CHAPTER VI

Freedom Road

Moving back through the familiar ruins of Anzio, the Company followed the Regimental Combat Team to the Allied Forces Invasion Training Center], below Salerno. Here, near the former bloody beach-head, the Medical Battalion began a retraining program in the basic principles of the Medical aspects of amphibious warfare.

With the exception of Lt. Mahan, Dental Officer, who had come to the company at Anzio and was now being returned to the Clearing Company, and Lt. Krejewski being transferred to Company A, there was no important changes in the Company.

The early part of July was devoted to the continuation of the same training, with dry runs and other mock problems. It was good training for the new personnel, but as usual, the "old" men felt that it was just a waste of time. They had done this same routine over and over in combat, but as in all such practice maneuvers, everyone picked up some few new pointers on doing things that would help to make the future operations easier. There is no such thing as an over-trained soldier.

At the beginning of the second week of the month, the Company changed its location to Paestum, where it spent the next ten days in reorganizing under the long awaited new 'Tables of Organization'. Several new ratings were given, thus rewarding the long and faithful services of some of the men. Even a Company bar was set up to provide the men with ice cold, mixed drinks.
While in this location, St.-Sgt. Jack Douglas was fatally injured in an auto accident. He later died at an evacuation hospital near Battipaglea. T/3 Harrold Harris became St.-Sgt. and Station leader.

The latter part of July, the Company moved to Qualiano, near Naples. Last minute preparations for another amphibious operation were made. During all this time, the men were given passes to nearby towns, saw movies and stage shows, took showers and went swimming in the blue Mediterranean. By the last of the month, everything was ready. Nearly all the vehicles and equipment were loaded aboard ship, the drivers having taken them to assembly areas near the docks several days ahead of the rest of the Company.

As in all planning for an amphibious operation of this sort, every unit assumed that it would be in an assault group, and planned accordingly. Therefore, the Company was divided into Battalion Landing Teams. However, the 179th was placed in Corps reserve, and the Company was put on a British LSI (Landing Ship Infantry). The vehicles were loaded aboard Liberty Ships and accompanied by the drivers. The huge convoy was made up and pulled out of the Naples harbor on August 9.

The British ship was an old India Liner that had been converted into a troop ship. The men got a kick out of the crew-barefoot natives from India. Their picturesque dress and frequent squabbles helped to ease the boredom of the trip. If the men enjoyed the ship's crew, they despised the food. Goat stew and feeble tea graced the menu meal after meal.

The poor meals, more than anything else), made the hostile shores of Southern France a welcome sight. After watching hours of Naval artillery fire and bombing by the "Heavies," the Company landed around 1300 hours on D-day, which was August 15. This landing was . on the famous Riviera, near St. Maxime. The evening of the same day, the Company assembled in a reserve area, where most of the vehicles rejoined it.

From the beginning the Regiment advanced rapidly, moving twenty to forty miles daily. One move covered 100 miles. On the 18th of August, the Company suffered its first casualty in France. Traveling along a road that had been reconnoitered, the Company, in convoy, ran into a road block thrown in by Germans who had been by-passed. A crossfire cut the road, and mortars discouraged any attempt to use it.

The convoy turned around, and in the process, Jack Marshall, who was sitting on top of the kitchen truck, was hit by machine gun fire. He fell from the truck, and in spite of heavy enemy fire, S/Sgt. Aaron B. Moore picked up his wounded comrade and half dragged, half carried him to safety. For this courageous and unselfish act, Sgt. Moore later received the Bronze Star Award.
As a result of this road block, the Company withdrew a mile down the road. The men assembled for the night and awaited until a company of infantry eliminated the German pocket, before proceeding the next morning. Meanwhile, the Clearing Company had moved along a parallel road and missed the by-passed pocket of resistance. Since it was nearer at the moment, battalion aid stations evacuated directly to it.

As the men neared Grenoble, they looked forward eagerly to seeing the city, which was the center of the Resistance movement. Here the Gestapo committed some of its most barbarous acts;, trying to stamp out the underground movement. Consequently, when the Americans came, they were greeted by joyful crowds.

