March 27th was an important date for many of us for it was on this date that we crossed the Rhine. Because of a heavy fog, the river could not be seen at more than fifty yards. As the column approached the pontoon bridge every neck was craned to get a better view of the world famous Rhine. An engineer, proud of his work, stood directing traffic across the bridge. A few characters were heard to remark upon reaching the opposite bank, "Veni, Vidi, Vici," as one famous soldier had said upon crossing another river long before this time.

Several hundred yards from the Rhine, the column passed through a town which had been in the area shelled preparatory to the initial 'crossing of the river. It ceased to be a town but was a large heap of debris. We halted a few miles from the banks of the Rhine in a open field scarred by mortar and artillery rounds. The vehicles having been properly dispersed, the company proceeded to the kitchen truck where the cooks had prepared something hot and ready to serve.

The stay here was short lived as the billeting party returned with news of a bivouac area in a nearby woods. Things hadn't been cool too long in this area as evidenced by a few Kraut corpses and rain filled discarded American Helmets.

The outfit reached the wooded area and dug in for some speculated incoming Artillery. It was rumored that we would move out that night when Captain Carder left for a meeting at Battalion Headquarters but he returned with news that CCB was in reserve for the coming operation, one in which the 8th was to drive deep into enemy territory, spearheading the attack. 'A' Company was to be in the reserve of the Forty-Ninth. Orders were issued for all to bed down, so practically everyone crawled into a foxhole boudoir and hit the sack.

Much to the relief of all there was no artillery that night, and Joes awoke the next morning to find things just as they had left them. An early breakfast was served and the company was ready to roll at 0700 hours. At 0900 the reserve moved into position approximately five miles behind CCR. Here the Company encamped in some woods alongside the road and proceeded to select suitable places to unroll the sack. The sacks were stretched scarcely long enough to press in new creases when the platoon runners were dispatched with orders for the company to prepare to move out within thirty minutes. In less than fifteen minutes the company was wide awake and mounted up for the next movement.

This strategic move placed CCB directly behind CCA and west of CCR. The Forty-Ninth Infantry Battalion was detached from CCB with the operational mission of lending support to CCA, now assaulting Dorsten. The Forty-Ninth arrived at its assembly area at approximately 0430 hours on the 29th of March. 'A' Company crossed the line of departure at 1000 hours and proceeded to Dorsten. The line platoons moved out on foot and entered the objective at 1230 hours. Overhead time fire was encountered en-route, however, no casualties were sustained. The 49th maintained defensive positions and was ready to aid CCA, but was not called upon for assistance.

On Good Friday, company vehicles plus trains, moved into positions at Dorsten. Our mission here was to protect an engineer unit bridging the canal that formed one of the phase lines in entering the town. At 2300 doughs of the 75th assumed command in this area and took over the newly gained territory, while Lt. Col. Roseborough moved his Battalion back to its former position with CCB.

The next stop was Gladbach approximately three hours after we had left Dorsten. Here 'A' Company was billeted at 0100 March 31st in houses outside the city which was unaffected by the bombing. At 0800 hours of the Saturday before Easter, the Company received a one hour alert. CCB was to move through CCR and take its place on the line. Not until 1615 hours did we receive the order to mount up. The command came just as chow was being served and everyone, especially the cooks and K.P:s hurriedly made ready to move. At 1700 hours the column departed from Gladbach and stopped near Recklinghausen. The halt here lasted a few hours and the chain of vehicles started moving again. Destination - - - Selm.

At 0800 Easter Sunday 1945 'A" Company arrived at Selm. It had been a long tiresome trip and the company wasted little time in getting to sleep in the houses which the billeting party had acquired. T/5 Jenkins passed word that Easter Services would be held and transportation available to take those interested to the area where the chaplain had set up facilities in a barn. Immediately after supper we were alerted and at 1930 hours Task Force Roseborough was on its way - - - objective the Elbe River and Berlin.

Moving out as Battalion reserve, our column traveled until 0100 hours when we stopped for several hours along the roadside. Before daylight we moved out again meeting no opposition. At 1000 hours the advance units of the column were fired upon and orders were to double the column until we arrived at a position near the Battalion forward C.P. From there our assigned mission a dismounted attack on Neuhaus.

At 1900 hours, the 2nd of April, the company less the A.T. platoon, jumped off to the attack. Here the 2nd and 3rd platoons were one line with the 1st platoon supporting. Approaching the town we moved in a single column along the right side of the road. Then about six hundred yards from Neuhaus we entered a large ditch off the road and kept moving forward with this ditch affording protection against accurate sniper fire on our right. At this point S/Sgt. Gillcrist's squad which was dispatched to the right for flank protection, quickly located and destroyed the snipers nest, thus enabling the column to move again unharassed. After advancing approximately one fourth mile we made a right flank movement and swept across an open field in on open squad column formation. Each farm house we came upon was searched and cleared of soldiers. Again advancing, we crossed one more open field and proceeded along the highway leading into Neuhaus. Along the right side of this highway were several houses to be cleared. A squad was sent into each one while the remaining group acted as a covering force. The search was fruitful, producing twenty-four prisoners. However, two of the Heinies did not enjoy our company and tried to make a break - - they were quickly air conditioned with thirty caliber holes.