Daily Entries I/275 Feb.
1945
Feb. 1
I was away from the Co. on Recon. and later picked up the
payroll at Bn. (496, 326) francs. Werwath came up to clear up some
personal matters. We were able to send ten men to the showers.
Company rested after the night's work. Five men were Trfd. to the
Det. of Patients: Sgt. Elvin C. Huss, Sgt. George F Frey, Pfc.
Donald E. Vincent, Pfc. Howard R. Gross.
Feb. 2
Routine work. Men are being paid. Patrol of eight men went
out with Luoto, S/Sgt. in charge. some P.X. rations have been issued
out.
Feb. 3
Today is a day to clean our equipment. Carr took a patrol
out tonight and Shaffer went on a long trip to gather some
information for us. Men on sick call who go beyond the Bn. Aid
station are dropped from the rolls 24 hours later. All the men are
paid.
Feb. 4
It's Sunday-Carr leads a patrol for the third night in a
row. New men assigned to Co. I- 2ndLt. John Schwaegel, Pfc. Cecil E.
Coffman, Pvt. Jack Connell, Pvt. Irvin A. Cuneo, Pvt. Hollis L.
Curtis, Pvt. Arthur Hoffer, Pvt. Manuel A. Mendez, Pvt. Wallace A.
Montroy, Pvt. Edbunn E. Mosher, Pvt. Robert E. Natoli, Pvt. James S.
Milton, Pvt. Wilbourse S. Davis.
Today we had a list of Promotions come to the Co. This
infantry is really the place to get ratings.
| S/Sgt Enochs
|
to T/Sgt |
| Sgt. Carr |
to S/Sgt |
| Sgt. Cochell |
to S/Sgt |
| Sgt. Dailey |
to S/Sgt |
| T/5 Lee |
to S/Sgt |
| Pfc. Brown |
to S/Sgt |
| Pfc. Clmielewski |
to S/Sgt |
| Pfc. Shaffer |
to S/Sgt |
| Pfc. Splittoesser |
to S/Sgt |
| Pvt. Luoto |
to Sgt. |
| Pfc. Clark |
to Sgt. |
| Pfc. Doyle, Joe |
to Sgt. |
| Pfc. Hoyle |
to Sgt. |
| Pfc. Jensen |
to Sgt. |
| Pfc. Maynard |
to Sgt. |
| Pfc. Mumm |
to Sgt. |
| Pfc. Munn |
to Sgt. |
| Pfc. Stender |
to Sgt. |
Pay roll returned-thank heaven. P.X. has been paid for, so
all of our debts have been paid and we are now free and clear. There
are big plans in the offing. The men went to church, which of course
interrupted our work but I was really glad to see it. Assigned 1222,
Effective 114(?)*
Feb. 5
The men worked all morning digging
holes, cleaning weapons and had a long rest in the afternoon. There
was a big pow-wow in the C.P. this evening. We got some re-inforcements
today: Pvt. Lyman I Baker, Pvt. Hebron C. Bandy, Pvt. William J.
Boyles, Gerald L. Dahle, Pvt. Lavern Phillips, Pvt. Delmar J Prinz,
Pvt. Robert C. Redmon, Pvt. Charles W Reynolds, Pvt. Edward J
Ritchie, Pvt. Warren P Rose, Pvt. James P.B. Sandmire, Pvt. Frank G.
Simmons, Pvt. John W Tilman, Pvt. Nicholas J Westerberg, Pvt. Walter
E Trierweiler, Pvt. Wilbourne S. Davis, Pvt. Howard W McKean
Walter Westerberg arrived at 1800
and was evacuated at 1900 and there are chances that he will not be
back with us. Today we had an accident, one of our officers, Lt.
Schwaegel, stepped outside of the building and stumbles on a rock in
the dark and shoots himself in the toe and he was evacuated. I hope
he will be alright, he was a really swell fellow. Sometimes I
believe that the hardest part of this war is the waiting. I will get
very little sleep tonight.
