This web page contains post-war accounts written by B/23 men.

6 September 1944 - Wednesday

• “On September the sixth we were assigned to a force mission to move into Metz. To get there we had several objectives to overcome, but the main objective was the well fortified city of Metz. We moved forward for some time and distance in vehicles and as darkness approached we moved on foot in single file leaving Koulos with some more men stationed behind at the main road as rear guard. ” (p. 29)

7 September 1944 - Thursday

• “Our mission now was to form a bridgehead across the Moselle River. Early the next morning [7 Sep?] the company dispersed and advanced toward Dornot. Enemy fire (small arm) opened on us and caught the men in a draw of a small forest. Buddin and some of his men stood in water up to their waist for a long time until they could withdraw. Huffman [Pfc. Guy R. Huffman of North Carolina, whose official date of death is 11 September 1944, although this account clearly places it on 7 September 1944.] was killed by machine gun fire, Golden Myers, Buddin, Sewell, Hauer, English, Owens, Picou, Fred Anderson and others were wounded. “Pop” Garner proved himself a hero during this time by rescuing two wounded buddies from artillery fire.

  Smith, (Walter G.) was wounded but helped to organize his squad before going back for medical treatment. Rain was beating down in our faces—we were tired and hungry but we moved on. The following day we suffered more casualties as we attempted to cross the bloody Moselle the second time. I raced from a point near the river to get transportation for Slawinski and Schreffler who were wounded while lying behind a small wheat shock; just as I reached the battalion aid station an 88mm. whizzed in and wrecked the building in which the aid station was located. ” (p. 29)

8 September 1944 - Friday

• “Oliveri [Pvt. Joseph Oliveri of Illinois, killed 8 September 1944.] was killed as we neared the river, Mac Lloyd, Ray Hayes, Kelly, Kellser, Gleason, Koulos, Frenchman, Wease, Kiedaisch, Cote, Wrhel, Hunt, Sutter, Mora and Oldham were injured along with others whose name I don’t have. We packed in small boats and used our rifle butts as paddles while crossing the river. I believe Henson [Pfc. Martin L. Henson of Illinois.] was shot through the neck on the way across.

  After reaching the other side we spread out quickly and advanced until we ran into some very heavy resistance that stopped us cold. A line of scrimmage was formed along with the Fifth Infantry Division Men and holes were dug fast and deep. Such a burst of fire we had never seen or known was showered on us. The sky was filled by day with our bombers in an attempt to locate enemy targets but they couldn’t be found. At night it was hell! The large trees were torn to shreds by the heavy artillery and so were our men. Hand grenades and bayonets were two chief weapons now and as the results men were falling fast on the right and left. Kalosky, Carroll and I were dug in near the bank of the river and “Shorty” Freed came and told us to round up all available men and go to another point on the main line of resistance left vacant by the men that were injured.” (p. 29)

