noumea, and returned to Pearl Harbor to join TF 11. TF 11 sortied 15 April 1942 to join the Yorktown task force southwest of the New Hebrides. It was this joint force, together with a cruiser-destroyer group, which won the great Battle of the Coral Sea 7-8 May 1942, driving back a southward thrust of the Japanese which threatened Australia and New Zealand and their seaborne life lines. This mighty duel of carrier aircraft was not without price, Lexington was mortally wounded and New Orleans stood by, her men diving overboard to rescue survivors and her boat crews closing the burning carrier, oblivious to the dangers of flying debris and exploding ordnance as they saved 580 of Lexington's crew who were landed at Noumea. New Orleans then patrolled the eastern Solomons until sailing to replenish at Pearl Harbor. | 
Shore Leave-Hawaii, J.Radford-Left | The Battle of Midway: New Orleans sailed 28 May 1942 screening Enterprise, to surprise the Japanese in the Battle of Midway. On 2 June she made rendezvous with the Yorktown force, and two days later joined battle. Three of the 4 Japanese carriers were sunk by hits scored in the dive bomber attacks, the fourth went down later, but not before her dive bombers had damaged Yorktown so badly she had to be abandoned. New Orleans veteran of the battle that halted Japanese expansion southward, had now played a significant role protecting her carrier in the great victory that turned back Japan's eastward movement and heavily crippled her naval air arm in a decisive battle. The Solomons: Again New Orleans replenished at Pearl Harbor, sailing 7 July to rendezvous off Fiji for the invasion of the Solomons during which she screened Saratoga. Fighting off vicious enemy air attacks 24-25 August, New Orleans aided the Marines holding the precious toehold on Guadalcanal, as a Japanese landing expedition was turned back in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. When Saratoga was torpedoed 31 August, New Orleans guarded her passage to Pearl Harbor, arriving 21 September. Torpedoed in the Battle of Tassafaronga: With the repaired carrier, New Orleans sailed to Fiji early in November, then proceeded to Espiritu Santo, arriving 27 November to return to action in the Solomons. With four other cruisers and six destroyers she fought in the Battle of Tassafaronga on the night of 30 November, engaging a Japanese destroyer transport force. When flagship Minneapolis was struck by two torpedoes, New Orleans, next astern, was forced to sheer away to avoid collision, and ran into the track of a torpedo which ripped off her bow. Bumping down the ship's port side, the severed bow punched several holes in New Orleans' hull. A fifth of her length gone, slowed to 2 knots, and blazing forward, the ship fought for survival. Individual acts of heroism and self-sacrifice along with skillful seamanship kept her afloat, and under her own power she entered Tulagi Harbor near daybreak 1 December. Camouflaging their ship from air attack, the crew jury-rigged a bow of coconut logs, and 11 days later New Orleans sailed to replace a damaged propeller and make other repairs in Sydney, Australia, arriving 24 December. On 7 March 1943, she was underway for Puget Sound Navy Yard, where a new bow was fitted and all battle damage repaired. Battle of Wake Island: Returning to Pearl Harbor 31 August for combat training New Orleans next joined a cruiser-destroyer force to bombard Wake, 5 6 October, repulsing a Japanese torpedo-plane attack. Her next sortie from Pearl Harbor came 10 November when she sailed to fire preinvasion bombardment in the Gilberts 20 November, then to screen carriers striking the eastern Marshalls 4 December. In aerial attacks that day the new Lexington, namesake of the carrier whose men New Orleans had pulled from the Coral Sea, was torpedoed, and New Orleans guarded her successful retirement to repairs at Pearl Harbor, arriving 9 December 1943. The Marshals, Carolines and Marianas: From 29 January 1944, New Orleans fired on targets in the Marshalls, hitting air installations and shipping as the Navy took Kwajalein. She fueled at Majuro, then sailed 11 February to join the fast carriers in a raid on Truk, Japanese bastion in the Carolines 17-18 February. While air strikes were flown, New Orleans with other warships circled the atoll to catch escaping ships, the task force's combined gunfire sank a light cruiser, a destroyer, a trawler, and a submarine chaser. The force sailed on to hit the Marianas, then returned to Majuro and Pearl Harbor. New Guinea Invasion: The carriers, with New Orleans in escort, again heaped destruction on targets in the Carolines late in March, then in April sailed south to support Allied landings at Hollandia New Guinea. There 22 April a disabled Yorktown plane flew into New Orleans' mainmast, hitting gun mounts as it fell into the sea. The ship was sprayed with gas as the plane exploded on hitting the