|
History of the 49th Armored Infantry Battalion
March 1945
Personal Interviews
Most of these interviews were conducted by 1st Lt. Howard Oleck, Historical Officer at Venlo, Holland on March 16-17, 1945.
INTERVIEW  : Captain EDWARD H. LOOK (S-2)
TO : 1st Lt Howard L. Oleck (Historical Officer)
AT : VENLO, HOLLAND 1400 hours, 17 March 1945
STENOGRAPHER: Sgt. Arnold D. Cohen
Captain Look Commenced:
At 1500 5 March 1945 Col. (Edward A.) Kimball told me to round up all available riflemen and go to the assistance of Maj. (John H.) Van Houten, whose tanks were receiving some AT fire and therefore could not advance further. I rounded up the AT platoon of Company C and five (5) half-tracks from Company B and with T/Sgt (William A.) McFadyen of Company C and myself in the lead half-track and Col. Kimball in the following half-track proceeded along road shown on overlay, until we came to a blown brodge, where we dismounted.
Here we met Major (Edward J.) Gurney, Executive Officer of the 36th Tank Battalion. Major Gurney felt that I did not have enough infantry to help much but Col. Kimball felt that with the supporting MG fire of the tanks I could work my way up to the road and relieve the pressure. I had approximately thirty (30) men, whom I split into two groups, one on each side of the road, with T/Sgt McFadyen and myself each taking a group. As we proceeded we received some small arms and MG fire directed at us. This fire pinned down some of the men and caused the men to become strung out. I therefore sent Sgt (Nicholas J.) Prokop back to round up the stragglers; while fulfilling this duty, Sgt Prokop was killed. T/Sgt McFadyen was receiving more fire and had less cover on his side of the road, and therefore crossed his men on my side of the road into the ditch. We then proceeded on with approximately twelve (12) men to the bank of railway tracks at the Rheinberg Station.
Here we began to receive more MG and small arms fire than previously, and though I could not spot the location, we heard the nearby fire of an AT gun (this gun was later located by a building in the street). During this time, all but one of the approximately five (5) tanks which started with us were knocked out. This final tank cut across the edge of the field parallel to the RR tracks, and when turning into the road to cross the tracks into Rheinberg was knocked out. Captain (Arthur C.) Erdman was thrown clear of the tank and we were able to get him behind the cover of the ditch, but the remaining crew were either killed instantly or died by burning in a very few minutes. At about this time, we noticed several grenades thrown from the far side of the track; these grenades fell short of our position (after we had evacuated one landed in our ditch). At this time Major Gurney worked his way up to us, and when I had explained the situation to him, we agreed that we had better pull back.
Two (2) of the men carried Captain Erdman back through MG fire and small arms fire, while the rest of us crawled back to the building. Pvt Cook was badly wounded and later died during this withdrawal. While reorganizing in the courtyard behind the house Major Gurney was badly hit in the back and had to be pulled into the safety of the building. With those badly wounded men on my hands and receiving fire on all sides of the building I felt that I had no alternative but to barricade myself inside the warehouse and await developments.
The warehouse had no basement but by pilling cement bags , we were able to effect a fairly substantial defense. At this time a German soldier and a German Medic walked into the courtyard looking for German wounded. We took them both prisoners, and taking a long chance I dispatched S/Sgt Burney of Company C with the medic and his flag back down the road to contact our battalion (I later learned that they got through safely walking right by men who were pinned down). We learned from the other prisoners, whom we held with us, that there were approximately sixty (60) Germans and five (5) Panzerfausts across the tracks from us and that they had orders to remain in place at all costs. (We were not able to establish the authenticity of this report). This was at about 1730.
After dark I dispatched another man to the battalion, explaining our situation and asking for a patrol to bring first aid. (I later learned that this man also got through and a patrol was dispatched but could not locate us). During the night Pvt Cook died. The following morning I left the warehouse to lood around and found a 1/4 ton which had been hit by AT weapon and a badly injured officer. T/Sgt McFadyen and I went out and carried him to the edge of the road. We drew no fire and shortly afterwards two (2) German women told us that the Americans had entered Rheinberg from the other end of town during the night. At about this time Captain Stone of the 88th Rcn Sqdn drove up in his 1/4 ton and we were able to call for an ambulance over this radio. This was about 1000 6 March 45.
I believe that this small force by reaching the outskirts of Rheinberg became the most forward element of CCB during this particular phase of the operation.
| 
