NOTICE

This is written in the form of a diary, therefore; there are statements and disconnected sentences all in one paragraph.

Dec. 20, 1942:
My 18th. Birthday and I had to register for Military Service within 10 days.

Jan. 1943:
I was called to report for duty, but being a Senior in High School I was allowed to finish the term and Graduate May, 28 1943.

June:
Called to report to Fort Oglethrope, Ga. June, 15 '43.

June 15:
I and about 200 others from this area left from the N C & St. L Station around 0930hrs. We arrived in Chattanooga, after dark, and were taken by truck to Fort Oglethrope. They issued us bedding and we were taught the proper way to make up an Army bed.

June 16:
We were up at 0600hrs. had breakfast of cornflakes. milk and coffee. The Physical Examination began at 0800hrs. I was in one of the first groups but we had to stand inline and wait at each station for a part of our body to be examined. Finally my papers were stamped PASSED . At the next station I was ask which branch of service Army, Navy, or Marines. I said "Army" and it was stamped U. S. Army Serial Number 34736757. We were not sworn in until about 1600hrs. at an Official Ceremony. After that we were given a leave until June 30, 1943 which would be the beginning of active duty.

June 17:
Returned to. Jackson By Train.

June 30:
Left Jackson, by train for Chattanooga and was again trucked to Fort Oglethorpe.

June 31 to July 4:
We had to stand in line for a complete uniform and extra to clothing. We were then assigned a barrack, a bed and, then a haircut. Each day was spent standing in line to take a battery of test. One day in a session we were begged to join (volunteer) the Paratroops. Some joined and I was tempted because they were paid $10.00 more a month and we were only going to be paid $50.00 a month. July 4, was a Sunday and we did not have anything to do. I watched a group play a baseball game. It was very hot.

July 5:
A large group of us were called to pack all extra clothing in our duffel bag. We were then loaded on a train and were not told where we were going. There was only one other Jacksonian (Joe Burton Williams) in this group. The next morning we passed a big Kellogg Plant in Battle Creek, Michigan. A short time later we were unloaded in Fort Custer, Michigan.

July 6 to about Aug. 17:
We had to walk about a mile and half with our duffel bag to a group of tents. This was the 499th MPEG Co. and we were put 8 men to a tent. MPEG is for Military Police Escort Guard. A few days later some of us were transferred to the 488th. MPEG Co. which was in regular Army barracks. The training was about ½ infantry and 1/2 Military Police. We were training for overseas to take care and guard POWs, hold road blocks and to direct traffic. The Carbine was a new weapon and we were instructed to destroy it if we were captured. Battle Creek was about 10 miles east and Kalamazoo was about 20 miles west of the camp. Passes were issued at noon on Saturday until Monday morning. Most of the time I would go to Battle Creek and have a beer or two. One weekend William Richberg and I saw a Tattoo Parlor. He and I talked the following week and decided we would get one the next weekend. That Saturday I was on KP until about 4:30, however we went to Battle Creek and each got a Tattoo on our left arm. Around the first of August most of the company made PFC (Private First Class) and I could not wait until I sewed that one stripe on the arms of my uniform. Soon after that the weather began to get cooler and we were issued OD or wool uniforms. Around the 17th. of August we were ordered to pack as we were going to be leaving Fort Custer.

Around Aug. 19 to July 28, 1944:
About 1400hrs. we were in south central Texas at a little town named Hearne. We unloaded and with duffel bag marched about two miles to our barracks on the outside of a German Prisoner of War Camp. It must have been 90 degrees and with the wool uniforms on we almost died. The next day we were reissued khaki uniforms. Our company was in two one story tar paper barracks. There was a latrine (toilets, washbasins, and showers) in a building out back for the company. There were four companies or-eight barracks and four latrines and four Mess Halls. The prisoners were in three compounds separated with a barbed wire fence. These compounds had two barbed wire fences and eight guard toners with searchlights. There was a road around all this for jeep patrol. Each compound held about 1000 enlisted German prisoners captured in North Africa. We had little to do other than guard duty, close order drill and exercise. Hearne was very small about 2000 people, one theater, one USO club and a railroad station. In mid-September a Camp football team was formed. I vent out for it and made the first team. I started every game even after my knee was hurt in the Texas A&M "B" game and had to go to the hospital for X Rays. We had a seven game schedule. In November, I was promoted to Corporal and had to give calisthenics to the company. I was also on a detail to take a group of German Officers to a camp in Phoenix. AZ. They were not to be kept in the same camp as enlisted men while stationed in Hearne I had two furloughs, one the last two weeks in December and the first two weeks in June, 1944. I was home on D Day. After returning to Camp, I had a letter and a clipping from my Mother. They were about one of my best friends James Allen Daniels. He had been killed in combat on Biak Island in the Pacific. I went out on the back steps and cried. Days later I, along with six others, volunteered for the Infantry. We had enough of pulling guard duty and wanted to do something else. About a month later we were given orders to go by train to the 70th. Division. It was in training in Fort Leonard Wood, near Waynesville, Missouri.

