4

Vol. 1 i No 8 mumSomewhere in France Octobe r 2. 1944 RED CROSS GIRLS GIVE OUT COFFEE, SINKERS"STARDUSr

24 American ghls "Spearhead" GILBERT bY CPL.N.S. FlRFIRES visit 83rd division pays a visit American girls — twenty-four Not to be outdone by our many of them — not motion pictures nor readers getting coffee and dough• reasonable facsimiles but real, live, nuts from the two dozen pretty walking, talking feminine represen• maidens here last week, we decided tatives of the U. S. A., arrived at to take a quick run down to the 83rd Division Headquarters last 330th to see for ourselves what the week and spent five days with reaction of the starved male would various elements of the division. be at the sight of a few of the fairer The girls are all members of a sex, American style. Red Cross doughnut baking team So, with quivering heart, we set which visits different American out in our old Renault, and finally fighting units, serving coffee and arrived at the 330th's Service Com• doughnuts and "shooting the pany. There in a pine grove we breeze" with the boys in good old saw what was really something. Our American style. friend who came along, said, "Look Eight clubmobiles containing they move. Yes, and they breathe, three girls each rolled into division too". We reassured him that every• headquarters Tuesday morning and thing was all right. So we appro- later on in the day were dispat• ched a little hesitantly and looked ched to various elements of the up over the tail gate of one of the 83rd to set up their kitchens and rolling kitchens to see inside bake 50,000 doughnuts for G. I. two real, honest to goodness distribution. In addition to the females, Our friend, by this time, "sinkers",some 25,000 cups of cof• had lost his voice and his eyes fee were brewed and served during fairly bulged out of his head. We the week but all this was merely understood, though, for our mouths incidental to the chance of being EN6R. 6N. were suddenly very dry. No one 30g able to see and talk with the femi• could say a word. nine pulchritude. As one Gl put it, "We speak the same language." Being good stalwart Yankees, we were somewhat shocked out of Clad in Red Cross field garb and our stupor by the sound of a voice having a remarkable talent for unmistakeably from the southland. making the Gl's feel right at home, We looked up and from around THE WAR IN BRIEF the girls passed out doughnuts and the truck came a young lady wea• piping hot coffee from their mobile ring a broad grin and a field jacket ced Jap fleet to move from ancho• vans amid the strains of "Stardust" covered wirh insignias from prac• MONDAY — Airborne forces rage near Manila. TUESDAY — and other popular American tunes tically every outfit on this side of near Arnhem battled fiercely — G,erman radio admitted airborne which came from a portable juke the ocean. She said her name was Supplies held up by heavy German troops putting up heavy resistance box installed in each vehicle. The Louise, so we told her ours. Then guns — American First Army con• although cut off. Some British rein• question chiefly put to the girls she asked if we'd like to have a tinued advance beyond Aachen — forcements crossed Rhine and linked was, "Where Are you from?" and, doughnut. We did, so we got one American shells landed 18 miles up with airborne units.— German in more than one instance, men right off the stove, all sugared and from German industrial city of troops in Latvia and Estonia being renewed home town acquaintan• hot. We were glad of this break, Cologne — Russian and Rumanian cut up by Russian infantry and ceships. because it kind of gave us a chance forces liberated 1600 towns in two tank units — Circle tightened In charge of the group was Vicki to think. Also a little time to look. days — Nazi forces cut off in around Riga. In south Red forces Atkinson from Billings, Montana, By this time our friend had reco• Estonia. — In Italy, American Fifth less than ten miles from capital — who fell heir to the problems of vered himself and suddenly got in and British Eighth Armies on thres• Despite stiffer German resistance in finding transportation for eight the groove. So he asked Louise hold to Northern Italy — In Italy, American troops pushedto barrels of flour, five hundred pounds (Cont. on page 4) Phillipines, American airpower for• (Cont. on page 2) (Cont. on page 4) Monday. Oct. 2, 1944 83rd SPEARHEAD Page 2

