INTERVIEW

(All references to coordinates herein contained are from 1:25,000 maps for this area).

Capt. John H. Chapman, CO, Troop A, 88th, Rcn, Squdrn., 1030 hours 16 March'45, Louisenberg, Germany, to Lt. Kitts.

Troop A was attached to CCR at 1600 hours 25 February. These orders were received in Stevensweerd. At 0315 hours 26 February Troop A left Stevensweerd and arrived one mile southeast of Montfort at 0430 hours. The platoons of Troop A were employed as follows: the 1st and 2d platoons as right flank security for CCR northwest of Montfort and the 3d platoon and headquarters in the assembly area one mile southeast of Montfort.

At 1200 hours 27 February Troop A was detached from CCR and attached to CCA at 1300 hours. Troop A left the assembly area at 1400 hours and arrived to Golkrath at 1800 hours. The 3d platoon was sent out to reconnoiter the road to Tuschenbroich and encountered a road-block on the road and returned to the troop CP. The 1st platoon was sent to reconnoiter the road to Merbeck and likewise encountered a road-block and returned to the troop CP.

At 0015 hours 28 February the troop left Golkrath and marched on Wegberg arriving there at 0145 hours. The 3d platoon was sent out with the mission of securing the crossroads northwest of Merbeck at 955899. This mission was not accomplished due to a bridge blown at 954898. This patrol returned to the troop CP. The 1st platoon was sent out on a mission to reconnoiter a by-pass to Luttelfort (975885). The 1st platoon was met by small-arms fire east of Luttelfort and withdrew. During the evening a 20-man patrol from the 1st platoon was sent out to secure the road junction north of Luttelfort and the mission was accomplished by that patrol.

The 2d platoon was sent out on a mounted patrol consisting of two 1/4 tons on the road northeast of Merbeck to find out whether the enemy was there. Just northeast of Merbeck the patrol was met by small-arms fire and also mortar fire and one peep was knocked out. Armored cars and tanks from CCA were requested and under cover of their fire the remainder of the patrol was evacuated.

On the 1st of March the 1st platoon was sent out to patrol the road between Luttelfort and Waldniel and contacted no enemy. Thereupon the 3d platoon sent a six-man patrol into Waldniel and made contact with elements of the 84th Infantry Division there. Troop A was re-assembled and with the 2d platoon leading advanced into Waldniel, thence into Amern St.Georg where there were enemy present but they surrendered without a fight. Troop A then advanced into Boisheim - Dilkrath - to south of Lobberich where the 2d platoon encountered a road block covered by small-arms and bazooka fire. Two men went out to examine the road block and were pinned down by small-arms and were evacuated under cover of fire by two armored cars. Darkness overtook them and the troop was stopped south of Flothend (986999).

On the 2d of March Lobberich was taken against slight resistance. With the 3d platoon of Troop A in the lead, CCA advanced into Hinsbock - Gladbach - Harsbeck and found these towns clear except for stragglers. From there Troop A advanced to Wankum thence to Wachtendonk where they were met by small-arms, mortar and bazooka fire at 1400 hours. Tanks from Company A, 18th Tank Bn. and infantry from the 7th AIB were called up and together advanced into the town and broke up the defense. Troop A returned to Wankum for the night.

On the 3d of March, Troop A rested in Wankum. The following day they moved to Wachtendonk and arrived there at 0800 hours. On 5 March they left Wachtendonk at 0745 hours and moved to Aldekerk without encountering the enemy. They arrived there at 1030 hours. On the 6th they left Aldekerk at 0630 hours and moved to Linfort. Here they received orders relieving them from attachment to Task Force Goodrich (CCA) and were assigned back to the 88th Rcn. Squdrn. with the mission of assisting in the clearance of the area bound by the line Ossenberg - Rheinberg - Budberg - Orsey and the Rhine River.

Troop A left Linfort at 1150 hours and arrived in Orsey at 1300 hours. At 1530 hours Orsey was subjected to heavy artillery fire by the enemy firing from across the Rhine and Troop A moved northeast and established its CP in Driessen (262273). At 2000 hours they withdrew to the southeast to Plank (254260) and left the 3d platoon in Driesson, west of Orsey, as an outpost.

On the 7th of March there was no activity except for scattered enemy patrols which were quickly driven back across the Rhine or captured as soon as they were sighted. On the 8th of March, Troop A left Plank at 1015 hours when they were relieved by elements of the 75th Infantry Division and marched to Broekhuysen (976134). They arrived there at 1315 hours. Troop A left Broekhuysen at 0815 hours and closed in Louisenberg (967097) in the division assembly area at 0840 hours.