water, one crewmember was lost, another badly injured, but New Orleans continued in action, patrolling and plane guarding off New Guinea, then joining in further raids on Truk and Satawan, which she bombarded 30 April. She returned to Majuro 4 May 1944. Invasion of the Marianas: Preparations were made in the Marshalls for the invasion of the Marianas, for which New Orleans sortied from Kwajelein 10 June. She bombarded Saipan 15 and 16 June, then joined the screen protecting carriers as they prepared to meet the Japanese Mobile Fleet in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. In this last major carrier combat the Japanese were able to mount, American naval aviators and submariners sank three enemy carriers and destroyed almost every aircraft launched against them, 395 in all. The few enemy planes which penetrated to the American carriers were shot down by New Orleans and other escorts. The Marianas operation continued, and Japanese naval aviation was virtually nonexistent after this great victory of 19-20 June 1944. The Final Assaults: New Orleans made patrols and bombardments on Saipan and Tinian into August, returned to Eniwetok the 13th, and sailed the 28th for carrier raids on the Bonins, bombardments of Iwo Jima 1-2 September, and direct air support for the invasion of the Palaus. After reprovisioning at Manus, the task force assaulted Okinawa, Formosa, and Northern Luzon, destroying Japanese land-based aviation which otherwise would have threatened the landings on Leyte 20 October 1944. The carriers continued to send raids aiding troops ashore, as they prepared to meet the Japanese, who were sending almost every surface ship left afloat in one great effort to break up the Philippines operation. New Orleans guarded her carriers as they joined in the great Battle for Leyte Gulf, first attacking the Japanese Southern Force 24 October 1944, then raiding the Center Force in the Sibuyan Sea, and next destroying the Japanese Northern Force of decoy carriers in the Battle off Cape Engaño. The carriers then sped south to aid the gallant escort carriers holding off the powerful Japanese battleship cruiser force in the Battle off Samar. A stunning American victory was followed by strikes against the retreating Japanese remnant. After replenishing at Ulithi, New Orleans guarded carriers during raids throughout the Philippines in preparation for the invasion of Mindoro, then late in December sailed for a Mare Island overhaul, followed by training in Hawaii. She returned to Ulithi 18 April 1945, and two days later departed to give direct gunfire support at Okinawa, arriving 23 April. Here she dueled with shore batteries and fired directly against the enemy lines. After nearly two months on station, she sailed to replenish and repair in the Philippines, and was at Subic Bay when hostilities ceased. Mopping Up and Decommissioned: New Orleans sailed 28 August 1945 with a cruiser-destroyer force to ports of China and Korea. She covered the internment of Japanese ships at Tsingtao, the evacuation of liberated Allied prisoners-of-war, and the landing of troops in Korea and China, until sailing 17 November from the mouth of the Peking River, carrying veterans homeward bound. More returning troops came aboard at Sasebo, and all were disembarked at San Francisco 8 December. After similar duty took her to Guam in January 1946 she sailed through the Panama Canal for a 10-day visit to her namesake city, then steamed to Philadelphia Navy Yard, arriving 12 March. There she decommissioned 10 February 1947 and lay in reserve until struck from the Navy List 1 March 1959 and sold for scrapping 22 September 1959 to Boston Metals, Baltimore, Md. | | | | CA32/ USS NEW ORLEANS Taku, China
5 October 1945 To Whom It May Concern: The purpose of this letter is to introduce the bearer, John R. Radford, Machinist Mate First Class, United States Naval Reserve. I have been the Division Officer of this man for twelve months. I have found him to be desirable and dependable in his work as a watchstander and repairman on this vessel, showing intelligent initiative, industry, loyalty, and capably and tactfully handling the men under him. He has served thus aboard this vessel in time of war for twenty five months. His work has been primarily with the main propulsion turbines, turbo-generators, and many types of pumps. His character has been beyond reproach in sobriety, neatness and speech. He has never caused me to doubt his sincerity. There is no doubt in my mind that he will prove to be an asset in whatever capacity he is employed. C. S. Swift
Lieut. (jg), U. S. Navy
"M" Division Officer |  | Left to Right, Front: Teresa, John Sr, Nadine, and Alexandria Radford