Since the Regiment was manning road blocks on the outskirts
of the city, the Company set up in the middle of the town, so as to
be easily reached by all battalion aid stations. The men lived in the
- luxurious Hotel Terminus, where they were royally entertained by
the local "Mademoiselles."

The second day in "Little Paris," as the city was sometimes called, the Germans attacked one of the road blocks. A few American and Maquisards casualties resulted from this action, but there were many enemy wounded to treat and evacuate. After eighteen hours of fighting, the entire German garrison surrendered, adding some 1,500 prisoners to the Regiment's long list. One of the memorable happenings at Grenoble was the execution of a collaborator, on the street, one block from the Company.

All good things come to an end, and after six days of luxury in town,, the northward advance was resumed.

Everyone knew that this rapid progress would have to slow down and that the enemy would make a determined stand soon. At the end of the month, the Company was situated east of Lyons and heavy fighting appeared to be brewing.

After two short weeks of fighting, the Regiment was deep in the heart of France, north of the Rhone river. The enemy, up until now, was retreating rapidly, for he wanted to keep from being caught in the Rhone Pocket that the Allies were trying to develop. In order to prevent this, it was necessary for him to keep his lines of communication open, while he retreated. Whenever his routes were threatened, he fought desperately.

In one of such actions two battalions and Regimental Headquarters were isolated at St. Maximeux. In this engagement, Pfc. Adolph Pradmore distinguished himself by volunteering to drive a load of casualties through enemy lines. This he did successfully. As usual, the battle was short, and after the breakout, the drive continued rapidly onward. At one point), when at the town of Pontarlier, the Company was only three miles from the Swiss border.

On September 9, the Regiment reached Clerval, on the Doubs river. Here, for the first time in France, the 179th met a strongly established enemy. In the fighting here, Pfc. Offenbecher had his ambulance damaged by tank fire. The battle was fierce but short, and soon the troops were across the river and moving ahead again. The litter bearers used rowboats to evacuate the wounded across the river.

The Clearing Company, meanwhile, had crossed the river and was located below Baumes les Dames. To simplify evacuation, the Company crossed the river at Baumes les Dames and set up a station between this town and Clerval. At this position the French relieved the Division on September 19.

After the relief had taken place, the Division shifted behind the 3rd and 36th Divisions and established a solid front between the. 7th and 3rd Armies, on the west bank of the Moselle river. At Epinal, the river was crossed in the face of heavy resistance, which was now increasing daily. Bad weather set in to add to the difficulties. Rain and cold made life miserable for the troops. At the end of September, the Company was operating at Deyvillersi, east of Epinal. The forward elements of the Regiment were near Grandvillers, fighting in thick woods full of snipers and mines.

October found the Combat Team facing a determined enemy, in well prepared positions. He had a line of about ten miles, extending from Bru to Bruyeres. The 179th had the Grandvillers sector of the front. The Forward Station was set up at Gugnecourt and the rest of the Company stayed at Deyvillers, where the men were making many friends.

The first twenty days of the month were spent in pushing the enemy out of the woods. Progress was slow but sure, and casualties were heavy. A litter squad was sent to one of the battalion aid stations to help evacuate, because of the shortage of personnel at that outfit. The roads through the woods were very poor and extremely dark at night, making evacuation a difficult problem for the ambulance drivers.

Bruyeres was finally taken by the 36th Division which had outflanked the whole line to bring about its collapse. The 179th was given the mission of clearing out the sniper-infested Foret de Montagne. The Station moved to Bruyeres, where it stayed only two days due to poor roads of evacuation. From there,, it went to St. Helene. Here again, the routes were 'bad and getting worse as the rain and cold increased. .Fortunately, casualties were few. At the end of the month, the Station still operated at St. Helene. The infantry was in position at the edge of the Foret de Rambervillers, overlooking the Valley of the Meurthe.

Harold Halk, Capt. Robert Campbell, leaning on Halk, Kenneth Anderson, Harold Harris, Otis Locklin and Orvil Landis, grabbing a few breaths of off-duty air at St. Helene, France, where the company was stationed for a while

Before the Regiment could assault St. Die, key point in the Vosges defenses, it was relieved by elements of the 100th Division. The Station moved to a point between Rambervillers and Baccarat and prepared to receive casualties from the latter's sector. Baccarat had been freed two days earlier by the French 2nd Armored Division.

