Journal Entry Dec 16-Retreat Day. Lu's experience on the first day of the Battle of the Bulge

Dec 16

Retreat day. Heinie barrage opened up at 0500 and attacked along our sector. 106th division "fucked up" officers inspected guards with flash lights and flares. Front infantry built fires- Green troops-

A Btrys town occupied- A & B Btrys both came back to Aldringen- went out to Schonberg surveying-

Barrage still pounding. 270 mm shells hitting on Hill above us while doing triangulation-in area where we had doughnuts.

Several 561st men injured-

Tyler came to bring us back. Shells landing in valley as we left spouting dirt & smoke-Buzz bomb roared overhead and crashed on N of Rd 800 yd in front of us-Looked like ammo dump going up-sheet of flame 150 feet high.

Interactive map for 12/16/44

Lu, from Ray Hight's book: The morning of December 16, when the Battle of the Bulge began, we were going out on a make-work program. It suddenly became a day to remember. None of us had been exposed to the kind of intense artillery fire we received that morning. We were not infantry troops and soon pulled out to move away from the front lines.

By late in the day we knew that a horrendous battle had begun, and the whole aspect of war came home to us. from here on out, things became pretty dicey and we never knew when we came around a corner if we would be facing a Tiger tank! Once we started squeezing the bulge in, we felt a lot better about being able to put out sound bases in, knowing our backs were protected. As we worked closely with individual field artillery gun outfits, they were able to use our measurements, which saved them a lot of work. We felt a lot of satisfaction in being able to give them direct information so that their guns were registered all the time.

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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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