Left to Right, Back: John Jr, Debbie, Cindy and Dwight Radford | | Family Photo Taken January 1st, 1997, at Ann's Birthday Party | | John Radford stayed with the USS New Orleans until it arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, arriving 12 March 1946, where he got his discharge, as Chief Machinist Mate. His skills were highly valued in the Navy. Now he had to adjust to civillian life. At this point, he figured that the best thing to do was to head back to Friends and Family in Chattanooga Tennessee, where he belonged, and start a new life. Teresa N. Radford Writes: My Father worked at Southern Railroad before the war. During WWII, the railroad's let men either join the service or be drafted. They would have their jobs, when they returned. He later started building houses part time. He build such good homes, that he quit the railroad, after 17 years, and started building homes, full time. Around 1953 or 1954, my Mother's sister Ann and her husband Bob, bought a house from Dad. They got to know him and Ann introduced him, to my Mother,Nadine Jordan Radford.. They were married on August 21, 1954. I was born December 15, 1955. I am the oldest of three children. I have two younger brothers, John R. Radford, Jr. and Dwight A. Radford. We lived in Hamilton County. In 1959, Dad bought 160 acres, that is beautiful. He raised Charlois Cattle. That is a French breed. They are a beef cattle. Their meat is the best beef, you can eat. During the early 1960's, my Father developed bad health problems. It was so bad, that he retired to the farm. It was in the late 1960's that a Heart doctor found the problem. He had a micro valve that was bad in his heart. He had it replaced in July of 1975. It lasted for 30 years and it started to go bad. It caused him to have two major strokes and six mini strokes, that we know. He went down, so bad that Mom, had to put him in a Nursing Home. He died in September of 2004. It was Fluid around the Heart. The heart condition and Strokes also played a role, in his death. He and Mom were married just over 50 years! | | | | | | From 1919 to 1939 the Second Cavalry performed peace time duties as a school training Regiment at the Cavalry School, Ft. Riley, under the guidance of such men as General Patton, Truscott, Keyes, Mattox, and a host of others.
Here they experimented on the first armored cars, and in 1936 as more money was received for maneuver purposes they participated in the first Armored and cavalry maneuver which was held at Ft. Riley, Kansas. On May 9, 1936, the Second Cavalry celebrated its centennial — 100 years of devoted service — and some of the men who took part were named S.W. Benkosky; E.C. George; D. Boone; C. Watson; M.F. Caldwell; W.E. Wells; Cook; C.A. Hurt; F.W. Murray and M.G. Winn. In 1938 two Armored Regiments, the 1st and 13th, joined the Second Cavalry for maneuvers, and with the addition of Artillery and light planes it became an exercise to gain coordination in the use of combined arms. The invasion of Poland by the German Panzers in 1939 gave increased impetus to the work on American mechanization and led to the first extensive maneuver in 1940 when the Second Cavalry and small Regular Army forces were joined by the 35th and 36th National Guard Divisions for exercises in Northern Minnesota. By 1941 the Regiment was participating in large scale maneuvers in Louisiana, and served a stretch at Tuscon, Arizona in January 1942 on border duty. Since the emphasis was now on Armor, the Regiment, still a horse outfit, returned to Camp Funston, Ft. Riley, Kansas. Here on 15 May 1942 it was deactivated to form the 2nd Armored Regiment of the 9th Armored Division, the outfit that was to demonstrate its Cavalry training and alertness in the seizure of the Remagen bridge in March 1945. Patton and the Bonus March of 1932 Did you know that George S. Patton once battled fellow World War I veterans in the streets of Washington D.C.? The Great Depression of the 1930s spread economic misery, despair, and heartbreak across America. By 1932, nearly one-third of working Americans were unemployed and desperate for relief. Many veterans of World War I felt that the federal government owed them a particular debt for their sacrifice and service during the war. They began to organize and demand that Congress approve an early payment of pension funds that was not due until 1945. 
Bonus veterans from Jeannette, Pennsylvania, 1932.
In the summer of 1932, about 20,000 unemployed veterans and their families traveled to Washington D.C. from across the United States to lobby Congress. Some of these "Bonus Marchers" camped out in shacks and tents, which they mockingly called "Hoovervilles" after President Herbert Hoover. Others occupied abandoned and partially dismantled buildings near the Capitol. 
Bonus Marchers' camp in Washington, D.C., 1932.
Although the marchers were not disorderly or unruly, the Hoover administration and local officials feared this group of around 5,000 might turn into a mob. The tense situation exploded on July 28, 1932, when a marcher was killed during a scuffle with police, and federal troops were called in to restore order. 