On November 6, the Regiment was completely pinched out and began moving to the Seventh Army Divisional Rest Area. The Company established itself in the Continental Hotel at Contrexeville, which was forty kilometers west of Epinal. It took several days of work in the hotel before any degree of comfort could be had. After that, though, all the men had to do was eat, sleep and rest. There were shows and movies to be seen every day, and hot showers were available for everyone. The men were in dry warm rooms, and were relieved to be out of combat, even though they knew it was only temporarily.

CHAPTER VII

Alsace

After two weeks of rest at Contrexeville, the Regiment receive( its moving orders. The rest period was over, and on the night o the 22nd of November, the Company moved about 100 kilometers to the town of Cirey. Since Thanksgiving Day was so near, the kitchen had already drawn its holiday rations. Because of the sudden move, the turkeys were loaded, along with the other "tougl birds" of the kitchen, and served two days later.

Following winding' mountain roads, through picturesque forest.5 of the Vosges Mountains, the Company moved into Alsace. Alsace was the German-speaking province of France which Hitler claimed as part of the Greater Reich. When France fell in 1940, he formally incorporated the territory as an integral part of his New Order. The difference between the people of the French-speaking part of France and those of Alsace was very evident as soon as the Company stopped at Romanswiller, at the foot of the eastern slope of the Vosges. Here, the civilians were built larger and sturdier. Their demeanor was generally colder, and some were hard put to conceal their sympathetic attitude towards the Germans.

In the initial phase of its commitment, the Regiment served as flank protection for the Second French Armored Division, which was racing toward Strausbourg.

On the 26th/, the Company moved through the plains of Alsace toward Bouxwillers. The Regiment was trying to help cut off the Germans' retreat from Patton's Third Army, which was west of the Vosges in this sector. The Station was set up in tne village of Prinzhiem, where it remained for three clays. A forward station was put into operation at Obermodern, and here many of the men saw and had their pictures taken with the tallest man in the world.

Some more of the boys take a rest in France-location not specified -and enjoy the refreshing antics of a young Frenchman-wearing the helmet in the front row. He lived in the house which forms' the background, and came up with some "very good information about the area", the boys said.

The early part of December was devoted to offensive operations by the Regiment. The 179th was spearheading the attacks, which were in a northeasterly direction. The push was along the boundary between Alsace and Lorraine. The approach to the Maginot Line was met with fairly heavy resistance, but casualties were surprisingly moderate in number. The famous line itself was not defended strongly.

The road network in this part of the country was excellent and the evacuation was carried out easily, although at times, dangerously. The enemy shelled the advancing troops heavily, and he did not spare the towns in which the battalion aid stations were set up. Consequently, the ambulance drivers drove through some pretty hot spots.

During the latter part of the month, the Regiment was relieved of its offensive role and provided flank security for the leading elements. As a result of this change, the casualty rate decreased. The battalion aid stations were widely separated because of the wide dispersion of road blocks. To cope with this situation, two collecting stations were operated at the same time.

Activity increased as the Regiment reached the outer defenses of the Seigiried Line, west of Wissembourg. However, attacks were not on a full scalq, and only limited objectives were sought. The Station moved into Wissembourg, but because of the heavy shelling as well as being out of the Division sector, withdrew to the town of Rott, two kilometers away. Casualties were not numerous, and evacuation was complicated only by the long distance between the Station and the Clearing Company.

While in Rott, the Forward Station celebrated Christmas in an almost gala fashion. Through the efforts of Captain Brown and German-speaking Sgt. Steinberg, tables, chairs, linens, dishes and silverware were provided, and a delicious Christmas dinner was enjoyed by all members of the Station and Ambulance Sections. Special arrangements had been made so that all the drivers could be present. Eggnog was served and speeches were' made.

With the coming of Winter and cold weather, the operations of the Station were changed. Tents were no longer used, and buildings were sought to set up in. Seriously wounded patients require warmth to prevent shock and the most efficient method of providing it is to have a good warm room in which to treat the wounded.

