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January 21 Journal Entry-Friendly fire injury


Jan 21 Survey-Rachamps to Wande Bourcy. Column of armor moving up.

Sherman tank fired accidentally. Blew off top of pine 5 yds. away from + 30 feet above me. Knocked me down and splinter hit right cheek, but only drew a little blood.

Jeep & half truck of 41st cavalry hit mines on hill top.

Lu, From Ray Hight's book: It's hard to put on paper the mixed emotions I had during the times we were close to the heavy fighting, especially during the Bulge. Fear and apprehension were close companions, although we were fortunate in not needing to face the kind of fear the infantry soldier did, when death was on all sides and survival could seem remote. Our assignment was to work close to the action but not to take chances that would jeopardize our work.

Cliff Hope: The next day I stayed in with a temperature, but I sawed firewood in the morning and afternoon. That evening I received three copies of Life magazine, something new to read. Our party stayed out all the next day, surveying beyond Rochamps. Winsor's face got scratched by debris from a tree that was accidentally hit by a tank shell.
(For news) All we got were short radio reports or stories of fighting by individual divisions in Stars and Stripes. The blizzard we'd just had was the worst I'd seen since one in Kansas in 1931. The worst summer and fall weather in 40 years had been followed by an equally bad winter. Belgians told us there had been very little snow last winter.
Our Rouette room was fine. We had two beds, a good stove and two portable 'closets'. I actually got my feet warmed up but my nerves were frayed. I was becoming more irritable all the time.

Comments

  1. PappyJanuary 21, 2020 at 8:36 PM

    I had memory of this story but the details were all wrong. I'm glad to have it straight now.

    ReplyDelete

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