I do not know the date in early December 1944 when one of our officers came to Section 240. D Battery of the 387th AAA Auto Weapons Battalion. This was the gun Section for which I was the Sergeant in charge. He came to tell me. or order me, over my objections, to gather all of my personal belongings as I was being assigned to R&R (Rest and Recreation). I suggested that I would rather another member of my gun section, other than myself, be sent on R&R. He responded with “Sergeant, that is an order!” So I gathered up all of my belongings, except the German Mauser rifle with the nickel plated action and red wood stock which I had strapped to the side of our equipment trailer. I found this rifle in Cherbourg, France about eight months earlier. I said goodbye to the men of my gun section and I was driven by Jeep to Eupen, Belgium for R&R. While on this assignment, we were assigned work during the daytime and had the evenings to ourselves to do as we wished. I was assigned to a Foreign Exchange Bank operated by the United States Armed Forces.
A First Lieutenant was in charge and was responsible for this operation. He was also responsible for the thousands of currency with which this bank operated. After being introduced to the Lieutenant, 1 was instructed on the duties for which I was responsible. Since this was a new operation, none of the teller’s windows or the glass in the doors to the office were marked or identified. My first assignment was to appropriately letter each one. I was given the paint and brushes with which to complete this assignment. Having done this. I was then instructed on using the conversion charts for converting the various nations currencies to that which the customers requested. This I found to be quite interesting as not only did the GIs use this bank, so did the members of the Red Cross, U.S.O., medical personnel, etc.
I enjoyed this experience of converting the currencies and meeting so many different people from the various units. Among these people was a person from the U.S.O. show by the name of Marlene Dietrick. I have a Belgian monetary note with Marlene Dietrick’s signature on it, compliment of my commanding Lieutenant. The evenings were ours to relax and enjoy. There were some stores in Eupen (Eu is “Er”) in which we could buy food or treats, and visit with other GIs from different units that also on R&R.,
At this time I met T/5 Corporal Foster Powell, a member of the 387th A.A.A., A.W. Battalion, Battery B, who was also on R&R. Foster and I were both billeted in the lower level of the building which housed the Foreign Exchange Bank, We each were given an Army cot to sleep on. Of course we each had our own two Army blankets. I do not recall what we used for pillows. This was a luxury compared to our “beds” on, or in. which we had slept for the past seven months, Foster was a very nice “kid” and was from the town of Piqua, Ohio. We spent the evenings together “doing the town” and enjoying what treats we could find. After several nights of our R&R, Poster received a large package at “Mail Call”, this turned out to be a very nice sleeping bag. His family sent it to him, probably as a Christmas gift. He was naturally elated to have something so nice and warm instead of the issued two Army blankets. He slept very well that night in his cozy sleeping bag and got up the next morning with a big smile on his face.
We both reported to work at our jobs for the day; I do not know to this day what his assignment was. Having completed our day’s assignment, we were again free to do as we wished in the evening; the date was December 15. 1944, the day before the infamous “Battle of the Bulge” of which, at that time, we had no knowledge. Neither did our military high command have any knowledge of this impending attack by the German Army. Christmas music was broadcast throughout Eupen’s business district and we were under the impression that we had the war well under control. The music consisted of all of our usual Christmas songs, “Silent Night”, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, “Jingle Bells”, etc. Little did we know that many of us would not be living for this Christmas Holiday; among them Hupp and Powell. Foster and I met a young Ranger (we had no marines in our area of combat) and .struck up a Friendship with him. He was wearing an Army Field Jacket that was heavily stained with blood. We asked him why he was wearing this stained jacket while on R&R. He replied that his unit did not have a new or clean jacket with which to replace the jacket he was wearing. We then asked him the source of so much blood on his clothing.
He proceeded to explain that his unit was engaged in combat with the Germans which was close in and required bayonets. During this struggle he bayoneted a German soldier and then attempted to withdraw his bayonet from the enemy’s body, but it was imbedded, and he was unable to retrieve it. At that point he stated that he turned his back to the body of the German soldier and, pulling the rifle over his shoulder, thus pulling the enemy’s body against his back, managed to retrieve his bayonet. This caused the blood from the bayonet wound to be smeared over the back and shoulders of his jacket. It was not a pretty sight!
