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Realizing a courageous company without enough trained men or equipment was no longer a potential striking power, we with the rest of the Combat Command were ordered to Venlo, Holland, a city forty five miles away to reorganize. This city was freed by the Americans only one week before, therefore affording us a cordial welcome. Flags of Holland were draped from the windows of every home as a token of freedom, But only the soldiers know what the price of this freedom cost. So naturally the good intended civilian smile seemed so hollow.

The length of our stay at Venlo, Holland was uncertain, depending on the situation up front. Not knowing when we'd be committed to combat again, we worked like beavers training the replacements and getting our tanks and equipment into A-1 condition. For many of us, this also presented us with an opportunity to take our first shower and make a complete change of clothing in four weeks.

Our stay in Venlo, Holland was shorter than we expected, for at 2345 hours on March 26th, 1945 we left this quiet Allied city to be committed in Germany again. The column moved all night, and by early morning we were in sight of the Rhine River. It was impressive to see the column of tanks streaming across the Rhine on a pontoon bridge built in the face of a determined enemy army only a day or so ago. This company crossed at 0600 hours.

We arrived at a small town named Vorde, Germany March 27th, 1945. The most outstanding incident here was the impressive Anti Aircraft fire against a few enemy bombers flying over. They were too high for our fire to have any effect; and didn't retaliate with bombs.

The next places we stopped at were Sruckhausen, 28th March, Kirckhellen, 29th March. In our drive deep into Germany, we reached Selm on the morning of April 1st, 1945. This was Easter Sunday and we were far from ready for any Easter Parade. The men were tired, dirty and unshaven from the continuous day and night traveling since we started the drive with the Ninth Army. Things were moving and changing so fast, we hardly knew the enemy position or the complete picture of the situation. But we did know our driving day and night was to keep the German Army from reorganizing, and to make as deep a thrust as possible. The Armored thrust was so fast, the town of Selm still had electricity and running water. All other towns previously taken, lacked both.

That night we were informed that the First and Ninth Armies had met, causing a large pocket of German soldiers in the Ruhr Valley. We left Selm that night at 2130 with a new mission - to clean out a sector in the Ruhr Valley. All that night and the next day, we traveled until we reached a position East of Delbruck at 1945 hours on April 2nd, 1945.

The battle of the Ruhr was on, we had the enemy in a trap and were now destined to eliminate them from the war entirely. We were now like a knife cutting a pie, surrounded, except for the route of supply. The outfit was always on the alert for counter attacks which if successful in cutting us off in the rear, could have resulted in us being trapped. Many times when confronted with how our flanks were exposed to the enemy, and ducking their shells, we'd jokingly ask each other, "I wonder who has whom trapped?" But I imagine there was serious thought to this question at times.

In our operations from towns to cities and villages, we'd marvel at the havoc wrought by the Air Corps weeks before on their large industries. Steel, coal, and oil plants were just tangled masses of bent steel girders. Factories miles square, were reduced to twisted steel junk yards.

The Ruhr with all its wealth through industries, was reflected in the German homes. They had an abundance of coal, sugar, jarred fruits and vegetables, and preserved meats. The homes were well furnished to include very fine linens, expensive furniture, fine silverware, and the wardrobes were packed with clothing. They had more than even they, with their high standard of living, could use. For many items were still sporting the purchasing label. These labels also showed the countries, where the goods were acquired. No doubt a good part of this wealth was loot, for they showed labels of German conquered countries.