Email to Andy Waskie, Jr. son of Lt. Andy Waskie.

This is Gale Black, 58th Armored Infantry Battalion, Company C

My memory of most of my service time in Germany has never remained with me. I became a member of the C company Machine Gun Squad around March 1945 or earlier in a large mining facility with troughs and where gravel or crushed rock were piled high and filled with dead German soldiers. It had been made up to be a replacement depot. I was asked if I wanted to go to tanks or riding infantry, so there I was a member for sure, and someone else will have to fill you in, because I can only remember very little, so here it is.

I remember crossing the Rhine river and the battles that Company C had, and the occupation of small German towns but I don't remember the names. We had to dig in along one of the most main supply routes to the pontoon bridges that were being built. After that crossing I remember carrying my rifle and maybe a can of machine gun ammo and I think it was the First rifle squad. On our way up to our first river crossing I was assigned with one other G.I. I don't remember his name, maybe Gary Wise.

One of my first battles, I was the last man in the machine gun squad to cross the road from one bunch of timber to another. But in the road, there was a downed tree about 4 ft in diameter, it was dawn and there was an artillery piece firing at us. The whole company had to run around the tree one by one, the rifle squad first and then the machine gunners. And being the last, the Lt. flagged my turn. Being tall and lanky I figured I would jump over the tree. So, I ran, made my leap and as my right foot touched the tree an artillery shell must have hit the bottom of the tree, exploded and blew me over. Luckily, I landed on the company side of the road. The Lt. grabbed me and pulled me under cover, just looked at me and said, 'Oh God'. But I wasn't touched. He ordered us to dig in and take a break.

My aunt had given me a New Testament when I had left Miami. OK. She said I would need God sometime and He was in the pages of this book. I didn't have time to read it, but I fingered through its pages trying to find God. But my aunt said just to call on God and He would help me. From that time on, all I remember from combat duty is the times He was watching over me.

I don't remember the names of the towns in Germany, I just remembered what happened to me. I don't remember my officer's names. I remember Pfc Gary Wise of my squad, the Half-track driver was Harold Stingley, a Corporal. I might also think of some more. Our half-track had the name Stingley on the door, after the driver.

The First rifle squad S/Sgt was George Dalusky and one his boys was "Cleveland" Joe Billiot. One of the other boys in my Machine gun squad was named James Simpson, and another one was Leo Frantz. (kia 4 April 45.) We were in a creek the day that Leo was killed. Same day in the same creek an NCO was injured in the lower hip. And Leo was killed right in front of me, I only remember coming out of that creek looking for help.

Gale C. Black, 29 May 2018