"THE SNIPER"
9 Feb-9 Mar '45

OP-1, atop Kreutzberg Ridge, was in the 3rd battalion sector of operations. While the view from OP-1 covered the whole range of enemy-held territory from Forbach (W) to Saarbrucken (NE), the primary observation assignment of OP-1 was the town of Stiring-Wendel.

Kreutzberg Ridge, site of OP-1. Photo by Jack Barton ©1995.

A second observation post, OP-2, also manned by the Intelligence & Reconnaissance (I & R) Platoon, was located in the 1st Battalion zone. Operating from the eastern end of Forbacher Ridge, OP-2 was assigned the surveillance of the area on and around Spicheren Heights, Hitler's dedicated "Holy Ground" commemorating both the site of a major battle in the War of 1870 and the capture, in the fall of 1939, of the first "slice" of French territory in WW II.

OP-1 was manned by the 1st squad of the I & R Platoon under the direction of Sgt. Larry Sisson, squad leader, and Cpl. LeRoy Mayer, asst. squad leader. OP-2 was operated by 2nd squad, I & R: squad leader David Moxley and Cpl Bill Drake asst squad leader.

Each squad maintained almost exclusive operation of its assigned OP. This allowed the Scout/Observers (S/Os) who regularly manned the post to become very familiar with terrain under their observation and to establish locations of frequent enemy activity. Total familiarity with enemy "check points" was achieved also by using the same assigned squad members on a daily basis. For example, in my own case, I never worked OP-2 since I was a member of the 1st squad. Likewise, members of the 2d squad seldom manned OP-1. Occasionally, volunteers might serve a tour in an OP other than the one assigned to their squad but only if they shared the tour with an S/O regularly assigned to the OP.

I mentioned earlier the tremendous observation site afforded by OP-1. Standing at the viewing aperture of the OP, a observer could see: Forbach-left front; Stiring-Wendel and its tiny suburbs of Neue Glashutte and Sophie-center front; Forbacher Ridge and a partial view of Spicheren Heights-extreme right. Clearly visible and running across our field of vision from left to right was the Metz Highway and the main railway which was just north and parallel to the highway. In the center distance was Schoneck, the last village in France, and Gersweiler, the first village in Germany. In the distant right lay Saarbrucken and the main fortifications of the Siegfried Line. All this and more constituted the "field of vision" from OP-1, the main "office" of the 1st squad, I & R, 274th Infantry.

The OP was not terribly well concealed despite the attempts at camouflage afforded by the fir boughs atop the OP's dome. Consequently, the OP did attract "harassing fire" from time to time. It seemed as if the Germans saved their rounds for occasions when they could spot activity in or about the OP. As the result of the pattern, we learned early on to move about both inside and outside as cautiously as possible. We also avoided having more than one observer at the aperture at any one time, and that observer learned to stand back, away from the aperture. Standing back in the darkened interior of the OP made it much more difficult to be seen especially from any substantial distance.

But despite our precautions, when the Germans thought they saw something they would send over a desultory round or two. More often, these were mortar shells and of a relatively small caliber. On one or two occasions, while I was on duty, mortar rounds scored very close "hits" on our OP. Some of the logs and sandbags were damaged and partially displaced. Inside we got our "bells rung" and showered by debris, mainly dirt and wood chips. On those rare occasions of very near misses we came to appreciate even more the expertly sturdy construction of the OP bunker.

Much more of a problem was created by sniper fire. Several times a day we would receive such "pot shots". Most of this fire came from almost directly below the OP. Since the forward slope of Kreutzberg was very steep just below the OP, sniper's angle of fire was mainly "up" and not "at". The tiny hamlet of Sophie lay just below us and any number of buildings there could shelter a sniper or two. Firing up at such a steep angle made the aperture target very narrow and limited from the marksman's perspective. Consequently, if the S/Os were careful in standing back from the aperture, the sniper's rounds usually struck the logs or dirt above the opening and did not come in the opening.

I remember one occasion when we received the attention of a very conscientious sniper. He tried and tried again to kill somebody in the OP, but his shots, like most of the others, struck above the aperture. His persistence became irritating and LeRoy and I decided to do something about it.

Earlier, we had dug an "auxiliary" slit trench outside to the right of the OP. This trench was dug perpendicular to the slope in front of the bunker. The trench was quite shallow and only large enough for one man It was well concealed by more "evergreens" and in such a way that a man could crawl into the trench, move to the very forward end and by peering through the camouflage make observations for purposes such as this occasion: Spot the snipers who were shooting at us. I exited the rear of the bunker, map and binoculars in hand. I moved very cautiously to the slit trench, slid in and "scooched" myself to the very front. With my binoculars, looking through the greenery, I focused on the rows of houses (in Sophie) at the foot of our slope.

Meanwhile, Lee in the bunker, had placed his helmet on the end of his rifle and was moving the helmet slowly back and forth very near the aperture trying to bait our sniper into firing. It worked! But I did not see where the round came from. So we tried again. lee and I could communicate in "soft voices" since the slit trench was so close to the OP. It took four or five shots before I spotted the building where they came from-it was the second floor window of a building just below and slightly to the right of us. I watched very carefully while Lee got the sniper to fire a couple more rounds. I knew I had him! I fixed the building firmly in my mind. Finding the building on he map was more of a challenge. However, European mapmakers are meticulous in detail and shortly I had narrowed the map location down to a relatively small area. I read the map coordinates of my "guesstimate" to Lee. He wrote them down and whistled sharply in the field telephone.

A battery of 4.2 inch chemical mortars were a part of our fire support and because of the steep slope of Kreutzberg, it was our practice to call on the mortars for "fire missions" on targets located along the base off the slope. Lee relayed the map coordinates to the mortar battery. Very quickly a "smoke round" was on the way.

I trained my binocs on "my" house and waited. Whump! The round came in and a blossom of smoke located the hit as close but not on target. I called to Lee and gave him my estimated directions for deflection and windage. Another round and much closer. More minor corrections which Lee gave to the mortar men, then Bam!-on target.

I told Lee we were on target and he called "fire for effect" over the field phone. Mortar shells rained down on the targeted building-probably at least a dozen. The building was largely demolished and beginning to show smoke and flame. I relayed this to LeRoy and he asked the crew to cease fire.

General Orders - 274th Honor Roll