21 August, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

21 August, 1944         0930

Dearest darling Wilma –

Today is the first bad day in about 3 weeks and so we’re not complaining too much. Ordinarily when it’s like this, dear, you can hardly find a place that’s comfortable – let alone find a spot dry enough to write in. But that is another advantage of this little German car that I have. It has a nice canvas top – not too much unlike the one I had on the Buick. The jeep top is practically useless when it rains, but this one comes down on the sides and is very low anyway – so that it gives very good protection. So that’s where I am this morning, It’s comfortable here and quiet. Most of the fellows have gone back to sleep – but that’s one habit I’ve never cultivated.

Trying to describe the German car reminds me to tell you, darling, that I’m taking more snapshots now of various things I see. I believe I told you I was able to buy about 10 rolls of film to fit my camera. How I’ll get them developed – I haven’t the faintest idea, dear. There are no civilian facilities, and if I send them to the Signal corps – they retain the privilege of impounding for the duration any roll of film that has a picture in it containing military material. I now have 3 rolls taken and I’ll just hang on to them. I don’t think they’ll spoil.

Yesterday, as I wrote you, I went after a pair of combat shoes. I ended up by traveling about 130 miles – but I got them. They are not particularly good looking shoes – but darned serviceable and that’s what counts. I got very homesick when I noticed a Boston trademark stamped inside. Gosh – it was a beautiful Sunday and all I could think of was last summer. I don’t quite remember when you went back to school – I think it was about the 2nd of September – or thereabouts. I remember your telling me of your early return to school and how badly I felt immediately – because I thought I might not get to see you of a weekend – and when you think of it, darling, you must have been quite an attraction. It meant not going home to see my folks. I think they are the ones who deserve the credit, though, because much as they wanted to see me – they never said a word except that they were glad I knew a nice girl and was spending nice week-ends. And you certainly tore back and forth from Holyoke to Boston those first couple of months at school – it’s a wonder your folks didn’t object. It was all so wonderful – short as our courtship was, darling. I know that after we’re married – I’ll go on courting you – because I don’t want anyone pointing at us as we’re walking down the street and saying “Look at them – they had an awfully short courtship!” Of course, sweetheart, that is only one of the reasons why I’ll continue to court you.

Oh – I almost forgot to mention that McDermott fellow. If it’s the one I think it is – I know him fairly well – and his father – much better. The one I know comes from Salem, his dad is on the staff; Mac came to Edwards and was there only a short while before coming overseas – I think – with the 550th, but I’m not sure. I had run into him at Edwards – but never quite got to see him in England or France. I’ll keep a lookout for him now that I know he’s attached to the air force – or at least – his battalion.

Well – sweetheart – I’ll have to cut this short – it’s starting to get wet – even in here and I don’t want to get this messed up. I haven’t told you in so many words yet that I love you deeply – sweetheart, and miss you ever so much. This damned war seems interminable sometimes – but one fine day it will be over and I’ll be coming back to you to love you hard and long and forever. Just keep hanging on, darling.

So long for now, then – love to the folks – and

My everlasting love, sweetheart –

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Mont Ormel Ridge (Hill 262) - Part 2

CLICK ON MAP TO ENLARGE

Continuing from "Hill 262" on Wikipedia:

Further German attacks were launched during the morning both from inside the pocket along the Chambois–Vimoutiers road, and from the east. Raids from the direction of Coudehard managed to penetrate the Polish defenses and take captives. The final German effort came at around 1100 — SS remnants had infiltrated through the wooded hills to the rear of the 1st Armored Regiment's dressing station. This "suicidal" assault was defeated at point-blank range by the 9th Infantry Battalion with the 1st Armored Regiment's tanks using their anti-aircraft machine guns in support. The machine guns' tracer ammunition set fire to the grass, killing wounded men on the slope. As the final infantry assaults melted away, the German artillery and mortar fire targeting the hill subsided as well. The Canadian Grenadier Guards reached the ridge just over an hour later, having fought for more than five hours and taking out two Panthers, a Panzer IV, and two self-propelled guns along their route. By 1400, with the arrival of the first supply convoy, the position was relieved. The Falaise pocket was considered closed by the evening of 21 August, with around 50,000 Germans trapped inside.

The quite compelling account of Colonel Pierre Sévigny, then a Canadian artillery observation Captain attached to the 1st Polish Armored Division, appears in BBC's WWII People's War as translated by Jim Dillon from the book Dans la tourmente de la guerre, by M. l'abbé Marcel Launay. It is worth going to the BBC site to read the account from 19-21 August. The portion describing 21 August is copied here:

Canadian Colonel Pierre Sévigny

Nearly 4 in the morning, Monday, August the 21st

A shaft of moonlight lit the clearing in front of me: shadows! Immediately came a burst of machine-gun fire. A quarter of an hour later, a new attack! We were losing a lot of men, among them two of the Polish lieutenants: there was only one left!

Half an hour later it was dawn. I went to sleep literally standing up. Suddenly my signaller woke me and I started: “Captain, I can hear our tanks!”

There was no possible mistake! They must have been very close, perhaps 600 meters to the west, and I could clearly distinguish the two, green flares. Between them and us, however, on the side of the hill lay a small, thick wood and the Germans were still in it. What were we to do? If our friends bumped into resistance the likelihood was that they would pull back and look for another way. No hesitation! We had to attack and link up with our relief no matter what it cost.

Immediately I gathered the men. They all agreed: we had to take the enemy by surprise. Luckily his attention was diverted by the noise of the tanks! At the blast of a whistle we went forward! We advanced quickly despite branches, craters and the SS. Nothing could stop the wrath of the Poles. The Polish lieutenant was in front of me: I saw him fall, hit in the forehead by a bullet. At the same time, from behind a tree, a soldier aimed his carbine at me: I threw myself to one side as he fired: he missed and was instantly bayoneted. A bullet grazed my left shoulder: it was nothing, and we reached the bottom of the hill to see six Shermans firing on us! They finally recognized us and, with our strength increased, we were soon climbing back up that famous Hill 262.