July 29:
I, a Cpl. had the orders as the other six were Pfc's. On the train we got to talking and decided we might not like being a foot soldier. All thought when I reported I should ask if we could be put in a heavy weapons company. All of us thought a heavy weapons company was the artillery, cannon or anti-tank. Little did we know it was machinegun and mortars. When I reported in and ask the Officer in charge if we could get in a heavy weapons company. He said, "You sure can" and assigned us to Co."D", Co."H" and Co. "M". William Jordon (remember him) and I were assigned to Co. "M", 276 Inf. 70th. Division. When he and I reported there, Capt. Del S. Perkins placed Jordon in the 1st. Section, 1st. Platoon. I was put in the 2nd. Section, 1st. Platoon. The 1st. Platoon had two Sections and each Section two Squads of machine gunners. The summer was hot, the days long and the training ruff. We had lectures, weapon training, firing different weapons, hikes, parades, field problems, films (health & security), and forced marches. On one of the forced marches another soldier and myself had to help Henry Kraus (remember him) to the finish line. We, one on each side, took him by an arm and more or less carried him for about the last quarter of a mile. Also there were night problems, bivouacs, river crossings and obstacle courses. We usually had from Saturday noon to Monday morning off. Most of the time I would go to St. Louis but twice I went to Jefferson City and once to Springfield. I came home once on a weekend and a three day pass. The last of October we all began to get a two week furlough. This was when we knew we would be leaving for overseas. Late one night after bed check we heard a weapon fire several times. The next morning a big water tank in our area was spurting several streams of water from about 100 feet in the air. When everyone was back from furlough plans were being made to move but no one knew where we would be moving nor when. A soldier in the 3rd. Platoon (Harry Frye) learned he was to be transferred and would not get to go overseas with us. So one morning when we were out for roll call he took a carbine and shot himself in the head. He died instantly. We had to stay outside for a long time while it was being investigated. We were inspected regularly and given shots. I was issued two pair of GI glasses. I had been wearing a pair of gold rimmed civilian glasses.

Nov. 19-21:
Left Fort Leonard Wood by train, not knowing where we were headed. We traveled for three days going through St Louis, Chicago, Detroit, lower part of Canada, Buffalo on to Camp Myles Standish, near Boston, Mass.

Nov. 22:
Camp Myles Standish was the local staging area for the Boston Port of Embarkation. The barracks were one story tar paper with two pot belly stoves. Someone had to keep the fire going all the time because the weather was windy, rainy and cold. Our time was spent having inspections, lectures on censorship, health and security. There were demonstrations on how to abandon ship. Sales talks on insurance and War Bonds, and there were movies on VD and on maintaining secrecy. Thanksgiving Day we were served turkey and dressing with all the trimmings. One night I had a pass into Boston from 1800 to 2400hrs.

Dec. 6:
Word came for us to pack duffel bag and field pack as we were finally moving out. There was a train station in the camp. After loading on to the train we were told to keep the window shades pulled down. It did not take long to travel the 35 miles to Boston Harbor. The train took us right down to the Pier. We left the train and went overloaded with field pack and duffel bag to the gang-plank. At the top of the gang-plank you had to give your name, rank and serial number. The company was then directed to the bow of the ship and then down several decks. Our area was not well lighted and was filled with row after row of fold down canvas cots that were four or five high. When they were folded down for sleeping, you had only about 18 inches between you and the soldier over you. Our ship was the U.S.S. West Point, which was U.S.S. America, the largest luxury passenger ship in America before being converted to a troop ship. Left Boston, Mass. about 1600 on the U.S. West Point 1944 with 7764 GI's aboard. We had only two meals a day. I pulled Bulkhead Guard duty one time and had only one saltwater shower the entire trip. I was very seasick the first three days.

Dec. 15:
Arrived Marseilles, France just before dusk (ship could not dock) we went ashore by launch. We were trucked northwest of town to a place called CP-2. We slept in pup tents. There was lots of rain, mud, cold wind, inspections and lectures. I had one four hour pass into Marseilles, and got to sample some French wine. One day went to a stream west of us where we took a quick but very cold, cold bath.

Dec. 22:
All 276 Regiment personnel left by train except the Motor pool and Companies with jeeps, their drivers, 1st. and 2nd. machine-gunners. Later it began to snow.

Dec. 23:
Left Marseilles, in six inches of snow at 0800 in a convoy of about 75 to 100 trucks and jeeps. Bill Johnson was driver, I was 1st gunner and Thomas Ezzel was 2nd. gunner. The jeep's top had to be down because our machine-gun was mounted on a pedestal in center of jeep in case of an air attack. Snow was on the ground it was very windy and cold. We made about 175 miles to Lyon, Fr. just after dark. We slept on the ground by the jeep in a City Park.

Dec. 24:
Left Lyon, 0800 after a R-Ration breakfast, it was very cold, windy, and snowing. We made it to Dijon, Fr. about 150 miles. There was an abandoned air field where we slept on the ground by our jeep.

Dec. 25:
Left at 0800, it was colder and more snow about 10" on the ground, road very slick.- Christmas dinner was a C-Ration (Frankfurters and Beans) warmed on the jeep's engine. Nancy, Fr. was where we spent the night. We stayed in an old French Army barrack with no heat, beds or window panes. Outside was a big pile of German Army helmets.

