UNIT HISTORY
399TH ARMORED FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION

Extracted by: 1st Lt. Howard L. Oleck (Historical Officer)
At: Venlo, Holland, 1530 hours, 16 March 1945.

Headquarters:
Bn CO - Lt Col Roger M. Lilly
Bn Exec O - Maj John J. Collins
S-1 - 1st Lt John W. Ray
S-2 - Capt Richard M. Hardison
S-3 - Capt Mattew A. Oliver, Jr.
S-4 - Capt Willis F. Gausman
Ln O - 1st lt Arthur W. Morris
Rcn and Survey O - 1st Lt Lawrence F. Quist

At 2215, just after we'd fallen off to sleep, we were awakened with "march order" for 2300. We were ready at that time, but did not take off until 0500 of Mar 5. En route we were greeted by intermittent arty and small arms fire, which we answered with our own guns. During the morning of the 5th, while our Bn CO, Lt Col Lilly, was directing our fire from his peep, he had good reason to believe he had a charmed life. Out of a hail of fire, he emerged unscathed, while his driver was wounded. Both were pinned down by fire for some time. A tank was sent up to bring back Col Lilly. The driver, Tec 5 James O. Fisher, was evacuated for hospitalization. We understand he received shrapnel in his buttocks and leg. We are sorry to lose him, even temporarily, and hope to see him back soon, fully recovered.

We arrived at Lintfort about 1300 of Mar 5, and used our guns to support the division's attack on Rheinberg. That night we billeted in our vehicles. At 1330 the next day (Mar 6) we moved to the outskirts of town, and set up in a farmhouse and adjacent barns. The evening was marked by an interchange of battery fire and by the sight of American planes attacking over the German lines and being subjected to German AA fire.

On Mar 7, in the afternoon, 2 of our B08's were wounded while observing fire from Rheinberg: Capt Marvin N. Sather of Baker Battery and Capt George R. Salisburg of Charlie. They were evacuated for hospitalization. Needless to say, this was a severe blow to our battalion, and we look forward hopefully to working with them when they regain strength and health. One round of enemy HE landed in the center of B Btry's gun position, but missed some ammo and dug itself into the ground, a dud. Here's a toast to Dame Fortune for that. The evening was marked by volleys of American ack-ack from our area against a Heinie plane which ventured by.

On March 8, we suffered a grievous loss: 2nd Lt Arthur Blatman, while observing fire, was struck by enemy shellfire and instantly killed. He will be affectionately remembered as a beloved officer and a warm human person. Pfc Alan M. Shefner, of Baker, received a slight flesh wound from shrapnel, but lost no time from duty.

About 1000 of Mar 9, an A Btry gun proceeded to position in the woods on the outskirts of Berkevorlshof, and registered. About 1045, the remainder of A Btry, and the S-2 track, carrying Capt Oliver and S/Sgt Lodge of our S-3 Section and the EM of our S-2 Section, proceeded to a farmhouse in the same position to set up a new fire direction center. This was to permit of continuous firing while the remainder of the battalion moves up, which was done. We were now firing in direct support of the 49th A.I.B. and also for other outfits. Our immediate objective is the woods northwest of Ossenberg; our plan and ultimate next objective are to go north along the west bank of the Rhine and take Wessel on the east bank of the Rhine.

On this day (Mar 9) we suffered further casualties, when one of our FO tanks was hit at Ossenberg, as follow: Tec 5 George A Kupczak was killed; 1st Lt Bun Baldwin Jr. suffered loss of a foot, same being amputated right at the scene by the medics in a nearby barn; Pvt John M. S. Irving had a leg broken and received bad burns; Tec 4 Clair Lefever was wounded in the arm.