On Christmas Eve some of the 30th Infantry dough’s said they were going to send a patrol down to the Inn and drive the Germans out and bring back some cheese, bread, wine, etc., to our position so we could celebrate Christmas.  My Sherman’s 75mm and my .30 caliber machine gun were set up to control the narrow pathway into the valley below.  The dough’s and I made sure we were aware of the correct password for the night so they could come safely back through our check point.

As I remember, it was about two hours before the dough’s came back from the valley.  They not only came back with all kinds of food and drinks, but also brought up the In Keeper and his small daughter.  The Inn Keeper had been shot in both feet to prevent his escape and his small daughter had been shot in the hip.  The dough’s took him to our medics for treatment and transport to a hospital in Malmedy.

That is how I spent the cold but beautiful Christmas in Stavelot, December 25, 1944.  I looked up into the clear, cold sky and thought that my wife and 7-year-old daughter were able to see the same sky in Virginia.  I said a Christmas prayer that I, too, would be allowed to live through all of this and be able to return soon to Virginia to be with them once more.

"A" Company

743rd Tank Battalion

Campaigns

Battle of the Bulge,

Belgium