Instead of billeting that night as was planned, we slept in a field with excitement furnished by Adolf's flying bombs. After a day long wait in the rain the company was billeted in barns or houses in the tiny Dutch town of Sibbe.

Sibbe was actually the first town on the continent in which we had the opportunity to meet and associate with the residents. Our first days there were spent in complete relaxation, in fact, the entire stay in Sibbe was marked by a minimum of work.

The Dutch were extremely friendly and we fully welcomed this new friendship. During the evenings there, many of us spent memorable hours as guests of these people. Though their belts were tightened to the limit, there was always a piece of pie or apples for their guests. Cigarettes were extremely precious in Sibbe and a common practice among the children was to come to us during the day to trade apples for cigarettes. Our S. S. O. came through with some movies, but most of us had a tour of guard each night and spent our free minutes writing or visiting. Several times each week convoys made trips to nearby Sittard which had excellent shower facilities, thus enabling us to enjoy more than a steel helmet rinse. On one occasion the ever welcome Red Cross Clubmobile paid us an afternoon visit. Needless to say, we enjoyed the food, music, and a few words with the irreplaceable American women.

On the 17th of February, we realized that our stay was about at an end. Captain King and platoon leaders made a reconnaissance of a forward enemy, area which had been designated as our first battle objective. Non-corn's were the next to go to the front to get a quick look at the terrain and situation in the area of our objective. Plans were made and the platoons were given final instructions as to their mission and sectors of battle. Everyone was tense; we were ready; this was it!

Like punching a hole in an inflated balloon, we were given a twenty-four hour delay after all was in readiness for combat. Orders on the evening of 20th of February, were to move out at 0700 hours, 21st of February, however, after the few twenty-four hour delays that we had experienced everyone expected the order to be delayed again before H-hour.

As planned, a few hours before daylight the company was awakened, and began rolling the 'sacks' for stowage. There was the customary hustle and bustle of moving despite the previous dry runs. 'Chow' was sounded, and breakfast, was served in record time long before dawn. No one but those with flashlights had any idea what was served that morning. As some rechecked the area for anything left behind, the vehicles moved onto the road in battle order. By this time more than half of the little village was up to see us off. As we awaited the final order, more and more of our Dutch friends came to bid us farewell. They came with apples, cookies, and saddened hearts as they waved good-bye.

This was one of our shortest trips but for the first time most of the men began to acquire a realization of war. As we moved into a frontline sector, we passed countless houses and buildings destroyed by artillery and bombing. Grim signs warned those entering roads that they were being watched by enemy artillery observers. The scorched hulls of derelict tanks and the twisted frames of peeps alongside the road was evidence of their accuracy. At noon we entered the town of Posterholt, a small town which had been ravaged by artillery, leaving only a few houses there intact.

Here 'A' Company was separated from her mother outfit, the 49th A. I. B, and attached to the 36th Tank Battalion. This battalion, with 'A' Company relieved an element of the British 7th Armored Division holding the town. Almost immediately upon arrival the tanks were placed in strategic dug-in positions around the town.

Our first day here was spent in acquiring billets and placing guard positions in a perimeter fashion. Our stay in Posterholt was marked by a series of dress rehearsals In which all the long arduous months of training were put to test. The first platoon raised the curtain by sending a squad led by Sgt. Schaub on a reconnaissance patrol. Mission of this first patrol was to determine enemy positions, and to investigate a minefield reported on the approaches of the enemy held village.