06 September 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

Belgium

6 September, 1944       0930

My dearest darling –

I can’t remember when I last wrote you anything like a coordinated letter – although it was perhaps only 2 or 3 days ago. I hate to be repetitious and enthusiastic – but darling – one can’t have entered Belgium – as we did – among the first troops – and not be filled with a spirit never felt before. I can’t possibly write you what my reactions were – let alone try to describe those of the Belgians. They either felt the Nazis more bitterly or are more reactionary; Certainly they have taken up arms more quickly and are hunting down escaping Germans with more vigor than the French.

My driver and I had the fortune to enter a little village that had no troops of ours go thru. Ours was the first jeep they had seen. Crowds swarmed in front of us and asked if we were English, Canadian or American. When we told them we were the latter – the whole town cheered and the mayor or somebody broke thru the crowd, grabbed my hand and shouted “Goodbye!” Then everybody shouted “Goodbye” and started pumping our hands. By this time we were literally pulled out of the car and dragged into a large house. Out came the Burgundy and we drank. At this stage the babies are lifted up by their mothers and you get kissed on both cheeks (wish you were there, darling – you’d get kissed back) – then a line forms and you could stay there for hours – if you wished. In this case – we broke away and started to leave. As we came outside – the crowd cheered. When we got back to the jeep – this is the truth, darling – you could hardly see it for the flowers in and outside it. It was covered with them and the whole back of it – filled. Women and men, too, stood there laughing and crying and honestly, dear, I almost felt like crying myself. All the wasted time, our separation and longing for one another, my inability to do much medical work – all in that moment seemed worthwhile having gone thru – to be able to be part of an Army liberating an oppressed people. Like everyone else – I hardly know what I’m fighting for – but I know this – it is worth fighting for a cause that primarily, at least, frees people and makes them the equal of others. I’ll never forget that experience.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

"Crowd in small Belgian village
Belgium - September 1944"


"Crowd in Belgian village preventing our passing
Near Beaumont, Belgium - September 1944"


"Crowd in Belgian village stopping our progress.
Picture taken from front of jeep after it had
come to a stop. Routine was for the crowd
to swarm in front of us, stop us and then
surround and shower us with flowers and kisses.
September 1944"


"Crowd in small Belgian village closing in on our
jeep after we made our way thru.
September 1944"


"Crowd in Belgian village - swarming all over our jeep.
Driver got out to take picture. Jeep completely hidden by mob. Other
officer is Capt. [Lawrence G.] Davey of B Battery whom I was visiting.
September 1944"
[Greg is in the middle at the top of the crowd, with helmet on.]

This whole Labor Day week-end was like that in at least a dozen towns. In one place – when they saw the Red Cross – I was told about a Baron’s Castle that was serving as a hospital. There were 3 wounded prisoners there and I was asked to look at them since they had no medicine. It was a tremendous place and had been turned into a German hospital. The Baroness – if that’s what you call her – was there to greet us. I was amazed at how kind they were to the Germans. I gave them some Morphine, supplies etc. and did what I could for the 3 of them. Then we had to stay for supper – and that included everything – the Baroness was very interesting; her husband and son were prisoners in Germany; she spoke a little German and quite a bit of English. She told me that Hitler had visited this very same Chateau in 1940.

People stop us and ask us how to make an American flag; all sorts fly from windows – hand made and usually wrong.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE
"Belgium - September 1944
Home-made American flag with 24 stars and 9 stripes.
This one is better than most."

By the way – the enclosed one is one I managed to get hold of and is the only one like it I’ve seen. It’s a relic of the last war – and I’ll bet there’s few in existence. Although it does have 48 stars – you can see that the flags were being made wrong even in the last war.

"Flag picturing former President Woodrow Wilson"

Well I’ve rambled and rambled, sweetheart, but please excuse it. I just want to give a bit of a personal picture. No doubt all the A.P., U.P. and special dispatches carry more in detail. I just wanted you to know – that in this case – I was experiencing most of what they were writing about. You may wonder why it’s necessary to have to go thru the ritual in every town; sometimes we’re in a hurry and would like to pass thru. It is impossible. They take off their coats – spread them out at knee’s length and form a line across the road. They don’t give ground and you have to stop – then it all starts.

