I drew an assault boat to cross in--just my luck. We all tried to crawl under each other because the lead was flying around like hail." Crossing the Rhine under enemy fire at St. Goar. March 1945.
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I drew an assault boat to cross in--just my luck. We all tried to crawl under each other because the lead was flying around like hail." Crossing the Rhine under enemy fire at St. Goar. March 1945.
Thanks for posting that. You can't look at that photo without seeing the tension. That's real.
Paul
You know, even with the extensive documentation of World War 2 it's absolutely hard to imagine what they went through.
Even though I hate Tom Brokaw-he was right about one thing.
THEY WERE AMERICA'S GREATEST GENERATION.
Bob
I had an uncle who crossed the Rhine on the first day. He said it was the last really heavy resistance they faced and the Germans were throwing everything they had across the river to stop them.
One thing he said happened I know I'll always remember. He said two light tanks had been loaded on a barge. The front one had his motor reved up and as soon as the barge touched the bank the driver almost launched the tank onto the other side. The barge then tipped up and dumped the back tank into the Rhine. The entire crew died.
If that crossing was during Operation Varsity my Dad went over the Rhine with the 17th Airborne. He was a member of the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion. This battlion was formed from the remnants of the 550th Glider Infantry Regiment after the Battle of the Bulge. It was my Dad's second glider assault,the first was Operation Dragoon,Southern France invasion. He got wounded by flak as they were coming in and was evacuated.
What outfit was your uncle in? My uncle was there also. 84 th ID 333 Reg Headquarters Second Battalion, E. B. Hollinger 1st LT S-2. I have that units rouster that lists everyone there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Art
My Dad was also there with the 17th. He went in on a glider. He was with the 139th Airborne Engineers. Dad was both a weapons specialist and demolitions specialist. I gather that his main function was destruction of impediments (such as roadblocks) and locating and destroying "booby traps". I remember him saying that handling the explosives - particularly dynamite gave him hellish headaches.
One of my all time favorite pictures. Thanks for posting it, Mark.
You know I used to have that information but have forgotten it. I think I might be able to get it from his son. He was the gunner on an M16 Motor Gun Carriage. I do know he was in the 3rd Army.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Hollinger