Undated General Account

• “Our men were fighting side by side with the Fifth Division men, but were losing ground fast, practically all squad leaders were injured. The reports reaching headquarters were indeed serious. The third platoon lost all but eight men and the company’s strength had fallen from around two hundred thirty five men to about two hundred twelve in a very short space of time. The next night was even worse. The sky was full of enemy projectiles and the ground rumbled as our men were truly taking a beating from being in such a vulnerable spot with inadequate strength and fire power, and reserve strength was out of the question as the river was being shelled and reserve power couldn’t reach us." (p. 29)
• “Beside the wounded and killed several of our men were captured and I am going to quote what DiLeo wrote me in regard to his capture which may apply to the other prisoners. I quote: “I was captured September the eighth at the Moselle River. I was at Stalag XII A, Limburg, Germany, and from there to Kustrin, Stalag III C. It was there that the Russians liberated us February 1, 1945—from there we hitchhiked through Poland into Russia, took a boat from Russia to Turkey and then to Italy and Home.”” (pp. 29-30)
• “I can only think how bad this Moselle River affair was as I haven’t words to express it. Too, I am only telling what I saw or relating incidents of first hand information. Foy and Underwood were killed near each other just minutes after they had come to me and remarked about my hole not being deep enough. We were without drinking water and I gave Philo a sip the evening before he was killed that night. To my immediate right lay McCaffrey and an unidentified soldier, both killed by a “potato masher” grenade. Little Joe Gallegos was injured seriously and died later of the wounds. Horetzko, Dale, White, Cocco, James Jones, Eason, Mastokas, Strezlec, Kalosky and Poore were injured. Pensone was killed, so was Driver, Collins, High and Nordgaard. Driver, Collins and High were recent replacements, Driver having been with the company for about ten days. Our Battalion Commander, Colonel Leslie Allison, was seriously injured during this affair and died later. I recall “Pop” Hughes, Colonel Allison and I dividing some rations just a short while before Colonel was wounded. ” (p. 30)
  Here are the names and home states of the men who were killed, presented in the order in which they appear in the text: Pvt. Lloyd Foy of North Carolina, Pfc. Wilburn T. Underwood of Georgia, Pvt. Fred W. Philo, Jr. of Missouri, Sgt. R. E. M. McCaffery [note spelling difference] of Mississippi, Pfc. Joe A. Gallegos of Colorado, Pfc. John Ponsone [note spelling difference] of Tennessee, Pvt. George W. Driver, Jr. of Pennsylvania, Pvt. Francis B. Collins of California, Pvt. Howard B. High of Pennsylvania, either Pfc. Bennie G. Nordgaard of North Dakota or T/4 George Nordgaard of New York, Lt. Col. Leslie Allison of Kentucky. John Ponsone’s remains were not found until November 11, 1999, when local historians of the organization Thanks GIs, headed by Elisabeth and Alain Gozzo found them.
• “Our men crawled from their holes and fought with the greatest of valor and teamed with the Fifth Infantry men in an effort to save themselves and their buddies. One of our Men, “Red” Neff, and a group of the Fifth’s men accounted for nine enemy before Neff was wounded by a mortar shell and later hit on the hand by particles of a grenade. “Red” and the men with him went running like “mad” through the woods as they rushed the enemy’s position, as he came in contact with one “Red” was struck across the chest, but quick work with the trigger finger dropped the enemy and the other men finished him. ”” (p. 30)
• “Our medics were doing a great job and at all times under the most adverse conditions. Those litter bearers and first aid men who followed our men in battle were certainly our buddies. Too much credit and praise can’t be given those men for their untiring efforts in the relief of the wounded. Captain Howard Inglin, a Springfield, Ohio, physician headed our Battalion medics. I don’t suppose any one individual outside of our company was more popular or well liked than the genial Captain Inglin.”” (p. 30)

The Withdrawal: 10-11 September 1944 -Sunday-Monday

• “Finally word reached us that we were to withdraw—throw away our equipment and swim for our lives. This was the only chance of escape. A very small boat was being taken to and from across the stream but with so many men waiting to get out you hardly had a chance at the boat as it was very risky grouping up. Some of the men who hit the water failed to make it as it was too much for their tired bodies to endure. Of course I was like the other men, I felt very bad when I laid down my M-I. Although a fellow had lots of buddies, I felt as if I was giving up my last one when I placed it gently to the ground and prayed that no enemy would get hands on it and kill some American Soldier. All the men will remember how their names (or what they were called) were printed on the butt of their rifle in small yellow letters." (p. 30)
• “I was fortunate enough to be dragged out of the river by an unknown party. The last I remember was strangling when I grabbed a rope that was attached to a huge balloon and later pulled to safety by some soldier and led to the company assembly area sometime after midnight. I found a sad group of men with morale very low as Mabb grabbed me and embraced me while I cried like a baby. We were all emotional. I didn’t have dry clothing and several of the men loaned me various garments the next day after they had packed me in a bed roll during the night to warm my body. Most all reports had come in by this time and our casualty list was appalling." (p. 30)
• “We moved into a bivouac area southwest of Gorze for two days. Buddies looked for one another—their hearts were saddened when they learned that some of the men they were looking for were not listed among the living. Most everyone attended a special Religious Service held during this time. Hundreds of our large bombers passed over daily in route to bomb the enemy. This made us feel good and spiked our morale to a great extent. As usual, an army rumor was started—that the war would end on the fifteenth of September, and this was around the twelfth. So badly did we want to see the end of this dreadful affair that we even placed hope in an army rumor." (pp. 30-31)