Have I been swept away by it all? Not entirely, dear – for thru it all – my spirit has been lifted by the thought of how swiftly we’re traveling and how soon the war might end from here in. Prisoners are coming in so fast, it’s almost impossible to take care of them. The whole picture is one to make the heart gladden at the thought of an early victory and return home to those we love – you being the principal figure – sweetheart. Maybe it will be earlier than we hoped for and sweetheart – I’ll love you so hard – you’ll never know it was possible. I’ll stop now – because, dear, we’re on the move again. Love to the folks and

My everlasting love

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about VII Corps
and the Continued Liberation of Belgium

A former VII Corps web site continues the saga:

During the next three days the carnage continued. Our road blocks and hastily constructed field fortifications stopped the enemy movement to the east, and in the fighting the disorganized enemy suffered heavy casualties, both in killed and wounded. Our artillery and airplanes pounded the long columns on the narrow roads, and the German retreat became a smoking ruin. Elements of 20 enemy divisions were captured or slaughtered as they moved straight into the fires of our troops. Meanwhile, the remainder of the Corps had moved east, occupying Namur and establishing crossings of the Meuse River there. Resistance east of the Meuse and south of Liege stiffened slightly, but our drive never slackened.

By the time the last remnant of the enemy force was mopped up at Mons, supplies had once more accumulated enough to support the continuation of our armored drive, and the 3d Armored tanks, closely followed by the 1st Division's infantry, moved quickly to Charleroi, then on to Liege, Verviers, and Eupen. The enemy had planned to set up a defensive line in the Verviers-Eupen area to keep the Americans off the "sacred soil" of Germany but our rapid advance completely disjointed all such ideas. We were there before he could do much of anything about it. His minefields and stubbornly defended roadblocks slowed our advance momentarily, but no definite line or organization of the defense was encountered. His lack of first-line troops in the sector was apparent, since he was using home guard security, antiaircraft, radar, engineer, signal, military police, and training units in the vain attempt to stop the advance of American fighting men and equipment.

05 September 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

Belgium

5 September, 1944        1700

Dearest sweetheart –

Things are certainly happening swiftly here and we’re getting around. Yesterday was a thrilling day and the Belgians make the French seem apathetic – in contrast to their emotional reaction. Tomorrow I expect to have more time and I’ll try to write you in more detail, dear. I’m still with the battery – but going back to battalion soon. Speaking of batteries, reminds me – my radio has gone on the blink – and apparently for good – one of the transformers is gone and that can’t be repaired. I had the set down to a signal company and got the sad news. I’m lost without it and I’m going to write my dad today to do his darndest to get me one. It will have to be small, though, because they won’t let a large one go through, I imagine. One of the officers got one through the mail – not long ago.

All else is well darling, except that I miss you awfully, these days. You are constantly in my mind and I just can’t wait until you’re closer to me that that. Gee, dear, I do love you more than I can tell you and this war better be over with mighty soon.

Have to close now – my love to the folks and my deepest sincerest love to you, sweetheart –

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about The Red Ball Express

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

On the one-way street marked with a red ball, huge amounts of
supplies were sent to the front. Here on September 4, 1944,
11,000 tons were brought to a Central Distribution area
behind the front.

The term "Red Ball Express" was used first by the railway freight business in the United States. It meant "Express Freight Delivered at Top Priority". The Army adopted the term and created the "Red Ball Highway" that stretched from the ports in France to the front lines in Germany. To make things easier, the route was marked with a red ball. Trucks were painted with red balls. The troops conducting traffic wore red balls to mark the way. Nearly 75 percent of all Red Ball Express drivers were African American. At the Red Ball's peak, 132 truck companies were strung out with a round trip taking 54 hours, as the route stretched nearly 400 miles to First Army and 350 to Patton's Third. At its height the Red Ball saga captured the media's attention, and had the effect of placing supply and service personnel in the spotlight for a change. Still, the job was hardly glamorous, involving as it did endless hours of dull, hard, and sometimes dangerous work.

Soldiers load trucks with rations bound for frontline troops.
(L to R) Pvt. Harold Hendricks, Staff Sgt. Carl Haines,
Sgt. Theodore Cutright, Pvt. Lawrence Buckhalter,
Pfc. Horace Deahl and Pvt. David N. Hatcher
of the 4185th Quartermaster Service Company, Liege, Belgium.

Most of the following was excerpted from an excerpt of "POL on the Red Ball Express" by Dr. Steven E. Anders, Quartermaster Professional Bulletin, Spring 1989 as seen on the Army Quartermaster Foundation web site:

Mearl R. Guthrie, Red Ball Coordinator, B407

The Red Ball Express was one of World War II's most massive logistics operations, namely a fleet of over 6,000 trucks and trailers that delivered over 412,000 tons of ammunition, food, and fuel to the Allied armies in the ETO between August 25 and November 16, 1944. Quartermasters who for centuries gathered huge stockpiles of hay, barley, and oats to "fuel" past armies on the move, were now required to supply the petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) that make up the U.S. Army's logistical lifeblood.