Feb. 6
We were up this morning at 0300. Had
our breakfast and by 0400 the Company was ready to pull out, for
Cadenbronn. Our mission was to attack Lexing
(sp?)
a little
town said to be held by only 25 Germans, most of whom were said to
be Poles, who were yearning to have the chance to give up. There was
no news all day. the following men rejoin the company from the
Hospital: Pvt. Jim F. Lantz, Pvt. Stephen W. Wingelman.
Chuck Stender:
This was a bad deal. Lots of our guys were killed and wounded.
Germans were all over us. Radio man contacted Reg. Headquarters and
we were told to stay and accomplish objective. This would have been
suicide and Lt. Cannon made the decision to pull out. This was a
smart decision and probably a lot of us are still around because of
it.
The following men are attached to
the Co. from the Med. Det. and Hq. Co. 3rd Bn. on special order:
Pfc. James R. McCoy, Pfc. Frederick S. Kerekes, Pfc. William H.
Stewart. These men have been with us for a long time and doing a
very good job, but orders are very slow in catching up on matters of
this sort.
About 2100 T/Sgt Skeen and S/Sgt
Nelson stagger into the CP. on the verge of collapse. Nelson had a
slight flesh wound on the upper arm but otherwise alright. Their
reports are not clear, rather incoherent, but the reports are clear
enough that we could see that the Company has run into another death
trap. About 2300 Lt. Cannon comes in, shortly after the rest of the
survivors begin to trickle in, as night wears on the picture slowly
develops as follows:
WOUNDED IN ACTION
1st Lt. David R Turner was shot through the neck. It may prove to be
very bad. He was one h--- of a swell fellow and he will be a great
loss to the Company.
S/Sgt Raymond C Chmielewski, S/Sgt Howard L Splittstoesser, Sgt.
Harvey A Jenson, T/5 Roy E Smith, Pfc. Wilfred C Gould, Pfc. Walter
Marzec, Pfc. Elmer L Phelps, Orval H Shimmell, Pfc. Raymond W
Thomas, Pfc. Dale E Stockhoff, Pfc. William H. Stewart (Med.), Pvt.
Arthur J Szymonski, S/Sgt John L Carr (very bad wound)
MISSING IN ACTION
| T/Sgt John Enochs |
later reported KIA |
| S/Sgt Kenneth E Cochell |
later reported as captured |
| S/Sgt Theodor R Dailey |
later reported KIA |
| Sgt. Louis A Clark, Sr. |
later reported KIA |
| T/5 Thomas F Brady |
later reported KIA |
| Pfc. Bill L. Erker |
later reported KIA |
| Pfc. William E Gebbke |
later reported KIA |
| Pfc Boyd Maggard |
later reported KIA |
| Pfc Joseph
Wietrzychowski |
later reported KIA |
| Pfc Lindsay B Williams |
later reported KIA |
| Pvt Victor Chruscial |
later reported KIA |
| Pvt Guy W Garrett |
later reported KIA |
| Pvt Joseph J Harrison |
later reported KIA |
| Pvt William H Soderlind |
later reported KIA |
| Pvt Walter Stavicki |
later reported KIA |
| Pvt Irwin M Stenulson |
later reported KIA |
| Pvt Edwin H Stevens |
to duty 2/8/45 |
| Pvt. Eugene A Stout |
sk Hosp. 2/8/45 |
| Pvt George F Strandberg |
later reported KIA |
| Pvt. William H Swift |
later reported KIA |
| Pvt Irving R Taskey |
later reported KIA |
| Pvt Alfred G Ulrich |
to duty 2/8/45 |
| 1stLt Basil D Spalding |
later reported captured |
Wounded in action but not evac., Nelson, Scharf, Uranswski
Feb 7
The sad process of checking up and trying to reorganize
the Company continues. The following men who were atchd to Hq. Co.