When we reached the Command Post the Polish major greeted us, he was shaking with emotion and I became part of a scene of delirious joy. We laughed, we wept, we embraced each other. The soldiers told long stories in Polish to the Canadians who understood not a word but nevertheless burst into peals of laughter!

Our victory was total, but at a terrible price: only seventy Poles survived the slaughter unhurt: I was the only officer still able to stand!

The Poles now call that hill “Maczuga”, which means “The Mace”. And that is it exactly: the battle of “Maczuga” hill was the final, crushing blow which broke German power.

One balance-sheet of this fearful confrontation (and there are many different numbers suggested):

The Poles, who went into this fight with eighty-seven Sherman tanks against all the remaining weaponry of the German Seventh army surrounded on the plain of Tournai, Aubry, St-Lambert, lost 325 dead, 16 of whom were officers, 1,002 wounded and 114 missing. Eleven tanks were destroyed.

The Germans had about 2,000 killed, 5,000 taken prisoner, including a general, six colonels and 80 officers. They left on the battlefield 55 tanks, of which 14 were Panthers and 6 Tigers, 44 guns and 152 armored vehicles, 359 vehicles of all types were destroyed.

The World War II Database's Normandy Campaign, Phase 2 by C. Peter Chen reports:

Before the Allies closed the pocket, the death and destruction dealt against the German Army was horrifying even though a number of Panzer divisions were able to escape from the envelopment. "The battlefield at Falaise was unquestionably one of the greatest 'killing fields' of any of the war areas", Eisenhower noted in his memoirs.

Forty-eight hours after the closing of the gap I was conducted through it on foot, to encounter scenes that could be described only by Dante. It was literally possible to walk for hundreds of yards at a time, stepping on nothing but dead and decaying flesh.

The smell was all-pervading and overpowering. It was so strong, in fact, that pilots of light artillery observation aircraft flying over the area reported that the stench affected them even hundreds of feet in the air.

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Eight infantry divisions and two Panzer divisions were captured as German resistance in the pocket died down. The nightmarish narrow escape route was later named the "Corridor of Death" by the Germans who survived it.

20 August, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

20 August, 1944

Sweetest girl –

Yes we both have been good at writing – and if I’ve ever complained, darling, it was not at your writing – but at the service. And when you come down to it – there’s been little reason to complain. It does amaze me the way we do manage to get mail at all. Sometimes our mail clerk makes a 50 mile trip to the rear – to get mail – or 100 miles round trip.

Yesterday I got 3 letters – all from you and all so wonderfully pleasant. You do tell me – and in so many ways, sweetheart, that you love me – and I hope that I’m making myself as clear to you. Certainly my life is wrapped up inexorably and inextricably with yours, dear – and that we’ll be happy together – I don’t doubt at all. I’m sure of it.

One of your letters mentioned Stan and then I suddenly remembered the Wilcoff girl. The name had not meant a thing to me and apparently – neither did her face; but when you mentioned Youngstown, steel and millionaires – I remembered it all. I did meet her at Irv’s house – I believe it was a Saturday p.m. after a game at the Stadium. There must have been 20 couples there that p.m. As I remember it I went to the game – stag and later dropped over to see Irv and Verna. As I recall it further – I was told the “qualifying” points of Betty W. and rather urged to pay a little attention. She too had no date and had I cared to stay around – I could have gone out with them that evening. I stayed around about one or one and ½ hours and then said I had to return to Salem. Now – remember, darling, I’ve been in the Army 2 years and I may be all confused about time. As a matter of fact it seems to me this all happened when I was at Edwards in ’42. Anyway – I do remember that I didn’t find her the least bit attractive – millions or otherwise. She made very little impression upon me and that was that.

So that’s the Wave Stan has been taking out? You know, dear, sometime later – I saw Stan and he asked me why I hadn’t taken her out, pointed out her assets etc. I told him what I thought and he laughed and agreed. Well – it just goes to show how much he’s changed. About one thing I have no doubt – and that is that he’s looking for security; he made that clear when he took out what’s-her-name, I can’t seem to think of it now; you know – when the 4 of us went out together. I’m sorry for Stan – and more so for the girl, because if he does follow this up – and very apparently he is – he’s not marrying for love – and what you say about his being a good husband – may not be. I hope I’m wrong. One thing is sure though – if he does marry a rich girl – he’ll have one swell time, because Stan does know how to live. Anyway, I’ll beinterested in how he makes out.

I was sorry to hear about your spending a hot Sunday at home when you might have been at the beach with the folks. I agree with you 100% about disliking crowds, crying babies and lunch boxes – but it would have been cooler. I’m sure Mother A wants you and why she didn’t invite you – I don’t know – except that in fact she thought you’d come over anyway. Well, I hope before the summer is over, you get over a few times. Boy – I hate the hot weather also – although I can manage to keep going. But I am thankful that we’ve had no hot weather. It’s been mild and luke warm and very livable.

I was glad to read about Mary’s new teeth and the fact that she liked them so well. Lawrence had written me about it – and the truth is – he said he wasn’t too satisfied with them. Apparently there had been some difficulty because of occlusion – or some such thing. As long as she likes them – that’s all that matters, I guess.

Well – darling – I’ll have to close now – I’m going to a town about 30 miles off to try and buy some combat shoes. I have one pair, but this is a new style and will do away with my need for leggings. The country here is really pretty and I enjoy driving through it. Incidentally I still have that German car. We have large Red Crosses and U.S.A.’s painted over it and it comes in handy when we’re pinched for space.