Dec. 26:
We left 0800 and traveled about 90 miles to Brumath, Fr. This was where the rest of the Company, that came by train, was located. They were in a big, old factory with windows blown out and some of the roof gone. Finally a hot cooked meal our CHRISTMAS DINNER and it was wonderful. We had Turkey and dressing, green beans, potatoes, cranberries, rolls and cake. We had to sleep on the concrete floor among the broken machine equipment.

Dec. 27:
After breakfast, formations, and inspections, we left about 1000hrs for Bischweiler, Fr. It was a 25 mile ride. The FRONT LINE was the Rhine river just east of town. The 1st Platoon (mine) was put in a small building west of the town near an air strip. Orders were to patrol the road to an intersection, guard it until relieved, then patrol - the road back to our billet. Duty was 2 hrs. on 4hrs. off. This went on six days and nights.

Jan. 2, 1945 (-10F to +4F)
276 Inf. Regt. moved to the Wingen, Fr. area. The 1st section of the 1st. Platoon (two machineguns) stopped Temp.* in Wingen. I was in the 2nd. section and we went about 2 miles NW of Wingen to a wooded area. After digging a slit trench, I ate a K-Ration took boots off and got in my sleeping bag.

Jan. 3. (-4F to +7F)
Awoke with 2" or 3" inches of snow on me and in boots. We guarded an intersection. The dress was: GI boxer shorts & undershirt, long underwear, wool pants & shirt, waterproof pants, sweater, field jacket, over-. coat, 2 pair socks, 2 felt inner soles, shoepack boots, wool cap and gloves, raincoat, helmet liner, steel helmet, web belt, first aid kit, trenching tool, gas mask, canteen, ammunition, and my weapon (a 45 cal. automatic pistol).

Jan. 4, (+6F to +13F)
At daylight the Germans took most of Wingen killing many and taking over 200 prisoners. My section was called and arrived about 1300hrs. We were then told the first Co. M man had been killed. We were attached to Co. L and ordered to attack to the north and then circle to the east of the town. As I went around the front of a stopped tank and under it's cannon, it fired a shot down the street. It scared the hell out of me. After awhile and being loaded down I threw away my gas mask. We made it around to the northeast side of town and was in a young pine f forest when we were ambushed. It was about 1430hrs. and we lay in the snow until about 1700hrs. We were then ordered to pull back and set up our guns overlooking the west part of town and stay on 100% alert all night. SEE ARTICLE A.

Jan. 5, (+3F to +7F)
We kept the machineguns manned and in place, while the others went to a nearby house to warm, rest and get some sleep. Late afternoon Ralph Parsley (medic) caught a chicken. Stewed potatoes and chicken with K-Rations was very good. Those not with the machineguns slept in the house.

Jan. 13, (-1F to +7F)
Daylight and the fighting for hill after hill began again. Artillery mortar and small arms fire were heavy at times. About 1500 hrs. a mortar round hit Sgt. McCormack (2nd. Squad Leader) in his chest killing him instantly. He was no more than 20' away from me also his 2nd. gunner Pfc gander vas hit in the arm. Just then a German soldier came out of his foxhole with his hands up. He was about 20 yds. away. Zander took him back as he was going back to the aid-station. We moved slowly ahead for about 400 Yds. and dug in for the night. A few mortar rounds came in around us.

Jan. 14:
Mortar rounds came in regularly, one hit on the top of a huge boulder where we were dug in. No one was hit. Later in the morning a few of the men wanted to go back and see if they could find some souvenirs on the dead Germans. I was tired and did not go with them. A few minutes later there was a lot of small arms fire in the direction they had gone. A squad of rifleman was sent and killed three Germans, that we had by-passed or they had infiltrated our lines during the night. However it was too late as Sgt. Michelson (My Squad Leader) and Pfc. Jordon had been killed and Sgt. Doolan had a bad stomach wound. Pfc's Smith and Tucci were uninjured. Three of the four Squad Leaders in our platoon were out of action. At about 1500hrs another Division relieved us. It was dark by the time we got off the mountain. We were taken by jeep to Worthe, Fr. where we had a hot meal and spent the night.

Jan. 15:
Capt. Perkins made three new Squad-Leaders with the rank of Sgt. I was one of three and I took over the 3rd squad in the 1st platoon. We-had some hot food and then rested until about 1800hrs. We then started a slow night move by convoy. Traveling only about 50 miles, we arrived 2300hrs. in Morsbach, Fr. and relieved another company along the Metz Hwy. We set our machineguns in their positions covering an open field between the Hwy. (street) and a railroad track some 300 yds. to the north. When not on guard we stayed and slept in a house about 75 yds. behind the machineguns. The house was on the other side (south) of the Metz Hwy.

Jan. 16 to Feb 16:
Stayed in the same house and guarded open field between the Metz Hwy. and the railroad track. Around the 25th we were taken a squad at a time back about 7 miles to an old coal mime for a shower and new uniforms. This was my second shower since Dec. 5th. About this time we were told the company had earned the Combat Infantryman Badge. One day I went around and back to the mortar OP which was on the second floor of a house to our left. Another day I went back to where the Mortar Platoon had their mortars set up. They were about a quarter of a mile behind our machineguns. I kidded them about not being up on the front-line. One night a barn about a mile behind us-and on a hill caught fire and burned. It had a lot of ammunition in it. It was like the fireworks on the night of July the Fourth.

