The following account is taken from the Summer 1995 issue of the Trailblazer, pp. 12-13. The Trailblazer is the official publication of the 70th I.D. Association. It is the log of Joseph L. McGriff, Don Hearn and H.L. Hanson, of the 882nd Field Artillery Battalion. Dates in red indicate updates from papers supplied to me by Lou Hoger.

1943 15 May: Officers and enlisted cadre arrived at Camp Adair from the 91st Division at Camp White, Oregon.

15 June: 882nd Field Artillery Battalion as part of the 70th Division was activated per "General Order #1 70th Inf.Div. Camp Adair, Oregon."

11 Sept: First Division parade, Bn colors received. The Governor of Oregon officially welcomed the 70th Division "Trailblazers."

1944 2 Feb: 70th Div. Arty Bns left Camp Adair for Yakima, Washington to engage in firing maneuvers.

10 Apr: 882nd FA Bn and other FA Bns returned to Camp Adair from Yakima.

25 Jul: 882nd departed from Camp Adair to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, their new station.

29 Jul: Arrived Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri via train #1915

19 Dec: Left Fort Leonard for Fort Myles Standish, Mass. staging area for overseas movement.

21 Dec: Arrived Camp Myles Standish.

1945 8 Jan: Bn entrained 06:30 at Camp Standish enroute to Boston POE, arriving at 08:30. 17:30 departed for overseas duty in France aboard the SS Mariposa. Shipment 1508-K.

18 Jan: At 16:30 arrived at Marseilles, France. From the port by motor convoy to Delta Base Section staging area, arriving at 17:00 and established bivouac.

4 Feb: Left Delta Base at 06:15 for Epinal, France. Bivouaced for night in abondoned German airport hangar at St. Rambert, having travelled 169.2 miles that day.

5 Feb: Bivouaced for night in city park at Dijon after travelling 171.5 miles.

6 Feb: Billeted for night in large textile plant in Epinal after travelling 114.3 miles during day.

7 Feb: Moved into positions in Diebling in general support of 883rd FA Bn.

8 Feb: Btry A first to register. 1stSgt Arnburst pulling the lanyard on the first round fired overseas. B and C Btrys also register. Both of these Btrys received enemy artillery fire on their positions during the day.

9 Feb: Bn fired first missions on enemy positions in support of patrols. Missions accomplished.

10 Feb: "Stars & Stripes" Nancy edition, announces the 70th Division as new members of the 7th Army on the line. Division patch is returned to sleeves of the uniform and the markings "70th Div" and "882nd FA Bn" painted on bumpers of our vehicles.

11 Feb: Bn moved to new positions at Thedigen by infiltration between 14:00-16:00. Miles traveled 3.2. Bn set up in preparation for the attack and push across the Saar River and Siegfried Line defenses. Bn on this date had its first air alert.

12 Feb: Lt. Col. Arnbrecht assumes command in the city if Thedigen. Enemy fire is heavy in position areas.

13 Feb: We support night patrols with harassing fires: sector is generally quiet. 725th FA Bn and 274th Cannon Co go into general support of the 882nd FA Bn.

14 Feb: 494th Armd FA Bn. 12th Armored Div. goes in general support of 882nd FA Bn.

17 Feb: At 07:30 a 20 minute preparation was delivered in coordination with Div attack on enemy positions to front. Considerable enemy resistance was encountered. On this date the Bn had its first casualty. Pvt James Butler of A Btry was killed by enemy mortar fire.

19 Feb: A general withdrawal on the part of the enemy took place after repeated tries to overrun our positions. Lt. Mayfield, Ln Pilot, was injured by enemy machine gun fire, lands plane at CP and was evacuated.

20 Feb: CP displaces to Folklingen, France. BN received enemy mortar fire in CP positions.

21 Feb: CP displace foward to Bushbach, France to better support the infantry advancing on the Saar River and Siegfried Line positions. Spicheren Heights fell to the infantry this date after repeated attack with fierce fighting.

22 Feb: Battalion marked Simon Mines for bombing attack by airforce. Simon Mines near Forbach holding up advance of our infantry.

24 Feb: In a strong counterattack in the woods east of Stiring- Wendel, France the 882nd repelled repeated tries by the enemy to overrun our positions. Lt Peck of C Btry cut off for period of 6 hours by enemy infiltration before being rescued by doughs of the 274th Infantry.

26 Feb: Men of the Bn were authorized to wear their first battle star for the "Campaign Germany." During the night C and A Btrys were shelled by the enemy.

2 Mar: Bn fired concentration from positions in Bushbach in preparation for the Division's attack on Forbach and Saarbrucken. Ammunition was rationed. Attack was unsuccessful, casualties on doughs were heavy.

3 Mar: The Bn again supported the attack on positions in Forbach, Saarbrucken, Gifertwald, Schoenbeck. Fighting was fierce with little gains made.

4 Mar: Infantry advancing painfully through Stiring-Wendel from house to house. Bn continues the support of the advancing doughs.

6 Mar: Much resistance continues to come from the Simon Mines area: Bn fires many concentrations with aid of 495th FA, 725 FA and Corps artillery in attempt to reduce the enemy strong point.

14 Mar: Bn supports advancing doughs. Stiring-Wendel, Schoenbeck, Krughute, Petite-Roselle, Simon Mines, Clarenthal, Erustenhausen and Gersweiller cleared.

17 Mar: 1st Lt Kemp of C Btry forward observer killed while manning his OP in advanced positions along the Saar. Enemy artillery, mortar and S/A fire heavy on our CP positions.

19 Mar: 70th Div crosses the Saar River after a coordinated artillery barrage by all Bns and supporting Bns. Saarbrucken is overrun by the doughs on this date and Siegfried Line broken.

20 Mar: Bn moves to Ottenhausen 08:00 for Mackenbach, Germany. Lt. Col. Arnbrecht takes over as town commander. Signal depot with much enemy equipment taken over. Bn assigned mopping up operations.

25 Mar: Bn leaves Ottenhausen 0800 for Mackenbach, Germany. Lt. Col. Arnbrecht takes over as town commander in Mackenbach. Signal depot with much enemy equipment taken over. Bn assigned mopping up operations.

31 Mar: Bn leaves Mackenbach for new position at Waldlaubersheim.

1 Apr: Bn Comdr orders CP moved to Munster-Sarmsheim on the Rhine River. Div CP set up at Bad Kreuznach. Div is placed in Third Army reserve with mission of mopping up and military government.

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