Vol. IX #1 703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion Newsletter March, 1998

TWENTY-FIVE MORE ROOMS TO RESERVE! LET'S GO I At the present time we have but fifteen rooms reserved of the forty hotel rooms we hope to be used by OUR members and guests in Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 17-21, 1998. Let's get over the writer's cramp we picked up during the Christmas card season. Sit down and WRITE YOUR RESERVATION NOW ! The forms you need and other key information are enclosed. Fill out the forms, and send them to the hotel and Len Straub (with check) as directed, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

For those of you travelling by plane vho will need to stay over Saturday so as to qualify for a reduced travel rate, please send your reservation request to Brian Behler, at the Holiday Inn-Korth with a note telling hij why you are staying over.

Coiplete the fori! That is the only way you can attain a prior date before the 17th of May. The follts coning to the Bolland Tulip Festival will fill all living space in and around Grand Rapids for two weeks ahead of our reunion. PLEASE SEHB IN YOUR RESERVATIO.f AS SOOS AS POSSIBLEl

Those who plan to drive in froi the west on tha ferry fiOB Manitowoc, Sisconsin to Ludington, ?!ichigan, sight better try another route. "It's no bargain!" [$45/car-S3]/person]

Flying in? You will be picked up at the airport. Let the hotel know the air line and the arrival tiie.

Cancellations can be lade through Hay 15, 1998 by calling the hotel. Leave your naie, that you registered for the ?03rd T.D. Bn. Reunion, and tell thes the nuiber of people who would have been in your party.

Should you still have questions call Bob Schutt (616) 453 7571.

THE LAST HURRAH! For whenever a tank went through Mere The clarion call has sounded, Cobblestones had to be relaid. inviting from near and far The survivors of the 703rd How about the guy from "A" Company, For one final "Last Hurrah"! Who died digging a kitchen pit? His name is on the tip of my tongue. To the veterans of the T.D.'s, But I can't remember it! Who once marched strong and proud. But now are aged, slow and beat. The revolving door of officers Whose sight has begun to cloud. That passed through officer ranks. From Cincinnati's huge Lou Capelle, The call goes out to join us To the tiny Lieutenant Banks. In our official, "One Last Fling" When we'll rehash all those happy times In "A" Compamy, before the E.T.O. As well as the sad remembering. Led by Sm(y)the, and above named Lou, Had officers named O'Connell, Ruff, "Do you remember—?" The questions start, Howard, Chism, Wissing were a few. "The road that Recon made—

Normandy Northern France Rhineland Ardennes Central Europe 703rd Road Block-2-

Mclntyre, Henderson and myself. MILDRED OXLEY (A), sister of DONALD OXLEY (3A I'm sure there were one or two more. d. 10/87) passed on 5/21/97. "Don", with that But Henderson was the only one left half smile, "got the job done" and was a In "A" at the end of the war! modest, gentle comrade sharing the accomplishments of his comrades. He's "long The same applied to "B" and "C", gone!" Frank and "Marge" have not forgotten. And it wasn't officers alone. ********************************************* The turnovers came in enlisted men From misfits to kids fresh from home. BURDEN OF ILLNESS AL MILLER (A) could no longer properly So many memories from Polk 'til now. handle the needs of IMOGENE who has suffered The Gap, Camp Pickett, Camp Hood, from Parkinson's disease for some time. What England, France, and Deutschland with his own lingering illness, he had her Evoke feelings bad and good. placed in a nursing home. It hurts "Al" deeply, but he could no longer do what was So now, at our last time together. best for her. He was always there for us as a Come out and reminisce with the guys. comrade. How about a few words of encourage• But, kindly, dear friend, remember ment from you. We'll be exaggerating, not telling lies! 205 S. Hth St., Laiar, !!0 64759 "Hap" Paulson (A,C) ******************************************** AULAY and ISABEL TOMPKINS (C) need our good THE GOOD WORD/ wishes as they struggle to handle their Frank and Marge Miller (A) with Diablo effort to overcome multiple health problems. III 154 Conifer Lane, P.O.Box 131, Hurley R.Y. 12443 keep in Isabel was present at our reunion despite her contact with our friends, despite Frank being illness, and Aulay did so very much to make limited to movement in his wheel chair. the affair a success near Hershey, PA. Please There's always that dry smile on his face! encourage them with your good word! Frank let us know that the ice storms pre• 93 Almond Dr., Hershey, PA 17033 sented some difficulties in Hurley recently. Here's the latest batch of news from this compassionate couple. THEY HAD THEIR 50th AT SEA! Ed and Maja Hoy (Hq.,Rcn.) enjoyed their Out of Florida , RUSS STEELE (Div.Hq.) 50th wedding anniversary on a Caribbean sent a photo of "ED" and CLAIRE McINTYRE (A), cruise last August. We hope that one of the enjoying a visit from Wilbur and Lucille pleasures of the southern seas was an Showalter. They enjoyed brunch together at improvement of their health. They wrote that the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. they'll try make it to our reunion in Grand "Ed" is reconciled to the probability that Rapids! Won't you renew your friendship with he'll have to finish the game the rest of the a fine couple, joining them in that lovely way in a nursing home. Drop him a line, and city! Please drop them a line! you'll sense Claire's and his smile getting 4627 Vista Drive, Cottonwood, iZ 86326 (520) 646 9168 through to you. W 8000 Evergreen Ridge -216 1 i i S Cincinnati, OH 45215 The day vas cold and clear, People case fro8 far and near, CLAUDE BALL (B)44669 Villow Oak Ct.,California, »D. 20619 Again an old soldier will be laid to rest, Claude is much more insistent in demanding of In war and peace he gave his best. his legs the ability to get to Four long any years. Grand Rapids this Spring. We are rooting for Filled with prayers and tears. him. Being with us means very much to him. Back hoie to sarry and the G.I. Bill,