Feb. 16:
My section of machineguns was pulled back and attached to Co. "I". We were then ordered to circle back and around to our right and be ready to attack Forbach from the southwest at midnight.

Feb. 17:
0001hrs. The attack started through some woods. We had to wait for engineers to clear a path through a mine field. After two hours under lots of small arms and artillery we made it to the base of a hill. At daylight I saw several men who had lost a foot by stepping on a shoe mine. Not far from me a mortar shell landed in a -soldier's foxhole but did not go off(a dud). I had a boil on the back of my neck and our Medic Ralph Parsley dressed it for me. As we made it up the hill I saw several GI'S who had been killed during the night. One of my ammo-bearers was hit in an ammo box he had on a pack board on his back, however he was not wounded. We passed by a soccer field and then in front of a big house where a German soldier lay dead in a pool of blood. We almost made it to the base of the hill on which the Schlossberg Castle is located.

Feb. 18:
The attack on the Schlossberg Castle began at 0800hrs. About a third of the way up the steep hill we were held up by very heavy mortar and. artillery shells coming in on us. Ezzel my 1st gunner was hit in his leg and a new ammo-bearer was hit just above his eye. They were both hit by shrapnel and both were taken to the Aid Station. I think in combat everyone will say a prayer now and then I did daily. However after all I had seen, I thought it was time to really have a talk with the Lord, so I did. I promised if I got through the war I would do whatever HE wanted of me. After about an hour and a half we made it up and in the Castle it was about 1600hrs. Just after dark the Germans heavy artillery opened up on us for about 20 minutes. As soon as it stopped the Germans came charging and screaming up the hill in a big counterattack. I grabbed my M-1 (given me when I made Squad Leader) and ran out to the back of the castle which had no roof however there was a thick wall with some small windows. I went to the one in the corner next to the main structure. I fixed bayonet to my M-1 as I thought we would be overrun at any minute. They got close enough for Capt. Andrews CO for Co. I to call for the Divisions' Artillery and all of Co. M 276 Inf. mortars to aim and fire as much as they could directly on the castle which we were in. There was heavy shelling on us for 30 - 40 minutes. It was like daylight and the exploding shells were deafening but the counterattack was stopped. We got no seep as we were expecting another attack at anytime.

Feb. 19:
At daylight we found there were 40 dead German soldiers just yards away from the Castle. Took care of the wounded and moved the dead. Rested and ate R-Rations. After dark we moved out and down the steep hill. I jumped off a Oft. retaining wall on a dead German and over on to another body. We were part way down when their artillery started coming in on us. There were some caves where some French civilians had holed up so we joined them until daylight.

Feb. 20:
Continued into Forbach house by house, street by street Came to a 6ft. wall where a rifleman blew a hole through it with a bazooka round. We passed through it and then advanced on to the intersection of the Metz Hwy. (East, West) and a street Northwest to Mariena and Volkingen. We set the guns in second floor windows overlooking the intersection, it was getting dark. We must have been seen because mortar rounds began to rain in on us, one hit the roof above one of the guns.

Feb. 21:
276. Regt. was ordered to hold up until the 274th and 275th Regiments on our right caught up. We were to stay on full alert.

Feb. 22:
Uneventful. After dark I took another soldier back to the Co. CP for orders and rations. On the way back there was a dead German soldier behind a farm wagon. He was not there when we passed the wagon earlier. I do not know how or who killed him.

Feb. 23:
We were ordered to move our guns about 150yds. to the east but still on the south side of the Metz Hwy. We.. were in a group of two story row houses with our guns at windows on the second floor. The Germans were just across the street. We could hear them talking and changing their guards. One day a screaming-meemie (rocket) hit the room-next to one of the guns but no one was hurt.

Feb. 23 to Mar. 3:
One day I was going back to the CP and met Lt. Weiler to and he said "Congratulations" and I ask what for. He informed me I was a Staff/Sergeant in charge of the 2nd. Section(I had been doing this for several days). On another day an officer came around and said there was a need for officers and any Master, Tech. or Staff Sergeant could be sent back and would be made a 2nd. Lt. He ask if I wanted to do this. I refused because I knew the Rifle Companies were needing officers and I wanted to stay with the men in Co. M. Staff/Sgt. Higgins did go and became a 2nd. Lt. and was sent to another company. The civilians really had 3t hard during the war. One day a little old lady came in and went through our coal bucket picking out crumbs of bread and other pieces of food that we had thrown away.

Mar. 3:
Pulled back early to the intersection Metz Hwy. and Mariena and attack at 0800hrs. northwest toward Mariena. The going was slow clearing house by house. We moved only about a half a mile before darkness caught us. We set the guns in the backyard of a house and we stayed inside. About this time I was getting depressed because you know if you stay on the front line long enough you will be wounded or killed. I thought about writing a last letter home to be kept in my pocket and-mailed if I was killed. Some other soldiers were doing this. I decided not to do it.

Mar. 4:
Continued moving down the street but after awhile we had to hold up so a tank with a dozer blade could move some of a railroad bridge that had been blown up and had the street blocked. I had a German soldier give himself up, he did not have a watch or other souvenirs. It was dark and we were in a house when a new replacement for our section burst in and not knowing the password almost was killed. He was very excited because there were two of them but the other replacement had been killed a few houses back. We didn't know if he was killed by a German or by an American soldier.

