The 179th FA Bn landed on Utah Beach, Normandy, France on 13 August 1944 as part of General George S. Pattern’s Third Army and attached to Fourth Armored Division. Our first brush with the enemy came the following night. We had our first fire mission on 22 August 1944 at dusk. Our artillery battalion stayed at Bois-ie-Rot, France from 22-24 August, m a short time we destroyed fourteen artillery pieces, horse drawn train and several hundred Germans, m this position the 179th had three men killed. I looked in a burned out German tank and observed one of the tank crew that had burned and about all that was left was his intestines still in place looking like link smoked sausage.
The 179th FA Bn was assigned the task of holding outpost at Fresnes-ne-Saulnois, France from 19-24 September 1944. Under dense fog a German tank was firing down on us from the hill above. Our artillery started firing point blank at the tank. The climax came on me fifth day when it was determined mat Germans were preparing a strong counter attack. I manned an outpost several hundred yards from the Battery with my machine gun in place and dug a two man foxhole. My partner and I sat back to back to observe both directions. It was raining steadily and mere were two of our men with bazookas about fifty feet away. About mid-aftenoon you could hear tanks beginning to rumble. It was overcast and still raining. Tanks were on our right moving toward our outfit I was continually praying to my God for help. There were several tanks in mat group. The clouds began to part In a little while, a squadron of P-47 fighter planes was circling overhead waiting for a clearing. It wasn’t long before they started diving on moving tanks with machine guns firing and well-aimed bombs stopped me German tank movement. One of the planes didn’t come out of the dive and exploded on contact with the ground. While this was taking place, there was much smoke and explosions. The 179th FA finished the task. The 35th Infantry Division relieved the 179th before nightfall. The 179th was recommended for the Presidential Citation for defense of this critical spot. The 179th had two men killed.
The 179th went in a holding position at Athienville, France from 28 September to 1 November 1944. On a quiet Sunday afternoon in mid-October, I was writing a letter home. I was sitting in a vehicle that my machine gun was pedestal mounted on. “B” Battery commanding officer was strolling around me battery area and stopped and was talking with me. At this time we heard me chatter of machine gun fire and roar of planes. I manned my machine gun and told the battery commander to get in my foxhole. The battery commander was larger than I and had difficulty squeezing in my foxhole. Scanning the sky, I saw German ME-109 fighter plane coming my way at tree top level to my left. I started firing just before the plane crossed in front of me. My tracers showed mat the plane was being riddled by machine gun fire and started a nose dive. The plane crashed landed about 300 feet to my right, exploding on impact with the ground. The battery commander was pleased with me results that Sunday. Five ME-109 fighter planes were attacking our area and five planes were shot down. On the first day of November 1944 the 179th FA left Athienville, France, going toward Germany.
On the afternoon of 19 December, the 179th FA left position Maginot Line at Rimling, France where our batteries were firing across the German border. We were unaware at me time that we were headed for the Battle of me Bulge in Belgium and Luxembourg. During the period of 11-17 December, me 179th FA Bn was called upon twice to furnish five percent of its table of organization strength for infantry replacements. In addition to my machine gun duties and because of me ammunition section manpower shortage, I was called on to assist the ammo section with unloading, stockpiling and delivery of 97 pound projectiles plus powder charges to the battery gun section. During the Bastogne mission, the 179th FA Bn was firing over 1,000 rounds of 97 pound projectiles in a 24 hour time frame. The temperature got down in the range of 13 degrees below zero and mostly in the zero range while supporting the 4th Armored Division during the Bastogne mission. The snow was deep and we used quarter pound TNT charges to break me crust of the ground in order to dig foxholes. My shoes cracked where they bent and hurt my feet I cut strips from a wool blanket and wrapped my feet and stuffed them in my oversized rubber boots. My blood soaked woolen underwear would freeze to my backside and with any movement, I could feel and hear me cracking. I was evacuated on 31 December 1944 by the battalion medic. Arriving at the hospital in Luxembourg City, I was put in a bathtub and warm water was continuously poured on my backside and me underwear was cut off a little bit at the time until it was all removed. I was then sent to a convalescent hospital in Nancy, France. When I was finally healed and I was released from the hospital back to duty, I returned to my outfit I have many more memories of the Battle of the Bulge and me 179th FA Bn travel across Europe from Normandy to Czechoslovakia, with Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany and Austria in between, that I could ever put on paper!
The end of January, the Bulge was no more and the 179th went in the holding position from 1-24 February 1945 at Siebenater (Bockholz), Luxembourg near the German border. “B” Battery moved in this large field that was covered with snow that was pretty deep and had small raised up mounds scattered around the field. Since we were in a holding position the kitchen truck set-up and began serving us hot meals. After a few weeks, the rains came and me snow melted. The small mounds scattered m the field turned out to be dead German soldiers. On 24 February 1945 we moved out of this area and went into Germany supporting me 4m Armored Division.
