Questions:

1. What are the dates for the formation and dissolution of "J" Co., 274th Infantry? 2. Who, besides myself, were assigned as platoon leaders of J Co.? 3. What are the names of the two men killed in action while assigned to J Co., 274th Infantry?

Memories remain vivid of the day 50 years ago. When two of my men died tragically on Spicheren Heights. It's a long story.

It begins on New Year's Eve, 1944. Then, I was a second lieutenant mortar section leader in M Co., 274th, I and (I believe) Lt. Murray Lanman were quartered in a home in Herrlisheim, three miles from the Rhine River. At about 8 p.m., a messenger from Capt. McFarland's C.P. delivered a message: I was to pack and report at 8 a.m. Jan. 1 for transportation to Thaon, near Epinal, France.

The next day I learned that I and seven other second lieutenants were given temporary duty at the 2nd Infantry Replacement Depot by command of Gen. Herren (Task Force Herren Special Order Number 1). Casualties resulting from the Battle of the Bulge had decimated American infantry units, Gen. Eisenhower had announced that 10 percent of all rear echelon troops would be reassigned to infantry units after completing two weeks of basic infantry training. That was our job - to give these GIs basic Infantry training prior to their assignments as replacements to divisions online.

I don't remember how many men we trained. What I do remember is the rank, time-in service, and and qualifications of the men. Most had stripes; they were non-coms or technical grades. They had been ordnance, quartermaster, transportation, anti-aircraft and other rear echelon, but necessary, units. Some had been in England since most frequently they were in their mid to late 20's.

We trained three classes. The program ended in mid-to-late February. I was given orders to return to my outfit, M/274, but no transportation. I was told the 70th Division headquarters was near Saarlouis. I hitchhiked on vehicles headed my way, found Division headquarters, spent a night there and then was taken to 274 HQ Infantry and reported in. It was the week of Feb.19th.

Also arriving at the same time were many replacement infantrymen who had just completed their two weeks of Infantry basic training. Thus it was that I was assigned to J Co. Capt. Underwood, Regimental S-1, was made Company Commander. I was told that the 274th, with heavy casualties had taken Spicheren Heights and had withstood one German counterattack. More were anticipated. Rifle companies had been decimated and all were needed in line to prepare for another German attack. J Co. was to deploy on Spicheren Heights and would be the reserve unit should the Germans break through our lines. I was given a group of men - can't recall how many -and a platoon sergeant, and was told to prepare a defensive position in an abandoned trench system. That's what we did. It was in an open area - no trees; the trench was 4 to 5 feet deep and probably 3 feet across.

I don't remember how many days and nights we were there. [Do regimental records show the time frame for J Co.?] Col. Cheves, in "Snow Ridge, and Pillboxes" (pages 203 and 204) says the company was organized on Feb. 25 with Capt. Underwood, commanding officer. That's all. He also says that repeated German counterattacks were repulsed beginning 26 Feb. and that by, "late on the day of February 28, the regimental front had quieted down at last, . . . The next day, March 1, all was quiet" (pages 205-207.) J Co. never engaged the enemy, but it did receive heavy artillery bombardment while on Spicheren Heights.

I do have a vivid recollection of the following events. Every man had been given a blanket. It was very cold. Men were assigned in "buddy teams" of two at periodic locations along the trench. Each team had dug a cavity into the trench wall at the bottom of the trench, where one could escape the cold, and sleep. The men had been trained in the "buddy system" and it was re- emphasized by me and my sergeant. Two hours sleep, two hours on alert for each man. The sergeant and I followed the same pattern and each of us would check on all of the men as we went "on alert". We never found any infraction of these orders during our inspection.

One morning before dawn (perhaps 5 or 6 a.m.), I remember the impact of heavy enemy artillery rounds. These were not 88s or 105s; these were large caliber, heavy artillery rounds equivalent to 8 inch rounds. The ground shook hard, even though the rounds were not impacting in close proximity to our trench system. The sergeant and I were awake. We considered a non-routine inspection, but decided it was unnecessary. I made the next routine inspection and found, at one location, no one on alert and a blanket covering two men; the hand of one protruded from the dirt. The ground over the sleeping cavity had collapsed and covered both men under their blankets.

I got help and we dug out the two soldiers. They had suffocated, trapped by the blankets and the collapsed earth. They had failed to follow orders and they paid the ultimate price.

I don't remember their names; I do recall that at least one was from an anti-aircraft battery and had been in the ETO for more than two years. Both had technical ranks. Col. Cheves does not list any J Co. casualties as killed-in-action. But, pages 329 and 330 of "Snow Ridges and Pillboxes" shows:

Allen, Dewey H. T/5 KIA Feb. 28 Co. G
Staley, Lee P. T/5 KIA Feb. 28 Co. G
Slinkard, Truman A. T/5 KIA Feb. 26 Co. F

Could the two casualties have been my T/5s? If so, J Co. was still organized on Feb. 28 or the date of their deaths is incorrect.

Initially, I blamed myself for their deaths. Had I inspected the line after the artillery barrage, perhaps they could have been saved. Perhaps not.This story has parallels in many others appearing in the "Trailblazer", "What if ..." Life goes on; mine has for 56 years.

In "Snow, Ridges...", Cheves gives gives no record of its dissolution (pages 203 - 207). So does "The Trailblazers" (page 191). Cheves says the fighting for Spicheren ended on Feb. 27.

At some point J Co. was dissolved; I returned to M Co. and my mortar section. We supported the 3rd Battalion attack on Stiring-Wendel; I was forward observer in the town. Then, on 8 March 1945 I was reassigned as weapons platoon leader for I Co. where I served until August, 1945.

General Orders - 274th Honor Roll