Mar. 5:
Mariena was secured and as we pulled back, I took a trenching tool off-the--body of the replacement that was killed before-he got to us the night before. I had lost mine somewhere. Going back to the Metz Hwy. we then went east 300 to 400 yds. turned to our left and through an underpass. Other companies had taken the north part of Forbach. Forbach Forest and University are located just north of the city. We vent through the other companies and attacked in the Forest. We turned to the east and vent through several University buildings. In one of the buildings my stomach began to hurt so I got a desk drawer and relieved myself in it. I then threw drawer and all out the window. We moved about 400yds. out from the University to a stream that had a concrete bridge over it. Rather than dig a fox hole J.C. Smith and I spent the night under the bridge.

Mar. 6:
We were held up and told to dig in. Ralph Parsley (Medic) and myself dug a big foxhole. We found a bic (4' by 4') metal wheel-barrow like thing, so we put it over the foxhole. Because it was raining and we were receiving some artillery and mortar rounds. We had a good dry night.

Mar. 7:
During the morning there was a light rain and a few incoming 88 shells. A rifleman was killed in a building 50 yards behind us. About 1530hrs. there was a lot of 88's coming in around us. Parsley and myself were.in our foxhole. An 88 burst in a tree above our hole sending a piece of shrapnel through the metal cover over us and through the left backside of my steel helmet. Knocking us to the bottom of the hole I said, "I've been hit" Parsley said "Me too". I had a cut on the left back side of my head and Parsley had a cut on his lip. He bandaged-my head and we beaded back to the 3rd Bn 276 Inf. Aid Station. Paul Artman who had lost his hearing went with us. The Germans must could see us because mortar rounds fell around us for some distance. At the Aid Station my left shoulder was hurting and some blood was running down my arm. They dressed my shoulder. Paul Artman and myself were then sent by jeep to the 370th Med. Bn Co. D which-was in the western part Forbach. There my wounds were redressed and I was given codeine and sent by ambulance back about 45 minutes to the 93 EVAC Hospital. It was dark when we were unloaded. I was sent to X-Ray and then to an operating room. A nurse said, "What a pretty ring you have" (a small diamond ring given to me by my Mother). A Doctor gave me a shot and told me to count backward from 100. I think I got to about 94 before blacking out.

Mar. 8:
I awoke in a pair of pajamas, my head was partly shaved and bandaged, shoulder bandaged and in a sling. I looked to see if I still had my ring. I did. This was the first bed I had slept in since Dec. 5th. The soldier next to me had lost his leg at the knee. There were some Polish slave camp workers in our ward and they looked like live skeletons.

Mar. 9 to April 11:
Head and shoulder bandaged and arm in a sling because of broken left first rib. Given uniform and orders, go by Hospital Train to the 23rd General Hospital in Vittel, Fr. It had been a big resort hotel before the war. I was put on the 4th or 5th floor in a room with a soldier from Oklahoma. He had a big wound in his thigh. He was in the 45th Div. The Sgt. in charge of the ward said his name was Willkie the same as Wendell Willkie (who ran for President). There was a big bathhouse in back of the hospital where we could shower. It was next to a soccer field. Caught up on the news and wrote lots of letters but did not receive any for some time. March 17, 1945 the Purple Heart was given to me. A few days before being discharged from the hospital a soldier (Bishop) from the 36th Div. and myself got a pass to go to a nearby village. We walked over to it and it was very small but we found a place and had a couple of cognacs.

April 11 to May 14:
I was discharged from the Hospital and sent to several Replacement Depots. The first was in Toul, Fr. It was, here we learned that Pres. Roosevelt died on April, 12. At another Depot on Easter Sunday I vent to an early morning service. We were moved to another depot in Worms, Ger. and was there on VE Day, May, 8th. We had to march in a parade through and around the town square. The next depot was in Nuremberg, Ger. and then finally to Frankfurt, Ger. This was where the 70th Division Headquarters was located. There I met a soldier from Jackson, Tn. (Ed Burrow) I did not know him at that time. He had a large number of newspapers (Jackson Sun) from Jackson, Tn. I think I read every word on every page.

May 15:
After 68 days I was back with old friends in Co. M 276 Inf. 70th Division and it was sure good to be back. We were in a small town just south of the Lahn River. I was told I would be in charge of the 1st. Section and John Lackey would keep the 2nd. Section. The days were spent by exercising , some close order drill and some field problems as they thought we were going to be sent to the Pacific to help finish the War with Japan. The last week in May the 3rd. Bn had a track meet in Diez, Ger. I was presented the Individual High Scorer Trophy by Lt. Col. Gordon Hammond. It was for winning the 60 and 100 yard dash and broad jump. I was also on the 880 yard relay team that finished in third place.

Around June 1:
Co. M moved to a little larger town (Holzapple) on the north side of the Lahn River. It was about 10 miles west of Diez, Ger. On June 25, the 3rd Bn and the 884th Artillery had a track meet. I was lucky enough to win the High Scoring Award again. I won the 60 and 100 yard dash and was a member on the 440 yard relay team. The meet was again held in Diez, Ger.

Around July 1:
Co. M moved to Lahnsbach, Ger. a small town near Giessen.