3rd Bn. are trfd. to Hq. Co., Pvt Clarence J Stoeger, Pfc. Richard T
Murphy, Pfc Donald L Oswald, Pfc William F Otto, Pfc Dwight D
Ritchie, Pfc Paul F Smith.
Feb 8
The men that were wounded and who were evac. on the 6 day
of Feb. were dropped from the rolls. The following men rejoin the
Company from the Hosp.: S/Sgt Carl A Scheich, Pfc Neal Turner. The
following Medics are promoted to the grade of T/5: Pfc. James R
McCoy, Pfc William H Stewart. The following two men are MIA to DUTY:
Pvt Edwin H Stevens, Pvt Alfred G Ulrich. These two men had to hide
out the whole day of the 7 of Feb. and finally succeeded in getting
out with Pfc Boyd Maggard who was shot through both feet. Maggard
was evacuated. Ulrich did a wonderful job and he is going to be
recommended for a DSC. Pfc Eugene A Stout turns up at the MP center.
The shock was to much for him. Pvt. Walter R. Snyder goes to Hosp.
(NBC) and he is dropped from the rolls.
Feb 9
1st Lt Fillmore Cannon, the Co. CO is relieved of his
command and goes to Hq. Co. 3rd Bn. (later to Co. F) Well someone
has to take the rap for such hard luck at Lexing. 1st Lt. Joseph K.
Donahue from Co. K is assigned and joins the Co. as the CO. Pfc
James K Castle rejoins the company from the Hosp. The following men
are assigned and join the Co. as reinforcements: Pvt. Huelon W.
Penland, Pvt. Francis H Robertson, Pvt Allen O Shelton, Pvt Rosario
A Simard, Pvt Paul W Thompson, Pvt. William B Threadgill, Pfc. John
W Rahn, Pfc Travis L Stanford, T/5 George B Runde. The 18 men were
reported missing in action on 6 of Feb at Lexing, France are dropped
from the rolls. The Company and the CP move from Tenteling to the
town of Moussewiller. We go into Bn. reserve for reorganization and
training of reinforcements.
Feb 10
Our job of training and reorganization continued. Pvt
Alfred G Ulrich goes to Hospital (bad feet and exhaustion).
Feb 11
Pfc David H Field rejoins the Company from Hospital.
Training and reorganizations continue.
Chuck Stender: I was one of
the lucky ones to get a 3 day pass to Paris Feb. 11-13th. What a
surprise!
Feb 12
Following men rejoin Company from the Hospital:
Pfc J. L Reid, Pfc Versal L Weiland. Lt. Donahue and T/Sgt Scott
took a small patrol of men over near the Bradenbusch. The patrol was
very successful and all hands returned safely. Pfc. Joe B Camfield
goes to the Hospital for a minor operation. Our training schedule
and reorganization program continues.
Feb 13
T/5 Charles E. Hertel joins the Company. He was
assigned to the Company Jan. 21, 1945, but Service Co. 275th Inf.
held him for two weeks. The following men are trfd. back to the
Company from Hq. Co. 3rd Bn. and rejoin: Pfc Richard T Murphy, Pfc
Donald L Oswald, Pfc William F Otto, Pfc Paul F Smith, Pfc Dwight D
Ritchie, Pfc Clarence J Stoeger. Reorganization and training
continues just like in the States. The poop really piles up.