SPEARHEAD The war in biief 83rd Spearhead STAFF GROWS KNOW YOUR The SPEARHEAD is published by dnd (Cont. from page I) for the personnel of the 83rd Infantry Division under supervision of the Public point 25 miles from Bologne — LEADERS Relations Office. All news reviewed by Starting with the current issue B-29 bombers attacked Jap steel G-2, 83rd Division. The SPEARHEAD is of The SPEARHEAD, two Gl's join mills in Manchuria-Marines in Palau supported without cost to U.S. govern• Wearer of the Legion of Merit ment. Member of CNS. Republication of the growing staff of the 83rd Islands made slow, steady progress. for meritorious conduct in perfor• credited matter prohibited without per• SPEARHEAD. One is Corp. H. S. WEDNESDAY — Allied head• mission of CNS, 205 East 42nd St., mance of outstanding service with Firfires of the 308th Engineer Bat quarters announced units around NYC-17, USA. Address inquiries to PRO, the War Department General Staff 83rd Inf. Div., APO 83, U.S. Army talion and the other Pvt. Maurice Arnhem withdrew south side of as Chief of the European - North (cjo Postmaster. New-York, N.Y.) (MIKE) Renek of the 83rd Signal Rhine. Desperate German counter African Section, Operations Divi• Company. attacks in corridor between Eind• sion, Brigadier General Claude B. Firfires, author of "Gilbert", that hoven and Nijmegen beaten off — Whole eastern flank of salient Ferenbaugh came to the 83rd Inf. poor beknighted individual who is Div. in February, 1944, as Assistant THE COLD SHOULDER the 83rd's own Sad Sack, has been strengthened — Canadian troops reached outskirts of Calais — Heavy Division Commander. He had previ• with the division since its early days ously been G-3 of the Second Corps back in the-States. Starting out in bombers of Allied airforce poun• No more kisses. No more flow• ded German troops around city— during the African campaign. ers. No more champagne. Sounds the Artillery he gradually worked his way up to Division Headquar• American Seventh Army troops kind of final, doesn't it? Pretty crossed Moselle River in strength gloomy? Well, perhaps. But it's ters and from there to the Engin• eers. near Epinal. Forced new salient to not that bad. the east — Russians described battle• No burly chap with hairy ears, When you landed in France, you fields in Estonia and Lativa as as we like to think of Engineers, were something of a conquering "hugh graveyards for Germans." — Firfires is quiet, soft spoken and hero. You were one of the fair Rhineland recon photos show 2/3 modest. Sporting a slight mustache haired boys from across the sea of naval base of Kiel destroyed. — on his upper lip, he smokes a pipe come to liberate an oppressed B-29's which raided Manchuria and dreams and talks of the days people. You got a big welcome. returned without losses. U. S., when he can get back to the "wide Nothing was too good for you. O. W. I. announced it would take open spaces" and resume his life's Plenty of wine. Champagne flowed. l-l /2 to 2 years to defeat japs after work of painting and drawing. In But... .here's something to think German collapse. THURSDAY — the meantime, he does portrait about. One of these fine days you're Of 8000 British airborne forces sketches and cartoons of "Gilbert" going to wake up right in Jerry's landed near Arnhem, only 2,000 while not getting buried under the front yard. And he's not going to withdrew through German lines. blue prints in the Assistant Divi• like it. Not by a damn sight. That 1,200 wounded left behind in care sion Engineers office. goes for the guy running around in of medical aid men... Russians civvies as well as for the fellow in Corp. Firfires comes from Santa within sight of Riga. Bombers blasted uniform. Maria, California, studied art out port installations... German radio there and prefers painting pastural The Germans don't think you're said Red Army crossed Hungarian scenes to building bridges and roads. a liberator. Quite the contrary. You border. — Not confirmed in Mos• Signal Corps Photo He admits "Gilbert" isn't a bad are, to him, one of the enemy. cow... Marshal Tito said partisans A graduate of the United States sort of fellow, almost feels sorry You're one of those "Amerikaners" reached Hungary-Yugoslavia border Military Academy, General Feren• for him in kindly sort of way. His who represents everything he's ... Churchill set German casual• baugh received his commission in greatest ambition is to see "Gilbert" been trying to defeat. You're one ties at 400,000 since D Day... November, 1918, and served with wearing the Victory ribbon and of those guys who's putting a Half million Nazis now in prison the 21st Infantry at Schofield Bar• bound for the States on board a crimp in his glorious plans for World camps... Large portion of British racks, Hawaii, from 1922 to 1925. good American ship. domination. fleet now in Indian Ocean opera• He later went to the Phillipines Do you think he's going to throw Pvt. Renek is a