July 4:
INDEPENDENCE DAY, most of the Division was taken by truck to a huge amphitheater overlooking the Rhine River at the Rock of the Lorelei. We honored those that had been killed. A soldier would stand from his company when the name of the soldier killed was read aloud.

July 29, 30, 31:
I had a choice of a 3 day pass to go to either Brussels, Belgium or Paris, Fr. I chose Paris. While there I went up on the Eiffel Tower, around and through the Arc de Triomphe, I walked the Champs-Elysees, saw the Opera Building, Norte Dame Cathedral, The Place De La Concorde, The Follies Bergeirre, and the night club district called Pigalle. I had a small sketch of myself done by a street artist.

Aug. 14:
Japan surrendered and everyone was very happy because we were going to be sent over there for more combat. Aug. 25. Most of us were transferred to the 3rd Division, Some were sent to other outfits. Troops with enough points came to the 70th Div. to be sent to the States. I went to Co. M 30th Inf. 3rd Division. It was the most northeast company in the U.S. Zone. The Russians were to our front (east) and the British were to our left(north).

Around Oct. 5:
I was transferred to Co. C 381 M.P. Bn. in Soissons, Fr. We were there only 7 days for schooling in M.P. work. I had a pass to go into Soissons one night.

Around Oct. 12:
Our company was sent to Verdun, Fr. We did not have much to do except some foot patrol. One street had about 15 houses on it and everyone of them were OFF LIMITS. We had to check them often. There was a small cafe that served a little thin steak with potatoes, we ate there several times.

Around Nov. 20:
The company was moved to Stuttgart, Ger. as part of the Occupation Force. We had little to do. There were two GI's and a German policeman on jeep patrol. Most of the time was spent checking for curfew violators. One day John Dimotto and I were selected to meet Gen. Lucius Clay (Commander for the U.S. Military Government) at the train station and to escort his Command Car to the U.S. Government Headquarters which was located in the hills outside of the city. Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners were wonderful because we were not worried and we ate in a building. December and January we had lots of snow. In January both DiMotto & I were put in the office as Desk Sergeants.

Around Mar. 4, 1946:
A group was sent to Manheim, Ger. on the way to the States. I was very happy to be in this group. we were housed near the place where Gen. Patton had the wreck which caused his death. One day a few of us went to Heidelberg, Ger. We saw the University of Heidelberg, the Heidelberg Castle. In it we saw the largest wine barrel ever built.

Around Mar. 9:
Moved to Camp Top Hat outside Antwerp, Belgium. We were put in eight man tents and waited for a ship.

Mar. 16:
Left Antwerp, on the Marine Raven. About three days out we ran into a big storm and I was seasick for about 3 more days. We arrived in New York Harbor around 1800hrs on March the 25th, but could not dock. We could see the Statue of Liberty and the New York skyline.

Mar. 28:
Docked at a New York pier where we unloaded and crossed the Hudson River on a ferry. We were then taken by truck to Camp Kilmer. New Jersey. I then sent a telegram home saying I had arrived in the U.S.

Mar. 29:
We left Camp Kilmer about noon for Camp Atterbury near Indianapolis, Indiana on a train. This was my first time to sleep in a pullman car.

Mar. 30:
Arrived in the afternoon and was assigned a barrack. Mar. 31, Processing papers, had a physical, then I turned in all clothing and was issued all new uniform.

April 1:
I was discharged around 1100hrs. and took a bus to Indianapolis, got a hair cut then caught a train

to St Louis, Mo. My train arrived in St Louis around 2000hrs I caught a taxi to the Trailways Bus Station. A MP ask to see my papers. This was the only time anyone ask to see them while I was in the Army and I was no longer in the Army. My bus left St Louis at 2330 hrs.

April 2:
It seemed like a long ride but we arrived in Jackson, Tn. at 0700hrs. I took a Taxi home. Mom and Dad were just finishing breakfast. It was a joyous occasion for their two sons were home from the war. Dad even took the day off from his work.

Buford Ray Matlock, ASN 34736757
Total length of Service:
Continental Service: 1yr., 4mos., 29days
Foreign Service: 1yr., 3mos., 23days

Decorations:
Combat Infantryman Badge
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Europe-African-Middle East Campaign W/3 Stars (Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardennes-Alsace)
Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Germany
Expert M-1 Rifle Sharpshooter
SS Carbine
2nd Class Gunner Heavy Machinegun

Article A

We arrived in Wingen and was met by Lt. Cale Merrill our Platoon Leader. He told us Pfc Henry Kraus who was in the 1st. section of our Platoon had been killed in a house just down the street. At that moment I realized Combat was not a game but would be a life or death struggle. Lt. Merrill told us our section of machineguns would be attached to Co. L 276 Inf. And we would attack to the northeast around the town. There we would set up on the high ground above and over looking Wingen. He also told us our 1st. section and Co. I 276Inf. with three tanks would drive the Germans out of town toward us and all we had to do was to kill or capture them. This sounded great to us as the attack was about to start. As I went around the front of one of the tanks it fired it's cannon down the street. I thought I was hit I was so scared. We followed Co. L through Heidneck on west side of Wingen then turned to left up around and through some houses over a hill and down a depression with some houses to our right. There was snow on the ground but some of us got hot with all our clothing on so we threw our gas mask away to lighten our load. Everything was going great as we worked our way up a steeper hill and into a young pine forest.