Feb. 14
The following men are assigned and join the company: S/Sgt
William S Osburn, Pvt Graham G Chappell, Pvt Ray W Chambless, Pvt
Robert L Conner, Ralph P Cullen, Pvt John L Davis, Pvt Lloyd V
Denhart, Pvt Melton E Durant, Pvt Robert J Everts, Pvt. Rufino A
Figuira, Pvt Freddie L Akers, Pvt Robert W Boyer, Pvt Maruin E
Ellis, Pvt Edmond E Golden, Pvt. Logan W Green, Pvt James H
Stallings, Pvt. John F Strong, Pvt Melvin L Thomas, Pvt Melvin W
Trost, Pvt Larry E Waldrop, Pvt Wayne C Walker, Pvt Auda L Warren,
Pvt Walter E Weglarz, Pvt Harold B Wells, Pvt Duward L West, Pvt
Charles H Wheeler, Pvt. Howard C Williams, Pvt Willard H Williams,
Pvt Clarence E York, Sr., Pvt David E Yost, Pvt Henry A Zettler. Pfc
Frederick S Kerekes (medic) was promoted to the grade of T/5. There
were 54 Pvts. promoted to the grade of Pfc. Training and
reorganization continues. Lt Donahue and S/Sgt Scheick take out a
reconnaissance patrol up toward the Bradenbusch. Engaged in a short
fight with a one man listening post and filled him full of lead. All
hands returned safely. 2nd Lt. Edward C Pfaff joins the Company.
Feb 15
Pvt Eugene A Staut transfered to Service Co., 275th. The
following men join the Company from the hospital: Pfc Rudy M Senser,
Pfc Otis M Chartier. The following promotions became official: S/Sgt
Harvey Shirley to T/Sgt, Sgt Willey S Hoyle to S/Sgt, Sgt Charles E
Maynard to S/Sgt, Pfc John E Schrapf to S/Sgt, Pfc John Ludzia to
S/Sgt, Pfc Jesus Y. Valenzuila to S/Sgt, Pfc Ssimon R Wiersma to
S/Sgt, Pfc David H Field to S/Sgt, Pfc Thomas W McKeever to Sgt.,
Pfc George S Rice to Sgt., Pfc Robert R Schmidt to Sgt., Pfc Almus
White to Sgt, T/5 Dufino S Meraz to Sgt., Pvt Clifford L Garrett to
Sgt, Pvt Henry A Thomas to Sgt, Pvt William W Geier to T/5. Training
continues. Saw movie "See Here Pvt. Hargrove". 2nd Lt. Herbert K
Bell Jr. assigned and joined Company.
Feb 16
Some training in the morning. Company alerted in the
afternoon and spends rest of the day getting ready. Company pulls
out at 2000 and moves to the town of Rouhling. The Company jumps off
for the Bradenbusch at 2200 with heavy artillery support. Co. I and
Co. L on line, enter the Bradenbusch about 2400 and dig in. Pfc
Wayne P Pierce falls carrying a motor plate and breaks a bone at the
back of the shoulder, and he is evac. Company CP. moves from
Mousseviller to Rouhling.
Feb 17
Company with three other outfits on the lines move through
the Bradenbusch, to a point halfway through the woods. Casualties
light, mostly from our own artillery which despite a few unavoidable
short rounds, is doing magnificient work. Company takes 23 prisoners
and kills "Beaucoups". Pvt Rosario A Simard was killed by our own
Artillery. S/Sgt John E Schrapf falls on a rock and he is evac with
a broken hand. Four men return from Div. rest camp: Sgt Joseph R
Doyle, Sgt Robert R Schmidt, Pfc Luis G Morales. Pfc Joe B Camfield
rejoins the Company from the Hosp. Pfc Leroy Hart was wounded in
action but he is not evac.
Feb 18
The Company continues to drive through the Brandenbusch
and by the afternoon the town of Eztling was taken. This was done in
less than 45 minutes. Our casualties are still extremely light.
Today we took 40 prisoners including one officer. We had to send out
a patrol to make contact with the 274th who were on our left, the
patrol came back with six more prisoners, one of who was also an
officer. By nightfall we had secured position and the men get a well
needed rest in the town. Sgt Robert R Schmidt was evacuated (NBI)
due to recurrence of an old arm injury. Pfc Jack Connel was evac. (LWA).