In Germany around March 1945 while stopped on a road in the country-side for a period of time, an enemy soldier (sniper) began firing on our column from a field. I kept looking and preparing to fire my 50 caliber machine gun but couldn’t see him. Firing continued at intervals and one of me artillery gun crew called out that he saw the sniper rise up and shoot He instructed me to watch his small caliber tracer mat he was going to fire. I watched me location of the tracer, which appeared to be near some small bushes located near what looked like a drainage ditch. After a few minutes I saw the sniper rise up to fire again. At this time I fired a good many shots because of the distance between the sniper and myself. After firing, I didn’t see me sniper again. In a few minutes I saw our half-truck going in the direction of where I had fired with the executive officer and several non-coms. They got out of me vehicle and were standing in a group looking down watching the sniper die. They got back in the vehicle and went back to the front area of die column. The incident was never mentioned, even though many of the battery had seen what happened. About 30 or 40 years later, I asked one of the non-coms (who later became first sergeant) who was in the half-truck checking on what I was shooting at, if I had dreamed that incident His reply to my question was, “That incident was no dream. I have waited all of these years for you to ask me about it” He said, “The German soldier mat I had shot was nearly cut in two and he had the SS tattoo showing mat he was one of Hitler’s elite troopers.” He also said that the German soldier had a P-38 pistol (hat was hit with one of my shots.
On 1 April 1945, Easter Sunday, in a small town or village near Frankfurt, Germany, our battery had pulled out on the road from the field, where we had bivouac me night before. While waiting for the Battalion to move out, I had my K-ration breakfast. Our vehicle was one of the last in column. The rest of me Battery and Battalion were stretched out through the town. There was a small low fenced in apple orchard next to me road and a barn with an open hayloft feeing me road. I had a nature call and stepped over me fence thinking I was out of sight At this time, what sounded like a German burp gun (rapid fire) started shooting and dirt was flying all over me. I looked up toward me barn and the open hayloft and saw some German soldiers around what seemed to be a jammed burp gun because it was not firing anymore. I jumped me low fence, climbed on my vehicle and started firing my 50 caliber machine gun. In a very short time the bam and hayloft were in flames. There was no activity seen in me hayloft. About the same time, snipers throughout the town started firing on our column which had started March order. Machine guns throughout the column started firing on the snipers as we went through the town. That night* we were a distance from me town that we had left and you could still see the red glow of fire in the sky.
In Germany around April 1945, we were going up a hill and it had been raining. Dead German soldiers had fallen all along the edge of the road, probably from machine fire from our tanks or fighter planes. I was manning my machine gun mounted on the tractor pulling our 155mm howitzer. Vehicles in front of us had made a rut, sliding a little bit sideways; one of the dead German soldier’s head was right beside the rut The large tires on our 155mm howitzer were sliding in line with the soldier’s head. I couldn’t look at what I thought would happen. I didn’t look back. The sight of our sliding howitzer will always be in my memory. On our drive through Germany about March and April, we came upon and near several fenced in barrack type buildings housing prisoners of war soldiers, labor camps and others. I remember this British POW running up to me with a big hug. He was so happy to see us! Reaching in his pocket, he came out with a large brass nut (about me size of a quarter + or -) with brass buttons soldered on each side, probably from his overcoat I asked me POW what it was and he showed me it was a cigarette lighter he made while a POW. With tears in his eyes he handed it to me and said, “I want you to have it” That cigarette lighter was prized by me for many years and was misplaced several years ago. I hope mat it will show up eventually.
I went into one of the labor camps occupied by laborers from countries Germany had invaded I assumed. They worked and harvested me farms and also did factory work. All of them we saw were very happy to see us. The first thing mat they asked for was cigarettes. We were able to give mem some. One of them wanted us to see me barracks or someone in there. We couldn’t understand what he was saying and he motioned for us to follow him. A couple of us followed behind him and went in this long barrack. Inside were two rows of double bunks with some of them occupied. The smell was like nothing I ever encountered. By mis time we bade mem good-bye but couldn’t get out before receiving many hugs.
Our column was stopped along the road in one of me small towns. Off to my side of the road was a mound of dirt and a small homemade cross marking a grave. Walking along me road going in the opposite direction from us were two men with sticks to assist mem in walking. They hobbled up to our vehicles, pointing to their mourns, indicating they wanted food. Both men were nothing but skin and bones. They were given food and the look on their faces said it all as they walked away in their striped clothes. It seems like many of me fenced in barrack type camps were located in East Germany. When you would see these men in striped clothes, it would mean that they were out of one of the camps. Usually the guards in these camps would leave just ahead of the advancing allies. Some of the camps were probably more humane than others. But, the one with that human waste smell in close quarters will stay in my memory. I was told about one and saw the pictures of skin and bones with heads attached and stacked like cords of wood, hardly recognized as humans, waiting to be tossed in a furnace had to be the worst. At the end on VE day, 8 May 1945, the 179th FA Bn was near Zechovice, Czechoslovakia (7-10 May). There was dancing in me streets by the Czechs and we were all very happy.