Incomplete List of the Dead and Wounded and Captured

• “Collins, Francis B., (KIA Dornot, France, September 10, 1944). Buried U. S. Mil. Cem. Hamm, Lux. Plot F, Row 2, Grave 40. " (p. 47)
• “Dileo, Rocco, ... POW, captured at Moselle River" (p. 48)
• “Driver, George W., (KIA Sept. 10, 1944, Dornot, France). Buried U. S. Mil. Cem. Limey, France. Body returned to U. S. and buried in Cemetery, Plain Grove, Pa." (p. 48)
• “Foy, Lloyd, (KIA September 10, 1944, after crossing Moselle River)." (p. 49)
• “Hauer, Lenord L., ... First Sgt. After Mabb left for States. Wounded September 8, 1944, near Moselle River." (pp. 50)
• “Henson, Martin L., (DOW received September 9, 1944). Buried February, 1945 U. S. Mil. Cem. No. 1, Hamm, Luxemburg. Body returned to U. S. in July, 1948 and buried at Bethel Grove Cemetery, Cynthia, Ky., with full military rites. " (pp. 51)
• “High, Howard B., (KIA September 10, near Dornot, France). Buried in Luxemburg." (pp. 51)
• “Hunt, Douglass P., ... Wounded September 8, 1944, by shrapnel—Purple Heart." (pp. 52)
• “Mora, Ignatius G., ... Wounded Sept. 8, 1944 Dornot, France—Purple Heart." (p. 54)
• “Neff, Robert F., ... Wounded September 9, 1944—Purple Heart." (pp. 54-55)
• “Nordgaard, Bennie G., (KIA September 9, 1944). Buried U. S. Military Cemetery, Hamm, Luxembourg." (pp. 55)
• “Oldham, Farris, ... Wounded first at Chateaudun August 15, 1944, next time September 9, 1944, at Moselle River. Two Purple Hearts." (pp. 55)
• “Oliveri, Joseph (KIA near Moselle River September 8, 1944). Buried in U. S. National Cemetery, Limey, France. " (pp. 55)
• “Owens, Willard W., ... Wounded first time September 8, 1944, near Moselle River, Thionville, France. Next time, April 4, 1945, near Kassel, Germany—Purple Heart with Cluster—VFW." (pp. 55)
• “Philo, Fred W., (KIA September 4, 1944 near Dornot, France). Buried in U. S. Military Cemetery, Hamm, Luxembourg." (pp. 56)
• “Ponsone, John, (KIA September, 1944, Dornot, France)." (pp. 56)
• “Poore, Robert L., ... Purple Heart—Disabled Vet. Wounded September 8, 1944 after crossing Moselle River." (pp. 56)
• “Schreffler, Archie, ... Wounded near Moselle River September 8, 1944—Purple Heart." (pp. 56)
• “Slawinski, John L., ... Wounded near Moselle River September, 1944. Shot in foot by sniper." (pp. 57)
• “Sutter, Martin R., ... Two Purple Hearts. Wounded first September 8, 1944. Next time March 27, 1945, by bazooka." (pp. 57)
• “Underwood, Wilburn T., (KIA September, 1944, Dornot, France). Reburied January 30, 1945, Henri Chapelle No. 1." (pp. 58)
• “Wilson, Norman E., ... POW, captured at Moselle River." (pp. 58)