INTERVIEW

TROOP DIARY - TROOP B, 88TH CAVALRY RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON (MECH)

Extracted By: 1st Lt. Howard L. Oleck, (Historical Officer)
At: Venlo, Holland, 1600 hrs, 16 March 1945

On February 18th 1945 we were officially operating as attached to CCB and on the 19th we submitted out first daily reports to CCB instead of to squadron.

Our mission was to proceed to Orsay on the Rhine. We were told we would meet opposition and this was no exaggeration. The convoy moved slowly with many stops and delays, over muddy, pitted and rutted roads, choked with vehicles passing and repassing. In the middle of the afternoon as we were approaching a village, we heard distant mortar fire. In no time at all we realized our route was the target. The rounds were falling in the middle of the town between some curves in the road which the convoy was following. This was the troops' first experience under fire while traveling in convoy. Vehicles of other units were often mixed in with ours during the constant passing and repassing. A half-track of the 49th Infantry, carrying twelve men, immediately in front of one of our supply half-tracks, was hit by a round of mortar. By a stroke of luck it hit the extreme front end of the vehicle destroying the wheel tire, axle and related parts, leaving the occupants in their section of the vehicle unharmed. Part of the flying debris cracked our supply half-track's windshield. Three other rounds fell close by during the two or three minute interval this section of the convoy was halted. Not one of our vehicles was hit and the rest of the march as made without similar incident.

The following morning, March 3d, we moved out and progressed a little farther to a town called Aldekerk. The first platoon as point and the third platoon as flank guard had moved on ahead and met with some opposition. The first platoon was the first unit of CCB to reach Aldekerk. The lead scout, Sgt. Harms, was shot at several times by snipers and the whole platoon returned fire with more or less accuracy. A number of prisoners were taken that day. Thus far most of the houses were flying white flags and the German soldiers encountered surrendered willingly.

The 4th of March found us still in Aldekerk, in a reserved position due to the rapid advance of infantry on our flanks, which wedged us out.

Thus far the troop had seemingly done well. The recon. platoon had performed their mission quickly, efficiently and without casualties and a number of prisoners had been taken. All during the night of the 3d heavy fire from positions about us was being poured into the part of Germany ahead of us. Many more tanks, heavy guns and vehicles rumbled on into this rapidly surrendering section. The lack of stiff resistance was amazing. One couldn't held wondering, and if so where, the enemy could be gathering or regrouping for some stiff defense. During the night of the fourth we were again put on the alert. The vehicles were stowed and equipment packed under cover of a particularly black night.

Here begins the account of our first real combat, it being where we suffered our first battle casualties. Our mission was to move out as part of a task force from the 35th Infantry Division with our first objective the town of Lintfort. This was to be taken if the opposition was light and bypassed if heavy and our next objective Rheinberg, be taken. We moved out from Aldekerk about 0400 hrs progressing slowly until about one and one half miles southwest of Lintfort where we were held up by a blown out bridge. After this was repaired, the advance guard, infantry and tank companies, went on to Lintfort. The first and third platoons followed in after them, passed through Lintfort and started to reconnoiter routes to Rheinberg from the south and southwest.

During this period the third platoon activity was illustrative of part of our troubles they had moved on toward Lintfort in the lead position after having furnished protection for the 53d Engineers while they rebuilt the blown-out bridge. After the town was taken by tanks and infantry, the platoon supported by the 809th Tds moved to the right of the town and on toward the next objective, Rheinberg. Just out of Lintfort they were engaged in a fight with German infantry which resulted in several of the enemy being killed and a dozen or so being captured. After this our men moved on and advanced ahead of the tanks until pinned down in an open fields by sniper, machine gun and burp gun fire from three sides. It was during this struggle Cpl. McConnell was shot and killed and Pvt. Caccia wounded. Several Germans were killed and some prisoners taken. The platoon then advanced a little beyond this point and stopped and waited along the road to Rheinberg.

In the meantime the first platoon was having its difficulties which resulted in most of our serious casualties. The first platoon had gone over with the third, the latter to give protection from the east, and the former from the south. The infantry and the tanks had gone forward to take Lintfort. The first platoon went through the town afterwards, drawing some sniper fire, and from here on ran into trouble. On the way out Sgt. Harms was hit twice by enemy fire, fortunately not seriously. All eight or ten Germans causing this trouble were shot. Shortly after this the platoon took several more prisoners and a number of German soldiers were shot.

Later in the day the troops started to assemble in the vicinity of Klein Bongardt. In moving here Major Van Houten called the first platoon to assist in evacuating some tank casualties. Lt. Ryan and Pfc. Buschmann made a dismounted reconnaissance of the area and found none alive. This was reported but it was insisted some were still there, so Lt. Ryan led his men back into the hot spot. It was here Lt. Ryan was hit. In attempting to get forward, his armored car had bogged down next to a burning tank. They were pinned down by machine gun fire. Lt. Ryan was killed almost instantly. Pfc. Kowalczyk was struck in the arm by a ricochet, and after this, loaded and fired his 37 three or four times by himself into the machine gun nest. Cpl. Healy under fire dismounted from his car, hooked the cable to Lt. Ryan's armored car, and pulled it loose, retuning the vehicle to the assembly area where Lt. Ryan was placed into an ambulance. As the platoon was attempting to reorganize it was found that Pfc Denend and Pvt. Marino were missing. They both had been shot in the leg. Cpl Healy went back and got them out. Later in the evening with some help from the second platoon and a tank from the 49th the first platoon captured some prisoners. The first platoon pulled back to reoganize and the third platoon was left as flank guard.

After this day, the toughest the troop had ever had, everyone was exhausted, dirty and sadly and realistically sober. Supply, which was back in Lintfort, brought up ammunition, gasoline and rations to the area where the troop was assembled. It was a grim and chilly night that followed. The vehicles were disbursed and arranged in a muddy field within a circle of tanks for protection and fire power. The guns on all vehicles were manned and the men got what little sleep they could in or near their vehicles.

The next day was comparatively quiet and the rest of the troop moved up to the point on the route to Rheinberg to which the third platoon had advanced. The kitchen moved up and fed the men a hot breakfast, considerably added to by dozens of confiscated German eggs. By night the troop was settled in and about several farm buildings and getting some much needed rest.

Supply had moved over near CCB S-4 in Lintfort to become familiar with sources of supply and to be replenished.

The next day, 7 Mar, found the balance of the troop still resting, supply spent the day collecting ammunition, gasoline, C and k rations and water and then moved out of town to join the troop on the road to Rheinberg. By nightfall the troop was again together for the first time in several days. What was to come next none if us knew. There were many rumors as to what had happened ahead of us along the Rhine and what our next mission was to be. Grim tales came back from the front as vehicles returning were halted temporarily where we rested. Tanks of the 36th had suffered severe casualties as had the 49th Inf. There was considerable artillery fire directed ahead of us, particularly at night. The day of the eight was spend in the same location and opportunity was given for supply to replace any article of clothing or equipment lost or destroyed in combat.

We remained in this assembly area outside of Rheinberg through March 9th and 10th. At midnight of the 10th we were relieved by the 75th Inf and on Sunday the 11th we moved out in quite a different direction form that expected by most of the men. We retraced some of our recent route when advancing, back through Aldekerk and finally arrived at Grefrath, Germany. Today finds us here resting and reorganizing.