newcomer to the ting against Japs... In Italy, Fifth with the 57th Infantry and remained flowers in front of your jeep, and ranks of journalism in the division, Army now only 20 miles from there from 1937 to 1939. In 1936 open up the best stuff in his cellar? but is an oldtimer at the business Bologne. British Eighth Army es• he graduatedfrom the Command and Not on your life! You're going to one surmises from his conversation tablished 10 mile bridgehead across General Staff School at Ft. Leaven• get a nice cold shoulder. on the subject. Rubicon... In Phillipines, Jap air• worth, Kansas, and in 1940 from And here's something else to Hanging out his shingle only fields hammered by airmen. the Army War College. — remember. Things are getting tough recently in the Tel. and Tel. FRIDAY German commander General Ferenbaugh has been for Jerry. It's beginning to sink in. Section of the 83rd Signal Company at Calais asked for armistice to awarded the Silver Star for gal• He's getting punchy. He's sagging at Division Headquarters, Renek discuss terms with Canadian forces lantry in action and is also the at the ropes, and he can't last. But caused something of bombshell ... Latter demanded unconditional wearer of the Bronze Star, both he's still as slippery customer and when he first authored a dainty surrender. No word on decision received during the present cam• you want to remember it. Treat sheet for the Gl's in the company yet released. Citadel of Calais fell paign. His home is in Penn Yan, them all with suspicion, soldier and called "The Sump Hole". yesterday... Allied troops con• New York. civilian alike. Don't get chummy Exhibiting the insatiable curio• tinue gains in Belfort Gap area... with the civilians. sity of a born newsman (questions German counter-attacks reported east of Nancy... Churchill announ• Before long,1 maybe we'll all get come a mile a minute) Renek has home where, as one Gl put it, all the earmarks of a newsman in ced Allies now have two to three DO YOUR "We can walk in the garden and the making. Only 19 years old, a million troops in Europe. 40 per drink cold beer from the bottle and product of Brooklyn itself, and of cent are British. U. S. losses about XMAS MAILING kiss somebody we know." That's Public school Number so-and-so, 145.000 compared to 90,000 British- 4) worth a cold shoulder any day, Renek worked for the New York (Cont. on page EARLY isn't it? (Cont. on page 4)

BLONDIE by CHIC YOUNG

CNS REPROOucto BY CPl N-S. FIRFIRES Monday. Oct. 2, 1944 83rd SPEARHEAD Page 3

"Duty" engineeis pioud of their 'The Sump Hole' history - Cany ball when going BY Pvt. MAURICE RENEK. Einstein's theory (the civilian's rough - Perform many duties field manual) when put into simple terms means that time goes fast With three battle streamers from and our boys, who removed mines when your kissing a beautiful the last war securely tacked on to built bridges, and buried hundreds bundle of charm... but just sit their standard, the 308th Engineer of dead horses and cows. There's down on a hot stove for a split The next time you see a Gl from Battalion has been more than once was and is the kind of work that second. You think you've been a new outfit, ask him how every• the unsung heroes of many battles goes on at all hours of the day and there for hours. thing is back at the beach. You'll in this war. They may be dirty night regardless of the situation. * be surprised at the answers you get. engineers with hairy ears, as the Af Saint-Malo and Dinard they We don't know about Einstein, * song goes, but when the chips are prepared demolitions to blast Jerry but the longest time anyone can Isn't it amazing how it always down and the going gets rough, blockhouses, removed mines and spend is running a short hundred rains everytime we go somewhere. these boys of the Bulldozer, Jack booby traps. They built bridges, the yards to the latrine. * hammer and saw keep on with biggest and best of all being the their often back breaking, heart• 40ton Bailey Bridge at Dinan which Wanted: One or two men with We wonder just how many Gl's breaking work. still stands today as the only means fine musical talent to supply melody got down to Club 63 back in Ven- The 308th Engineers was formed of transportation north into the to jump number called "Buckin hit for the post-war cats. the floor show was pretty good. Ohio, from men mostly from Ohio. vehicles, supplies and prisoners * Almost a Minsky nightmare. They came overseas with the divi• across the Loire by building and They call the romantic French * • sion and when it was split up in operating several ferries and suffi• language a nasal lingo. But after France, the Regiment, as it was