Until tomorrow then, Sweetheart, so long. Remember, dear, that I love you more than anyone in the world and dream only of you and me as married happily together and doing the things we want to do in life – also together.

Love to the family and

All my love, darling

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Mont Ormel Ridge (Hill 262) - Part 1

CLICK ON MAP TO ENLARGE

Hill 262N and 262S in the dark brown areas
with Mont-Ormel in the center

From Wikipedia comes this information:

Northeast of Chambois overlooking the Dives River valley, an elongated, wooded ridge runs roughly North to South above the village of Coudehard. The ridge's two highest peaks — Points 262 North (262N) and 262 South (262S) — lie on either side of a pass within which the hamlet of Mont-Ormel, from which the ridge takes its name, is situated.

View of Mont-Ormel from "Hill 262" today

Of the approximately 20 German infantry and armored divisions trapped in the Falaise pocket, around 12 were still operating with a degree of combat-effectiveness on 19 August 1944. As these formations retreated eastwards they fought desperately to keep the jaws of the encirclement — formed by the Canadians in Trun and St. Lambert, and the Poles and Americans in Chambois — from closing. German movement out of the pocket throughout the night of 19 August cut off the Polish battlegroups on the north side of the Mont Ormel ridge. Lacking sufficient means to either seal the pocket or fight their way clear, the Poles decided that the only chance of survival for their force was to hold fast until relieved. Although the Polish soldiers on Point 262N could hear movement from the valley below, without possession of Point 262S they were unable to interfere with the large numbers of German troops slipping past the southern slopes of the ridge.

As it grew light on 20 August, Lieutenant-Colonel Zdzisław Szydłowski, commanding the 9th Infantry Battalion, prepared to fulfill his orders of the previous day for an attack across the road towards Point 262S. However, hampered by the wreckage littering the pass, the attack soon bogged down in the face of fierce German resistance.

Wreckage of a German convoy

Field Marshal Walther Model, who upon succeeding von Kluge two days earlier had authorized a general withdrawal, ordered elements of two SS Panzer Divisions — located outside the pocket — to attack Hill 262. After an hour and a half, they were beaten back by the Polish forces. Meanwhile, from within the pocket, German formations seeking an escape route were filtering through gaps in the Allied lines between Trun and Chambois, heading towards the ridge from the west. The Poles could see the road from Chambois choked with troops and vehicles attempting to pass along the Dives valley and subjected them to an hour-long bombardment, breaking them up and scattering their infantry.

Around midday the Germans opened up an artillery and mortar barrage that caused casualties among the ridge's defenders and would last for the entire afternoon. By mid afternoon about 10,000 German troops had escaped the pocket through a corridor past Point 262N cleared by units of several Panzer divisions. Although another early afternoon German assault on the ridge was eventually repulsed, with a large number of prisoners being taken and artillery again causing significant casualties, the Poles were being gradually pushed back. However, they managed to retain their grip on Point 262N and, with well-coordinated artillery fire, continued to exact a toll on German units traversing the corridor.

Exasperated by the casualties to his men, German Seventh Army commander Oberstgruppenführer (General) Paul Hausser ordered the Polish positions to be "eliminated". By 1700 the attack was at its height and the Poles were contending with German tanks and infantry inside their perimeter. The integrity of the position was not restored until 1900, by which time the Poles had expended almost all their ammunition leaving themselves in a precarious situation. A 20-minute ceasefire was arranged to allow the Germans to evacuate a large medical convoy, after which fighting resumed with redoubled intensity.

Earlier in the day Canadian Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds had ordered his troops to "make every effort" to reach the Poles isolated on Hill 262, but at "sacrificial" cost the remnants of the German 9th SS Panzer and 3rd Parachute Divisions had succeeded in preventing the Canadians from intervening. Dangerously low on supplies and unable to evacuate their prisoners or the wounded of both sides — many of whom received further injuries from the unremitting hail of mortar bombs — the Poles had hoped to see the Canadian 4th Armored Division coming to their rescue by evening. However, as night fell it became clear that no Allied relief force would reach the ridge that day. Lacking the means to interfere, the exhausted Poles were forced to watch as the remnants of the Panzer Corps left the pocket. Fighting died down and was sporadic throughout the hours of darkness; after the brutality of the day's combat both sides avoided contact although frequent Polish artillery strikes continued to harass German forces retreating from the sector.

Lieutenant-Colonel Aleksander Stefanowicz of Poland's 1st Armored Regiment, himself wounded during the day's fighting, struck a fatalistic note as he addressed his men on the evening of 20 August:

Gentlemen. Everything is lost. I do not believe [the] Canadians will manage to help us. We have only 110 men left, with 50 rounds per gun and 5 rounds per tank... Fight to the end! To surrender to the SS is senseless, you know it well. Gentlemen! Good luck – tonight, we will die for Poland and civilization. We will fight to the last platoon, to the last tank, then to the last man.

19 August, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

19 August, 1944            1400

Dearest sweetheart –

For some reason or other – Saturdays seem to be very busy. For one thing – our weekly report is due on Sat. Yesterday I got one letter from you, also letters from Lawrence, Florence B. and the Salem Hosp. Florence is getting to be quite a correspondent and it’s very sweet of her to keep writing. I’m anxious to get to know her better when I get home. Which reminds me – your last letter sounded a trifle blue, darling – for which I can’t blame you. I wonder how you can sound so cheerful so often. I don’t know what I can write to make you feel a bit better, sweetheart, except to say that I miss you terribly and I too, resent very much having to be separated from you. Darling I love you very much and I hate the time that we’re wasting, but what can we do? We must be thankful that at least we’re winning the war. Just think what it would be like if we weren’t. We’re all optimistic about things over here. The Heinies are really in an awful mess right now.