The Germans offered even lighter resistance than expected as success followed success in the Allied pursuit across France. As Patton's Third Army swept westward into Brittany and south to Le Mans, it burned up an average of more than 380,000 gallons of gasoline per day. By 7 August its reserves were completely exhausted. Patton had to rely on daily truck loads of packaged POL from the rear. Nevertheless, he managed to continue this highly mobile type of warfare, driving eastward for another three weeks, before being halted by critical shortages of gasoline.

Logistically speaking, the real turning point in the campaign came during the week of 20-26 August. At that time, elements of both the First and Third Armies were simultaneously engaged in rapid pursuit. They developed an insatiable thirst for gasoline, and consumed more during this one week than any time previously. Average consumption was well over 800,000 gallons per day. The First Army alone used 782,000 gallons of motor fuel on 24 August. The next day Allied forces closed in on the Seine and columns of U.S. and French troops entered Paris.

The decision to cross the Seine and immediately continue eastward, without waiting to more fully develop supply lines, posed serious difficulties for the theater logisticians but was a gamble senior commanders were willing to risk. "The armies," said General Bradley, on 27 August, "will go as far as practicable and then wait until the supply system in rear will permit further advance." Once across the Seine, forward divisions not only extended their lines, but fanned out in every direction creating a front twice as broad as previously. The strain on the supply system was immediately noticed as deliveries slowed to a trickle. The late-August into early-September operations were described by war correspondent Ernie Pyle as "a tactician's hell and a quartermaster's purgatory."

Believing victory to be firmly within their grasp, the fast-moving armies had outrun their supply lines and were forced to live hand-to-mouth for several days. 90-95% of all supplies on the continent still lay in base depots. First and Third Armies had in effect "leaped" more than 300 miles from Omaha beach in a month's time. In a desperate effort to bridge the gap between the front and mounting stockpiles back at Normandy a long-distance, one-way, "loop-run" highway system - dubbed the Red Ball Express - was born. Since circumstances allowed little time for advance planning or preparation, Red Ball was, as one observer noted, "largely an impromptu affair." It began on 25 August, with 67 truck companies running along a restricted route from St. Lo to Chartres, just south of Paris; and reached a peak four days later with 132 companies (nearly 6,000 vehicles) assigned to the project.

While the Engineers were busy maintaining roads and bridges, MPs were on hand at each of the major check points to direct traffic and record pertinent data. Colorful signs and markers along the way kept drivers from getting lost, and at the same time publicized daily goals and achievements. Quartermasters truck drivers, materiel handlers, and petroleum specialists were ever present both along the route and at the forward-area truck-heads. Disabled vehicles were moved to the side of the road, where they were either repaired on the spot by roving Ordnance units or evacuated to rear-area depots.

Round-the-clock movement of traffic required adherence to a strict set of rules. For instance, all vehicles had to travel in convoys and maintain 60-yard intervals. They were not to exceed the maximum speed of 25 mph and no passing was allowed. After dark, Red Ball drivers were permitted the luxury of using full headlights instead of "cat eyes" for safety reasons. At exactly ten minutes before the hour each vehicle stopped in place for a 10-minute break. Bivouac areas were set up midway on the roads so exhausted drivers could get some rest and a hot meal.

In late August, Eisenhower decided to forward most petroleum supplies to Hodges's First Army and Mongomery's 21st British Army Group. This action was to come at the expense of Patton's Third Army to the South. On 31 August, Patton's daily allotment of gasoline dropped off sharply from 400,000 to 31,000 gallons. This placed a virtual stranglehold on the fiery commander, who fumed, pleaded, begged, bellowed and cursed accordingly — but to no avail. "My men can eat their belts," he was overhead telling Ike at a meeting on 2 September, "but my tanks gotta have gas." The logistical crisis threatened to halt the Allies where the enemy could not.

Fortunately, that crisis proved to be short-lived. It would only be a slight exaggeration to say that Red Ball saved the day. The hastily conceived system served as a useful expedient for bringing Class III items, especially gasoline, quickly to the fuel-starved front. Even though First and Third Army supply officers would continue bemoaning the gas shortage, the situation got markedly better. By the end of the first week in September, forward area truck-heads were issuing POL as soon as it came in, and consumption rates were once again hitting the 800,000-gallon-a-day mark. Mid-September saw the two American Armies issuing in excess of one million gallons of gasoline daily — enough to meet the immediate needs and begin building slight reserves.

