The expectancy of combat soon wore off and after out-posts were established the company settled down to try and make our cramped quarters as livable as possible. This was complicated by the fact that the temperature remained below freezing nearly all the time and several inches of snow covered every thing. The maintenance crew continued checking and repairing vehicles, taking time out only to warm their fingers when they became numb. The assault gun platoon turned their M8 carriers in to Ordnance and received new M4 A3 tanks carrying 105 mm. howitzers. T/4 Roberts, our tank mechanic, had to check and prepare them for operation. The new tanks also carried '528' radios which were new to the crews and Sgt. Bebb instructed them in the use of these. He experienced considerable trouble with wire communications during our stay as the telephone lines both to battalion headquarters and our outposts were cut several times, mainly by careless members of the rifle companies.

The kitchen crew's task was made difficult by the fact that water was available only at a distant water point. Bob Pfiffner made daily trips for water, using either truck at hand, but due to road conditions and congestion at the water point the supply always remained critical.

M. L. Smith of the kitchen staff discovered a new form of morning exercise - that of tossing a Reigel mine the length of the kitchen. Lt. Kaposta, who witnessed the feat, is said to have acquired several gray hairs at the sight. Happy to state, the mine was not armed.

We received orders to paint all vehicles and steel helmets with carbide paint as winter camouflage. This was mixed and applied under trying conditions, as the maintenance section had to heat water to mix the paint and use blowtorches to heat the sides of the vehicles before the paint would stick. This operation was carried out twice on both vehicles and helmets before it won the approval of the battalion staff. Our C P tent was also given a coat by Bob Pfiffner, 'Dakota' Smith and Dennis Regan.

The fact that the assault gun platoon was short handed after getting the larger guns led to Pvt. Orga being transferred to their ammunition section. 'Heggy' was billeted with battalion headquarters during our stay and acted as runner and battalion guard.

After many rumors and one 'dry run' we finally received orders to move out and left Louvigny on February 2nd, heading for Holland where we were to become part of the Ninth Army.

The early part of our trip was on extremely slippery roads and the maintenance crew was busy getting vehicles out of the ditches. After a long trip through northern France, Luxembourg, and Holland, we finally reached our destination the following day and bivouaced in an apple orchard just outside Sibbe, Holland. With the combined effort of the administrative and maintenance sections we erected our C P tent and camouflaged our vehicles. We spent the night in the mud underneath the stars and V bomb flashes. No one slept very soundly. The next day arrangements were completed for billets in the village and we very thankfully moved in.

There was no snow here so the first task at hand was to remove the carbide winter camouflage from vehicles and helmets. This was done with many bitter remarks and much scraping. Our battalion was under strength due to accident, sickness, and T. O. changes and we received re-enforcements on February 14. Pvt. John Long was assigned to our section to assist with the office work and to alternate with Sgt. Bebb and 'Heggy' on the radio. Preparation for combat went forward as usual with the maintenance and repair of vehicles, signal equipment, and armament.

Here one of Sgt. Farley's major engagements of the campaign (known as the Second battle of the 'Bulge') look place when he was attacked in his bed by a brutal mouse. After much enthusiastic encouragement from Sgt. Joe, Bebb, Pfiffner, Goodyear and Long, who shared the room with him, the First achieved a victory and the mouse was forced to make a strategic withdrawal.

Time off was taken for a trip through the famous caves of Valkenburg and also for shower convoys to a nearby coal mine, both of which were enjoyable after our winter activities. We awaited word to move out anxiously, as we knew our next move would be to the front. Finally it came 'Be ready to move at 1800'. After the usual scurry of preparation, loading personal equipment and records, reeling up telephone wire, etc., we were all set. Then came word the move was canceled. This procedure was repeated three days in succession, much to the irritation of Sgt. Bebb, who after wearing out a reel of field wire putting it up and taking it down finally gave up in disgust, we at last departed from Sibbe on February 21 and marched to Reutje, Holland, where leading elements of the battalion made contact with the enemy.