It will continue in future issues.
The weather continues to ravage
us with overcast skies, very cold
with heavy wet snow and gusting winds.
The snow is covered with a thick crust
making it difficult to walk and the roads
are frozen, making trucks and tanks slide
like they were on ice skates. Because of
hazardous atmosphere, we cannot receive
air protection or be re-supplied by
our Army Air Force.
Instead, we relied on the "Red
Ball Express" to deliver our needed
medical supplies. I became aware of the
Red Ball Express" during our
stay in Normandy. They are to be honored
for their dedication to duty in the
establishment of a successful and efficient
supply line to our troops from the
beaches to the front line of our advancing
Divisions.
Their trucks rolled 24 hours,
night and day, delivering the needed supplies,
ammunition and gas. The drivers
looked like "death warmed over"; badly
in need of a shave and a haircut because
of too many hours behind the wheel, fatigued
and in soiled and wrinkled uniforms.
A hot soapy shower and some
sleep would be a welcome Christmas
present.
These just out of high school
drivers have seen and know first hand
what our infantry is doing and what supplies
they need.
Many times on their re-supply
trip, their trucks have been used as ambulances.
They have seen the blackened
frostbitten toes and fingers; the blood
soaked bandages and the mummy looking
burned tank crews.
You hear no complaints from
these heroes as they accept sandwiches
prepared by our cooks, wrapped in
newspaper for their trip back to be reloaded.
They must travel on curvy, narrow,
snow- and ice-covered roads, often
under artillery fire and the worry that a
V1 or V2 rocket would run out of fuel
and hit in their path.
I asked one of the drivers how
could they continue to drive at night
when we are in a black-out area.
"You just follow the lead truck,
staying as close as possible in its ruts so
as to avoid the slip or slide caused by
frozen icy roads."
With the German SS breakthrough
gradually approaching the 76th,
our commanding officers finally realized
that our perimeter guards needed more
than tent stakes to protect us. Our guards
are transferred to Infantry status, issued
regulationArmy rifles, ammo and given
some basic rifle training.
To further the need for this
drastic change we are informed that
within a one-hour walk of the 76th, the
German infiltrators dressed inAmerican
G.I. uniforms took some prisoners, executing
them on the spot.
Because of the threatening circumstances,
a Triage Plan of Evacuation
and Surrender of the 76th to the SS was
planned. If the SS does break-through
and over-run the 76th on their drive to
the Liege fuel depot, our personnel
would be broken into three sections.
Group One would jam into all
the vehicles in the motor-pool and head
for Paris; Group Two, with back packs,
would start walking in the same direction;
and Group Three, including medical
officers, nurses and the ranking
non-com in each department, would stay
with the hospital and continue caring for
their patients.
Because of my rank and status,
I was included in Group Three and fearfully
wondered how the SS would treat
me and my French heritage.
Good news from some of our patients: Most of the German infiltrators
have been captured and executed as
spies. I am told some of the amusing incidents
that occurred prior to their demise.
One of the captured was found
with a packet of Lucky Strike cigarettes
that could have only been taken from a
deceased G.I. So, he was forced to chew
and swallow each cigarette. Another was
found to have a chicken egg, a rare delicacy
on the front. The egg was cracked
on his head as he stood at attention while
the egg yolk slowly crept down his face.
News from the other European
fronts is not encouraging. The Allied advance
in Holland is stalled by Field Marshall Montgomery's inept leadership
and failure to link-up with the American
forces as planned. The U.S. Third Army,
led by General George Patton, was covering
Montgomery's flank but was redirected
to turn south and relieve the 101st
Airborne surrounded in Bastogne.
My hope and prayers were that
"Olde Blood and Guts" Patton would
hurry and that the weather would clear.
Doc LaBorde is a member of Veterans
of Foreign Wars Post No. 9210 of
Youngsville. If you know of a veteran
you'd like to be considered for this
feature, or an issue you'd like discussed,
email the information to info@acadianagazette.com.
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