Remagen, anyone been there?

[Slipdigit]

Originally Posted by Franek

Jeff;
I will look for that telegram. But how do I post a picture of it? Let me work on it.

Get a digital photo of it, we'll tell you how to do it.

[Gotthard Heinrici]

Originally Posted by Franek

I forget the exact dates. This happened 65 yrs ago.From the 8th of March,we were busy consolidating our lines.In the meantime more reinforcments were pouring in.By now there was no one going to chase us off of the east bank.
During the next few days we spent clearing more ground. I was no longer in view of the river.But the Germans sent in thier secret jet fighters the ME 262,to bomb the bridge. Our P38 and Mustangs could not catch them but managed to keep them clear of the bridge. Gi's were firing MI at the jets ,50 cal,and anti aircraft guns were firing away. What went up had to come down. Flak and metal was falling down. I was glad to have my helmet on.Failing in this. The Germans sent frog men down stream to plant explosives on the bridge. They were spotted ,and killed or captured.We were constantly reinforced.My regiment the 394th.Recieved the first black combat soldiers of the war. They perfomed very well.

Next my capture

Franek, the jets may have been Arado 234 bombers as opposed to Me262, I could be wrong though. Please go on.

[Franek]

When I awoke and came to. I found myself laying on the floor of a German field hospital. I was covered with blood. Above me stood a German officer.Very sternly he asked me questions.Then he showed me the diary that I took from that dying German at Elsenborne.He asked me why I had it. I told him that I promised the German that I would see that his mother got it.(I lied)Apon hearing that,his mood changed. His demeanor changed. We talked for awhile,then he disappeared. In a little while he came back with a tag printed in German and pinned to my lapel
He to me to show it to my captors. I never did figure out what it said. The American shelling got worse ,so we were evacuated to a aid station in Marburg. Here they operated on me. Considering as to what they had to work with. They did a fair job. I woke up on a floor with other German wounded. It was then that I realized how bad I was shot up. My left arm was shattered.my thigh was torn apart the bullet was removed from my shoulder.my head was bandaged. I lost a lot of blood and was very weakA German officer came in and stood above every man and talked to them Those who could stood at attention. When he came to me, I tried to stand up but was too weak. He understood and moved on. The soldier next to me lost hsa left arm. There were maggots crawling all over it.(YUCK) bI lost count of the days,but I could feel my strength coming back.
One day a little old lady came in holding a basket,.She stopped at every soldier and gave them something. When she came to the soldier next to me without an arm. She shook her fist at me. I thought to myself OH OH. But then she kneeled beside me and puted her hand on my head ,and I think she said a prayer. She then rose and gave me a piece of punpernickle smeared with liverwurst and moved on. That was the first food that I had in daysI never forgot that. Even today I eat liverwurst and pumpernickle.
Apparently the Americans were coming closer. We were loaded on horse drawn wagons and evacuated again.It saeemed that I heard the word KASSEL mentioned. But it did not matter. My column was attacked by Allied fighter planes.We were bombed and strafed.Everybody scattered. Including me. I made it into the woods.After the planes left there were a lot of dead and burning vehicles. The Geraman mounted up again and proceeded on.No body looked for me.I looked down at the road and my wagon was still there but the horse was dead.
Now here I was alone not knowing what to do. I stayed in the woods until dark.I assumed that if they were going one way then I would go the other way. I walked that whole night eating sugar beets from the field.In the morning from the woods I noticed the Germans evacuating a town. When it looked safe I walked in. I heard motor noise.I looked from around a house and saw a American halftrack heading my way. I jumped out waving my arms. Jesus Christ. They opened up with a 50 caliber machine gun at me. I jumped behind a building. Then they pulled up beside me and laughed.They didnt know what I was. My clothes were torn and soaked in blood. I was taken to a aid station but was wounded too bad. They put me on a C47 to be taken to england.Upon take off the wheel hit a hole and the plane crashed. The plane did not catch on fire so I was safe. They tried again. This time it worked.
I arrived in England where they oprerated a number of times. But I needed further attention,so I was shipped back to the states. The war was over for me. I spent the next 16 months in various Army hospitals. I was discharged with a 85% disability rating.

[Franek]

Gotthard;
You might be right. Before this I never heard of a jet plane. I was just assuming that they were ME262 from what I read. I did see a Stuka dive and miss. I know what a Stuka was. At the time that this all happened I never knew what was happening.The pieces just fell into place after the war,by reading books and talking to others. The internet is a good place to search

[Gotthard Heinrici]

Yeah, They did pound a bridge a bit didnt they???

[Owen]

The Germans even launched V2 missiles at the bridge.
Franek, can you remember where you where in England?

[Franek]

Owen;
We landed in liverpool. There were more ships with the rest of my division that landed in other ports. We settled by Regiments in small towns. I was stationed in a place called Bridport. We sailed to LeHarve from Southampton. I dont know where I was in the hospital. I was too injured to venture out. In them days England was vewry quaint. Thatched roofs, coal burning fire places. It was like a new world to me.

[Owen]

Cheers for that.
I just found this.
SeniorNet:XMilitary Record 1943-1945 and Post War Years
By a member of 394 Inf.

Sept. 29, 1944 The 394th boarded the USS Excellceor II. Destination Europe, It was a real stinking ship, but I guess they all did.
Oct. 11, 1944 After 10 days on the water, we disembarked at Liverpool, England - Loaded on trains and traveled south to a small village on the coast called West Bay. They had good fish & chips here.
Nov. 2, 1944 Loaded on troop trains and headed for Southamption. Embarked on LCI's and crossed the channel to LeHarve, France.

So you weren't in England that long.
Ever been back?

[Franek]

Owen: Ha you are a great researcher, Yes I too was on the excellsior. But there were three or foer ships for our division. We all landed in different places. You have to remember we were just a bunch of kids just out of school. So England was like another world. We Americans were spoiled by English standards.A favorite saying you guys had for us was. Those F****** Americans are over paid, oversexed,and over here. Lol., The worst that I did was visit a small bakery in town and bought all of their crumpits???. We caught hell for that., the English were on rations,but the doillar went far.
Yes the ship that we came over on was a scum bag.
We lined up for food. The food was cooked by steam. As we lined up and the smell of the kitchen thinned the ranks. We all ran and puked over the side. I lived on oranges until two days before we hit Liverpool.
No I have never been back. I waited too long. Now I am too old.

[Owen]

I'm amazed at how much stuff is on the net about your Division.
99th Recon
99th Recon.

Nor was it odd that when their Liberty ship pulled into Liverpool, England, and they had debarked someone noticed once again riding high to her stern, that name “Excelsior” - “Ever Forward”, the Motto of the troop.
Camp Walditch, England, produced quonset huts, Bridport, a troop dance, a beer party for the exclusive second platoon given by Lt Von Burg and Cpl Hawkins, in-law troubles for some, perambulator pneumatic problems for others, “red head” and gate crashing difficulties for others even higher up, and a contest of cider versus Lil Abner (Pfc Lloyd Abner) in an alien land. During those three brief weeks many of the boys had the pleasure of spending two days in London as well.
Then LTC’s, across the Channel, Le Havre, a robot bomb, that famous “yoo hoo, boo hoo” ride toward the front to Ste Jean Mart, then there: rain, hogs, mud, snow, the famous Siegfried Line, and you have it - COMBAT.