You must really be desperate, darling, mentioning what you did about the ARC. I laughed, dear, although – don’t get me wrong – I love you for thinking of it. But it would never work out – and as you say, the idea does not appeal to me particularly. Perhaps I’ll change later. My CO, by the way is a reasonable man and takes considerable stock in the R.C. Have to stop now, sweetheart. Hope all is well at home. Love to the folks and

My sincerest love

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Günther Adolf Ferdinand “Hans” von Kluge
(30 October 1882 – 19 August 1944)


Günther "Hans" von Kluge

Günther von Kluge was a German military leader, born in Posen into a Prussian military family. Kluge rose to the rank of Field Marshal in the Wehrmacht. His nickname among the troops and his fellow officers was "der kluge Hans" (“Clever Hans”). "Hans" was not part of his given name, but a nickname acquired early in his career in admiration of his cleverness, as "klug" is German for "clever". The nickname was a reference to "Clever Hans", a horse which became famous for its apparent ability to do arithmetic.

During World War I, he had been a staff officer and in 1916 had been at the Battle of Verdun. By 1936 he was a lieutenant-general, and in 1937 had taken command of the Sixth Army Group. Von Kluge disliked Hitler's gangster-like Nazi entourage and was appalled at the persecution of the Jews. He was among those many officers of the General Staff who feared Hitler's warmongering would lead Germany to disaster. But like others, von Kluge soon succumbed to Hitler's spell.

Between June and July of 1944, during the invasion of Normandy by Allied forces, Erwin Rommel had commanded Army Group B under Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt. Rommel had been charged with planning German counterattacks intended to drive the Allied forces back to the beaches. On 2 July, von Kluge had replaced Rundstedt, because Rundstedt was advocating negotiation with the Allies. Two weeks later, Rommel had been wounded and von Kluge had taken over as commander of Army Group B as well.

Von Kluge found that German forces moving towards Normandy were constantly being attacked by Allied fighter-bombers. The climax came with U.S. tanks advancing towards Granchiel and Avranches. "The enemy air superiority is terrific and smothers almost every one of our movements," phoned Field Marshal von Kluge to General Warlimont, Hitler's personal representative in the West. "Every movement of the enemy is prepared and protected by its air force. Losses in men and equipment are extraordinary." Von Kluge himself was not immune to personal danger. In July, USAAF Group Commander Colonel Howard F. Nichols and a squadron of his 370th Fighter Group's P-38 Lightnings blasted von Kluge's headquarters, skipping a 500-pound bomb right through the front door. The blast killed several men, though von Kluge was not present at the time.

Later in July, von Kluge had been approached by Henning von Tresckow to join in the plot to overthrow Hitler. He refused, but was kept informed about the conspiracy. After the failed July Plot the Gestapo informed Hitler of their suspicions that von Kluge was now unreliable. As the Normandy front unraveled, von Kluge desperately tried to convince Hitler to withdraw the western armies back to the Rhine and hold the line there, but Hitler refused to yield an inch of territory.

On August 15, as British and American armies cut deep into the forces of Army Group West, von Kluge decided after all to contemplate surrender and left his headquarters all day. At fuehrer headquarters, an American radio transmission was intercepted asking for von Kluge's whereabouts. Hitler immediately suspected von Kluge of attempting to negotiate an armistice and called it the worst day of his life. Dr. Udo Esche, Kluge's son-in-law later told Allied interrogators that von Kluge had contemplated surrender and "went to the front line but was unable to get in touch with the Allied commanders." George Pfann, secretary to General Patton, later revealed that Patton had also vanished the same day and that the American general had tried to make contact with a German emissary who had not appeared at the appointed place. Montgomery's Chief of Intelligence also confirmed that von Kluge was reported missing and that he warned his general that they might receive a message from Kluge at any moment.

When asked by fuehrer headquarters about his being out of touch for an entire day, von Kluge replied he had gone off to meet with General Paul Hausser and General Heinrich Eberbach. He went on to say that his radio car had been destroyed by fighter-bombers, and that he had spent the time hiding in a ditch. A suspicious and livid Hitler rebuffed von Kluge's story and sacked him immediately. He replaced him with a fanatical Nazi - Field Marshal Walter Model. On the 17th of August, Field Marshal Model arrived with a letter relieving von Kluge of his command. The war was over for him.

Von Kluge started his journey back to Germany on the 19th of August. He appeared to suspect an ill fate upon his return and ordered his driver to stop at Metz, where he had fought some of his WWI battles. He spread a blanket on the ground and took his own life with a cyanide capsule. He left the following farewell letter to Hitler:

"When you receive these lines I shall be no more.... I do not know if Field Marshal Model, who has proved himself in all respects, will be capable of mastering the situation. I hope so with all my heart. If that is not to be the case and if the new weapons - especially air weapons, which you are eagerly awaiting, are not to bring you success, then, my Fuehrer, make up your mind to finish the war. The German people have endured such unspeakable sufferings that the time has come to put an end to their terrors. There must be ways to arrive at this conclusion and, above all to prevent the Reich from being condemned to the hell of Bolshevism....I have always admired your greatness and your iron will to maintain yourself and National Socialism. If your destiny overcomes your will and your genius, it will be because Providence has willed it so. You have fought a good and honorable fight.

History will bear witness to this. If it ever becomes necessary, show yourself great enough to put an end to a struggle which has now become hopeless.

I depart from you, my Fuehrer, as one who stood nearer to you than you perhaps realized, in the consciousness that I did my duty to the utmost."

Hitler reportedly handed the letter to Alfred Jodl and commented that “There are strong reasons to suspect that had not von Kluge committed suicide he would have been arrested anyway.” He had von Kluge quietly buried with Military pall bearers, but no Military honors. He was officially pronounced dead from a cerebral hemorrage.

