Thursday, 21 December Lu and Cliff Hope

Interactive Timeline and maps

Interactive map for 12/21/44

Lu, from Rae Hight's book:
On December 21, after we were out of the Bulge and had gone down into France to regroup, out mail caught up with us. It had been three weeks, and it was a wonderful Christmas present! Letters from home, including those from my mother and Leona, boosted my morale, and I was especially pleased to read about Lynne. My dad, still in iran, could send his mail out of the American Embassy in Teheran, as well as the APO, so we could exchange letters faster than those going to and coming from the States.

Cliff Hope
Thursday, 21 December

While the general military picture remained obscure, the enemy continued to make progress. But this date marked the high point, or perhaps the low point, of our 5 day retreat. It was over. It was also my 21st birthday. I was tired and dirty but alive and thankful. I was in good spirits as I went out with the survey parties to put in a control for gun batteries which turned out not to be there. We were called in to move with the outfit, leaving Neuvillers to head for the French border. We picked up all the gasoline we could carry in a dump in the woods to our south. The convoy proceeded by a roundabout route to Matton on France, arriving about 4 p. pm Matton was far behind the front lines The battalion was to get rehabilitated and reorganize for combat. I went with Schlusing and Bruno to a house where we washed and shaved for the first time in five days. That evening we received our first mail, including Christmas packages, since our retreat had begun. We were grateful, of course, but the gifts added to all the stuff we were lugging around. I muttered about that to myself.

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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.

Welcome to Camp Kilmer New York-Newsletter

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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