Sgt George S Rice was evac. (LWA). Both were very good men- they
were not hurt to bad. Hope they are able to come back to us real
soon. Pfc Paul W Thompson LWA (not evac.). Pfc LaVern Phillips LWA
(not evac.).
Feb 19
The following reinforcements join the company fresh from
the states. That's what we need, fresh men: Pvt Howard A Crowder,
Pvt George E Fink, Pvt Joseph J Godlef, Pvt Shelby Hogley, Pvt Bill
Holt Jr., Pvt Roland J Marsen, Pvt Carlyle A McBride, Pvt Eugene J
Maran, Pvt Thomas M Pool Jr., Pvt Clifford H Reimers, Pvt William R
Shambley, Pvt Francis A Jager, Pvt William J Duff, Pvt Gilbert O
Apadaco (Medic). During the afternoon the Company attacks the high
ground north of Etzling and takes some assaulting with fixed
bayonets. Our casualties not so light this time-combination of our
own artillery and enemy mortars, artillery and snipers. Dig in
looking down the throats of the enemy, who may be in Spicheren, and
throw back one counterattack. Artillery continued to give Heinie
hell. KILLED IN ACTION: S/Sgt LeeRoy G Fulcher, by a sniper. He was
one of the oldest fellows in the Company and he was one grand guy.
The following men were evacuated to the Hospital: T/Sgt John V Skeen
(LWA), S/Sgt John Ludzia (SIA-conc.), S/Sgt Roy E Nelson (LWA), Sgt
Henry A Thomas (LIA-conc.), Sgt Almus White (LIA-conc.), Pfc. Manuel
Mendez (LIA-conc.), Pfc Estonislado Rios (SIA-conc), Pfc Nicholas J
Trieriveiler (LWA), Pfc Neal Turner (LIA), Pfc Sebastion Valvo (NBI),
Pvt. Ralph P Cullen (SIA), Pvt Wayne C Walker (LWA). They are all
good men all of them. If we're lucky, they may come back. WOUNDED IN
ACTION (not evacuated): 1st Lt. Joseph K Donahue, S/Sgt Jack Brown,
Pfc. Frank G Simmons.
Feb 20
The Germans put on a counterattack at dawn and they throw
everything that they have at the town of Etzling and the boys in the
trenches. One shell or a mortar round hits the forward CP. at
Etzling and some of our reinforcements that had just arrived didn't
get a chance to fire one single shot at the enemy that had made
these leave home for. The counterattack is thrown back with
Artillery doing one swell job. Intermittent exchange of sniper fire
and mortar fire takes place all day. Karls artillery gives some
ground in front of the trenches and the ground is littered with
Krauts. The prisoners trickle in during the day. The final count is
11. Following men rejoin Company from Hospital: Pfc. William H
Griffen, Pfc James B Kessel, Pfc Floyd E Wesp. KILLED IN ACTION: Pvt
Edmond E Golden (sniper), Pvt. Shelby Hagley (C.P.), Pvt Thomas M
Pool, Jr. (C.P.), Pvt Duruard L West (sniper). WOUNDED IN ACTION:
S/Sgt Kenneth Luoto (LWA), Sgt Clifford L Garrett (SWA), Pfc Cecil E
Coffman (L.W.A), Pfc Paul W Moore (L.I.A.), Pfc Richard T Murphy (LWA),
Pvt Joseph J Godlef (LWA), Pvt Bill Holt, Jr. (LWA). WOUNDED IN
ACTION -not evacuated: Pvt Carlyle A McBride (LWA), Pvt Stephen M
Wingelman (LWA).
Feb 21
Company continues to hold positions overlooking Spicheren
without intermittent exchange of sniper and mortar fire and our
artillery pounding unmercifully. About 1400 Lt Donahue takes a 6 man
patrol, walks into town and takes over, capturing about 25
prisoners, including some wounded and medics. The 274th muscles into
town, but we damned well know that outfit who took it. In evening
company is relieved and pulls back into Etzling for hot chow and a
little rest. WOUNDED IN ACTION- Evacuated: Pfc Allen O Shelton (LWA).