The trees were 10' to 15' tall with branches down to the ground. We had gone about 300 yds. and couldn't see more than 10' in any direction when we were ambushed. Everyone hit the ground and tried to scratch a hole in the frozen ground under the snow. Their machinegun, burp gun and rifle, rounds were wizzing just inches above us. A Co. L soldier was hit in his leg by machinegun fire a few feet up the hill from me. He was hollering, crying, praying, and calling for his Mama. My Squad Leader T/Sgt. Arnold Michelson# crawled up and pulled him down to where he, myself, and our Medic - Cpl. Ralph "Doc" Parsley bandaged and put a splint on his leg. Parsley then dragged him back and somehow got him to the Aid Station. Every few minutes the Germans would open up on us.

This went on for hours. T/Sgt. Michelson worked his way far enough and returned to tell us Capt. Eger and a Lt. both from Co. L had been killed. Just before dark our machinegun section was ordered to pull back from the woods, down the hill we had come up earlier and set our guns on the hill behind us. Slowly we withdrew and got them in place just as darkness came on us. Luckily none of our section was wounded, however, one had his canteen hit, one a hole in his sleeve and one had his boot heel shot off. This was our first day in Combat to see first hand the horrors of war.

Ten days later 1/14/45 T/Sgt. Arnold R. Michelson, my Squad Leader , was killed in the Vosges Mountains, southwest of Obermuehlthal, Fr.

ARTICLE B

Jan. 12, 1945: We relieved part of the first battalion 274th. Inf. in the vicinity southwest of Obermuehlthal, Fr. This section of the Vosges Mountains was covered in 10 or 12 inches of snow and the hills were very steep. There was heavy artillery, mortar and small arms fire by both sides. In the 2nd. squad Sgt. Parker McCormack (Tenn.) was the Squad Leader, Pfc. James C. Smith (TX) 1st. gunner. Pfc. Donald Zander (OR) 2nd. gunner, Pfc. William Jordon (NC) an ammo bearer. In the 3rd. squad T/Sgt. Arnold V. Michelson(MO) was the Squad Leader, Cpl. Buford R. Matlock (TN) 1st. gunner, Pfc. Thomas Ezzell (AL) 2nd. gunner, Pfc. Edwin Radloff (CA) an ammo bearer. In mid-afternoon Jan. 13, we were in a terrific fire fight. The 2nd. Squad was set up and firing to their front and to the left. The 3rd. Squad was 15 to 20 feet to their right. We were firing to the front and to our right. There was a small bush between their gun and our gun. A mortar round hit Sgt. McCormack in the chest killing him instantly. Pfc. Zander was wounded in an arm and Pfc. Smith was blown over the bush. He landed near us injuring his ankle. One German left alive in a foxhole in front of us surrendered. Pfc. Zander took him to the rear as he was going back to the Aid Station. It took about three hours for us to advance another two or three hundred yards, where we dug in for the night. Two more Germans were taken both wounded and had to stay with us as no one was going back to the rear after dark. We were dug in around the base of a huge rock. It was about 5 feet by 10 feet and was out of the ground about 3 feet. It was very cold and we. did not get any sleep because of the wounded prisoners. Jan. 14, Mortar rounds were coming in around us. One round landed and exploded on the top of the big rock that we had dug in around the night before. Pfc. James R. Lee (NC) was evacuated with frost-bitten feet. Mid-morning Michelson, Smith, Jordon, Pfc. Michael Tucci (Conn.) and Sgt. James W. Doolan (MO) another Squad Leader came by and ask if I wanted to go with them back to the battle area of the day before. They were going to look for equipment and for some souvenirs from the dead Germans. I told them I was tired and I was going to stay with the machinegun. They had been gone only a few minutes when there was a lot of rifle and burp gun fire in the direction in which they had gone. A squad was sent immediately to rescue them. It was too late. Michelson and Jordon were dead and Doolan had a bad stomach wound. Smith and Tucci were not hurt. The squad sought out three snipers that had infiltrated our line or we had bypassed them and in a fire fight they were killed. Late afternoon we were relieved by the 157th. Inf. 45th. Division

ARTICLE C

I am Buford R. Matlock, at this time I was an acting Section Sergeant for the second section, first platoon Co. M 276th Inf. 70th Division. My section was attached to Co. I 276th Inf. for the attack on Oeting and Forbach. Feb. 17, 1945 at 0001 hrs. the attack began through some woods. After a short distance we had to hold up and wait for the engineers to clear a path through a mine field. It took about two hours and under lots of mortar and small arms fire for us to make it to the base of a hill. This is where we stayed until daylight. I then saw several men who had lost a foot by stepping on a shoe mine. As we made it up the hill there were some who had been killed during the night. One of my ammo-bearers was hit in an ammo box he had on pack board on his back, however he was not wounded. We-passed a soccer field and then in front of a big house where a German soldier lay dead in a big pool of blood. We then held up for the night.

Feb. 18, 1945 we advanced slowly down an incline until we reached an open space about twenty yards wide at the base of the hill where the Schlossberg Castle is located. We dashed across the opening one at a time and started working our way up steep hillside. The hill was very steep. About half way up the hill we began to receive some very heavy sniper, mortar and artillery fire.