18 August, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

18 August, 1944      0930

My dearest, sweetest fiancée–

I feel pretty well this morning but a couple of the fellows don’t. It all started with the gin, darling. The trouble is that although we get a full bottle of Scotch each – we have to divide a bottle of gin between two of us. Well – last night the dentist and I brought out our bottle and decided to kill it at a game of cards. There were six of us playing and a bottle doesn’t last long among six growing boys, dear. We had plenty of grapefruit juice from the kitchen rations. Another pair of officers got their bottle etc. and we ended up feeling pretty high – the first time in a long while. We felt like singing, but couldn’t – because of security conditions. It was dark – but no one felt like going to bed. So we sat around and told old stories, admidst ”ssh’s” from the other fellows who were listening – whenever we got too loud. I slept well – and this morning I’m right on the ball.

The fact that the news is so good doesn’t dampen our spirits one bit – either, sweetheart. You can’t imagine the drive and spirit that this American army has. It has confidence – knowing its superiority in numbers, equipment, and air power – and it’s really a pleasure to see them push on. Naturally – I’m getting to see a great deal of France – because after all – I started way back on the beach and we’ve come a long way since. As we expected – the people we’re meeting now are the French who really hated the Germans and their joy is understandable. American flags – almost invariably home-made and almost always with the wrong number of stars – are out in every small town we pass through – and I think I’ve already told you about the flowers. They just love to make little bouquets and hurl them at us when we slow down going thru a town. They line the streets – men and women – holding jugs of cider or wine, with glasses – pouring out drinks – and all in all, dear, I think the American effort is being appreciated.

Postcard of a church in Pré-en-Pail, enclosed in a letter to Wilma

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and how it can be seen at the end of a street today:



Postcard of "La Mairie" in Pré-en-Pail enclosed in a letter to Wilma:

and how it looks today:

Just when we’ll get a chance to see Paris – I don’t know. At this writing we haven’t taken it – but take it – we will. I do hope I get a chance to see it – but this Army is getting so big in France – there’s no telling where the various outfits will head for. Time enough to think of that.

What I want more than anything is to by-pass a good many spots and head for home, darling. There’s a lot of talk about occupation, Japan, Pacific – and all that. I don’t care where they send me – as long as this damned thing gets over with soon. When it folds – it will do so quickly – I think, and I don’t see why my outfit won’t be disbanded as quickly as anyone else’s. Everything is in a state of soon being unfolded, though, sweetheart – and I know you’ll have the patience to wait for me. I think it will be sooner than either of us hoped for – and the thought certainly thrills me darling; that’s the only word for it – because the very thought of actually getting home and doing what we’ve planned for so long – causes me no end of mental stimulation.

Darling I’ll have to stop now. There’s something doing over at the medical truck and I’d better get over and see what’s up. It sure is swell to think about the future, sweetheart, particularly when that future seems less elusive with each passing day.

Love to the folks, darling and

All my everlasting love

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Tom Treanor, War Correspondent

Most of the following information comes from Katheleen Pavion's blog, Fallen Journalists:

Tom Treanor was born in Los Angeles on November 8, 1908. He attended Stanford University for two years, then transferred to and graduated from the University of California, Berkley. He began his newspaper career as a reporter for The Los Angeles Evening Press in 1930. He then moved to report for the Oakland Post-Enquirer, The Wisconsin News and The Los Angeles Examiner, before working for The Los Angeles Times starting in 1934. Treanor created a column titled, “The Home Front,” before he went abroad as a war correspondent. The column was devoted to his visits to war plants and war activities, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In his career Treanor covered the battlefields of Egypt, India, Africa and Italy, before reporting on D-Day, the conquest of Normandy and the push towards Paris in the Battle of France. Treanor also wrote several magazine articles and a book, One Damn Thing After Another, published in 1944. His fellow reporters respected him as one of the best WWII correspondents and admired him for his daring ability to get the story for his readers.

Tom Treanor was injured on 18 August 1944, on his way to the Seine River front, when the Army jeep he and two other correspondents were riding in collided with an American tank on a dusty road outside a French village that had just been liberated from the Nazis, east of Chartres, France. Despite emergency medical treatment by U. S. Army personnel, Treanor died early the next day. According to Robert C. Miller, a United Press correspondent, Treanor suffered a crushed leg, internal injuries and head wounds. Miller was the first to deliver the news of Treanor’s accident to The Los Angeles Times, saying that Treanor regained consciousness for a while in the hospital before dying. He lived long enough to learn that the doctor attending his wounds was from Los Angeles and told him he was sorry he wouldn't be able to cover the liberation of Paris.

Treanor was buried at the Army cemetery near Le Mans, about 50 miles from the accident site and about 100 miles from Paris. He was 35 years old when he died. He was honored at Ft. MacArthur, where his widow was presented with the War Department Certificate of Appreciation and European and Pacific Theater of Operations ribbons.

At the news of his death, The Los Angeles Times reported an influx of phone calls that “jammed the switchboards” from friends, readers and acquaintances. The Times said, “Where (ever) Treanor went, there was always action - front line action always vividly, accurately described…”. According to John MacVane, an NBC broadcaster who also covered the battle for France, "Tom was where he wanted to be - at the very tip of the units of the American 3rd Army pushing towards Paris.”

From a previous LA times blog by Larry Harnisch comes this last story written by Tom Treanor:

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17 August, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

17 August, 1944      1430

Dearest darling –

A “shortie” today, due to the exigencies of war. Ahem – that sounds important. It really isn’t though. I spent the morning visiting 3 of the batteries, dear, chiefly to determine whether I would award any Purple Hearts – or not. In case you don’t know it, sweetheart, I am authorized to make such an award and keep a stock of them on hand. I’m sorry to say that I’ve had occasion to give them out in several cases.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE


Greg did not name this town which he may have
driven through on his way to visit 3 batteries.