We decided to attend the USO show which was on stage that evening. The star of the show was Marlene Dietrick, an actress who, as I understand, was an immigrant from Germany to the U.S.A. Also in the show was a male comedian and dancer; he received more applause from the audience than Marlene Dietrick. The songs that Marlene sang were those for which she was famous: “See What the Boys In The Back Room Will Have”, “Falling In Love Again”, “Li Li Marleen”, etc. At this time the man. presumably her manager, took the microphone and announced that Ms, Dietrick expressed the hope that we GIs appreciated her coming to entertain us. With that, a chorus of “boos and cat calls” filled the theater. The comedian went into his performance and the GIs applauded loudly. Soon after these events, we heard a German airplane over the Theater; suddenly a bomb from that airplane struck the building next to the Theater. Marlene and her “manager” disappeared immediately; so did the comedian. We left the Theater and ” reported in” to our officer in charge.
The first day of the Battle of the Bulge we were assigned to guarding the Bank Building. Army trucks passed through the village of Eupen loaded with rifles stacked in the beds apparently recovered from casualties. About mid-morning a German ME 109 made two strafing attacks through the business district. We heard of no serious damage or injuries incurred. We were informed about the attack by the Germans and what was taking place in our area; this was quite a surprise. We had been under the impression that we had the war under control. The day passed without any serious problems. Of course, we did not venture out in the evening as we had before this day. Corporal Powell had received an early Christmas package containing a very nice sleeping bag and he slept in it that night. It would be the last time.
On the morning of the second day of the Bulge, December 17, we resumed our assignment to guard the bank building. Our Lieutenant approached us, T5 Foster Powell, T5 Hupp, and myself, and stated that he wanted three volunteers to go to the town of Malmedy to obtain ammunition. The saying in the Army is “Never volunteer!”, but we three did! The Lieutenant presented us with his written orders, a 45 caliber pistol for T5 Hupp, our driver, an Ml Carbine for T5 Powell, and a Thompson Submachine-gun and his good watch for me. For each weapon we were given one clip of ammunition. We were then assigned a Jeep and away we went fully confident of completing our mission. We drove to the outskirts of Eupen, to the road to Malmedy, where we were stopped by an MP who read our orders and waved us on. As we traveled, we observed the countryside. On the right it was somewhat elevated to what, I recall, appeared to be a hedgeline and though I could not see over the rise, it appeared to be open land. On the left side of the road it was about level with the road, sometimes dropping of to small depressions and was covered with brush and second growth trees.
As we were traveling on a slight downgrade, we approached a densely forested area when suddenly a group of about a dozen well armed German Paratroops came out of the forest and formed a line blocking the left lane of the road. At this time we were “had”, we had no chance of doing anything but to surrender. I told T5 Powell and T5 Hupp to remain motionless; not to attempt to raise their weapons. The German Non Corn with the ambushing troops walked towards us arid raised his hand in a manner for us to stop, After we complied with his order, he was accompanied by a very young German Paratrooper who approached the driver side of the Jeep and ordered Corporal Hupp to move into the back seat, and he took over the drivers seat. The German Non Com then ordered me into the back seat and he seated himself in the right side front seat. This placed Corporal Powell in the center of the back seat. I mention these facts because it determined who was struck and who was not in the following gunfire.