Red Ball was scheduled to run only until 5 September, but continued through mid-November, buying precious time for the rear echelon support team to complete its task of building up the railroads, port facilities, and pipelines needed to sustain the final drive into Germany. By this point the Red Ball Express had developed an inherent problem. As the route got longer and longer, the Red Ball required more gasoline — ultimately as much as 300,000 gallons per day — just to keep the Red Ball vehicles themselves moving.

04 September 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

4 September, 1944         0915

Dearest darling Wilma –

It hardly seems possible that today is Labor Day – although we did try our darndest last nite to make it a celebration. I’m with a battery now – joined them yesterday for 3 days; I like the six officers in this battery as a whole better than any other group. We always have had a lot of fun together. We moved to a new location and found a farmer who offered us a two room cottage to sleep in. The Germans had been in it the day before, but hadn’t stayed long enough to dirty it up. One room is a cozy kitchen and has a stove, table, several chairs etc. The building has shutters on it – so last nite, after we got settled – we closed the shutters, lined the cracks and procured a kerosene lamp. One of the boys dug out his ration of Scotch and gin and we proceeded to play cards. We started at 2200 and got through at 0300. We finished the Scotch – but only half finished the gin – all straight, of course. At midnite we made several toasts – and all in all it was a little attempt at remembering the Holiday at home.

I don’t know what we’d do were I at home, dear, but we’d be together – that’s certain and that’s all that would have mattered. I was amused, darling, at one of your recent letters. (day before yesterday I got mail of the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th August.). In it you stated that visiting and entertaining etc. would be all right – but only after a while; first we’d be alone for a spell. Well, sweetheart, that suits me fine because personally, I’m a home loving type of fellow and with you to spend my time within a place of our own – the only reason I’d want to go out – would be to make a call or go to the hospital. For years – the one thing I’ve wanted was a place of my own – to live in and relax in with someone I loved. I’ve missed that a great deal, dear, and I know that with you to help me make a home – we’ll have just that.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE


"Beaumont, Belgium - September 1944
Battalion Headquarters. Officers slept on 2nd floor.
Our German Red Cross car can be seen to the right."


"Belgium - September 1944
Gateway to house at Beaumont where
Command Post for battalion was"


Château de la Mazelle, today

I meant to tell you this a couple of days ago – but I keep forgetting. I was able to get hold of a beautiful French clock – mantle-piece style. It’s the typical style – with heavy base and fancy figures – but not too gaudy. The only trouble, dear, is getting it home to you. Right now it is impossible for this reason: all mailing of packages to the States has been canceled except personal objects of a soldier – e.g. a wrist-watch to be repaired – etc. Apparently the APO had been swamped with packages and just can’t handle it anymore. Perhaps this may be canceled later. Even if it is, dear, I wonder how I could mail the clock – it’s so damned heavy. But anyway – I’ve got a clock and I’ll hold on to it as long as I possibly can – even if I have to lug it back to the States myself.

Here is a picture of that clock!

I was interested in your thoughts about marriage and getting to know one another. The way I feel about it is this, dear – you never really get to know a person until you’ve married the person – no matter how long you know him or her. Since that is so – you finally reach a stage when you feel you know a person well enough to love the person and therefore to marry her. Some take a long time to find out and some not so long. Of course – mistakes are made – but I found out in a short time that I loved you and wanted to marry you and my judgment has been good in the past. No, darling, I haven’t the least doubt in my mind that I want to marry you and pronto – on my return. I admit events of last fall do get hazy in my mind, dear but that’s natural. I feel, nevertheless, that we can take up where we left off, and if we had enough confidence in each other to become engaged – we must have really felt we knew each other. It will be a great adventure, sweetheart, and I’m looking forward to it with all the expectation a man can possess.

It’s getting noisy around here now, dear – not from guns though – but from the fellows – so I’d better stop. I do hope you’re spending a pleasant week-end and God willing – we’ll be together next year on this Holiday. My love to the folks – and

My everlasting love, dear

Greg

P.S. This battery is the one Pete is in and he sends his love.

L.

G.

Route of the Question Mark


[CLICK TO ENLARGE]


(A) Clermont-les-Fermes, France to (B) Beaumont, Belgium (58 miles)
2 to 4 September 1944

September 4... Beaumont, Belgium. A city in another foreign country. Our CP was a modern looking chateau commanding a sweeping view of a valley. There was a pony on the lawn that no one could ride. The Belgians gave us little pins with their national colors attached to them. We hauled prisoners here in a big way and 1st Sgt KOWALSKI and Capt SILVIS came in with a hot rumor that the war was over. No such luck!