in ciently repairing the bidge in time going cross eyed and winding up Someday someone is going to put those days, was assigned to the SOS for foot traffic. with a permanent crick in the neck on a movie without having the looking at those voluptuous French lights go out. maidens, we can say that a lot of * talk is not done through the nose. The Renault sedan you see floa• * ting about the countryside marked She had the dollar sign look in "83X—PRO" belongs to the Public her eyes, but when he went to cash Relations Office at Division Head in on it, she rung up "no sale." quarters. Somehow, someone al• ways wants to get us mixed up Letter to an infrantryman who is with the medics. always too busy fighting to pose for * newsfeels. The most galmorous Not only is Paris "on limits", thing he sees is a pair of dry socks but everyone can wear a field and the only thing he hugs is the uniform there. Guess the Battle of ground. the Sexes is still »goin g on. "Dear Charlie: fffff You must be having a wonderful time kissing and hugging those A Division Hq Co. officer uJgpPl If French girls. Why do you let them carried an electric heater all across do that to you? Haven't you got no France before he found a place ha pride no more? Or don't you love could use it. And then his heater me no more? Seeing that you are blew out the lights. * * having such a wonderful time of this to build barracks. A month later Yes, theirs is a dirty job and a war, I started to go out with your We hear there's a new K-Ration the outfit was reassigned to the back-breaking job but the engineer old friend, Willie. Remember him? called K-8. They ought to call it Third Corps and participated in the is proud of it for he knows that He's making so much money now. K-9 then they'd have something. Aisne-Marne, Oise-Aisne and Meuse- the artillery planes need the air The Navy gave him a discharge after eight weeks because he had bad Woof, woof! * Argonne battles. From the end of strips he builds, that the Gl's need the war until it returned to the the water he pumps and purifies legs. Boy, you should see him States in May 1919, the 308th was a that trucks with men and supplies Lindy. None of the girls can keep We understand the WACs have part of the Army of Occupation. cannot roll without his roads, and up with him. By the way, honey, is a nice new winter number, soft During this time it built the first that when that extra pound of push the army curing your flat feet, huh? wool, tan in color, and accentuated floating bridge across the Rhine is needed to go over the hump he'll shoulders. It's ideal for teas and I don't read nothing in the papers River, made from captured German be at the side of the dougboy figh• evening wear. Swish. Let's go home, about your outfit. I bet you're materials in the vicinity of Cologne. ting as a doughboy right with him boys. having a snap time of it in Paris or to the end. Cherbourg. We hear you got lots * As with any outfit with a history of 'champagne and all for free. there are always a number of The latest decoration to be added Dotty's boy friend, Earl, has got stories which become famous as the to the fast growing list is a piece the Purple Heart. Why don't you years go on. Perhaps of all connected of red flannel worn on the seat of Snipes with get some medals? the pants. This decoration is won with the 308th, there is one out• I'll close now as I can't concentrate by those who make five or more standing which is spoken of with 57 AT Gun when Willie is singing. Willie successful sorties to the 1st ser• pride. It seems that General Pers• sends his regards and says to give geants tent. hing paid a visit to the Third corps the hun hell. Your devoted girl * and the commander desired to put The first story we've heard on on a review for him. He told the sniping with a 57 AT gun came to friend. Theme song seldom heard any• General he had no troops for the our attention the other day. It I love you, more, "Roll Me Over and Do It review but his "dirty engineers", seems that there was a well-cam• JENNIFER Again". and the 308th fresh from the line, ouflaged 57 sitting by the side of and with no time to spruce up, the road. The gunner happened to Huss and Ball We wonder if Turkey will be in passed in review before General look out to the front and saw a the war by Thanksgiving. Pershing dressed in their dirty, Jerry patrol approaching blissfully visit division * unwashed fatigues. unaware of the gun. Our friend, as the story goes, got slightly Question of the Week: What Of the present campaign the excited and banged away with said Pierre Huss, war correspondent for do they do with Bottle Fatigue 308th needs no mention for its 57. The results were a direct hit the International News Service and cases? many deeds. In the hedgerows of on one Jerry (he was killed) and the Ed Ball, who serves in the same * Normandy it was they who blew the wounding 6f another. The other capacity for the Associated Press, Say, who writes this column, hedgerows for the tanks, who Jerries dropped their weapons and were guests of the division last anyway? strung barbed wire between Jerry fled in panic. week. Monday. Oct. 2. 1944 83rd SPEARHEAD Page 4