This ambush had been set up at the junction of a side road and the road to Malmedy. Now we proceeded on this side road. We had gone a short ways when we crossed a small bridge over a creek, which ran parallel to the Malmedy road. Suddenly the driver hit the brakes and we were stopped in the middle of the road with the forest to our right. Unknown to the German Troops, a large Gl Wrecker was parked behind a very large tree on the right berm adjacent to the trees of the forest. When they saw the Jeep approaching with German soldiers in command of the vehicle, they opened lire with the ring mount 50 caliber machinegun. The German driver exited the Jeep and ran to the left rear of the Jeep directly behind Corporal Hupp. The German Non Corn exited the Jeep and ran to the cover of the forest on our right. The 50 caliber rounds struck the Jeep at the right headlight area and exited out the left taillight area. This caused Corporal Hupp to be wounded near the groin and killed the young German behind the Jeep. Corporal Powell was wounded in the lower leg and the middle finger on his right hand was severed. The rounds went through the Jeep with a sound of “Chunk-Chunk-Chunk”! Not having been hit, I signaled to the German Non Corn that I was going to jump into the deep ditch in the right side berm. He nodded his approval and I headed for the ditch. The 50 caliber machinegun was still firing so I lay as flat as I could in the very bottom of the ditch. Having seen me go to the ditch, the machinegun was turned to the ditch. The first round struck the snow kicking up dirt and snow at a distance of about thirty feet in front of me. Then the rounds progressed toward me at about ten feet per round. I was perfectly located for the last round so I hugged the earth as tight as I could and wished that I could crawl into my helmet That last round struck so close to the left side of my head that it numbed my face and I felt warm liquid coming out of my left car, I thought that it was blood, but it was fluid from my ear.
Having heard the gunfire, the German ambush group came to the site and silenced the machinegun. They approached the Wrecker and returned with one GI captive. I do not know if there were other casualties on the wrecker. About this same time my wounded comrades were calling out to me “Help us Paul” over and over. I motioned to the German Non Corn that I wanted to help my comrades and he nodded his approval. I went to the Jeep and carried Cpl. Powell and Cpl, Hupp, one at a time. to the edge of the forest, where (laid them on the snow. The Germans took Cpl, Hupp’s .45 caliber pistol and held it up saying “Nicht Gute” C*no good”) and fired a round into a small tree; they drew their Lugars and fired into the same tree and said “Gute” (“good”). My spelling in German may be in error, so overlook it if you will! [ knelt down beside my two comrades and attempted to examine their wounds. The Germans said “Nein” (“no”) and pressed a gun on my back and motioned for me to stand. As I complied, they said “Hand in Hoch” (“hands up”); then they said “Mans” (“march”) and off we went leaving my comrades behind.
I never saw them again. After a rather short walk, we came to the German’s bivouac area deep in the forest. I noticed that there were about ten Gl captives already at this site; they were leaning against trees, some squatting down on their haunches, and others just standing there in the snow, A German guard was with us at all times. We looked down the muzzles of many weapons that day. When they came past us with trenching tools and a weapon we did not know if we would see another day. In fact, I thought that this was my last day to live. So I prayed and prayed all day that something would happen to save all of us, I made many promises to God about my life in the future should f survive this day. I did feel that, at least, I was prepared for the worst, having been to confession while on R&R. in Eupen. I am a Catholic and this is in line with our belief. How well I have kept my promises must be judged by those who know me and not by me. While observing our uncomfortable position in the snow, I used sign language to ask our guard if I and my fellow prisoners could break the tow hanging branches on the trees to form a mat on which we could rest. He nodded his approval and I asked my fellow captives to gather the limbs from the trees. We ended up with a nice, thick carpet of green on which to rest.
All day long we could hear ambushes of vehicles on the road to Malmedy just as happened to us. The Germans had a lookout high in a tree he would call down to alert the troops of the approach of vehicles. We could hear the vehicles: then we heard gunfire, then all was quiet. Soon after that, we could hear the vehicles being removed.
Conversation was very limited between we captives. However, I was told by one 01 that he was taken prisoner before we were, and that he was with the Germans on the right side of the road and witnessed our capture, He said that we were very lucky to have survived the capture, since there were German paratroopers on the right side of the road with weapons trained on us. Should we have made any attempt of resistance, we would have been killed. A small group of Germans passed by our group and looked us over; then they came over to me saying “too young” and felt my face for whiskers repeating “too young”. At no time did the Germans mistreat any of us,
Late in the afternoon Just as the light began to fail in the forest, a young paratrooper approached our group. He stopped and announced in English that his Colonel wanted to talk with our ranking officer. Not knowing the rank of the other captives, I waited and looked for a movement since I was only a Sergeant. When no one answered the call I got up and accompanied the messenger. There stood an officer who, by appearance, left no doubt who was in control. He asked me “where are you from Sergeant” and I answered giving my rank and serial number. Four or nve tunes this was repeated. Then the Colonel said “no. Sergeant, I want to know where in the United States you are from”, I answered, I am from the State of Ohio. Sir!” “Where are you from in the State of Ohio, Sergeant?” he asked. I am from the City of Defiance, Ohio, Sir” I answered. He smiled and said ll have gone through your town many times to visit my relation in Fort Wayne, Indiana”, Me then said “Now, Sergeant, some of my men have been wounded, or injured, and cannot continue on.
