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Tom Bailey's WWII Memoirs
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The Christmas Tree - Kalterherberg, Germany.
December 16th - Start of the Bulge!!
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| In Liege on the outskirts of Camp, I was walking somewhere when a 2-1/2 ton truck pulled up driven by Joe Simons, he yelled "come on, lets go, we gotta go finish the war" (typical statement from him.) |
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T/4 James B.Quillin and T/5 JosephF. Simmons
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| I had to jump in the back, Quillin and another were up front. |
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| HQ. Reconnaissance was south of the X |
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| I found out we were headed (volunteered to go) towards the front to pick up some radar equipment (it was about 35 mile trip,) left behind by a recon from H.Q. They had been doing recon to find a sight on the front lines to shoot down the V-1 missiles before they reached Liege. The plan was to use the Germans own weapon against them, this never transpired, as we soon found out the German offensive was beginning. |
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| We crossed a bridge, heading northeast; it was a narrow dirt road with some snow on it. Simon took us to the equipment; witch was in the yard of a farmhouse. There was a constant incoming artillery barrage, extremely loud, landing somewhere over our heads to the northwest. At that point there were no infantry in sight. There was a large hill with trees further up the road, obstructing our view of anything further then a couple hundred yards. There were some wood boxes along with a dolly. |
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| I left the others to load up the truck deciding to look around the house for equipment. I entered the back porch finding Christmas tree trimmings and an axe. I quickly looked in the house as far as the kitchen, finding nothing. I grabbed the trimmings and axe set the trimmings by the truck and headed out to get us a Christmas tree. The others had already finished with the loading of the equipment. I chose a tree out of some that were off to the side of the house. While I was cutting, the artillery barrage intensified, erupting with a horrendous noise, unlike I ever heard before. There was a few words exchanged that were not pleasantly put to the affect of me hurrying, before I was left behind. I quickly finished and threw the tree in the back of the truck, jumping in as it was pulling away. While pulling away I could see the German troops beginning their advance, there were at least 3 dozen inf. and a mechanized vehicle I believe a tank coming down the hill only maybe 80yds. away. |
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| This would be the area directly behind the driveway of the house where a road ran parallel with the house. Simons sped off retracing our path, at around 100yds. away we found G.I.'s half dug in all along the sides of the road, about every 10 to 15 ft. They were armed with machine guns, rifles, bazookas, B.A.R.'s, anything you could think of. I can still see the face of one guy, he looked extremely concerned. It suddenly became evident how serious the situation had turned. Further down the road, some how, good old Simons took a wrong turn and headed us right back into the front lines. |
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| At just a short distance further we came to a Y in the road, he stopped, because there were 4 burning American vehicles, 2 blocking each road with 11 dead G. I's lying sporadically around the vehicles. Down each road about 150yds. off were advancing columns of panzer tanks! The center field had roughly 20 advancing German infantry some as close as 75 yards. On the right fork of the road, along the ditch were 10 to 15 G.I.'s dug in with the largest weapon being a bazooka. Behind us, off the road at the fork, (as to shoot down either direction) was a camouflaged Sherman tank. About then the tank hatch flew open and a very disturbed tank commander said "GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY, YOUR BLOCKING MY SHOT!" |
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| Almost simultaneously an inf. Lt. (or Sgt.) yelled "WHERE THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR GOING!" |
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| I remember thinking do I jump out and help or do I shoot from here? I decided if I did we were history. Should I lye down to hide, wouldn't help, I'd still be dead. So I grabbed the tree and stood up holding it erect over my head with one hand. There was nothing left to do, they had us if they wanted. For some damned reason no one fired! (I’ve often wondered if it's because of the Germans inventing the Christmas tree?) |
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| About that time Simons floored the truck backing up, bouncing the dolly into the air, as it was pivoted. He spun us back the direction we came. Upon finding are way back to the bridge, we were stopped by G.I.'s (engineers?) who had a pile of ammunition piled on a small side road to the right if the bridge. They asked if we wanted any, as they were blowing the bridge after we crossed. I remember realizing that they knew they were going to be over run. I to this day wonder what became of those soldiers. I've always had the impression that they were wiped out. |
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| -We returned to the 143rd (early morning) to find the whole Battalion in a convoy, read y to move to where we had just been. This changed and every one was deployed back to their original positions in Liege. A few of us were sent on recon, (see stories, Hand to hand combat and The sniper) |
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| December 17, 44 - Upon return to the Battalion (in convoy form) a small group of us was sent to Elsenborn to find where the 18th AAA was located. The 18th was evacuating to the rear in the face of the offensive. (See hand-to-hand combat) Orders changed to " back to original positions in Liege." |
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| M-1 |
Hand to Hand Combat, December 17th, Close to Elsenborn