[Note from FourthChild: Stanley F. Kowalski passed away at the age of 78 on 5 January 1991. He was laid to rest at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in Point Loma, California.]

* TIDBIT *

about The Pause of VII Corps in Belgium

While the 9th Division and the strongly reinforced 4th Cavalry Group swung east to probe crossings of the Meuse River, the attack of the 3rd Armored Division was temporarily halted near Mons by lack of fuel for its vehicles. The supply lines which furnished food, gasoline, and ammunition to the troops dashing across Europe were getting longer and longer, and in spite of every effort to move these very necessary items up more quickly, the trucks on the "Red Ball" highways could carry only a portion of what was needed. Units had to economize in using their vehicles and troops fed on captured German rations. So the Spearhead was stalled while the Corps collected the gasoline to move it.

As Major General Clarence R. Huebner's Fighting First Division moved north to relieve the armor around Mons, it encountered large numbers of enemy troops marching east, apparently unaware of the presence of American forces in the area. Long columns of motor vehicles and horse-drawn equipment approached from the west, and both 1st and 3d Armored Divisions were heavily engaged. Here was the German Seventh Army, retiring under orders to occupy the Siegfried Line and to keep the American forces out of Germany.

By noon on September 4, the situation in and around Mons had become partially stabilized. 1st Infantry Division was systematically rounding up prisoners. Having waited at Mons for more fuel, the 3rd Armored Division was ordered forward again, Namur being the new objective. Combat Command A of the division reached Namur, taking a route south of Jemeppe which took them through Binche and Charleroi on the way, while Combat Command B advanced further south. One damaged bridge was discovered intact at Namur and engineers built another one across the Meuse, so that by dawn both spans were ready for division traffic. Most of the division was again brought to a halt for lack of fuel.

03 September 1944

No letter today. Just this:

* TIDBIT *

about "Buzz Bombs"


V-1 Rocket at a launch site

The Route of the Question Mark mentioned that buzz bombs were heard overhead, heading for England, on 2 September 1944. Here is more about this device:

Designed by the Fieseler company, the Fieseler Fi 103/FZG-76, better known as the V-1 and "Buzz Bomb", also colloquially known in Britain as the "Doodlebug", was a liquid-fueled un-manned, un-guided early flying bomb that could carry a 1,800-lb warhead to a range of 150 miles. It is considered to be the predecessor of the cruise missile. The V-1 was developed for the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War. During initial development it was known by the codename "Cherry Stone". The first of the so-called Vergeltungswaffen (Retaliation) series, designed for the terror bombing of London, the V-1 was initially fired from a series of fixed "ski" launch sites along the French (Pas-de-Calais) and Dutch coasts. There were also launch sites in Denmark and Germany. However, faced with a strong bomber and fighter-bomber offensive against the V-1 launch sites, the Germans were forced into creating mobile launch sites and launching some from Heinkel 111 bombers.

Design of the weapon was overseen by Robert Lusser of Fieseler and Fritz Gosslau of the Argus Engine Works. Refining the earlier work of Paul Schmidt, Gosslau designed a pulse jet engine consisting of few moving parts, operated by air entering into the intake where it was mixed with fuel and ignited by spark plugs. The combustion of the mixture forced sets of intake shutters closed, producing a burst of thrust out the exhaust. The shutters then opened again in the airflow to repeat the process. This occurred around fifty times a second and gave the engine its distinctive "buzz" sound. A further advantage to the pulse jet design was that it could operate on low-grade fuel.

Gosslau's engine was mounted above a simple fuselage which possessed short, stubby wings. Designed by Lusser, the airframe was originally constructed entirely of welded sheet steel. In production, plywood was substituted for constructing the wings. The flying bomb was directed to its target through the use of a simple guidance system which relied on gyroscopes for stability, a magnetic compass for heading, and a barometric altimeter for altitude control. A vane anemometer on the nose drove a counter which determined when the target area was reached and triggered a mechanism to cause the bomb to dive. Once in a dive, the V-1 became silent, and people who had been listening to the buzz braced for impact, not knowing where it would land, adding to the terror. While V-1 production was spread across Germany, many were built by slave-labor at the notorious underground "Mittelwerk" plant near Nordhausen.

