August 27th Journal Entry-Shelling of Plougastel-Refugees

Aug-27th
French girl wanted our carbines to kill Bosch in Plougastel.
Dead GI 8'{ in field-stunk-3 German prisoners sitting on hill.
Saw Plougastel shelled by our tanks, etc.
French Farmer Killed.
Refugees pouring out.

Cliff Hope from his book: The German enemy was known by various names, Jerries, Boche, (from the French), Krauts and Huns.

Lu from Ray Hight's book: I was always moved by the plight of the civilians and the images of them struggling in the midst of their Homeland at war. One incident has stayed with me from when we were surveying on the edge of a beautiful pasture. As shells started coming in, a French farmer was determined to drive his cows out of the field, even if he died in the process. Sadly, the farmer and several of his cows were killed.

Lu from his memoirs: On the 27th I noted that I saw Plougastel shelled by our tanks and a French farmer killed. That entry brings back a memory of a farmer trying to herd his cows out of a field with shells bursting nearby. The entry also notes refugees pouring out of the town. I think that the pain and grief of the civilians caught in these situations was much worse than the soldiers involved. Today as I write, that suffering is shown almost daily on television. In Somalia and Bosnia, they remember about WWII. We don't seem to learn!

Marilu: Unfortunately, this is the end of dad's memoirs that I have been able to find. These entries have been wonderful for explaining and expanding on the brief entries in the journal that jogged his memory. It may be that once he was interviewed by Ray Hight he felt he had fully covered his war experiences. If we had those tapes we would have more of the story, but from this point on I will have to use her edited retelling of his remembrances and Cliff Hope's book and other sources to expand on and explain things from his journal entries the best I can.

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Journal Entry March 27, 28th And Battalion history

March 27 Crashed B-24 March 28 Put in mike base-taped-Jeep broke tape at road intersection. Put in flash OPs. Picked up Helmet, leather. Battalion History: On 28 March, headquarters of the Barnstorming 16th crossed the Rhine, followed the next day by the Letter Batteries. With advancing armor taking the fight out of the Germans, the 16th found itself scouring the woods around Henmethal --- for prisoners, souvenirs and eggs. Souvenirs and eggs were more plentiful than prisoners. From Ray Hight's book: By the time the 285th crossed the Rhine toward the end of March, much of the area was in American hands and things were moving so quickly we hardly had time to set up. The German forces were pulling back, and there was very little opposition as we crossed the southern part of Germany almost up to the boundary of Czechoslovakia.

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Nov 26th 1945 To Leona from Wes Hill

Nov 26, 1945 Luzon Dear Leona: Well here I am still but not for long. No kidding a dream. A long worn out Dream is coming nearer to reality. I will be home some time in January. Unless orders change. But up to now we sail or get on a boat on the 10th of December. I'm about going Nuts for that is only 15 Days away. All the 70 bomber have gone to Manila last week & we are the first to go as a Unit. with 60 to 69 pointers exclusive. So you know what that means from now on there is no use in writing for the Post Office readdresses to my home address. so here I am. and not a darn thing to write about. Our old Outfit Broke up and so I'm in the 736th AAA Gun Bn. which is second on the list. for shipment. 43,000 men are going to shipped from the AAA this December on 147 Troop Transports. So I'll see you after I walk out of the Gates of Fort Douglas or should I call you up for Instruction on how to get around Salt Lake. Well that's too far ahead to think clear...

Winsor War Notes-Luther Snow Winsor's WW II experiences

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