FRANK AND SUE WALKER (A) Rte, 2 Boi 776, Sveeny TI Locally and nationally he helped lead the way 77480.They are makin'it, yet their medics get a To give iiany thousands a brighter day. workout from them! He had to give up his Always with a siile. working with the Boy Scouts. Sue feels he Ready to walk the extra lile. won't get to our battalion reunion,—too far to drive! He has been trying to follow the Bis love of fajily and country was great route the 703rd took from Omaha Beach to the So today his passing is not too late Elbe R. As he tells Sue what he rememl)ers, To join his buddies who are already on high. she learned that his roots go back to Be will salute as taps ring into the sky! Leipzig in Eastern Germany. Don McRieraan (3A) 703rd Road Biock-3-

It vas at our reunion in the Poconos that we let and sensed possibly to you. This included previous planning by the Division the love and devotion shared by Lydia and RICHARD LIGATTI (C). to invite soie Belgians, perhaps two years hence. The 703rd The call that "Rich" had passed on rolled us out of our "sacks", should consider vhether or not to blend its actions vith that of Friday, 12/19/97. If only we could pass on a bit of our good for• the 3rd Ariored Division. I hope that any 703rd funds would be tune so that Lydia can find coiforting peace in his eesoryl used priiarily for friends of the 703rd, and not disappear Please let Lydia know how deeply we feeli without benefit to the 703rd and our Belgian friends. 7950 Dorcas St. Philadelphia, PA 19111 Finally, and I repeat, I hope that at Grand Rapids as we honor the 703rd, ve also pay respect and appreciation to each Frank Hiller (A) called again. It was good to learn that other. 'Marge" was feeling better, but not to know that he had shown no Happy Nev Year—and see you at Grand Rapids. progress as far as being able to iiprove his ability to walk. Be reported that FRANK KARPIHSn (A) lost his scrap with "Bap's" Letter of 1/3/98 lung cancer, 9/16/97. Se lust recall that Frank was a fine coi- " our organization should get a handle on vhat the cost vill rade, and wish the best for Vicki, his beloved. Let her know what be. The group of Belgians at the Louisville reunion (CRIBA) sight his platoon buddies thought of hii. be coiing back to Coluibus, Ohio, to the division reunion in 1817 Clearview, Scranton, PA 18508 1999. The Third Ariored had a travel agent prepare a tour for thei. If we wish we can get a "ballpark" figure in the saie way. NORMAN E. RAMSDEN (C) passed on 12/9/97 after a long struggle. Another option sight be to raise a fund, said fund to be used to Helen and his daughter, Barbara, wrote "Hap" Paulson that allay the expenses of anyone wishing to join us, or join CRIBA if eiphyseia and heart failure were the final causes. In 1979 he they are coiing. Soie hospitality by our leibers in Ohio retired after thirty years, a civilian eiployee of the Willow (sightseeing tours, hoie visitations, etc.), and any other Grove Naval Air Station as an Equipient Inspector. Be had been a locations that our Belgian friend(s) lay wish to visit, lie should Sergeant who vas awarded three bronze stars, and the purple heart also atteipt to learn vhat reiuneration vas given to the visitors with an oak leaf cluster. by the Third Ariored Division. Soie preparation along these lines 2100 Carlson Drive, Willow Grove, PA 19090 should be lade between oow and May, so ve can discuss it at Grand Rapids." CLYDE JOHNSON, a life Beiber of our association, passed away last March. Let Lucille learn that his coirades thought luch of his. Col. Showalter, Bob Schutt and the executive coiiittee of 10335 Hillsover Dr. Rirtsland OH 44094 our association welcoie your encourageient, your suggestions for an invitation to our Belgian supporters. STANLEY DYMEK (HQ) checked out this past October, I'l sure Stan's coirades want to tell his daughter, Christine, what a fine "ledic" and soldier her father proved to be. NORMANDY V 6450 Penrod, Detroit, MI 48228 t*t««itt**t »*«»** **»*t»*« **«»***«*«*•»««« »««*»**«««*»*•»«*« July 18-24, 1944 [CONTINQEB] In every combat in which the U.S. military LET'S DEVELOP A FINE IDEA INTO mPPY REALITY was involved, the course of the fighting was Here's an eiaiple of soie praiseworthy thoughts addressed positively to a few of us who would be involved if action was affected by the behavior of the enemy, taken. The rejection was proipt, but the initial idea led to lore logistics, materiel and training. These con• hopeful prospects. Please 'get in on the thinking"! ditions varied in many ways in each fighting On 12/7/97 Kilbur Showalter wrote a few of the leibers of this association recoiiending that we quickly arrange an invita• area. Our experiences in Normandy and North• tion for one of the 1944's A.R.G. (Allied Reieibrance Group in ern France made pursuit the way it appeared Belgiui) to join us at our reunion in