Some additions and changes in personnel were made in the Troop during our stay in Heek. First Sergeant Newman was transferred to another troop and Sergeant Smith became our new First Sergeant. It was with regret that Sergeant Newman's many friends said goodbye. Sergeant Smith took over with his usual determination and one sensed that under him the Troop was in capable hands. We received seven new men as replacements for those we had lost one way or another, explained in earlier pages of this Diary.

Isolated incidences such as occasional German planes flying over, or news of nearby enemy fire or bombing, gradually impressed the men that step by step we were nearing the inevitable scene of war activity for which all had so long been preparing. In the immediate vicinity of Heek there was little or no evidence of actual combat having taken place, but one did not have to travel far to find towns and villages full of battered 'and destroyed buildings.

In nearby Heerlen, a city of some size, there were facilities for bathing, both in a public bath house and in showers for the coal miners. Needless to say whenever possible the men flocked to these places for much needed baths. Also time was given for the men to have laundry done.

February 18 to February 21

Often a reconnaissance troop, such as ours, is detached from the parent squadron and attached elsewhere for a special purpose or mission. This became our role and on February 18th we were officially operating as attached to CCB and on the 19th we submitted our first daily report to CCB instead of to Squadron. We had known that this would mean action of some kind and each man was again expectant. We were told that we would move out the following morning. All was prepared but by evening a message came saying there would be a 24 hour delay. Everyone took advantage of this chance to enjoy his last day's stay in the hospitable little village of Heek where we had been so warmly welcomed and kindly and generously treated. I believe every man in the Troop will remember Holland and its people with affection, appreciation and sympathy. This is in marked contrast with the impression made by the English, who seemed cold and indifferent. One admired English courage but felt little warmth or sympathy for them.

We arose at 0300 the morning of the 21st and at 0700 we moved out. This we knew was the beginning of that for which we had come overseas. It was not a great distance to our destination but because of congested traffic and bad roads the going was slow. We traveled near the German border and at one point, where Germany juts into Holland like a peninsula, we crossed enemy territory for the first time. Our destination was Posterholt, in Holland. The countryside and towns through which we passed had been scenes of considerable combat activity and there were grim reminders on all sides. Each man was impressed by the almost complete destruction of everything man-made in many of these border towns and villages. The sight of burned out American vehicles brought reality even closer and clearer.