The first V-1 was launched at London on 13 June 1944, prompted by the successful Allied landing in Europe on 6 June. At its peak, an average of 190 V-1s were fired at southeast England per day. The British quickly became expert at spotting and shooting them down and only about 25% of the V-1s hit their target. They established defensive zones: first were the fighters (Mosquitoes, Spitfires and Typhoons) over the English channel, then came a thick zone of heavy Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns equipped with the first radar proximity fuses, then a zone of light AA guns and rocket projectors and finally barrage balloons. The attacks on England decreased in number as launch sites were overrun, until October 1944, when the last V-1 site in range of Britain was taken by Allied forces. At this point, the targets of choice switched to Antwerp, the main Allied port, and other key targets in the Low Countries.

Over 30,000 V-1s were produced during the war with around 9,521 fired at targets in Britain. Of these only 2,419 reached London killing 6,184 people and injuring 17,981. Antwerp, a popular target, was hit by 2,448 between October 1944 and March 1945. A total of around 9,000 were fired at targets in Continental Europe. Overall, the V-1 was largely a terror weapon that had little impact on the outcome of the war.

Here are is a video:

02 September 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

2 September, 1944      0640

My dearest sweetheart –

It has been a busy day and I thought I wouldn’t get a chance to write you, but I do hate to miss a day and just don’t feel right if I do. It’s impossible to tell you how much jumping around I’m doing. You’ll just have to take my word for it, darling. If my thought seems jumbled, it’s because I’m a little bit tired today. We got going at 0300 this morning and I haven’t stopped until just now. I was supposed to have gone to visit one of the batteries for another 3 day spell – but I was needed at battalion and I’ll go tomorrow instead – I expect.

In all the commotion, etc. – we were lucky enough to get some mail last nite – dated August 21st; there must be a whole week’s mail coming to us – because the last previous letter, sweetheart – was dated August 14th. I also heard from Eleanor, Dad A, two friends of mine in Italy and Charlie Wright. The latter, by the way, misses this outfit one helluvalot. He’s been returned to full duty and is now at Fort Dix. The two fellows in Italy have been overseas ever since the African landing and they’re mighty fed up with things – for which I don’t blame them one bit. I’m fed up and am a comparative rookie against them. It sure does get me mad to think of those fellows who still have soft jobs in the States – I mean in the Army or Navy. I’m not angry at them, really, dear – just at the idea. I do miss you so, sweetheart, and I know you miss me too – and it just hurts to realize that we have to be apart so long. We can’t do a damned thing about it – I know – but it is so aggravating and depressing at times. I pray only you don’t get too tired and discouraged in waiting. Please don’t, darling. I promise you we’ll make up for lost time; I love you strongly and deeply enough to be able to make that promise good – I know dear.

I can’t tell you much about what’s going on that you’re not reading in the papers. We’ve been in the Champagne country and before the Germans were here – it must have flowed like water. For example – one of my boys had a birthday yesterday and I went out to get champagne for him. I had to pay 75 francs ($1.50) for a full bottle – 25 years old and get this, dear – if I returned the bottle – I got 30 francs back. I got 6 bottles. The stuff is wonderful. They dig it up from the cellars – cobwebby etc and then put on the labels. I’m enclosing one I got from the dealer.

How I can talk about champagne and things like that I don’t know. But if I told you how much I really missed you and wanted you, sweetheart – it would only make you sad. Believe me when I say you mean everything in the world to me, dear, and until I’m near you again – I’ll not be fundamentally happy.

I’ll have to stop now, darling. Love to the folks and

My everlasting love

Greg

P.S. I didn’t get a chance to return the bottles. We moved.

Route of the Question Mark


[CLICK TO ENLARGE]

(A) Charly-sur-Marne to (B) Clermont-ler-Fermes (73 miles)
31 August to 2 September 1944

September 2... Clermont les Fermes. The Polish farmers lived here and there was a celebration in the village to honor the Americans, and the Mayor made a speech. This was the first time any of the Polish speaking members of the battery were able to speak to civilians, for all these people spoke Polish, not French. Here for the first time we heard buzz bombs going over our heads on the way to England.

* TIDBIT *

about The Movement of VII Corps into Belgium

VII Corps troops crossed the international boundary into Belgium on September 2nd in an attack that carried as far as 25 miles (40 kms) in some sectors of the Corps zone. Armored elements reached Mons, meeting only scattered rear guard action. Where was the German Seventh Army? The events of the next three days answered that question with a reply that nearly wrecked the plans of the German High Command.