I want them to have good care and I know that they will receive good care in your Evac. Hospital. Sergeant, 1 am asking you, will you escort these men to your officers to have them placed in your hospital? If you will do this. Sergeant, you may take your comrades with you.” I answered, “Yes Sir, I will do this”. Then I said, “Sir, may I request a favor? Certainly, Sergeant, what is it?” he answered. I asked “Sir, my two comrades were wounded when we were taken prisoner. Would you have them laid out beside the road that they may also be taken to the hospital?” He answered, “Sergeant, I will do my best, but I cannot promise”. I said “thank you. Sir” and saluted him; he returned the salute. Then he said, “Sergeant prepare your men to move out”, I walked over to my fellow captives and told them of the generosity of this Colonel and that we were ail being set free. Then he said “Prepare to move out!” At this time the wounded and injured German paratroopers were presented on stretchers and some walking with assistance and off we went. There were only three or four Germans to be evacuated, but several more guided us out of the forest and to the road where an American truck met us. On the way out of the forest, we were stopped a couple of times with a sharp “Halt!” by patrols in the forest. The Germans who were guiding us would answer the call and show them the pass which the Colonel wrote to explain our mission and to do us no harm. We were quickly loaded into the truck, and after our German escorts said goodbye to their injured comrades, we were on our way.
Before long we pulled up in front of a building occupied by MPs and Military Intelligence. We entered the building and approached a table at which sat two Military Intelligence Officers. They separated the German and GIs for interrogation. One young German patted me on the back and shook my hand. Then he pulled on a lanyard on his belt and out of his boot came a paratroop knife with blade on one side and strong pick type blade on the other side. This he handed to me, then they took him away. I was completely exhausted, somewhat in shock, and I sat on the floor and up against a wail and fell asleep. I was awakened to undergo questioning by Intelligence. They wanted to know how many troops the German Paratroops had; what type of weapons they had, how we were treated, and what direction I thought they would take when they left their bivouac area. As we approached the truck, which was to take us to Eupen, f noticed the road behind the truck was laid out in a long sweeping curve. Also» the land was bare of trees for quite a distance within this large curve. Another identifying feature in the area was a large billboard. While I was being interviewed the phone rang; it was the top commander of the infantry unit which was assigned the task of catching this German Paratroop unit. He wanted Intelligence to allow me to accompany him in his Jeep to track down and attack the Germans, Intelligence Officers told him that I was in no condition to do this after my release from captivity. The officer was very unhappy about the decision made on my behalf by the Intelligence Officers,
I was billeted in a very nice place for about ten days. One morning two Officers came to this location to speak to me concerning my military future. They told me that the German Paratroop Colonel who wrote my pass to freedom had surrendered to the GIs who were pursuing him and his paratroops. They had asked the Colonel about his agreement with me to lay Cpls. Hupp and Powell by the side of the road so that they too were taken to the Rvac. Hospital, He answered that he had done his best to comply, but his men got out of control and had shot both Cpl. Hupp and Cpl. Powell in the head, killing them instantly. Colonel Von Der Heydte was at this time being treated at this same Evac. Hospital. Then they told me that I had an important decision to make. One was to be sent back to the U.S.A. for reassignment. The second choice was to be sent back to my A.A.A.A.W. Bn. Unit and to my gun section. I was told that there was something that I should know before I made my decision, and that was having been taken prisoner once, and having been released by my captors, a second capture is automatic death. My decision was to be returned to my unit and to continue combat with my gun section. Upon returning, we resumed our duties as if I had never left.
There were many battles and much territory yet to be taken before the War ended. Then we were assigned to the occupation of Germany.
[submitted by Doug Dillard, 82nd Airborne Division]
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