We moved back to Germany as military government forces (10 May – 1 June, 1945). We ended up in Bogen, Germany located on the Danube River, 1 June 1945. We set-up road blocks on all roads coming from die east, and we detained German soldiers who were fleeing the Russians. After searching them, they were moved to me fenced in compound with barracks located near Bogen. “B” Battery was housed in a former two story court house in Bogen. After a couple of weeks the Germans stopped coming and me compound was full. My buddy, Joe, and I were picked along with others to pull guard duty in me convoy transporting me German prisoners to a destination unknown. One morning before daylight, a large number trucks, jeeps and men assembled at me prisoner compound to start loading prisoners. The German prisoners must have sensed where they were going. At the start of the loading, one of the prisoners dashed around to the dark side of the truck and disappeared in the darkness and couldn’t be found. The convoy was loaded without any other mishaps. Jeeps with two men were scattered throughout me convoy. Dawn was breaking as we headed toward Austria. The convoy was going a pretty good speed when one of me prisoners jumped off the truck. The convoy couldn’t stop. Our jeep was near the end of the convoy. Every few hours the convoy would stop for periods of time. I assume for directions and nature stops. On one of me stops, we were in me mountains on a narrow road with a cabin close by. Someone came out and one of the prisoners asked if they had water.
They answered, “Yes”. After consultation, six were allowed to go inside me cabin; we could see the front and back with no problem. After a little while, March order was passed through the column to be ready for movement in a few minutes. We called to me prisoners that we were ready to go. They came out but I counted only five getting in the truck. I called to my buddy, Joe, who was close by the cabin. He went inside and lifted a spread on the bed that was hanging to the floor and called to come out. The prisoner came right out and climbed into the truck. In a few minutes the convoy started moving out.
We traveled a few more hours and came to a fairly big town. I think we were still in Austria near Czechoslovakia border and in the Russian zone. The convoy pulled over and stopped while still in the town. While stopped several civilians were talking to the German prisoners on the truck. They left in a short time and men an elderly couple appeared. The lady was crying as she held one of the prisoner’s hands. They stayed a long time holding hands and crying. I mink h was one of me prisoner’s parents. After being in this location close to an hour, the convoy moved out Traveling several miles (I believe we were led by Russians) and we came to a barbed wire fenced in compound. The Russians were taking charge of the prisoners as we unloaded them. Several of the prisoners tossed men-watches to the GI’s standing by the vehicles. I guess they preferred me Americans over the Russians. After all of the prisoners were unloaded, we followed me Russian vehicles a short distance to me buildings (I believe it was a Catholic convent) By this time it was night Armed Russian soldiers appeared along with nuns with rings of keys (I mink it was two nuns.) In my memory I picture a two story building with a long wide hall and rooms on each side. We probably had about 30 men including guards and drivers. There was a sort of a line following behind the Russians and the nuns. The rooms appeared to be locked. You could hear frightened children crying. There were women and children who had probably taken refuge at the convent If the rooms were empty two men would drop off and the line would be shortened. If me room was occupied, me Russian soldier would motion them to leave. If the door was difficult to open, he would point his gun at the lock and make the nun that much more nervous, indicating that he would open it with the gun. Finally, our turn came. Our room was occupied by a mother and several children, who had started crying when the soldier motioned for them to get out In a few minutes the mother and children came out carrying their few belongings. The Russian soldier motioned for Joe and me to go in. The soldier and the nun continued down the hall with the GI’s that were left. Joe and I were standing in the doorway looking at that mother in the hall trying to comfort those crying children. Joe looking at me and said, “Mac, we can’t do this.” I was thinking the same thing before he said a word. We walked over to that mother and children and motioned for them to go back in the room. The look on their faces was truly mat of deep appreciation. The mother and children returned to their room and the crying had just about stopped as they closed me door. Later on I heard a shot and have always wondered if mat was a room the nuns couldn’t get unlocked. We spread our sleeping bags out in the hall and went to bed with our shoes off and our clothes on.
After eating our K-rations breakfast, we returned to Bogen, Germany and continued our Army of Occupation. After a few months, we received orders to travel to Marseille, France, to board the ship to the Pacific. While waiting for the trip to Marseille, the war in me Pacific ended. Our orders were not changed, so we still went to Marseille to await our turn for travel to the states. After arriving in Marseille, Joe and I had duty at the Officers Club which was okay. After a month or two, I was sent to the Rivera on the Mediterranean at Nice, France. I had duty at me Motor Pool driving a jeep to check service stations gas consumption. I had a private room with meal service in a large hotel which was great After a couple of months, I received a call from the Battery and went by train back to Marseille. We boarded the Liberty ship back to the states. We landed at Newport News, VA after nineteen days at sea. Then we headed to Fort Bragg for discharge.
At wars end, the 179th Field Artillery Battalion final report showed the following:
• 48,996 rounds of 155 mm Howitzer projectiles were used against the enemy
• 2,350 tons weight of this ammunition
• 266 days of continuous combat
• Over 1,000 prisoners captured For its World War II service, the 179th Field Artillery was awarded combat participation credit for five campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland. Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. It was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for action at the Moselle River.