No mail for a couple of days, darling, but it’s really a wonder we ever get any these days – we jump around so much – but I haven’t heard one complaint. We all feel we’re going in the right direction and that compensates for a great deal.

I missed you a lot last night, darling. We had had a chance to dig in early and things were quiet. I caught myself dreaming of myself back home with you, and then, sweetheart, I missed you more than ever. Gosh, dear, I do love you more and more and want you as my wife more than I can tell you. So hold tight! Love to the family and

All my deepest love -

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Taking Falaise

CLICK TO ENLARGE

On 15 August the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Infantry Divisions, with the support of the 2nd Canadian (Armored) Brigade, renewed their drive south, but progress remained slow. After harsh fighting and having weathered several German counter-attacks, the 4th Armored Division captured Soulangy, although strong German resistance prevented an outright breakthrough to Trun and the day's gains were minimal. On 16 August the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division broke into Falaise itself, encountering minor opposition from Waffen SS units and scattered pockets of German infantry, and by 17 August had secured the town.

As Falaise burns, a Canadian MP directs traffic
at Place Saint Gervais on 17 August 1944
This photo belongs to PhotosNormandie's Flickr Photostream


A Canadian truck in Falaise passes St. Gervais
Church on Rue de Cain on 17 August 1944.
Cafe du Commerce is now Pizzeria La Place.
This photo belongs to PhotosNormandie's Flickr Photostream.

Same Intersection today.

16 August, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

16 August, 1944       0930

My dearest girl –

There was a time in France that when we moved, we stayed ‘put’ for awhile and took care of details etc. For the past 10 days it has not been so, and despite the wear and tear of digging, pitching and striking tents, falling behind in cleanliness, losing out on daily mail and not getting a chance to write much – no one is kicking, dear, because we’re going in the right direction and rapidly. We’re really chewing up the miles these days – and it’s wonderful. We’re bound to meet some opposition soon, I suppose – but right now – there’s no doubt as to which side has the decisive hand. I can well imagine how the news is being received at home. I’m sure everyone must feel the war can only last a few weeks more. I personally think it will last longer – chiefly because I don’t think there’s a mechanism in Germany set up as yet to make or sue for peace. But it will come darling, and with it my early return home to you. I’ve never wanted anything ever – as much as I want to get home and marry you, sweetheart. That it will come – I don’t doubt at all. It’s only a question of time.

This morning (we rarely get mail in the a.m.) I got 2 letters – one from your mother – very sweet, and one from you of August 2nd, dear. I was tickled to read about Mr. Anderson’s offer to you – not because it might mean a paid job – but because it showed he must like your work and have confidence in you. If so – it must mean you have ability – and since I think that anyway, I like to feel that others feel the same way. At any rate – I think you did the right thing when you went to work with the ARC – and paid or not paid – your contacts and experience with them are well worth having.

I didn’t have the pleasure of seeing you dressed up in your Mother’s wedding gown, darling, but I got a good laugh out of it anyway. You remind me of a little girl trying on her mother’s high shoes etc. – and the funny part of it is dear – that’s what you are in fact!

It’s funny – I meant to mention the news of the new landings on the South coast of France – and forgot all about it – up to this point. I can say truthfully – that for some time – we small time strategists have figured there’d be a landing in that region. The Germans have been withdrawing from that sector of France for some time and day after day we could see the Forts flying in that direction. This new drive is bound to divert even more of Hitler’s thinning troops – and the picture is unfolding very nicely. I suppose it came as an even bigger surprise to the United States – but this war seems full of them.

I was surprised to read about Earl being with the 7th Army in Italy. We thought the 7th was in Corsica – but Armies do get around these days. Betty’s remarks about Stan were interesting. And I do wish you’d do something about a vacation. Now that Bea is back – your chances of going to Old Orchard seem gone – so why don’t you at least go to Hartford – just for a change of scenery? I’d wait until September and some cooler weather, though. Hartford can be an awfully hot spot in the summer. I worked there a few weeks for two summers and boy – it was broiling. I always liked that city, though.

Well, darling, I’ve sort of rambled on today without expressing clearly enough the fact that I love you and wish I could be together with you – discussing in person – all these little things. I guess we won’t do much talking though for awhile after I get back – except perhaps to yell “Time!” – occasionally. Boy! Wouldn’t I like to be winded – from kissing! I am developing my wind, though, – but from digging, and I think I’ll be able to reapply it without difficulty.

It’s time to stop now, dear and get some things done. I do hope you’re taking care of yourself – and that everyone is fine at home. My love to the folks, dear, and for now –

My deepest love –

Greg.

Route of the Question Mark


[CLICK TO ENLARGE]

(A) Milly to (B) Lignières-la-Doucelle (64 Miles)
11 to 16 August 1944

August 16... Lignieres la Doucelle. Pfc GORDON was burned by flaming gasoline. S/Sgt BARHAM captured our first two prisoners, the ones that S/Sgt BOGARDUS and T/4 LANG fired at the night before. Lt Col LANE attacked the yellow-jackets at the Officers' table with fire and smudges, and it was impossible to keep them out of our jam cans. The motor section acquired its first motorcycle, and we got a 0100 march order. Capt RENKIN lost all his clothes and the S-4 section caught H E L L.

* TIDBIT *

about "A Picture Speaks 1,000 Words"

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE


Hearse in front of Notre Dame Church
at La Ferté-Macé


Notre Dame at La Ferté-Macé today

15 August, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

France

15 August, 1944         0830

Dearest sweetheart –

We’re gypsying again and I’m getting an early start, dear. The Germans always spoke of the “drang nach Osten” – and that’s just where we’re going. The Lord has favored us with some excellent weather since this push started a few weeks ago – and I think we’ve taken advantage of it.