NEW GI SHOW Red cioss girls THE GRAND STAND MAKES BIG HIT (Cont. from page I) With eight first class entertainer of shortening and an equal number from the Special Service Section of of hundred pound sacks of sugar the division providing the talent which were needed to bake dough Am. Lg. Pennant Baltimore Orioles and the retreating Germans the nuts for men of the 83rd. Other musical instruments, a fast moving girls who comprised the party and wonbYBiownies win playotf series ninety minute show was presented their home towns are as follows: to the men of the 330th during the Martha Richardson, Chicago; Mar• garet. Wathan, Greenville, Pa.; Representing the International past week. For the first time in 43 years Kathryn Kirkpatrick, Indianapolis; League in the Little World Series Headlined by Corp. Milton Char• the St. Louis Browns have won the Jean Hatcher, Detroit; Kathryn this year will be the Baltimore leston, former Olsen and Johnson American League pennant and the Blair, Cleveland; Pat Hurley, War• Orioles, who won the right last funnymann, the Gl's got plenty right to meet the St. Louis Cardi• ren, Ark.; Louise Smartt (the week by defeating the Buffalo of laughs from start to finish. Hot nals, champions of the National second Tis for terrific and she's Bisons in the playoff series four licks were dished out with regula• League, in the 1944 world series. from Smartt Station, Tenn.); Marie games to three. Baltimore finished rity by a six piece band and this The first game will be played at Roversi, New York City; Virginia on top of the heap at the end of the made for good listening among the Sportsmen's Park on Wednesday Roberts, Tampa; Dorothy Dow, regular playing season but under jitterbugs and hep cats. Sgt. Rddie of this week and Jack Kramer, ace Cambridge, Mass.; Barbara Rid- the league set up, the winner of the Lathrop's educated trumpet and hurler of the Browns, will take geway, New York City; Helen playoff series among the first four his interpretation of Harry James' over the chores on the mound. Longshore, Washington. D. O; clubs, is the team that meets the "How Did You Make Me Love You" Although the starting pitcher for Ann Furguson, Syracuse; Mary Pit- winner of the American Association was one of the best offerings of the rhe Cards has not yet been offi• carian, St Louis; Jane Phillips, Ft. cially announced it is expected that playoffs in the Little World Series. show. Sgt. Russel Preston's hot licks on the drums had the rug Worth; Marie Phfllips, Kirkwood Morton Cooper will get the nod In the American Association cutters stomping their feet with Mo.; Cameron Jelliffe, New York from Manager Billy Southworth. playoffs, Louisville was leading ecstasy. City; Kathleen Crocker, Boston; The Brownies won the pennant three games to none, in its series Sally Peters, Hampton, Va.; Leslie Others in the band who are Sunday afternoon when they trim• with St. Paul. Fenn, Hartford; Mary Metcalf, St. going about the division with the med the New York Yankees 5 to Louis; Barbara Gunmerie, Wor• show are Sgt. Oscar Guerra, cla• 2, while the Washington Senators cester, Mass.; and Sally Crainghill, rinet; Pvt. Roy Hamerslag, trom• were taking the measure of the Dallas. 'Dizzy" Trout wins bone; Sgt. Russel Sonju, trombone Detroit Tigers by a 4 to I margin. and Corp. David Brinkmoeller, ac• Prior to this game both the Tigers P. S.: Their address fellows: Hqs. his 27th victory cordion. and the Browns were tied for 12th Army Group, APO 655, U.S. Sgt. Sandy McPherson's slick first spot in the junior circuit. Army. handling of Master of Ceremonies Scheduled to hurl the second, Top pitching honors in the major deserves honorable mention, espe• third and fourth games for the leagues this year will go to Detroit's cially his interpretation of the song, Browns are Nelson Potter, Danny own "Dizzy" Trout who this week "What Say-Let's Be Buddies." The war in brief Galehouse and Sigmund Jakuki notched victory No. 27 when he respectively. blanked the Athletics 6 to 0 and Ed Devlin, former Bay State sports enabled his club to keep in the (Cont. from page 2) running with the red hot St. Louis Staff grows enthusiast, and now a member of ... In