The 2nd Armored Division "Hell on Wheels" web site includes this excerpt from Don Marsh's Pursuit to Belgium and Holland:

On 2 September 1944, at 0930 hours,the 82nd Reconnaissance Battalion of the 2nd Armored Division crossed the French-Belgian border astride the Orchies-Tournai Road near Rumes in force, becoming the first of the Allied Ground Forces to enter Belgium. Eleven minutes later, Combat Command ”A”, now commanded by newly promoted, Brigadier General John H. “Peewee” Collier arrived representing the largest force to enter at that hour. Major General Edward Brooks followed right behind the 82nd Reconaissance Battalion. When Brooks came upon Lt. Col. Wheeler Merriam, 82nd Reconaissance Commanding Officer, stopped with his A and B Companies to refuel, he asked Merriam why he had stopped short with his advance, only to be told by Merriam that they were already ten miles inside the Belgium border.

Afterwards we learned that late that same afternoon, 2 September, at 1630 hours, the 3rd Armored Division entered Belgium. Major General Maurice Rose graciously permitted Brigadier General Doyle Hickey, one of his Combat Commanders, to be the first of that unit to cross the border; mistakenly under the impression that they were the first to cross the border. When the Belgium government recognized the 2nd Armored Division as the first to enter and liberate their country, they erected a monument on the spot, and they awarded the full division the Belgian Fourragere on 22 May 1945, ending that sibling rivalry and dispute about being “first.”

01 September 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

1 September, 1944      0900

My dearest sweetheart –

September morning and the Germans can’t have much more fight left in them – as I see it. I don’t know what constitutes a rout or what doesn’t – but when you chase the hell out of someone and he can’t stop long enough to give a fight – that’s good enough for me. And that’s what is happening every day over here, darling. After those first several weeks of tough, slow going in Normandy, we never dreamed that we’d ever travel this way – but here we are.

The following snapshots were actually taken on 31 August 1944

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Greg - "13 km from Chateau-Thierry
August 1944"


"Chateau Thierry - August 1944
From hill on the outskirts showing the River Marne"


"The Marne - August 1944
Not far from Chateau Thierry"


"Near Charly-sur-Marne - August 1944
Old doctor's house used as German Hq a few
days before our Command Post for 2 days"


"Champagne, Beer and Boat House - August 1944
on the way to Chateau Thierry 11 kilometers away"


"Monument commemorating last war
Outside Chateau Thierry - August 1944"


"Monument near Chateau Thierry - August 1944
Germans had left the area 2 days before.
French were getting ready to put up
American and French flags."

The day before yesterday was the last time I had a couple of hours to myself, dear, and I went over to visit one of the estates of Rothschild – Maurice, I believe. The entrance to it led through a forest and by a lake and then you go up a long driveway and you’re there. You can’t see all of the building from one spot because it stretches out in two directions. We entered – cautiously – because it had been a German Hq. as recently as the day before; some Maquis were still hunting for them on the grounds and in the cellar. From the moment I entered and went into room after room – I was awestruck. It was certainly the most fabulously ornate place I had ever been in and the realization that it was a home of the Rothschilds – made it more impressive, of course. We spent about two hours looking over the place and then had to return.

The towns we are hitting now – have been passed thru so swiftly by American infantry and tanks – that when we stop for a nite or two – the people overwhelm us with enthusiasm. In this particular section, we seem to be hitting the champagne country. A couple of officers bought champagne – 30 yrs old – last nite for 115 francs ($2.30) which is pretty cheap, it seems to me. Still on the lookout for fresh eggs – I went across the street from where we’re staying – because I saw some hens. I was invited in by a very friendly woman and her husband – and out came the white wine. As usual – they wanted to know if I were married and of course I explained about my fiancée; as usual – I showed them your picture, sweetheart and as usual they said “très jolie, très charmant, très gentile.” I always agree, dear, and with emphasis! I have shown your picture, now, to a good many Frenchmen and women and I might as well give you the score. Without exception – they pick your college picture as showing you to be younger than the other side of the folder picture – the one with you sitting down. They guess your age to be between 19 and 21 – which always makes me laugh. They always want to know why I laugh and I always ask “Alors – si ma fiancée a vingt ans, combien des ans ai-je, croyez-vous?” And, sweetheart – I swear I’m telling the truth – the average age they pick me to be is 25. Now I don’t know whether it’s because you’re so young – they expect me to be also – or because I look it. I’m pretty sure it’s the former. Anyway I always tell them I’m 32 and I ask if I’m too old for you and they say – 100% – not at all! So I guess everything is all right, darling. Boy! I can see you squirm – at that!

Gosh would I love to see you and hold you and kiss you, sweetheart! It’s been kind of bad the past several days – but I’m promising you a tough struggle when I get back, dear. That’s fair warning!!

