INTERVIEW

1st Lt. Walter A. J. Martens, CO, Troop C, 88th Rcn. Sqdrn. and 1st Sgt. Jack V. Sterling, 1600 hours 15 March, at Glabbach, Germany to Lt. Carroll G. Kitts, Historical Reporter.

Troop C joined Combat Command R in Montfort (748824) at 1215 hours 19 February. The first, second and third platoon were attached to A, B and C Companies respectively of the 58th Armored Infantry Bn. for patrol duty. On the 23d the first platoon sent a patrol into the area southeast of Linne to (747856). The houses there were cleared later in the day by Company C, 58th AIB.

During the attack on the 26th of February by the 58th AIB on the line Merum - Heide Woods - Hoverenbol Woods, C Troop supported the attacking forces by fire from positions along the road running northwest - southeast from 753849 - 774840.

C Troop left Linne at 0400 hours 28 Feb. and crossed the Roer at Hilfarth at 2000 hours the same day. C Troop was the leading elements of CCR and was a part of Task Force No. 1. They spent the night of the 28th and the 1st of March in Wegberg. On the 1st of March the first platoon was assigned to Task Force No. 1 and the second platoon to Task Force No. 2, the remainder of the troop in reserve.

On the 2d of March, Task Force No. 1 marched north through Rickelrath - Waldniel - Amern St. Georg - Boishiem - Lobberich into Grefrath. The first platoon guarded the bridge east of Grefrath at 043056 throughout the night of 2 March.

On 3 March Task Force No. 1 moved out to the northeast through Mulhausen and into Kempen. They then moved northeast into St. Hubert and Tonisberg. C Troop was pulled back the evening of the 3d to Niederfeld (041073). On the 4th Troop C was given the mission of combing the area north of Niederfeld for slave labor and for prisoners.

At 2200 hours on the 5th of March Troop C was detached from CCR and received orders to rejoin the 88th Rcn. Squdrn. in Stenden immediately. Upon receipt of these orders they marched from Niederfeld to Kempen north into Vosch to cross-roads at 087153 then southeast into Stenden, arriving there at 0200 hours 6 March. Upon arriving at Squadron Headquarters they were given the mission of clearing all enemy forces out of the pocket bounded by the Rhine River and the Alter Rhine.

Troop C moved out at 0430 hours 6 March with one platoon of light tanks from Company F, 88th Rcn. Squdrn, and the 2d platoon succeeded in getting patrols to the Rhine River at 245312 and established an outpost there. The balance of the platoon withdrew into Budberg - Eversael. The 3d platoon operating on the right of the 2d was met by fire southeast of point 245312 and was forced to withdraw to Hocht (252298). The platoon of tanks in support of the 2d and 3d platoons was called up to neutralize the enemy guns. The tanks knocked out one AT gun and in the ensuing action 37 prisoners were taken by the 3d platoon of C Troop.

On the 7th of March orders from squadron headquarters were received shifting the zone of operation of C Troop to the northwest and assigning responsibility of the 3d platoon's zone to D Troop, 88th Rcn. Squdrn. At 0800 hours that morning Troop C moved out into its new zone with the 1st and 3d platoon abreast and with the 2d platoon in reserve. By 1230 hours they had advanced as far as point 225364 where the 1st platoon was met by heavy fire and was forced to take cover. The 3d platoon swung around to the left and began clearing the enemy from the orchard at 318298. The 2d platoon was then committed on the left of the 3d and captured 12 prisoners west of the orchard. The 3d platoon relieved the pressure from the 2d and together they finished mopping up the orchard and took 41 prisoners, three of whom were officers. They knocked out one half-track, one 6 x 6, one machine gun nest and captured one half-track intact.

As darkness fell they outposted the west edge of the orchard and at 0315 hours the morning of the 8th they were relieved by elements of the 75th Infantry Division and Troop C marched back to Glabbach arriving there the evening of the 8th.