KILLED IN ACTION - own artillery: Pvt James H Stallings (KIA). 2nd
Lt. (formerly Sgt) Eugen Paton assigned and rejoins Company.
Feb 22
Company up at 0400, chows and moves out at 0600 in Bn. on
woods and high ground north of Spicheren and Alsting. Move out
northeast from Alsting...fight continues all day. Artillery and
tanks doing their share. Attack moves north and then west. We
control the situation but resistance is stiff. The following men
rejoin the Company from the Hosp: S/Sgt Raymond C Chmielewski, Pfc
Donald T Boitano. KILLED IN ACTION: Pfc Joseph A Swagel (by schumine).
WOUNDED IN ACTION: T/Sgt Wesley C Scott (LWA), EVACUATED: Pfc Jim F
Lantz (NBI), Pvt Auda L Warren (NBI).
Feb 23
Attack continues, moving from Bois de St Arnual, through
Le Paffenwald, into Le Gifertwald and Hauteurs de Spicheren, which
Company occupies, looking into Saarbrucken. KILLED IN ACTION: S/Sgt
Clifford L Shaffer (US Artillery). WOUNDED IN ACTION: Pfc William H
Griffen.
Feb 24
The rear CP. moves up from Etzling to Spicheren. Jerrys
throw in a few rounds. WOUNDED IN ACTION (all LWA): S/Sgt Raymond C
Chemielewski, S/Sgt Jesus Y Valenzuela, Pfc Robert C Redmond, Sgt.
Charles F Stender, Pfc Luis G Morales, Pfc Louis F Vanik, Pfc
Stephen M Wingelman. MISSING IN ACTION: Pfc Pat Iovino (was later
discovered in Hosp). The following men are assigned and join the
Company: S/Sgt John Ludzia, S/Sgt Orie L Tucker, Sgt Almus White,
Pfc Henry A Thomas, Pfc Ralph Cullen, Pfc John Pohlman Jr., Pvt
robert L Crawford, Pvt Neal Turner.
Feb 25 WOUNDED IN ACTION: Pfc John W Powell, Pvt Marvin E
Ellis. Two men rejoin the Company from the Hospital: Pfc Sebastian
Valvo, Pvt Anda Warren, Pvt Eugene Armstrong, Pvt Abraham Bleir, Pvt
Howard Demmick, Pvt Ray Webber, Pvt Brian L Francis, Pvt Robert V
Rymer, Pvt W.R. Smith, Pvt Henry St. Mickel, Pvt Wayne D. Wann, Pvt
D. W. Smith. The company digs in up on a hill overlooking the small
town of Saarbrucken. I am only kidding when I say small town because
it was the largest place we had been in until this time, in the war.
The Company is limited to patrolling.
Feb 26
Pfc Wilbourne S Davis (NBC) was evacuated to the Hospital.
Pfc John W Rohn (LWA), Pfc Pat Iovino (LWA). The Germans continue to
shell the town of Spicheren. It looked like one of the shells was
going to hit the Cp. Boy did they put them in close. We lived in the
cellar for hours at a time.
Feb 27
Two men are assigned and rejoin the company from the Hosp:
Pfc James H Stuttler, Pfc Eugene Armstrong. The front is very quiet,
it looks like Jerry has very little left. The boys are getting a
much needed rest, that is if you can get any rest in a foxhole.
Feb 28
Sgt Henry A Thomas was evacuated to the Hospital (LWA).
The following men are attached to the Service Company: Pvt Robert L
Crawford, Pfc Stuttler, Pfc Edwin H Stevens, Pfc Sebastian Valvo.
The front is very quiet. The Company changes their position on the
front by moving to the left. Still looking down into Saarbrucken.
Feb 29
Nothing happened.
