The ordered withdrawal of the 274th from the Phillipsbourg area was a major blow to our morale and our self-respect. From earliest January, the regiment had been fully engaged-at Wingen, at Rothbach and at P'bourg-fighting and beating some of the best troops the Germans had to offer at that time-the 11th and 12th SS Mountain Regiments of the 6th SS Division. And now, after brilliant victories at Wingen and Philippsbourg and tenacious, stubborn defenses at P'bourg and Niederbronn Ridge, we were told to withdraw in an orderly manner and leave the hard-won towns and hills to the beaten Germans. It should be noted, at this point, that the withdrawal was not due to any deficiencies in the performance of the 274th but rather the result of combined enemy activity to the east and southeast which made our positions at Philippsbourg extremely vulnerable and in the worst case, untenable. The 7th Army, in its command wisdom, ordered our withdrawal and on the 19th/20th Jan, the regiment began its move to comply with these orders. Little did any of us realize that this move was to be the first of eight such moves by the 274th during the next 20 days.

We were to become like the legendary Dutch boy who "stuck his finger in the dike" as we raced from one trouble spot to another either "relieving" , "replacing", or "supporting" units of the 45th and 100th Divisions, and even, the 36th Combat Engineer Regiment! In many ways, this period of what seemed like constant movement was perhaps even more exhausting than "fighting-it-out" on the hills and ridges around Philippsbourg. But, move we did, and our new destination was a village called Obersoultzbach. No one had ever heard of the place, no one had ever been there except the regimental "forward party", and no one knew how to get there except for a few selected officers. The rank and file were deliberately kept uninformed so that in the event of capture we would have nothing of value to yield to enemy interrogation. In fact, without knowing it, we had a long way to go.

Obersoultzbach is located about 20 km. southwest of Niederbronn and about 10 km. south of Wingen. Trucks were scheduled to transport the regiment, but vehicle shortages and clogged country roads made the trucks very late in arriving. So, many of the rifle companies began the journey on foot in the finest tradition of the "Queen of Battles". Indeed, some of the "gravel-grinders" covered almost two-thirds of the distance before the long-promised trucks arrived to relieve their agony. The regiment had other plans for some of the members of the I&R platoon. Since the move was to be made at night, there was an urgent need for "road guides" to direct columns or convoys over the intricate narrow byways which led to Obersoultzbach. I was one among the number chosen for this terrifying task! We were briefed by our platoon leader, one of the officers who "knew the way". We were told that we would be posted individually along the travel route at forks or road intersections. We were required to remain alert throughout our "posts", and to direct our convoys to follow specific directions which we would be given when we arrived at our "stations". We would be told from which direction our trucks would be coming and we were supplied with appropriate passwords/countersigns in order to identify the authenticity of the convoy. We were told to seek what concealment we could while at our posts but to be sure that such concealment did not in any way obstruct our view of the road by which our troops would arrive. The frightening thing to me was that we would be absolutely alone at our posts. No friendly companionship! No LeRoy for security and reassurance. Just me with my M-1 and my password/countersign. And, all of this was to be done under cover of darkness and on a night filled intermittently with heavy snowfall! What a night mare! I was scared to death! But, determined to do my job!

