INTERVIEW

1st Lt. Ralph J. Elias, 2nd Platoon Leader, Company C, 58th Armored Infantry Battalion, 1100 hours 11 March 1945, Grefrath, Germany, to Lt. Kitts.

The patrol by Sgt. Fred Hamel, squad leader, 3d platoon, Company C, 58th AIB was made on the night of the 24th, not the 25th. He went out on patrol at 0100 hours 25 February and returned at 0500 hours 25 February. There was a one day interval between his patrol and the jump-off by the 58th AIB.

(It should be noted that this is at variance with the statement made by Capt. Malarkey, CO, Company C, 58th AIB; it is the opinion of the historical reporter however, that the statement by the company commander is the more reliable because he accompanied Sgt. Hamel at a distance of 200 yards and even adjusted artillery fire to relieve him when he was pinned down by enemy machine gun fire. Moreover, Capt. Malarkey stated that the patrol returned a bare half-hour before the company jumped off for its attack.)

Lt. Elias further stated that after his platoon jumped off, they passed through five rows of concertina and if they were mined, booby-trapped or equipped with flares, it did not come to his attention because no member of his platoon had that sort of trouble. His platoon reached the factory at 0630 hours 26 February. There was no opposition north of Merum in the sector covered by the 1st and 2nd platoons. The 3d platoon did experience difficulty due to well-emplaced enemy machine guns in making its way up to the line held by the 1st and 2nd platoon and only succeeded in arriving there at 1200 hours 26 February.