Speaking of weather – yesterday was another ideal summer day and a few of us took time out to grab another swim in a little swimming hole not far from here. We had gone there the day before also. The water was cool and reasonably clean.

Another new announcement came out yesterday. In England you remember, dear, we were given the opportunity of getting a bottle of Scotch about every month – for the price of 25 shillings (about $5.00) It seems that the British Army still makes liquor available to its officers (and remind me to tell you my impression of British officers – after the war, dear); because in some sectors we are fighting side by side with the British – I guess they decided to make liquor available to us too. At any rate every officer can now receive a ration of a fifth of Scotch and 1 pint of gin per month. The amazing thing is that the Scotch costs us only 76 francs – or $1.52 – which is cost price, I guess – minus tax etc. Just tell your Dad he’s overpaying. About the most important result will be that some of the boys will now stop drinking Cognac or Calvados – the latter being as explosive as TNT and just about as dangerous. We’re gradually leaving the Cognac country behind and reaching the wine country – so we’ll see –

Sweetheart – I’m sorry I worried you about the thought of an Army occupation. It’s certainly nothing to worry about now – in view of the fact that we haven’t ended the war as yet. But some one will have to police the conquered Germans and the Americans will do part of it – I’m sure. I’m not worrying about that fact one bit, though, dear. What we want is victory – first.

I remember Lena’s well and the Bella Vista, too. Those were happy days, darling and we certainly took them in stride – I remember how I used to connive and contrive – starting about Tuesday – just so I could be off on the week-end. And I managed very well, as I remember it. We packed a lot of fun in those few months. I think of every incident, over and over again; it’s interesting to study how I grew to love you – and satisfying too. I know, darling, that when I get back – we’ll just start off where we left off – except that out love will be much deeper than when I last said ‘so long’. And I can remember ‘sweating out’ a phone call from the Roosevelt or the Pennsylvania in N.Y. – the last time I heard your voice – darling. It doesn’t really seem so long. That’s because our letters have kept us in touch, sweetheart. They certainly are a blessing – yours are.

Bella Vista (today) in the North End of Boston

Gee – I’ll have to stop now. Things are bustling and I’ve got a lot of things to do. My love to the folks, dear and

All my love, darling

Greg

Route of the Question Mark


[Note from FourthChild: La Chernay cannot be found !]

August 15... La Chernay. We did nothing but buy eggs from civilians, and we were nicely complimented for the way we had handled the liquor situation, and almost immediately an epidemic of drunkeness broke out.

* TIDBIT *

about The Other D-Day

CLICK ON MAP TO ENLARGE

What follows was excerpted from Southern France written for the U.S. Army Center of Military History by Jeffrey J. Clarke.

Overview
The Allied invasion of southern France on 15 August 1944, an operation first code-named ANVIL and later DRAGOON, marked the beginning of one of the most successful but controversial campaigns of World War II. Because it fell both geographically and chronologically between two much larger Allied efforts in northern France and Italy, both its conduct and its contributions have been largely ignored. Yet the success of ANVIL and the ensuing capture of the great southern French ports of Toulon and Marseilles, together with the subsequent drive north up the Rhone River valley to Lyon and Dijon, were ultimately to provide critical support to the Normandy-based armies finally moving east toward the German border.

Controversy
Opponents of ANVIL, including British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, have long argued that the invasion of southern France did little more than sap the strength of the main Allied campaign in the Mediterranean, the drive north up the Italian peninsula toward Austria and Hungary. This direct thrust through the so-called soft underbelly of German-dominated Europe might also, in retrospect, have altered the East-West balance of postwar Europe. In contrast, defenders of ANVIL, mainly Americans, have steadfastly maintained that even if the rugged Italian campaign could have been accelerated, the operational and logistical difficulties of rapidly crossing the Julian Alps would have been impossible to overcome. Far more significant to the Allied cause in Europe was the capture of Marseille, France's largest port, and the rapid rehabilitation of the Rhone valley rail and road network. Until the opening of Antwerp in December 1944, this supply route was to satisfy over one-third of the Allied logistical needs in northern France. In addition, the Southern France Campaign resulted in the arrival of the third Allied army group opposite the German border, without which General Dwight D. Eisenhower's army groups would have been stretched thinner and pressed harder during the German Ardennes offensive in the winter of that year. And a more grievous allied setback in December might also have had dire consequences on postwar Europe for the Western Alliance.

Preparation
With the clock running, the Allied land and naval staffs supervised the massive loading requirements of the D-day convoys, their departure from a variety of ports, and their subsequent rendezvous off Corsica during the night of 14-15 August. Together they comprised approximately 885 ships and landing vessels sailing under their own power and carrying nearly 1,375 smaller landing craft, about 151,000 troops (the bulk of the French were in follow-on convoys), and some 21,400 trucks, tanks, tank destroyers, prime movers, bulldozers, tractors, and other assorted vehicles. The campaign for southern France was about to begin.

Even as these forces assembled, Allied air attacks against the southern French coastline and the immediate interior, begun on 5 August, continued and intensified. So as not to reveal the precise landing area, targets all along the coast were struck, including many in the Genoa area to the extreme east. Also attacked were the Rhone River bridges, whose destruction would severely hamper German movements throughout the campaign. At the same time, French Resistance forays against lesser water crossings and rail and communication sites further paralyzed German movement behind the battle area and seriously degraded internal communications capabilities. Deception efforts on the night before the ANVIL landings included dummy paratrooper drops and visits by small fleets of patrol craft, one led by cinema star, Lt. Comdr. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (USNR), to other potential landing sites to simulate an invasion force.