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| Upon returning to Battalion from recon (Myself, Quillin, Lawson and Simons were retrieving radar equip) we found the entire 143rd ready to march lined up in one long convoy. |
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| The orders were soon changed as a result of finding out of the German advance. The Batteries were sent back to original locations. Around 20 of us were sent towards Elsenborn, to find, if my memory is correct, the 18th AAA. Along the way we were told to dig in (not finding the 18th AAA., they were evacuating in the face of the German offensive) This was done in frozen ground and wasn't accomplished very easy. What to our surprise, as we were digging in and dawn was arriving, the area was also occupied with Germans. I was on all fours attempting to dig in when we noticed Germans digging in also. I shot as I came up hitting my targets, the first two shots hit the chests of two Germans in close proximity. Return fire resulted in me jumping into a ditch to the right of me. |
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| As I landed, I found a machine gun jammed into the left side of my stomach. My right hand was holding my M-1 at the trigger. The German hesitated giving me enough time to sweep my left hand in a backwards motion knocking the machine gun away, simultaneously bringing up the M-1 and firing hitting him in the chest (I can still remember his face, he seemed to be in his early 30;s.) I heard a couple more shots being fired. The Germans retreated, as well as us about 50ft. back to the truck and shortly there after left back to the outfit. Sometime afterward I was involved in recon with a Sgt (mess Sgt. I believe, somewhat odd,) in again locating the 18th AAA.(?) I remember the Sgt. new where to find them. ( After research we believe that this most likely was the German Paratroopers ( Falshimjager) as there was not any elements this point West on the 17th. |
17th December - New orders
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| - We are now anti-mechanism southeast of Liege " immediately." Recon left within a half hour reported to 11th AAA in hotel in Aywaille for Battalion mission. Battalion given 4 rd. nets to cover AT ALL COSTS!! Quick recon, main column met within three hours. Clearing present operational sites by 1430 hrs. on the 18th. Batt. A - Highway N-15 past Werbomont to Manhay then N.E. to positions in Stoumont. Batt. B - Habiemont just east of Werbomont. Three Recon members killed, cut off by blown bridge. They were told that the Bridge was to be blown, and to proceed at own risk. |
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| Emergency positions used, night recon, guns placed astride N-23 west of Werbomont. Batt. C - Turned East and south of Aywaille in vicinity of Stoumont. - in connection with the 119th inf. of the 30th Div., defense of road net leading to Aywaille from east. First Battery to see tank action, 5 Tigers destroyed (See Battery C's History for action report.) Batt. D - Aywaille area Battery C.P. - Vicinity of Werbomont H.Q. - Advanced C.P. 400yrds. East of Werbomont on N-23 established liaisons with advanced elements of the 82nd airborne. (504th Para. Inf. Regt.) |
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| Remouchamps Aywaille, "D" Battery location . |
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| Battery emplacements |
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| Same route taken by Battalion, entering Werbomont |
The Sniper - 17 December - near Elsenborn
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| A Sgt. and myself on our own initiative, decided to go ahead to inform the 18th AAA (?) that we were available (90m.m. guns and men) to help stop the German threat coming at Isenborn. I believe he was a mess Sgt., I remember that he knew the way and I didn't. We arrived, reporting to a Col., he was elated to hear there was help available and stated "we need all the help we can get!" |
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| The Sgt. returned to retrieve our Battalion, I however decided to do a little scouting and see what we were up against. I, along with a 03 rifle with scope (I had stored in the jeep) headed east along a dirt road, carefully staying in the ditches and behind trees. At approximately 500 yards down the road I sighted the enemy. They were far enough away not to detect me. I slipped south of the road (down a ridge,). |
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| I was positioned high overlooking a field on a fairly steep hill containing sporadic trees and rock. In the field below (about 150 yards away) was a group of around 15 Germans. I while lying down, sighted in the one I thought to be in command (in a group of 4) I hit him in the head neck area, causing the other 3 to scatter. I moved around 10 ft. down, (essential incase the Germans had a accurate sniper) sighted in another, looking as if he were retrieving equipment of some sort, probable a weapon. I hit him square in the back (as he was facing the other way.) |
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| 03 Sringfield |
| I moved another 4 to 5 ft. further to the right and picked off another moving in to help the second victim, hit him square in the chest. I doubled back, and then up the ridge, snapped off two more shots hitting two more infantry. During this a German was yelling and pointing towards the hill. Germans were beginning to move into position up the hill (bringing up a machine gun,) a group of 5 fanned out. One reached the ridge below me; he was climbing the hill using his hands for balance on the ground. I pulled a knife in my right hand (I carried 3; 1 in my boot, 1 on my side and 1 up high on my back behind my right shoulder, they were Italian made, well balanced for throwing.) I rolled off the ridge, landing on the Germans back, with my left hand simultaneously knocking up his helmet and pushing down on his head, exposing the soft area between the head and neck. I cut his spinal cord. There wasn't much noise. |
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| I withdrew carefully but rapidly. I returned to the above ridge to retrieve the 03. and headed back. Along the road back, I heard to the north, the engines of a lot of tanks running. I reported the incident to the 18th (?) AAA Col. I remember there still wasn't much activity; neither his unit nor mine had arrived yet. |
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