Don Bennett's War - Chapter 18

Chapter 19 - German fast retreat < - - - next

Don Bennett's War

Chapter 18 - Back to the Front

_______________________

That night some trucks came up, and very silently, quickly and efficiently moved us to another sector. After the trucks left we forward marched all night and by morning were at the front again. While moving forward through a small road in the woods, shells began to fall around us, and we then had to move ahead by runs and fall "hit the dirt's" only it was puddles and mud. Rifle fire was heard ahead and over to our right an isolated German machine gun was chattering away and chattered long after we passed him. We saw some snipers hiding in trees and shot them down. A sudden burst of rifle shots was heard directly in front of us. Five of us were told to take a house a hundred yards to our left through the trees when some enemy were seen. As a precaution we were told to give the house a few bursts before entering, and for the first time, my B.A.R. didn't fire. We then entered the house, but the enemy had taken leave. As we moved down the wooded hill, we passed by two American soldiers just killed and my thoughts went to these boys' families who had no idea their boys were dead, and of the time when they would get the telling telegrams of the boys we were looking at. A hundred yards further we saw the dead yet warm body of the German sniper who had shot our soldiers.
We moved on up the small road through the woods, over and around many purposely felled trees, down into a valley, and into a fair sized town with no sight of the enemy. While passing through the town we picked up many purposely left propaganda leaflets asking us why we fought on when 4Fs were back home having a good time playing with our girlfriends and wives. They also showed pictures of 4Fs with these women having a good time playing and drinking in night clubs. We fought on. We marched on up over the hill on our left and just about made the top when shells began falling again. Some boys were hit up ahead and a jeep serving as an ambulance came up and took the wounded back.
We went up and then down the other side of the hill closely behind the Germans, and made it into a small settlement as the freezing night came upon us. Some women came out of an inn and gave us some very welcome hot "coffee". They told us the Germans had just left. We went on up the road as shells again began falling. It really was cold laying on that freezing ground. We moved very cautiously up the road and at dawn our scout reported the enemy in a house just ahead. It was decided that the second platoon would attack the house and our platoon would flank it. They must have seen us coming for they gave the second platoon a brief fight and then fled very efficiently. The second platoon sergeant was killed and a scout seriously wounded.

Our platoon then went out in front and led the battalion the rest of the day and night.

Chapter 19 - German fast retreat < - - - next

Table of Contents < - - - return

_________________________

Web Site By Webmeister Don
Websites and Graphic Design