Grand Rapids. The response we would quickly end the war. The logistics vas liied, but Bob Schutt, our chairian proiptly called and wrote us of the difficulties involved. He gave his negative vote. All of getting manpower and materiel to sustain asked liked the idea, but how to do it vas the concern: the pursuit, and the persistence of the enemy convinced the military leadership to hesitate A good suggestion vas dealt by Shovalter on 12/23/97. just inside Germany till supply seaports in "^fy 12/7/97 "Pearl Harbor" Meio concerning the Belgians created quite a stir-so luch that I vant to clarify ly intentions, and Northrn France, Belgium and Holland were suBiarize soie ideas. ours. Then a fresh frontal assault on Germany First, I eiphatically do not want to detract froi our "last could be mounted. But that would be later. hurrah' reunion at Grand Rapids in May. Also, I have total respect and adiiration for Bob Schutt and his efforts to lake Right now we were beginning to go on the this reunion a leiorable one. In fact, after receiving Bob's attack in Normandy, about to attempt to force reaction and concerns by telephone, I withdrew ly idea-at least as far as the Grand Rapids reunion is concerned,-too the German forces to move back to the East. lany probleis, not enough tiie, and above all a detraction froi The 703rd had yet to be severely tested. our priiary purpose-to honor the 703rd and each other for pos• sibly the last tiie (at least for soie). A TD (M-10) crew consisted of five men, Second, I ai iipressed with a letter froi "Hap" Paulson commander, gunner, loader, driver and vhich spells out luc'h background previously unknown to le, and assistant driver on radio. A TD might also 703rd Road Block-4- carry a couple of men on security, a platoon undisciplined. Off leader or platoon sergeant, thus eight men. icers and men stand erect to watch enemy air• As to armament, the M-10 had 80 Rounds of craft. I almost felt lonely when I hit a 3" ammo (armor piercing, and high explosive). ditch and remained there. As soon as the The Platoon Security Sergeant had an M-1 skies are partially clear, P-47's are over• rifle, as did at least one other security head with bombs. Our artillery never ceases man. The others had the .30 Cal. carbine, its harassing tactics. Some of its eyes, the with 150 rds. of ammo. The 30 cal. MG had darting Piper Cubs, observe for them. We have 2500 belted rounds, and the 50 cal., 1500, had "poison gas scares"! On one occasion a for the gun mounted on the turret. There were report that the Germans had used gas had our ground mounts for both MG's, incendiary troops putting on gas masks as far back as grenades for self-destruction, and many hand the beaches. grenades, for security purposes. Good news! The engineers have put in In action the range for firing was 1.25 showers nearby. miles. The method was to isolate or ambush the heavier German tanks and "hit 'em" with July 25-August 6, 1944 all guns! For that reason the T.D.'s would be Plenty of moving about by us. It is almost called upon to provide road blocks for task certain that some thinking has taken place as force columns. The Germans use four to five to all the shifts, but up to now we have not tanks with a company of infantry. The tanks been told the reasons for the moves. Right have to be hit first or their long .75's now we are on high ground. I am writing from could disable our M-4 tanks up to 2400 yds. just north of Juvigny. Officers tell us that We were to wait for the German attack to our 1st and 9th Inf. Divisions have hemmed in attempt to reach us when our TD's were in a pair of German divisions. defilade, or have side views of targets, or On 7/20 we were told of a planned break• we were "fools"! Our divisonal task forces through southwest of St. Gilles to be have with them a few 90 mm. AA guns converted initiated by a 4000 plane bombing and straf• for AT needs. They can stop any German tank ing attack. The high ground there, before at 1800 yds. St.Lo, was where our forces had been held Capt. Seibert (B) CO. had a run-in with back. After the breakthrough, we'd change 2nd Lt. Lewine (2B) over a move while in direction and head south to where action. An investigation resulted in Lewine we'd be relieved by the 1st and 4th Infantry being reinstated in his platoon and Seibert Divisions. was given a staff position. Capt. S.S. Smith After three days of rain, the weather leads Hq. Co. Capt. Capelle took over "B". cleared and the sea of bombers poured their S/Sgt. Thornhill (3A) butted heads with 2nd loads up ahead on high ground. I saw a Liber• Lt. Ferchaud, his platoon leader. "Thorny" ator go down in flames. However A-20's hit lost his job, but was soon reinstated. short and we soon learned Gen'l. L. McNair Clyde A. Hildinger (B) became our third had been killed by our own bombs. It was a K.I.A. John Cox (A) has a Purple Heart coming