Thomas Ezzell a machine gunner was hit in the leg and an ammo-bearer who was new to the section was hit in the head. They were both hit by shrapnel and were taken back to the Aid Station. In combat everyone will say a prayer now and then as I did daily. However at this time I had a good talk with the Lord. I promised if I was able to make it through the war I would do whatever HE wanted of me. After about an hour and a half we made it up to and in the old Castle. It was mid-afternoon. The Schlossberg Castle is located on a high hill at the southwest edge of Forbach. Capt. Herbert J. Andrews the CO of Co, I 276Inf. told me the hill was so steep there would not be a good field of fire for our machineguns, therefore we should remain inside the castle for the night. That sounded very good to my section. The men in Co I, were deployed around the castle in foxholes. Shortly after dark all hell broke loose. The German artillery began and it was heavy for a few minutes. Then just as it stopped their mortars, hand grenades and hundreds of screaming German soldiers came charging up the hill toward the castle. Some of the men in Co. I came running into the one large room in the castle. Capt. Andrews called for the Divisions' artillery to fire on the castle and S/Sgt. Albert Crum the forward observer for Co. M called for all of the company mortars' to fire on the I grabbed my M-1(given me when I vas a Squad Leader) and started for a big window in the room we were in but another soldier was already there. I then ran out to the back of the castle which had no roof but some thick walls with narrow windows. I went to the window that was in the corner next to the main structure. The mortar and artillery burst were like lighting and it was almost like daylight. The burst from the artillery and mortar shells was like thunder. It was terrifying with the screaming Germans, all the rifle, machine pistols firing and the crying and moaning of the wounded. I expected the Germans to overrun us at any minute. Thinking this I fixed my bayonet firmly in place for their final charge. After a few minutes which seemed like hours the shelling, the small arms fire and the grenades stopped. So did the voices from the Germans. Then there was silence. We moved the wounded inside and prepared for another counterattack but there wasn't one. At daylight a soldier was slumped under the window I had started for the night before.

The top of his head had been blown off and his brains were in the middle of the room. Awhile later Capt. Andrews (thinking the dead soldier belonged to Co. M) told me we should move the body outside. In checking we found the body was a Combat Engineer attached to Co. I.

A patrol found more than 40 dead Germans on the hillside near the Castle. The rest of the day we cared for the wounded, got a .little rest and ate R-Rations. After dark Feb. 19, we moved out and down the steep hill. I jumped off a 4ft. retaining wail onto the body of a dead German and stumbled onto another body. We were part way down the hill when their 88s' started to come in on us. There were some caves on the hillside and there were some French civilians in them. We joined them until daylight and then we continued into Forbach house by house.

ARTICLE "D"

While being held up so the tank could move part of the railroad bridge we went into a near by house. I went upstairs to see if it was clear of any Germans and it was. There was a wall that had no windows but had a two or three foot hole made by an artillery shell. I looked through the hole and about 150 yards from me four German soldiers were walking between some houses. The houses were some distance apart. The opening in the wall was too high for a machine gun so I started to fire at them with my M-1. This brought the rest of the squad up. After emptying a clip in my M-1, I told an ammo-bearer to give me his M-1 and I continued to fire at them for they had dived behind a rock wall. My clip had been replaced as I emptied the clip in his M-1. We exchanged weapons 5 or 6 times as each clip was replaced. I then saw a white handkerchief begin to wave above the wall they were behind. !.stopped firing and a German soldier got up and came running toward us. I held my fire went downstairs and took my first prisoner. I was hoping to get a good watch or pistol from him but he did not have either. He was young about my age and very frightened but who wouldn't be. We searched him and then he was taken back to Battalion HQ for questioning and then to a POW Camp.

After a section of the bridge was moved we advanced on down the street. It was almost dark when we set up our guns on the second floor of a house. After dark someone came charging in the door below us. He was calling out in English and was very excited. He didn't know the password. I almost dropped a hand grenade down the steps on him. He was a replacement. He and another soldier for Co. M had-come with some Co. I replacements to their CP. At the Co. I CP they were told which house we were in and sent on their way. As they came around the corner of a house the other soldier was shot and killed. We do not know-if by a German or an American since they did not know the password. The next day I took the trenching tool from the one that had been killed as I had misplaced mine.

COMPANY "M" 276INF. 70TH. DIVISION

GOE, JOHN A.
GRAVES, MORGAN K.
HARRISON, KEITH V.
JORDON, WILLIAM A.
KOLB, ROBERT J.
KRAUS, HENRY E.
McCORMICK. PARKER
MICHELSON, ARNOLD V.
THEOBALD, JOHN A.

ARCURI, ANGELO
AUSTIN, NORMAN
BABBE, WILLIAM
BRADFORD, CLARENCE
CARR, EVERETT
DOOLAN, JAMES
EZZELL, THOMAS
HAMRSHAN, WILLIAM
HARDIN, J.J.
MATLOCK, BUFORD
SCHNEIDER, WILLIAM
SECRIST, ROBERT
SHEEHAN, WENDELL
SOTO, JOSE
WOMACK, ERNEST
ZANDER, DONALD