Friday, 22 December Cliff Hope

Friday, 22 December

Retreating into France wasn't as dramatic as it sounded. Matton was barely across the border, southwest of Florenville. It was raining when we awoke in Matton. Captain Carter gave us an orientation lecture on all available reports on the situation. The enemy was still unchecked, although the flanks of the line still held firm. St. Vith was still held. Bastogne was cut off. Units of the III Corps under General Patton's third army had started a counteroffensive to reache the isolated units still holding Bastogne. It was still hoped that the 101st Airborne Division there could manage to fight its way out. Three fourths of southern Luxembourg was overrun.

The battalion spent the day taking equipment inventory and preparing lists of shortages. All vehicles were checked and repaired. Out outfit moved at dusk in convoy through Florenville east on the main road to Arlon and then turned off on a side road to Selange, nine kilometers south of Arlon. We arrived around 10 pm and were immediately attached to III Corps of the Third Army. We bedded down on the floor of a bowling alley, next door to a tavern.

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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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