great show, however little gain was evident! his way from a "flak" wound on his Yet on the morning of 7/27 we moved out into face. S/Sgt. J.L. Warwick (A) was in a TD the hole made past St. Gilles. Actually three when an air burst resulted in his receiving a armored divisions wormed through the gap. The slight wound. plan was working. A fourth armored division One of my assignments is to get the "news" plunged through the hole to go further south at a field close by. The 32nd Armored Regt. reaching . They were probably has a radio that picks up international items responsible for the taking of and in Engish. The staff at its CP is very on the Brittany Peninsula. The breakthrough was no "dash"! "A" Co. 703rd Road Block-5- was in C.C.A., split among three task forces, through the darkness for the "daffy" German each on different routes on one axis. For the with the Panzerfaust [bazooka] or possibly time consumed, the mileage appeared small, facing a road block made this G.I.'s hands but it stunned the German defenses and mobil• "clammy"! ity, and took from them much ground. It Our lead destroyers would receive Bronze enlarged our grip in France, and appeared Star awards for their work before Cerisy La worth the time and cost in the training of Salle, but we griped at division light tanks the armored force. and infantry that had exposed us. Any time The 1st platoon of "A" Co. of the 703rd TD they were in trouble they called on us! Twice Bn. was part of Task Force (TF) Brewster. As the 36th Armored Infantry had moved back of ever characterizing Army movement, we started us in the face of the enemy. The "dogfeet", and stopped, again and again, the morning of had been heard to say," those TD's saved the 28th. We saw the flow of prisoners,the our butts!" Looking back now I realize that occasional work of our airforce along the friendly troops withdrawing meant that the roads. Our column halted at the higher ground T.D.'s were being called upon to face enemy outside , and our first section spent a armor,—our job! few hours in trying to destroy a towed German [To Be Continued] .88 road block, with its personnel carrier. ********************************************* The Germans blew up the gun themselves. RETURN TO DOM BOTGENBACH A few days later a rare event occurred. Members of the 703rd T.D. Bn. know that we "A" Co. line platoons found themselves played a significant role in helping check together before Cerisy La Salle. Sgts. Gann the armored forces of S.S. General Peiper in and Barbalinardo commanded the leading the Battle Of The Bulge. Our share in the destroyers that stopped a German counterat• action alongside the 1st Infantry Div. and tack when friendly light tanks and infantry 82nd Airborne Div. has been positively peeled behind us to reform before a recorded in our Road Block. However there is threatened German thrust. Two anti-tank no detailed narration of the 703rd successes rounds had zipped close to Feeney's TD. We against German tank attacks at and west of held the road into the night, however the Dom Biitgenbach during the third week of Germans convinced our platoon leader, Lt. December, 1944. Neither a CO. of an A.T. Co. Ralph Henderson, that movement of their medi• of the 26th Infantry Regiment (Rivette-lst cal unit in front of us had a right of Inf. Div.) in his top-flight article in the clearance. It was a ruse to gain an offensive Infantry Journal,, nor the papers of Colonel position. We had to withdraw, but using our Daniels , the CO. of the 26th Inf. Regt. security weapons, we sprayed the hedges and task force, under whom "C" Co. fought, cor• held on. As evening was close, our P-47's rectly tell of the part played by the 703rd! strafed the hedges fifty yds. ahead of us. Neither did Charles B. MacDonald's, A Time Light tanks and infantry joined us in our For Trumpets, still the most read book on the withdrawal about 150 yds. in darkness. U.S. Army in the "Bulge"! After our research led us to obtain the article, the book, and Starting at 1000 next morning our artil• we read Daniel's paper in the Library of lery went to work till 1400. We were almost Congress, we felt we had gone as far as we could to get deserved recognition. Jean- the first elements going through the town. Jacques Derycke, a Belgian historian, and a The enemy had left one man. Feeney blew up an candidate to join the A.R.G. (our friends in abandoned German tank. Slowly we gained a Belgium) with whom we have been in touch, is determined to learn all he can about the little "speed", and had no trouble getting to 703rd. His early questions indicated that his Saussey. limited English and my sophomoric French were not ready for his enthusiasm. It led to my The one time we had had to move at night effort to ease the correspondance. I referred since the breakthrough was fearsome. Staring him to the A.R.G. Soon I received a recom-