That’s all for now, sweetheart; I’m off to look for a trailer for our truck. We’re kind of crowded – with the new officer’s luggage et al. Hope all is well at home, darling. My love to the folks and to you.

My sincerest love, dear

Greg

P.S. I got 4 eggs

Love

G.

* TIDBIT *

about The Battle of Chateau-Thierry (1918)

From Wikipedia comes this summary of the the World War I battle of Chateau Thierry and the memorial built to commemorate that fight:

The Battle of Château-Thierry was fought on 18 July 1918 and was one of the first actions the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) under General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing. It was a battle in World War I as part of the Second Battle of the Marne, initially prompted by a German offensive launched on 15 July against the newest troops on the front, the AEF.

On the morning of 18 July 1918, the French (some of them colonial) and American forces between Fontenoy and Château-Thierry launched a counter-assault against the Germa positions. This assault on a 25 mile (40 km) wide front was the first for over a year. The American army played the larger role fighting for the regions around Soissons and Château-Thierry. The allied forces had managed to keep their plans a secret, and their attack at 04:45 took the Germans by surprise when the troops went "Over the Top" without a preparatory artillery bombardment, but instead followed closely behind a rolling barrage which began with great synchronized precision. Eventually, the two opposing assaults (lines) inter-penetrated and individual American units exercised initiative and continued fighting despite being nominally behind enemy lines.

After World War I, a memorial was built on Hill 204, 2 miles (3 km) west of the town for which it is named. The Chateau-Thierry Monument, designed by Paul P. Cret of Philadelphia, was constructed by the American Battle Monuments Commission "to commemorate the sacrifices and achievements of American and French fighting men in the region, and the friendship and cooperation of French and American forces during World War I."

This dramatic "Monuments aux Morts" (Monument to the Dead) in Chateau Thierry, by Achille Jacobin in 1928, is one of many throughout France.

31 August, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

31 August, 1944         1930

Hello darling!

This will be a quickie and I guess a shortie all in one. We’ve really been busy, dear, and I’ve crossed so many bridges – I’m dizzy. We’ve really been passing thru some hallowed ground – and it amazes me to realize that it took so long to go through in the last war – and we just get into our cars and ride thru it. A few spots I passed today still show evidence of the beating they took 25 years ago.

Two snapshots approaching Charly-sur-Marne,
liberated by the Americans on 28 August 1944

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Yesterday I had a chance to visit one of the Rothschild’s estates and I’ll try to tell you about it tomorrow when I write. It’s late in the day now, Sweetheart, and I still have half a hundred things to take care of. I don’t like to write you choppy letters, dear, but I know you’ll understand.

Haven’t heard from you another day – but I don’t wonder. Have to stop now, dearest – something coming up I have to take care of. My love to the folks, darling and remember at ease or in a hurry – I love you very very much!!

My deepest love for now, darling,

Greg

Route of the Question Mark


CLICK ON MAP TO ENLARGE

(A) Gretz to (B) Charly-sur-Marne (40 miles)
29 to 31 August 1944

August 31... Charly-sur-Marne. We took over a mansion on the edge of town; had pay-call on a little mound in back of the house; swam in the Marne; bought champagne at a hundred francs a bottle; the civilians gathered outside out gates and gave us drinks of wine and calvados, not to mention grapes, eggs, and tomatoes; Pfc CRISCIONE danced around in a yellow dress and a bandanna.

* TIDBIT *

about The Movement of VII Corps

From Mission Accomplished, The Story of the Campaigns of the VII Corps United States Army in the War Against Germany (1944-1945) comes this:

Corps units crossed the Seine at Melun on August 25th. On the 27th bridges our engineers built across the Marne carried our troops into the battlefields of World War I, past places famed for the glorious fighting of American troops in 1917 and 1918 - Soissons, Chateau Thierry, Belleau Wood. On and on, beyond Aisne, past the ancient fortified city of Laon, the advancing VII Corps dashed - the Spearhead (3rd Armored) Division leading, closely followed by the 1st and 9th Infantry Divisions and screened on the south flank by the Corps mechanized cavalry. So quickly did these flying columns move that the German command did not know where to expect them next. Motor convoys were overtaken trying to escape to the east. Even railroad trains, loaded with troops and supplies operating in what their crews believed to be the safety of rear areas, were surprised and destroyed by our armored spearheads. Everywhere in France the German Army was in chaos, and there seemed no safe place to reorganize short of the German border.

On August 31st our orders were changed, and the direction of our attack was altered from northeast to north. Perhaps we could cut off the retreating enemy columns, headed for the refuge of the West Wall fortifications.