Private homes, although always available, usually didn't have entrances conveniently built to accommodate litter patients. Consequently, cafes were used as consistently as possible, because of their wider doors and more spacious rooms in general. Most places had good furnaces and fuel was always available. The year ended with the gratifying fact that some of the ambulances were operating from inside of Germany.

The beginning of the new year was marked by a German counter-offensive south of Bitche. During the nights of January 1 and 2, the 179th was relieved from the Wissenbourg sector. The next day, all three battalions attacked the flank of the enemy's mountain salient.

The situation was confused, and the exact locations of the German penetrations were undetermined. Because of the confused situation, the enemy was able to infiltrate the Second Battalion's positions and throw a road block behind it. This cut the Battalion's' main supply and evacuation routes. Radio communication was immediately established with the cut off unit and it was determined that the ambulance drivers were evacuating to the Clearing Company of another division.

In the meantime, two ambulances had been sent on detached service to the 70th Division, because it was without a Collecting Company. On the 3rd of January, the ambulance of Pfc. Taylor and Pvt. Chastain was hit by shrapnel at Phillipsburg. They returned to the Company for a check of mechanical damage. The next day the ambulance driven by Pfc. Adam Offenbecher and Pvt. Albert Dueseault, assigned to evacuation of the 70th Division, was reported captured by enemy infantry. However, it turned out that they were cut off during the daylight hours by the infiltrating Germans.

The enemy had over-run one battalion aid station and scattered the personnel of the two stations in the town. The station that was serviced by Offenbecher and Duseault was left without officers when both left the station to give first-aid to some wounded outside. It v^as the last time they were seen for the rest of the day.

Offenbecher helped to take care of the wounded, and Duseault assisted in carrying some of the wounded from a nearby hill to the Battalion C.P., where part of the station was operating. Under cover of darkness, Offenbecher loaded the ambulance with critically wounded,, stopped to pick up Duseault, and evacuated them. When they got out, other ambulances were sent in to get the casualties, who had accumulated all day long, in houses and a church.

For two days, the Company was handling the casualties of three regiments, as well as maintaining contact with the isolated 2nd Battalion, which was evacuating to another Clearing Company. Lt. Pinkstaff, motor officer, co-ordinated the evacuation of the three regiments. In order to do this, he had to maintain physical contact with all of them. This kept him "on the go" continually.

On the sixth of January, a battalion of S.S. troopers infiltrated into Wingen, surrounding' battalion headquarters and the aid station of the First Battalion. Here, Pfc. Dan Breshears and Pfc. Junior Spoon, ambulance drivers, were captured with them. As prisoners of the Germans, Breshears and Spoon helped to care for and give medical aid to American and German wounded. During the ensuing battle for liberation of Wingen, and the anihilation of the enemy force, who in turn were surrounded themselves, American tanks opened fire on the building sheltering the mixed casualties and prisoners. Breshears and Spoon, with three other men, rushed to the tanks and informed the gunners of the situation. Then, they made a dash for the safety of friendly lines, which they successfully reached, though very much out of breath. They later requisitioned another ambulance to replace the one that had been destroyed in the battle.

After Wingen was cleared, the combined facilities of the three Collecting Companies were used to evacuate the wounded. Since its forward station was the handiest, B Company received most of the casualties-101 Americans and 41 Germans.

In order to facilitate evacuation from the Second Battalion, which was cut off from the regiment, another ambulance was sent to help Pfc. Roach and Pvt. Tamburlain, who were evacuating to the 36th Division Clearing. After an attack by the other two battalions, the main route was opened to them. The ambulance of Pfc. William Taylor and Pvt. Wrease Chastain was hit again, this time a direct hit by a mortar shell.

Repeated snow storms during the month made driving dangerous, especially down the winding roads around La Petitte Pierre. On dark nights it was extremely hard to stay on the roads, for the slightest twist of the wheel in the wrong direction might mean going over embankments of great height. Chains were put on the wheels, more to save time that would be lost from getting stuck than to keep from sliding.