Our Cavalry Sent To Evict The Bonus Army
One of the first federal officers to arrive in Washington D.C. was Major George S. Patton. His cavalry troops met up with infantry at the Ellipse, near the White House. Patton and the federal troops, equipped with gas masks, bayonets and sabers, marched up Pennsylvania Avenue, firing gas grenades and charging and subduing the angry crowd. Later that night, Patton and the federal troops cleared out the marchers' camp in Anacostia, with some tents and shacks catching fire in the process. By the following morning, most marchers had left Washington D.C., but the incident left bitter memories and affected Patton deeply. He called it the "most distasteful form of service" and later wrote several papers on how federal troops could restore order quickly with the least possible bloodshed. 
Soldiers evicting WWI veterans from their camps, Washington, D.C.,1932. 
The Bonus Army Village Burns With Capitol Dome In Background
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The Great War Great War of life upon them!
Each one with courage blessed!
Forged with all their power,
Each one gave their best! 
Click Flags For Music: Grand Old Flag!
Fought with pride and honor,
Their sign of victory!
Traces of their valor
Within life's history!
Over There!
You Never are Forgotten,
Those who fought The Big War!
Each one a great reminder
Of freedom on our shores.
Yanks With Tanks!
Look to them with honor!
Their passion was to win!
Soldiers of the First World War,
Each one of them life's kin.
Billy Boy
Pride within our bounty,
That traces through the years.
Determination honored,
So powerfully revered!
A Long Way To Tiperary!
Here's to all the Doughboys,
That fought with all their might,
To pave the way for Others Our
Freedom's Hearts Unite!
Battle Song of Liberty
Francine Pucillo
Read more of her poetry here. 
2nd US Cavalry, France 1918
Click The Medallion Above For The Song "Madelon" WW1 Posters |
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|  |  In April 1918 the Second Cavalry landed in France and was in the Toul sector within three weeks of leaving home. "I should consider myself fortunate to again have your splendid Regiment a part of my command", wired general Pershing to Colonel West when the Second left Jolo in 1912, and his word was fulfilled, when half a world away, thirty-one of it's troopers landed with him as his escort, first in England, then in France, as Headquarters Troop at Chaumont........
The Regiment followed and gained the unique distinction of being the only American Cavalry to remain mounted to reach the firing line. They fought in the Aisne-Marne offensive in July 18 - August 6, 1918, when the American First and Second Divisions smashed in the West face of the German Marne Salient at Soissons. Detachments from the Regiment took part in the Oise-Aisne offensive, August 18 - September 11, but the greatest commendation was gained by the Second Cavalry for it's part in the reduction of the St. Mihiel Salient, Sept. 12-16, when Troops A, B, C, D, F, G and H under Lt. Col. D.P.M. Hazzard were attached to the American First Division of the Fourth Army Corps, making the main effort of the American First Army in France.
General Pershing massed six Divisions on an eighteen mile front, so something had to give. (see map) The 1st Division jumped off by passing Mont Sec, which the French had assaulted for years in vain, and reached the line Heudicourt-Nosard. Here the Squadron passed through the forest of La Belle Oziere, Nonsard, and Vigneulles, scouted the open country as far as Heudicourt Creue, and Vigneulles, eventually advancing to St. Maurice, Woel, Jonville, pursuing the enemy, fighting his rear guard, capturing numerous prisoners, forcing deployment and delaying his retreat, in fact, doing everything that so small a force could accomplish.
This action was followed by the final Allied offensive, the Meuse-Argonne, Sept. 26 to Nov. 11, 1918, with the Second Cavalry being attached to American 35th Division, the left flank of eight Divisions then attacking between the Meuse River and the Argonnes Forest. The plan of the American First Army was to bypass the strong points of Montfaucon and Romagne on both sides and seize the high ground at Barricourt with a converging effort, which would shatter all German positions before Sedan.
The 35th Division spearheaded the assault on the left, in an engagement where the troops of the Second Cavalry "during the six days battle at Vauquois, Bois de Rossigny, Quvrage D'Aden, Cheepy, Charpentry, Baulny, Bois de Montre Beau, and Exermont from Sept. 26 to Oct. 2, 1918, accomplished their tasks with fearlessness, courage and disregard of danger and hardship." (quote by P. E. Traub, Major Gen. Commanding 35th Division)
The 159th Inf. Brigade further commended 2nd Lt. C. Thomas, Sgt. South, Private Naylor, and 15 other men from Troop C, Second Cavalry for the operation North of Busancy and in Beaumont from Nov. 3 - Nov. 6, patrolling the entire front of the Division sector in advance of the Infantry which resulted in military information of great value, riding into machine gun and artillery swept areas time and time again and drawing fire in successful efforts to aid the advance of the Infantry by locating machine gun nests and enemy parties digging in.