703rd Road Block -7~ 703rd Road Block-8- mendation of Jean-Jacques from my original In his letter to me Mr. Rivette offered correspondent in the A.R.G. that helped me to the following explanation. keep the lines open. The edited letter below, "The 703rd has been a sort of 'lost battalion' as far as get• (Ms English is ruch iiproved) could result in "C" Co. ting credit for their action during the Battle of the Bulge. Part getting its due! of it has been IT fault. In October, 1954 I wrote a story "B" CO.'S role was very important with the [article] in the O.S. Ariy's Infantry Journal, called,"The Bot 82nd Airborne Div. The Road Block description Corner at Doi Biitgenbach'. In that article I identified the T.D. of Bill Crochetiere's aggressive success and platoon vith us as froi the 613th T.D. Bn. M this tiie I cannot the loss of Al Morrie, need more recognition. tell you vhy I lade that listake, especially since there vasn't a The wild attack of the 82nd Airborne Regiment T.D battalion vith that nuiber in the D.S. Any. This error was involved Jim Roberts platoon and left the picked up by Charles MacDonald for his book, A liie For Truipets. question as to the senselessness of the Air• That book has becoie sort of a bible on the "Battle of the borne Division first attack on Cheneux. Bulge', Other authors have also lade this error!" Now I know why MacDonald didn't include your battalion in his narration. Mr. Rivette 136 rue Grimard January 27, 1998 is writing a book. Close Station. March Montignies-sur-Sambre Belgium Order, hoping it will be published, June, 1998. He wrote that he gives "considerable Dear Mr. Goldberg, credit to "C" Co. of the 703rd." I am happy to continue corresponding with Acknowledgement soon will come more than you, because I believe that I have informa• fifty years after the event. I'll be very tion that verifies events as asserted happy for you and all the men of the 703rd! by your colleagues. I just received a letter Sincerely yours, from Major Donald E. Rivette (Ret.) who was ^.Jean-Jacques Derycke the CO. (Commanding Officer) of an A.T. (Antitank) Co. in the 26th Infantry Regiment P.s. Could you please correct ly English? of the First Infantry Division. He was wounded on December 21st, 1944 at Biitgenbach in Belgium. He states that "C" Co. of your GRENADIER REGTMENT battalion was in the command of Capt. Henry 8 9 F. Gosch. "The company had two platoons, four The Battle of the Bulge II M-IO Tank Destroyers (3" guns) in each, and Continuation of the memoirs of Hans one platoon of four M-36 T.D.'s (90mm.guns)". Zeplien, a Company Commander in a That confirms 1st Lt. Harold Paulson's con• regiment (Gren Regt 89) of the tradiction of your assertion that he must 12.Volksgrenadierdivision (12 VGD). have had M-36's in the action at Dom Biitgen• bach! One of the other platoons must have had Finally on the route along the reservoir, M-lO's, and the third, M-36's. just across the dam, Hans saw Hitler's You brought to my attention via the Road- castle, "Vogelsang", shone upon by early or Block, MacDonald's failure to mention the evening sun sometimes hidden by mist. 703rd's role at Dora Biitgenbach. He credited Hans also saw along the route some anti• the 613th T.D. Battalion with what had been tank, mobile weapons that were unfamiliar to done by your battalion. I wrote Mr. Paulson a him. By 12/8/44 there were but a few days year ago that there wasn't any 613th T.D. Bn. till the German massive attack would open. It in the American army. I've sought more would be then that Hans might have felt those information on the action at Dom Biitgenbach new weapons would be put into position to by writing several veterans and associations. fight in another campaign. 703rd Road Block-9-