Like the Normandy invasion, a secret message from London, “the chief is starving,” launched the attack. Before the landings, French resistance fighters cleared German forces from the three beaches. Just after midnight on August 15, Allied forces pummeled the Hyeres island batteries. The African soldiers landed and later took Cap Nègre. More troops negotiated a minefield at le Trayas. Coming by sea, Allied troops landed on the three beaches, backed by troops arriving at Sainte-Maxime a few hours later. Meanwhile, Allied paratroopers attacked from the air, landing by parachute in the Le Muy-Le Luc area, with combat gliders bringing reinforcements. By 0400, some 5,000 Allied paratroopers had dropped from Provence skies into the valley of l'Argens; 10,000 paratroopers had landed by the end of the day.

U.S. Douglas C-47 Skytrains
carrying paratroopers to the invasion.

Here is what one paratrooper, Captain Jud Chalkey, had to say:

“I was jumpmaster of our stick. It consisted mostly of mortar and bazooka men from Battalion HQ. The panorama of the invasion as we flew over the beachhead was a magnificent sight. You could see the assault boats going in and the guys crawling on the beaches. The battleships were firing and the battle was in full swing. We were flying at about 2000 feet but you could smell the cordite. We had just six minutes from the time we got to the shoreline until we were to jump. We got the red light, the plane dropped down some, and then lifted as we came in for the drop. So when the green light came on, the deck was sloping upward and the men had to climb a bit to get to the door. The pilot had to rev up his engines because of the upward slant of the terrain below. We were probably going 120 when we went out the door. That's when just about everything you were carrying that weighed anything tore loose and went flying. Panels blew; men lost their equipment. It was a very hard opening shock.”

U.S. 551st Parachute Infantry Regiment
invading Southern France on 15 August 1944

The 1st Special Service Force successfully assaulted the islands of Levant and Port Cros shortly after midnight, surprising the German garrisons but finding only dummy artillery positions. Simultaneously, the French commandos struck along the coast, with the southern group establishing blocking positions around Cape Negre, but the northern group suffering severe casualties while trapped in a defended German minefield until dawn. Inland the echeloned paratrooper and glider landings were characterized by confusion. Always a difficult proposition by night, the airborne attack was bedeviled by a low cloud cover that obscured drop zones for pathfinder teams and pilots alike. Although most landed within a ten-mile radius of Le Muy, daylight found some as far south as the Gulf of St. Tropez while others were located as far east as the Cannes region. But, as in the Normandy invasion, the confusion that the scattered landings caused within the German interior lines may have more than made up for the almost inevitable pilot errors.

D-Day
Daybreak on 15 August revealed a clear Mediterranean morning with the autumn storms, the French mistral, still weeks away. As planned, the main landings began promptly at 0800, after the haze and smoke from the final air and naval bombardments had dissipated - the experienced Allied commanders considered the visibility a worthwhile trade-off when assaulting an unfamiliar shore en mass. Striking the crease, or boundary between the German LXII Corps' 242d and 148th Infantry Divisions, Major General John W. "Iron Mike" O'Daniel's 3d Division put ashore on the target area's southernmost beaches on the St. Tropez peninsula; Major General John E. Dahlquist's 36th Division headed for those in the Frejus Gulf on the right, or eastern, portion of the landing area; and Major General William W. Eagles' 45th Division employed a series of small strands in between, near the town of Ste. Maxime. Initial resistance proved light, with the two defending grenadier (infantry) regiments from two different divisions unable to coordinate their actions and with naval gunnery silencing most of the German artillery positions.

Landing at Cavalaire-sur-Mer
15 August 1944

The only exception to the desultory defense occurred at the head of the Frejus Gulf, the primary landing zone of the 36th Division. With the German fire there seemingly unaffected by the Allied bombardment and with an impressive array of beach obstacles in full view, the alert naval task group commander, Rear Adm. Spencer S. Lewis, ordered the bulk of the division to land on an adjacent beach, slightly to the north, an action that further minimized Allied casualties on D-day.

During the morning and afternoon of the 15th, the armor-supported American infantry slowly eliminated almost all resistance along the shoreline and began pushing east and west along the coastal road and north into the interior. By the following day they had secured the two hill masses overlooking the beaches, while tank destroyers from the 45th Division had penetrated due north to assist the paratroopers in a final assault against Le Muy. Only in the immediate vicinity of Frejus did the Germans put up a spirited but futile defense, while the Luftwaffe limited itself to a few radio-controlled missile attacks against Allied shipping. Thus, by the afternoon of 16 August VI Corp's Major General Lucien Truscott found his forces in full possession of the planned beachhead with little evidence of any coordinated German response.

Confusion reigned at the various German headquarters. The LXII Corps at Draguignan, a few miles northwest of Le Muy, found itself isolated by roving bands of paratroopers. Reports of the landings arriving at the headquarters of the Nineteenth Army and Army Group G were fragmentary and confused, with most of General Johannes Blaskowitz's information coming from naval sources and relayed to his command post at Toulouse through Paris. From Avignon, General Friedrich Wiese did what he could. He gave General Richard von Schwerin, whose 189th Infantry Division was currently attempting to cross east over the Rhone, a few units from two other divisions. He sent von Schwerin down the Argens valley the morning of the 15th to clear the paratroopers from Le Muy and relieve the LXII Corps headquarters. But von Schwerin's "counterattack" that afternoon and a similar one from Cannes by elements of the 148th Division were small ad hoc affairs based on only sketchy intelligence. Both were easily dispersed by the Americans, who hardly noticed them, and swallowed up by the rapid ANVIL advance. More would be necessary if the Germans were to mount an effective defense, but Blaskowitz and Wiese could do little until more of their combat forces crossed the Rhone, especially the 11th Panzers.