From Beaumont American artillery dominated 20 miles of the German main supply line to the Western Front - the Montmedy-Sedan rail line.
With the Germans driven across the Meuse at Sedan the Armistice was signed on Nov. 11 marking the cessation of hostilities. The Second Cavalry remained with the Army of Occupation in Germany at Coblenz until August 1919 when it returnes to the States for duty at Fort Riley, Kansas.
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WW1 Theme Song, 2nd US Cavalry-France
"Madelon" (1918)("I'll Be True to the Whole Regiment")
English version of the Celebrated French Soldier's Song
"Quand Madelon One Step"
by Camille Robert Arr. for piano solo by J. Bodewalt Lampe
Lyrics by Louis Bousquet
English Version by Alfred Bryan 1.There is a tavern way down in Brittany
Where weary sol-diers take their liberty
The keeper’s daugh-ter whose name is Madelon
Pours out the wine while they laugh and "carry on"
And while the wine goes to their senses
Her sparkling glance goes to their hearts
Their admiration so intense is
Each one his tale of love imparts
She coquettes with them all
but favors none at all
And here’s the way they banter ev’ry time they call CHORUS A
O Madelon you are the only one
O Madelon for you we’ll carry on
It’s so long since we have seen a miss
Won’t you give us just a kiss
But Madelon she takes it all in fun
She laugh and says "You’ll see it can’t be done
I would like but how can I consent
When I’m true to the whole regiment" CHORUS B
O Madelon you are the on-ly one
O Madelon now that the foe has gone
Let the wedding bells ring sweet and gay
Let this be our wedding day
O Madelon sweet maid of Normandy
Like Joan of Arc You’ll always be to me
All thru life for you I’ll carry on
Madelon Madelon Madelon 2.He was a fair hair'd boy from Brittany
She was a blue eyed maid from Normandy
He said Goodbye to this pretty Madelon
He went his way with the boys who carry on
And when his noble work was ended
He said fairwell to is command
Back to his Madelon he wended
To claim her lit-tle heart and hand
With lovelight in his glance
This gallant son of France
He murmur’s as she listens with her heart entranc’d (CHORUS A)
(CHORUS B) (Original French Lyrics)
Pour le repos le plaisir du militaire
Il est là bás à deux pas de la forêt
Une maison aux murs tout couverts de lière
Aux Tourlourous c’est le nom du cabaret
La servante est jeune et gentille
Légère comme un papillon
Comme son vin son oeil petille
Nous l’appelons la Madelon
Nous en rêvous la suit nous y pensons le jour
Ce n’est que Madelon mais pour nous c’est l’amour CHORUS [2 times]
Quand Madelon vient nous servir à boire
Sous la tonnelle on frðle son jupon
Et chacun lui raconte une histoire
Une histoire à sa fuçon
La Madelon pour nour n’est pas sevère
Quand on lui prend la taille on le menton
Elle rit c’est tout t’mal qu’elle sait faire
Madelon, Madelon, Made-lon
Click The Medallion Above For The Song "Madelon" |
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Christmas in the Trenches, 1914 By the end of November 1914 the crushing German advance that had swallowed the Low Countries and threatened France had been checked by the allies before it could reach Paris. The opposing armies stared at each other from a line of hastily built defensive trenches that began at the edge of the English Channel and continued to the border of Switzerland. Barbed wire and parapets defended the trenches and between them stretched a "No-Mans-Land" that in some areas was no more than 30 yards wide.  | | British troops in the trenches |
Life in the trenches was abominable. Continuous sniping, machinegun fire and artillery shelling took a deadly toll. Added to this were the ravages of Mother Nature. Troops were exposed to rain, snow and anything else that Mother Nature might throw at them. Many of the trenches, especially those in the low-lying British sector to the west, were continually flooded making life miserable and leading to frost bite and "trench foot." This treacherous monotony was briefly interrupted during an unofficial and spontaneous "Christmas Truce" that began on Christmas Eve. Both sides had received Christmas packages of food and presents. The clear skies that ended the rain further lifted the spirits on both sides of no-mans-land. The Germans seem to have made the first move. During the evening of December 24 they delivered a chocolate cake to the British line accompanied by a note that proposed a cease fire so that the Germans could have a concert. The British accepted the proposal and offered some tobacco as their present to the Germans. The good will soon spread along the 27-mile length of the British line. Enemy soldiers shouted to one another from the trenches, joined in singing songs and soon met one another in the middle of no-mans-land to talk, exchange gifts and in some areas to take part in impromptu soccer matches. The high command on both sides took a dim view of the activities and orders were issued to stop the fraternizing with varying results. In some areas the truce ended Christmas Day in