We came across the two tank-destroyers on Too, if the bombs had damaged the barrage so a woodpath above a brook. Their guns were that part of the water in the reservoir would .75mm. We had heard of this type, but never have escaped, then they would all have had seen one till then, A shield protected drowned. Fortunately the walls of the barrage the gun. The tracked vehicle itself offered were thick, and the bombs struck a bit away. no cover for the gun crew from above or After what seemed an eternity, but after behind. We had no idea that these vehicles about a half hour the aircraft had left the belonged to units being assembled in this pillbox area, and Hans climbed the barrage area for The Battle of the Bulge. We wondered full of concern for the other troops who had why this type of weapon had not been employed been at the top of the barrage. at Aachen. Their roof and wails were seriously There was some planning on moving 14co to damaged, and the AA guns gone. There were Wollseifen or Mariawald, but there were no bomb craters at the edge of the barrage training facilities there,— so talk, and which, fortunately, did not cause a flood fortunately no move. wave out of the reservoir. Company strength on 12/11/44 was one Not one of Hans' men was killed or officer, six NCO's, twenty men and six sup• wounded. The relieving company, though, lost porting volunteers. Zeplien's company was far men, weapons and gear. Hans ordered his men from ready to be part of a full offensive. to take care,of the wounded, evacuations and Probably on that day, the company was to recover equipment, moving it into relieved of guarding the dam. After the for• pillboxes. The men of the relieving company malities of informing the relieving unit of were very demoralized. 14co was split, a how the 14co had prepared for an attack on group caring for the wounded, and the fewer the dam, Hans gathered his men. As they moved remaining men putting recovered equipment into the open they heard the approach of into the pillboxes. Without stretchers, the British bombers. The lead bomber dropped his bed frames were used to transport the bombs close to the barrage (a protective vail of wounded. The craters near a vital section of vater) where the company stopped. A shower of the road made the road section impassable, rocks dropped on them from where the bombs however the wounded were carried along a exploded. The pillbox, where there would be rocky path, over the breach, where a vehicle some protection, was across a brook. Hans took them to field hospitals. When his men call was effective in having one of his men reached their assembly area in Kali, they stationed in the pillbox bring a small boat found a surplus in small arms which 14co kept across the brook to pick them up, Hans, him• as a reserve. This did not cause any pangs of self, was on the oars, straining to make it conscience for all units depended a bit on to the pillbox up to fifty meters away. That commandeering during these difficult times. soldier saved the lives of his comrades. Orders for redeployment on 12/13/44 now There was no safety till after an exposed came, but with destination unstated. The dash, and they were in that bunker. march was in darkness, generally to the Almost immediately a bomb struck atop of southwest, along paths readily handled by our the pillbox. It jolted into the ground. The horse-drawn guns and trains. We were passing occupants clung to the chains of the metal through forests in a rather snowless month of bed frames. Detonations close to the men were December. There was the feeling of isolation. more their concern, because the bunker After the first march of 20-30 kms., the appeared to rock under the shock wave! At men rested in a small forest as daylight least that was their impression! But they approached. Proper security measures were were happy to be safe from the bombardment. taken. The trains personnel cared for the horses and "grub" as sleep became the goal at 703rd Road Block-10- the edge of a freezing temperature. C E 0 a ! Hans and the headquarters squad followed Maybe there's only the feeling that our the same procedures as their men. Hans got reunions do more than become holidays of but a little sleep, because moisture crept exaggerations! There's one topic that was through his brushwood mattress, and two common when we were in the army,— chow! blankets were not enough to keep the body I'll bet that if we recollected how we were heat essential for sleeping. He was occupied fed, we would very much be a bunch of liars! with a number of problems with regard to the But no one has mentioned it the last ten supplies and preparedness of his company. For years. There has been so many more substan• example on this first night one of his tive matters to talk about! vehicles had run into a farmer's rack-wagon The reason I bring it up now,—is that I, standing without lighting at the edge of the personally, had little to complain about com• road. The shaft was broken, and there was pared with my comrades! At Camp Polk and need for replacement, but we had no spare later, ray comrades selected more than one shafts. After some effort they found an ash dish for their venomous dislike, but I'll tree they improvised as a shaft. remind you of one,— its neime, "Chips On A Since most of the men did not benefit from Shingle", a main course of overcooked small enough sleep, the leg of the march that eve• pieces of corned beef in a dark brown sauce! ning began with the cold and tiredness. There So many of us were just getting into the was little griping, and expectation of a bet• service, and our complaints were self-muffled ter day's rest in another forest. The more to avoid thankless extra duties, or politely veteran troops took it more in stride than known as— "details"! Slowly I learned that the replacements who still were adjusting to the kitchen crew had to be pretty rotten to the conditions. There was no snow or ice on .make me turn away, even from those Beef the road, merely dense fog which made Chips! As now, I liked to eat. We were not orientation more difficult. On the other hand allowed away from the battalion area as we it provided protection from air raids. suffered six weeks of basic training, con• The men showed great respect for the centrating on learning to avoid the problems capacities of our enemy's air force. Before dispensed by the character of the training the bombardment of the Urft Dam, and at the cadre. So my tastes sturdily accepted battles for Aachen, our troops had faced many whatever was on the mess kit! We had choices bombing and strafing raids. The men really along the mess line,—at least I thought felt helpless, because there were nearly no so , but one incident prove to me that my countermeasures available. If there was an AA Mom's cooking had raised me with eating pecu• 20mm gun in position between Werth and liarities! . Hastenrath to ward off hostile observation I had an early taste of K.P. First, I aircraft of the U.S. artillery, it had to shared in getting the mess hall tables in change position after a few bursts to escape order. I thought I was learning to avoid fighter-bomber attacks or shelling. Only once criticism, by measuring up the "cooks" who did they see their own aircraft for minutes. acted as if we were criminals who had tor• Only the V-1 missiles could be watched in the tured them into being corrupters of the army evening as they followed their flight paths menu, and, especially the agonizing-looking at medium height. U.S. AA weapons fired at Matt Arquilla (A) whose sneers would have them "like mad" without success. They were frightened Benito Mussolini. Later, only when sure of that because they could see the blaze I learned why he had to take a medicinal tea, of the rocket motor in the dark sky. did his personality show an opening for a bit of my sympathy! ***fo Be Continue^** 703rd Road Block-11-

