On 11th of April CCA finished passing through our positions and Task Farce Van Houten was withdrawn to Ostburen far a badly needed rest. It was a beautiful day and the men spent a restful afternoon doing "parks" and basking in the warm sun. We were alerted to move, but due to a change of plans spent the evening there.

The following morning we moved out an a new mission --- to hold the right flank of the 83rd Division. The approach march proved exceptionally hazardous at night because of steep, winding roads. We retraced our path to Werl, Soest, Paderbarn, to the north of Kassel, Gottingen, Detmold and Barnthum. We proceeded to cross the Weser River in the vicinity af Hameln by pontoon bridge, then continued on to Wolfenbuttle where we crossed the Fuse Canal.

On the evening of the 13th after an all night march we picked up a guide from the 88th Recon --- to take us to Westerhausen ta'relieve the 113th Cavalry. The guide got the company lost in Halberstadt. After clearing Halberstadt, the guide became so completely confused that he led the company within a few hundred yards of enemy held Quedlinburg.

After the most confused night in our history the Company Commander finally led the company back to Harslehen the 36th Tank Battalion C. P. The company achieved its objective with the second platoon an securing Boyrnecke to the east. Enemy patrols were known to be very active in this area. The defense of this town due to its sprawling nature and the near by woods, proved exceedingly difficult.

As usual everyone was quite put out over the prospects of digging foxholes for this new position. After a great deal of walking and digging that hot day, the men were delighted when same Italian laborers offered to dig holes far them. Jokingly, someone said that each man should have an orderly to do such jobs. One of the Italians, a barber, offered to give foxhole service. His offer was readily accepted.

On April 15th we moved to the new area and set up a skeleton defense with the aid of the tanks. The anti-tank platoon set up road blacks at Achadelehen; the second platoon was located at Winnigen, the third and headquarters were at Konigsaue. The first platoon was attached to A company of the 36th Tank Battalion at Ditfurt.

About 1000 badly starved allied prisoners of war were found in Shadchelen. The majority of them were English but there were also many Americans, Australians and French. They had been liberated by the 83th Infantry Division a few days prior to our arrival. This division had been advancing so rapidly that it was unable to give them much aid. A few days prior to our moving in after having been organized by a Captain of the Military Government, they had sustained an attack by fifty, armed S. S. Troopers. Many of the prisoners were found in a very critical condition and all were suffering from malnutrition and dysentery. The 36th Tank Battalion medics were kept busy evacuating the sick and caring for those to critically ill to be moved. We were told by other prisoners, and it was easily seen, that the Yanks had been treated very badly. Within a few days all of the prisoners of war were evacuated to rear area hospitals.

On April 17th while still attached to the tankers in Ditfurt, a machine gun squad had some unexpected action. Early in the day a small column consisting of one staff car, one small truck and one larger truck approached one of our road blocks. Several of the squad were close at hand when Harris saw the column approaching and called an alert. With several members waiting in ambush he halted the staff car which was leading the column. The car contained a Captain, Lieutenant and an enlisted man. They surrendered even though they were armed with pistols, rifles and a "burp" gun. The two trucks which were following at fifty yard intervals attempted to turn around and escape. Robb and Plath fired at the vehicles with their carbines, Harris opened up with the captured 'burp' gun. When the rest of the column stopped, the men tried to escape on foot. Two of the captured prisoners were killed while trying to escape. A halftrack brought up the rest of the machine gun squad. Tesmer and Strachman were left to guard the prisoners and the track continued on toward the enemy trucks. Plath covered the road with machine gun fire from the track. A search of the area revealed two women soldiers hiding in a near by ditch; they were carrying pistols. The vehicles were brought back to the platoon area. Plath was awarded the Bronze Star for his action during this engagement.

On the 18th orders were received to proceed to the woods in the vicinity of Heinburg. Here a battalion or more of German OCS troops were believed to be holding out. Their orders were to hold out to the end. Our mission was to clear this woods and to hold until further orders. It was a tough job. One of the officers told his men when

they were in the approach formation: 'We are going to make history today. We will move through to a clearing in the center of the woods where we will dig in to form a clover leaf defense. At 0900 the Air Corps will bomb and strafe the enemy held sector. The newsreel men will be here to record our action'. Our emotions were mixed as we moved into the woods. Surprisingly enough, we had no more trouble than the accidental discharge of a machine gun which wounded the gunner, McClure, in the hand.

We set up our defense in the woods with an OP on the south edge; enemy forces were digging in here and occasional sniper fire was encountered. Many patrols were sent into the woods and OP's were established on the trails and edges. When a great deal of firing occurred in the rear of our positions, the word was passed around that we were being counter-attacked from the rear. Consternation reigned among the few men left to protect this sector. It seemed that an entire battalion must be on the loose. When at last the truth came out that a large ammunition dump was being blown up all felt foolish -- and relieved.

The guard at night proved to be very strenuous. The night air was chilly and as each man pulled guard two hours on and two off, sleep was not easy. The darkness of the woods was appalling. Several Germans were captured while trying to infiltrate through our lines. They were told by their commander that they should go home to escape capture and possible labor in Russia. This announcement had a wonderful effect on us.

The Company was ordered on April 20th to move out on foot to high ground in the vicinity of Heinburg. After elements of the 88th Recon. had moved through and secured the south west edge of the woods overlooking Blankenburg, we proceeded on our approach march across open fields and over heavily wooded hills. We anxiously awaited our first contact with the enemy; it was evident that they were there because of the many emplacements, ammunition and supply dumps. Meeting the enemy proved to be nothing more than running into prisoners being sent back by the 88th. After clearing the woods, very tired and thirsty, we came upon what was evidently a small resort settlement -- to us a Shangri-La.

This settlement was our final line of departure so upon reaching it we were able to await final orders. The stress and strain of our approach on foot was relieved by this halt. The men began to search for food and drink. The civilians obliged with food, wine, champagne and liquor. We were all feeling much better by the time we had to move out. We couldn't help but notice the beauty of the Harz mountains and the surrounding forest. We were in a valley that had obviously been a resort for wealthy Germans. We admired their taste. One place appealed to us in particular. It was a modern summer home with a spacious terrace and screened in porch. The yard was beautifully landscaped with shrubs and flowers and set off by a large, wonderful swimming pool. It was a hot day and we were feeling very much like a swim as we wistfully eyed the cool, clear, tempting water.

The halftracks were brought up and we mounted to support the infantry and tanks in taking Blankenburg. We put them to good use in clearing a road block of several plastic mines. (Several prisoners taken en-route.) Our column had strung out along the highway to within a half mile of the town. The signal was given for the infantry to dismount. All ready the stream of prisoners had begun to pour in. Several groups came rushing down the road. They did not look very much like super-men.

By the time we entered Blankenburg late on the evening of the 20th all resistance was smashed. The central part of the city was a sea of flames. Each platoon was assigned a

zone of responsibility. We made our way through the central burning sector. Local firemen wearing steel helmets worked feverishly Local firemen wearing steel helmets worked feverishly to keep the fires under control. The wind was whipping the fire and sparks high into the sky. The entire town seemed in eminent danger. The operation was confused and contact between platoons was not made until morning.

The operation was a great success. General Fucht's Headquarters, several hundred prisoners and much equipment was captured. A great number of vehicles were found in running order. Much more equipment had been destroyed during several days of preparatory bombing and strafing.

On the 21st the third platoon occupied Cattenstadt to form contact with the First Army group, while the remainder of the company was established in Blankenburg.