By the last of the month, the situation was pretty well stabilized, and defensive positions were established. Casualties were few, although the enemy used much artillery and Mortars.
The Forward Station, all this time, was set up in La Petitte Pierre, and continued to operate there during the first weeks of February. The Regiment continued to occupy defensive positions and casualties continued few in number.

On February 17, the Company was relieved by Company A, 122nd Med. Bn. of the 42nd (Rainbow) Division. The whole Company assembled at the rear company area in Oberhof. Here the men bade farewell to the residents of this beautiful little summer resort hotel, whom they had come to know quite well during their six weeks stay. From Oberhof, the Company went to Menil sur Belvite, 21 miles from Deyvillers. This little village was well remembered for its thick mine fields and booby traps. It had also been badly damaged by artillery fire.

The entrance to the little town was marked with a sign informing all comers that a rebirth had taken place. A Pawhuska in Europe was created, complete with Mayor and Staff. It took the Company almost a week to clean out the few available houses and the surrounding grounds so that they would be comfortable to live in.

The Regimental Commander told the infantry that they were in a training, and not a rest, area. What applied to them went for the Company also, so a daily schedule was followed, with calisthenics, hikes and lectures. As usual, there were all types of entertainment, including a Company dance, held at the old stamping grounds of Deyvillers.

Here, for the first time, passes to Brussels, Paris and London were given out in a comparatively large number.

The men had a fairly good idea where they were going after the rest period, for they took river crossing training on the Moselle. They became doubly sure when Lt. Col. Lawson told them, in a ceremony awarding the Bronze Star Award to Capt. Robert L. Kendall, that he felt quite sure the Division was going to be committed to action for the last time in the European Theatre of Operations.

CHAPTER VIII

Fulfillment of a Mission

The rest period at Menil sur Belvite ended March 14. The Russians were sweeping toward Berlin, and the home stretch was in sight. Everyone felt sure that the war was in its final stage. Saying good-bye to the good people of Menil, the Company moved 75 miles, to the eastern approaches of the Saar Basin.

The Regiment was in reserve as the Division was committed to combat, and consequently it was gradually reintroduced to battle. After a terrific barrage, thrown by 25 battalions of artillery in its sector alone, the Division assaulted, what was considered by many as being the most formidable fortified line in the world. Fortunately Patton's forces had already made a breach in the line, and was applying pressure from the rear. Thus the enemy had to abandon his formidable fortifications, and the "push" resulted in relatively few casualties.

For the first time, the Company as a whole set foot on German ,coil March 17. Here the change was verv noticeable. White flags of surrender replaced the tricolor, and almost deserted streets greeted the men instead of gay cheering" crowds. The few people who were left either were shaken with fright or maintained a sullen silence.

The advance through the Saar Basin was rapid, and prisoners almost flocked into the Prisoner of War cages. There was some German air activity, but it was mostly confined to night strafing and bombing. Wrecked enemy vehicles and equipment lined the roads,, impeding traffic as two armies raced toward the Rhine.

The Rhine was finally reached, and at 0230 on March 26, 1945, the 179th attacked the east bank in assault boats, north of Worms.

Two litter squads and one sergeant were attached to each of the two assault battalions. With the 1st Bn. were Sgt. Jesse Caldwell, Cpl. William Parsons, Pfc. John Williams), Pfc. Samuel Tonubbee, Pfc. Harold McCarthy, Pvt. Stephen Waltridge, Pvt. Thomas Dun-lap, Pvt. Kenneth Spurgeon, and Pfc. Edward Pajack.

The litter squads with the 2nd Bn. were composed of Cpl. Bruce Fisher, Sgt. Raymond Weatherford, Pfc. Thurman McWhirt, Pfc. Francis Long, Pfc. John Turner, Pvt. Chester Szolack, and Pvt. John O'Brien.

These men carried casualties to the boats, on which they were transported across to a waiting ambulance on the west bank. They were under small arms and artillery fire in the initial phase of the operation. About fifty casualties were handled, mostly in the embarkation and debarkation areas.

Since there were no boats devoted solely to evacuation, there "was quite a problem in maintaining an exchange of litters and blankets. The exchanges of medical equipment were necessary in order to keep up the supply to the forward elements and. prevent them from running low there. Ambulances were the third vehicles to cross with each of the assault groups. They were taken across on pontoon ferries. Until a bridge was put h\ casualties were shuttled across the river by boat.