It was "chow time" and at the last minute mental picture of how I'd describe her, she I was assigned to the "chow line". I was clearly dumbfounded me with a clear phrase. placed in back of a five or 7 1/2 gallon "Northern or Southern!" bucket filled with squash steeping in its Loyal to my world of home, I stumbled, deep molasses sauce. I'd serve it with a long "Northern!" ladle, carefully, and ever extolling its Her pale, thin visage remained disdainful as virtues. she started to pour, and I had the nerve to I picked the points of attraction as I ask: "What's the difference?" truly felt. That squash was what I would have "Southern is strong. Northern is weak!" offered my best friend, expecting that no one She was correct. The coffee was as bad as would turn it down. I tasted it and was sure the meat in the hamburger! I'd write home to my "Mom" assuring her that Recall a Christmas in England? On that day the army had learned of her culinary the Jewish men in the companies were on duty talent,— somehow! so the other men could enjoy the holiday at Most of that squash had to be thrown out! services and with the families with whom they If I had to ladle out a couple of quarts, it were building friendships. It was only a few was a lot! I had to look into that bucket days later that we were given the day off. with disappointment. I had a couple of big Len Straub and Larry Gatti (A) joined me. servings. Still that Yankee dish didn't go They had not had Christmas Day off. We were over for six hundred men, and I learned that invited to a home at Doverhay Down not far my taste for food was unique in comparison to from the Bristol Channel where we practice- that of my colleagues. With time I learned fired the T.D. guns, a home where the master how to make my taste, my advantage! of the house, in shipping, was spending about Do you remember those small boxes and cans seven years in Aden far away from his fcimily. of food,--"C Rations"? Well I was happy to His wife had put aside a duck for us. It was exchange the coffee, for your lemon juice a precious feast when served, as well as the powder to be made into hot lemonade, fixins'! Her son, a young gentleman showed us eibsolutely delicious! I'm eternally grateful his German pistol. Our hostess wore deep to my comrades for enjoying the coffee I facial lines due to the long time her family could do without! Even the powdered milk life had been disrupted by the war. I visited suited my appetite! the lad for lunch at Eton on my later fur• Then there were those rations that lough! included pressed fruit bars, combinations of I mustn't forget that Pete Kotarski (A), cooked apricots, raisins, prunes firmly wait• our last Mess Sergeant, tried to have eggs as ing to help make a soldier "regular"! But each of us wanted them on a few weekends. I that taste and most of you wanted no part of want to believe that the rare treat of having those delights. I shared your enjoyment of some ice cream on rare occasions was due to the canned ham and eggs! "Pete" going out of his way to trade with a I'll admit that I looked forward to get• civilian for the gear to make it, or swiped ting out of camp to try some southern cook• it from some French shop! ing. There was the early hope to be had at Yet it was the hospitality shown us added the PX, till we could get to Leesville. Often to that Christmas dinner that left little in life an experience that is emotionally room in my memory about poor army grub! exciting to one person, is a bore to another. Wasn't it a fact the army diet led to our After I was served an "awful" burger I good health? reached the coffee urn. The thin woman ******************************************** serving wore a bright red dress, and she appeared utterly bored. As I was forming a 703rd Road Block-12-