initial proclamation to Ger• Browns. the division, has nominated the man people, Gen. Eisenhower sta• Browns as his choice to cop the In achieving this triumph, Trout, (Cont. from page 2) ted Allied forces coming as con• world series flag. gave the Mackmen a half dozen Herald Tribune as copy-boy before querors not as oppressors... Rus• jingles over the route while Luke the War. Since then he has from sians cleared entire west coast of ifamlin was being touctted for 13 time to time contributed to the Estonia. Now in Riga outskirts... safeties including homers by Rudy Herald Tribune and the Chicago Hungarians forced to give more No scores York and Dick Wakefield. Trout Sun, both of which, he claims, are ground in Hungary... American is expected to twirl again this fighting for his services when all Fifth took additional strong points Owing to unforseen circum• week against the Senators in the this business of shooting the Jer• on road to Bologne... In Pacific, stances we are unable to bring you final intra-league series of the ries is over. 65 Japs ships and 36 planes fell to Saturday afternoon football scores season. Renek, is a little fellow, wears American carrier based aircraft... in this issue of SPEARHEAD. How• The slim right hander's biggest his hair short, and gives the appea• In past month 500 Japs ships and ever we hope to have results of complaint is that he does'nt get rance of being on the hot seat. He over 1400 planes destroyed. — this Saturday's games by press time enough exercise during the day admits his little sheet "The Sump SATURDAY All German long next week, and we shall also give and nearly every night he can be Hole" is a fine product and grins rangs guns at Cape Grisnez cap• you results of games which were found at a bowling alley limbering with appreciation when you men• tured by Canadians. Guns shelled played on Sept. 30. up that valuable right arm. tion it. When asked to loan a bit England for four years... No news of his time to The SPEARHEAD, on Canadian-German fighting at to write us a column called "The Calais... U. S. Third Army broke Sump Hole", he was quick to counter attacks in Moselle Valley respond. His only complaint was, knocking out 82 tanks.. . During last liked that. We started to call her "I don't get around much anymore" 10 days in Estonia, Red forces killed "Spearhead" visits Red but found out everyone called This week's issue is his first 30,000 Germans. Took 15,000 pri• her Ginger which we thought was soners... Railway centers western (Cont. from page I) just as nice. We didn't know anyone appearance in real newsprint on this side of the ocean. He may Germany blasted by Allied air where she came from and she said, around Tampa so we turned to dark not get around much anymore, but force... Rain and heavy Nazi "Tennessee." Then he asked her and lovely Marie Roversi who comes we're sure you'll like what he counter attacks slowed drive in last name, and she said it was from Kew Gardens, N. Y. That was puts out. Italy... Marines win two more Smartt, spelled S-M-A-R-T-T. Our our undoing for our friend sud• islands in Palaus. friend by this time was feeling denly found he and she had friends no pain and so asked her what the in common up Buffalo way. So we SUNDAY — Port of Calais fell extra "T" was for. Not to be out• grabbed a fist full of doughnuts Beechum to Canadians. About 400 prisoners done, Louise came right back at right of the stove, leaned back and sharpens up taken. Allied third and seventh him, "Why' it stands for Terrific." listened, and munched. armies repulsed German counter Our good companion was floored It sounded like good old times. attacks... Poles fighting in Warsaw by this, but soon bounded up with These French women, we thought, Sgt. Robert Beechum of Wilkes hard pressed. Russian troops cros• a mumble, "I bet they had to catch may be okay, but there's something Barre, Pa., d ivision news corres- sed Danube... RAF bombed Ham• her to get her shoes on." about shooting the breeze with pondent with the 329th, reports burgh... In Italy, heavy rains With that we poked our heads a gal from the States that warms a that covering stories on Red Cross making major operations impos• inside the kitchen. The first one fellow's heart, and we_ wished' we girls is by far better than getting sible... Four Jap ships sunk off to catch our eye was Virginia could have stayed there all day eye witness accounts of patrol Borneo in Pacific. Allied bombers Roberts from Tampa. She had red talking and listening and looking, actions. Jerry almost sharpened his again pounded Jap airfields in hair and freckles and, we kind of mostly looking. pencil for him the other night. Phillipines.