INTERVIEW

Lt. Col. Guinn B. Goodrich, Commanding Officer, 18th Tank Battalion, Hinsbeck, Germany,
24 March 1945, 0900 hours to Capt. Vasta.

On March 2, 1945, after the taking of Lobberich, the unit reorganized and resupplied in the town. At 1100 hours Task Force Goodrich moved out. Troop A of the 88th Reconnaissance Squadron lead and was followed by one platoon of medium tanks from Company C, 18th Tank Battalion and Company C of the 7th Armored Infantry Battalion. Battery B, 473d AAA AW (SP) Battalion was in support.

Their mission was to take Wachtendonk. On their way through Hinsbeck, Troop A hit light resistance in the town but went on through. They got about 10 prisoners. Along a stretch of road extending from 001082 to 995079, the reconnaissance elements received small-fire. They took approximately 25 prisoners on this road. They turned north and headed for Aerbeck and from there proceeded to Wankum. There was slight resistance outside the town. Col. Goodrich ordered the reconnaissance unit to go through the town as quickly as possible and let the main body of the task force do the mopping up. Col Goodrich was primarily interested in the capturing of the two bridges leading into Wachtendonk east of the town.

At the Y in the road (016127) outside of Wachtendonk, the reconnaissance was pinned down by heavy small-arms fire and also bazooka fire. The troop commander radioed Col. Goodrich that he couldn't overcome the fire. Col. Goodrich immediately sent forward one platoon of tanks and two platoons of infantry. After a 30-minute fight, the infantry was able to push on to the bridges. The bridge on the southern prong of the Y was blown just as the infantry approached it. Resistance east of the bridge was overcome and the infantry was then given the mission to go through the town and to try to capture the bridge just west of the town. They succeeded in capturing one bridge intact (027134). The other three bridges were blown by the enemy.

The platoon that drove through the town and got the bridge was given the mission of protecting that bridge at all costs. In the meantime the rest of the infantry was cleaning out the town of Wankum. There was quite a bit of sniper fire in the town. When the mission was completed at 1530 hours, they had gotten a total of approximately 25 prisoners. Having finished this task, the infantry came up to Wachtendonk to help the other platoon mop up the town. It was just getting dark when the town of Wachtendonk was completely cleared of the enemy. About 50 prisoners were taken in the process of cleaning out the town.

Col. Goodrich's orders for the evening were to hold Wachtendonk and to protect the bridge at all costs. Task Force Goodrich would be relieved when Combat Command B passed through. The relief was to be accomplished by about 2200 hours but did not actually take place until 1000 hours 3 March 1945.