TREASURER'S REPORT 703rd Tank Destroyer Bn. Association Fourth Quarter Report 1997 Robert Schutt, President Balance 9/1997 $6623.26 Receipts $873 421 Nordberg, N.W. Expenses $228.09 Balance 1/9/98 $7268.17 Grand Rapids, MI 49504 616 453 7571 ANNUAL REPORT 1/9/98 Initial Balance (Froi Forier Treasurer)$5515.04 Leonard Straub, Secretary- Receipts $2516 Expenses $711.87 Treasurer Balance for the year $7268.17 207 N. Maple St. Mt. Prospect, IL 60056 Life Members- 28 1997 Paid Members- 58 847 253 0507 Total Membership 1997-86 1998 paid members- 09 Registered For ReuDioii-18 Harold Paulson, Chaplain 3/9/98 17 Private Road Yaphank, NY 11980 The above does not reflect the cost of 516 924 8566 printing and mailing of the 703rd Road Block. ********************************************* Everett Stites, Liaison Contact Len Straub for T.D. Bolo Ties, 581 Forest Drive Patches, Lapel and Cap Pins and CAPS. Rivervale, NJ 07675 ********************************************* 201 664 9639

703rd Road Block Nathan Goldberg, Editor 86 New England Ave. #50 Summit, New Jersey 07901 908 273 7018

Date of Issue: Vol. IX #1, March, 1998

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