Several staff officers joined Captain Carder at this time to help formulate the next attack. All at once the enemy let go with a terrific mortar barrage, inflicting several casualties. Up until this point Jerry had held back with his mortar but wasted no time when he dropped his concentration of about 40 rounds on us.

Soon we moved again continuing the attack with marching fire. During all this and previous action the tankers played a vital supporting role by pouring constant .50 and .30 caliber machine gun fire into the enemy, thus we had the Germans caught in a withering fire. Shortly before this afternoon action, the anti-tank platoon was called on to move to the 2nd platoon's left flank and protect it. The anti-tankers, fighting as riflemen, encountered heavy enemy fire, but their accurate counter fire soon made Jerry dig. Our constant fire started several small forest fires and the fury of the attack cost many German lives.

Close to 1700 hours we again stopped, reorganized and prepared for a final assault with the aid of two tanks. With several of our boys mounted on the tanks, we moved again, when after only a short advance a hidden German position lashed out with bazookas at our tanks. Quickly the tanks withdrew as they had no cover, but seeing themselves outnumbered, the Germans in the defensive position surrendered. During this last action Captain Clark of 'C' Company came up to observe our position and explained that his company was going to attack from another direction. Therefore, with darkness approaching, we moved to higher ground and dug in to hold our position for the night.

During the entire days action men from the 53rd Engineer Battalion, who had accompanied us solely to set booby traps in areas we had taken, fought side by side with our infantrymen. Their action was purely voluntary and they fought courageously and unhesitatingly all day. In addition, the engineers went forward, at dusk with a covering force of infantry to booby trap various areas to our front to help thwart, a possible enemy counter attack during the night.

After digging in, we spent the night on constant alert. Artillery and elements of Headquarters Company 81 MM mortar platoon threw intermittent harassing fire far to our front the entire night.

'C' Company was at hand to relieve us the next day at 1400 hours and we returned to Derenberg and much needed sleep. The action in the woods was highly successful and we personally killed or captured over a company of Germans.

Meanwhile the 1st platoon plus a platoon of tanks from 'B' Company of the 36th set up positions to protect the Battalion's flank. Although no major action took place, our outposts were attacked frequently by small patrols in search of food. One tank was damaged, but they suffered no casualties. Over thirty prisoners were captured, and six more were wounded when they attempted to come through a booby trapped road block.

The greatest percentage of the prisoners captured as well as all six that were wounded, were members of the "HITLER YOUTH". Most of them were between twelve and sixteen years old, and while it seemed cruel to turn them in as prisoners, they had done just as good a job firing panzerfausts, and burp guns as had their fathers and brothers. More than one of them told us that he was tired of fighting, and wanted to go home to mother.

On the 18th of April, a patrol, consisting of the 1st and 5th squads, advanced to the outskirts of Hineburg. Due to darkness they returned, and orders were received to prepare to attack at 0700 hours the next morning. On April 19th, the third and second platoons of 'A' Company plus one platoon of tanks departed the final protective line at 0800 hours after advancing several thousand yards the infantry dismounted from the tanks and the force deployed in the flat country before the town of Hineburg which was situated at the top of a hill. Here the element halted and tank gunners took range on the objective The two platoons moved out alone with artillery of the tanks on call.

With the 3rd and 5th squads leading, the first platoon advanced dismounted towards town from the right flank. At approximately fifty yards from the town they held up to await the company which was making a frontal attack. As soon as two forces made contact, they moved into town together.

At 1100 hours, after taking numerous prisoners on the outskirts of town, the first and third platoons joined. Then began the combing of the town for more of its hiding defenders. Having completed a satisfactory canvassing of the town and taking groups of prisoners, the company vehicles entered and met us in the town.

At 1600 hours 'A' Company plus two platoon of tanks left Hineburg to attack Blankenburg. At 1630 hours, squads dismounted and entered Blankenburg, Headquarters Town of General von Kesselring, 'bigwig' of the Nazi Party and chief organizer of defenses this side of the Rhine.

The tanks had been playing leap frog on the approaching roads to Blankenberg while supporting infantry secured the flanks. At the scheduled time the tanks and infantry entered the town executing the much strived coordination to a degree of perfection. Resistance was unorganized and constituted chiefly, a rear guard deployed for purposes of delaying the advancing column.

Blankenburg was the largest town we had taken, and required an entire day to clear of defenders and deserters who were hiding in cellars, attics, and sheds. During the day pistols, cameras, field glasses, and cognac were cheerfully accepted as gifts of 'friendship' from the subdued householders. By noon, half the battalion was driving abandoned cars with 'teen age recklessness. While we were in Blankenburg, Nazi General von Lucht and his staff were captured in their hideout. They had on them their final instructions from the big chief east of the Rhine -- von Kesselring, who just prior to our arrival had 'flown the coop'.