others the following day and in others it extended into January. One thing is for sure - it never happened again. "We and the Germans met in the middle of no-man's-land." Frank Richards was a British soldier who experienced the "Christmas Truce". We join his story on Christmas morning 1914: "On Christmas morning we stuck up a board with 'A Merry Christmas' on it. The enemy had stuck up a similar one. Platoons would sometimes go out for twenty-four hours' rest - it was a day at least out of the trench and relieved the monotony a bit - and my platoon had gone out in this way the night before, but a few of us stayed behind to see what would happen. Two of our men then threw their equipment off and jumped on the parapet with their hands above their heads. Two of the Germans done the same and commenced to walk up the river bank, our two men going to meet them. They met and shook hands and then we all got out of the trench. Buffalo Bill [the Company Commander] rushed into the trench and endeavoured to prevent it, but he was too late: the whole of the Company were now out, and so were the Germans. He had to accept the situation, so soon he and the other company officers climbed out too. We and the Germans met in the middle of no-man's-land. Their officers was also now out. Our officers exchanged greetings with them. One of the German officers said that he wished he had a camera to take a snapshot, but they were not allowed to carry cameras. Neither were our officers. We mucked in all day with one another. They were Saxons and some of them could speak English. By the look of them their trenches were in as bad a state as our own. One of their men, speaking in English, mentioned that he had worked in Brighton for some years and that he was fed up to the neck with this damned war and would be glad when it was all over. We told him that he wasn't the only one that was fed up with it. We did not allow them in our trench and they did not allow us in theirs. The German Company-Commander asked Buffalo Bill if he would accept a couple of barrels of beer and assured him that they would not make his men drunk. They had plenty of it in the brewery. He accepted the offer with thanks and a couple of their men rolled the barrels over and we took them into our trench. The German officer sent one of his men back to the trench, who appeared shortly after carrying a tray with bottles and glasses on it. Officers of both sides clinked glasses and drunk one another's health. Buffalo Bill had presented them with a plum pudding just before. The officers came to an understanding that the unofficial truce would end at midnight. At dusk we went back to our respective trenches.  | British and German troops
mingle in No Mans Land
Christmas 1914 |
...The two barrels of beer were drunk, and the German officer was right: if it was possible for a man to have drunk the two barrels himself he would have bursted before he had got drunk. French beer was rotten stuff. Just before midnight we all made it up not to commence firing before they did. At night there was always plenty of firing by both sides if there were no working parties or patrols out. Mr Richardson, a young officer who had just joined the Battalion and was now a platoon officer in my company wrote a poem during the night about the Briton and the Bosche meeting in no-man's-land on Christmas Day, which he read out to us. A few days later it was published in The Times or Morning Post, I believe. During the whole of Boxing Day [the day after Christmas] we never fired a shot, and they the same, each side seemed to be waiting for the other to set the ball a-rolling. One of their men shouted across in English and inquired how we had enjoyed the beer. We shouted back and told him it was very weak but that we were very grateful for it. We were conversing off and on during the whole of the day. We were relieved that evening at dusk by a battalion of another brigade. We were mighty surprised as we had heard no whisper of any relief during the day. We told the men who relieved us how we had spent the last couple of days with the enemy, and they told us that by what they had been told the whole of the British troops in the line, with one or two exceptions, had mucked in with the enemy. They had only been out of action themselves forty-eight hours after being twenty-eight days in the front-line trenches. They also told us that the French people had heard how we had spent Christmas Day and were saying all manner of nasty things about the British Army." References:
This eyewitness account appears in Richards, Frank, Old Soldiers Never Die (1933); Keegan, John, The First World War (1999); Simkins, Peter, World War I, the Western Front (1991). |
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 | HELLO WALLY, I HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM THIS SITE FOR A LONG TIME AND I SURE RESPECT THE ACTION THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN TOWARDS MAKING THIS SITE THE VERY BEST OF ALL.
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