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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 e536 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 itfs 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 itfs 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 TDfs 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 IVfs; 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 Divisionfs flank which had been pushed up from the south)
So on 20 January my tank Company, 4 Mark IVfs, 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 itfs 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 wasnft 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 canft 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 ofclock 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 hadnft 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 20mmfs.
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 ofclock 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 Welchfs AGfs and from Davisf FA Bn. He was angry at us for staying over so long, said it wasnft 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 gscreaming meemiesh. 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 TDfs 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 Rundstedtfs 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 gunusually alerth.
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. Brownfs 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 didnft 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 OPfs 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 OPfs 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. gNo changes, continued on mission.h
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 geat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may dieh. 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, gThis is the Night for Loveh, gStrip Polkah and gIfll be Seeing You.h 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 didnft 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 ofclock 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 platoonfs that night. Occasionally someone would say, gJeez, I wish theyfd tell us something anyway!h 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 gAll the men of A Troop report back to your billets immediatelyh. 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, gwhat the hell do they think we are, infantry?h 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 isnft 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 didnft 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 ofclock.
The mortar shells kept falling outside and on the roof, but they couldnft hurt us much as long as we stayed in the house. Three Heinies came running up the road yelling gKameradh, 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 ofclock came and where the hell were the tanks?
But we were giving the Jerries plenty at the same time, it wasnft 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 couldnft 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 couldnft 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 ofclock 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 couldnft carry them and just as certainly werenft going to leave them.
Some thought that surrender would be the best because, gsomething must have happened to the rest of the Squadron or we wouldnft be stranded hereh. Others elected to fight it out until help arrived. Lt. Lasswell was in the later category so, of course, thatfs 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. gThey must be going to attackh, 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 itfs 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. | |