We left Niederbronn in two or three jeeps. Lt. Gordon was in the lead jeep and naturally we drove with only our tiny "black-out" lights on. It was slow going with many stops to check our route and confirm the correct locations of the "guide" posts. With each stop, the platoon leader would send for one of us by name and each person called forward hurried to join the Lieutenant. Together the Lt. and the guide made their way to a designated spot where the Lt. gave final directions and posted the guide. The Lt. would return to his jeep and our little group would move on the next drop-off spot. Two or three guides had already been posted when my turn came up. Lt. Gordon called me forward and I followed him to a point just off the road to the right-front of the lead jeep. The Lt. admonished me to be alert and stay awake! He reminded me about concealment and asked me to repeat both the password and the countersign. He then said I could expect one or two convoys to approach my post. As a convoy approached I was to shout, "Halt" and then, in a clear voice, announce the password. When the countersign had been given, I was to approach the lead vehicle and ask for the convoy commander. When the commander was known to me I was to state clearly the direction which was to be followed by the convoy from the position of my post. The Lt. then said-and to me this was crucial-that a vehicle, either a weapons carrier or a 6 x 6, would follow shortly behind the last truck in the convoy. I was to challenge this vehicle as I had the convoy and when the password/countersign had been exchanged I would be permitted to board the truck and be "taken home". I wanted to believe the Lt. in the worst way! I wanted to believe there would be a friendly weapons carrier to whisk me away to my platoon mates! I wanted to believe! I did! I did! But a gnawing doubt made me contemplate the possibility that somehow I would be forgotten and left stranded at my post, to be captured, or, worse, to simply freeze to death. The Lt. left me and soon I was watching the jeeps of the I&R disappear down the very road to which I was to direct the convoy(s). I turned to examine my post more carefully. I did not know where I was. I did not have a map in my possession. I could not locate any compass directions since the night was very dark and snowy. All I knew was that I was to meet these convoys and point them the "right way". My post was at an intersection in which two roads joined to form a "T". One road dead-ended into a second road which ran at right angles to the first. The convoys would approach the intersection along the "leg" of the "T". I was to direct them to turn left at the "cross" of the "T". Where the "cross" road led, I had no idea, nor did I know how far it was to the next intersection, or the next village. I was alone so I decided I'd better make the best of it. The immediate area was clear of trees, but woods did encroach to within 20-25 yards of my post at the crossroads. A few feet to the right of the intersection was a simple holy shrine such as those that may be found throughout Europe. The shrine was covered by a plain shed roof with its low side toward the rear of the shrine. A crucifix was centered in the shrine which was four to five feet wide and tall enough to stand under. This was my concealment! Standing under the roof of the shrine, I could face the "leg" of the "T" and see any approaching vehicles. At the same time, standing in the shrine made me feel sufficiently hidden to escape easy detection. I could stand here and shout my challenge and step out only when I heard the countersign. Now all I had to do was wait! The worst part! The night was very dark, the only light from the luminescence of snow light. There was no wind-thank God-but large, feathery snowflakes continued to fall all around. The scene would have been one of beauty, what with the quaint country shrine surrounded all about by snow-laden evergreens, except for one thing: in the middle of this scene was one very young, very terrified soldier. The waiting seemed endless. I moved my feet frequently to preserve feeling and circulation. I kept my eyes scanning first the "approach" road, then to the right, then to the left. I made certain I did not fix my gaze on any one spot for fear that my mind's eye would conjure up all sorts of phantom images. I did not want my imagination to see Germans behind every snow mound or conifer. Some time had passed when I heard the motor sounds of vehicles coming from the direction of the approach road. I listened and watched intently until I could discern clearly the lead jeep. I let it approach fairly close to my post confident that I was safely "enshrined" from view. I shouted, "Halt!", and the lead vehicle slowed to a stop. Next, I gave the password and when the countersign was returned, I felt elated with a sense of accomplishment, of duty performed. I felt also, a sense of relief because my assignment was half done. I stepped out of my shrine and approached the jeep and addressed the man sitting in the "command seat-right front". "Sir, are you the convoy commander?" He affirmed. "Sir, I am Pfc. Barton of Regimental I&R." I went on to direct him to turn his convoy left at the intersection and proceed to the next guide post. I saluted and moved into the intersection facing the convoy. I planted my feet, extended my right arm in the direction to be taken and with my left arm waved the convoy on. I felt very important! As the lead jeep slowly passed me, the officer said, "Well done, Soldier." I felt like I was a hero! The convoy slowly completed its turn in front of me and I watched as it disappeared down the road to---where? But at least I got the first part of my assignment right and with a modest accolade from the convoy commander. Now for the second part, and then I could go back to the platoon! I returned to my shrine and took up station for the 2nd convoy and I didn't have to wait long-no more than 15 minutes. I followed the same scenario as in the first instance. This time the convoy commander asked how long since the first convoy had cleared the intersection. I told him approximately 10-15 minutes before, and then asked, "Sir, is the truck for picking up the guides close behind?" He responded, "I'm sure it is." With that I stationed myself as before and waved the convoy through the intersection.

General Orders - 274th Honor Roll