The whole Company crossed the Rhine the 27th of March. Advancing rapidly, the forward elements reached the River Main the next day. Under cover of darkness, the whole Regiment crossed the river on a railroad bridge which the 157th Infantry prevented the enemy from destroying. The 157th had crossed the river previously, the 179th being in reserve. Evacuation was carried on over this span until a pontoon bridge was established in the Regimental sector.
On the last day of the month, the Forward Station crossed the Main and the Regiment prepared to attack the so-called "Little Siegfried Line." The Germans were making, so it seemed, a last effort to delay our troops on the march to victory.

The focal point of resistance in the "Little Siegfried Line" was Aschaffenburg. Here, a fanatic S.S. Commander, fought a last ditch stand against the 157th. Children and young women fought beside the troops. The city was bombed and shelled to rubble. However, in the regimental sector, resistance was light and casualties were not numerous. Most of the casualties were wounded Germans.

While the 157th kept the Germans pinned down in Aschaffenburg', the 179th encircled the city. Casualties in this operation were fairly heavy. Leaving the other Regiment behind to clean up the aforementioned city, the 179th pressed on in a northeasterly direction. The infantry moved rapidly, sometimes leaving' pockets of a rather unconvinced enemy. Service elements, who were already hard put to operate at nig'hti, had to contend further with snipers- Many-fire fights developed around artillery and other units far behind the front.

On the 7th of the month the Company approached Gersfeld, the most northern point in Germany to be reached by the Regiment. The course then swung south, by-passing Bamberg, a Divisional objective, and headed for Nurnberg-, the heart of the Nazi movement. The push was rapid and a company from the Regiment was the first to enter the city.

However, the approaches to Nurnberg were fiercely contested and casualties were moderately heavy. Col. Murphy, Regimental Commander, and Major Snyder of the 2nd Bn., were among those wounded. The Nazis_ used dual purpose 88mm guns and "Panzer-fausts" (German Bazookas), in addition to the ever-present sniping. Although there was much sniping' at vehicles, none of the Company's ambulances were shot at, showing- that the Geneva Cross was respected in this instance.

In spite of fanatic resistance. Old Glory soon flew over the stadium where thousands of Nazis avowed their faith in Hitler. Their shouts of "Sieg Heil" were silenced forever.

Nurnberg fell on the 20th, and without a pause, the Regiment pushed on to the Danube river. At the city of Neuberg, the Regiment made another river crossing'. The same method, as in crossing the Rhine was used. Litter squads were sent with the reserve group as well as the assault battalions.

With the 1st Bn. were Sgt. Jesse Caldwell, S/Sgt. Leonard Gar-side, Sgt. Raymond Weatherford, Cpl. Johnnie Finch, Pfc. Samuel Tonubbee, Pfc. Walter Summerton. Pfc. Daniel Garrett, Pfc. Edward Pajack, Pfc. Thurman McWhirt and Pvt. Harry Sokal.
With the 2nd Bn. were Cpl. Ted Brunt, Pfc. Ernest Dieke, Pfc. A. G. Grain and Pfc. Albert Duseault.

The 3rd Bn. had Sgt. Bruce Fisher, Pfc. Raymond Quinn,, Pvt. Kenneth Spurgeon. Pvt. Stephen Waltridge and Pvt. Chester Szolack.

The crossing was accomplished without many casualties, so evacuation was not very difficult. However, -it required a bit of planning and much coordination between the Company and the various aid stations. The few casualties were transported to the friendly shore m assault boats, where ambulances were waiting. Another historic river had been successfully crossed.

The battle for Munich began three days later. Here, Hitler gave birth to his National Socialist Party. Here, also, was the scene of the first uprising against this same party, taking place as the Allied troops were pushing toward the city from Nurnberg. The affair was soon suppressed by S.S. troops, but the city was left without stomach for battle. After a brief but fierce fight, Munich fell on April 30.

Munich, which used to be one of the most cultured cities in Europe, is a pile of rubble. Where great doctors and scientists once studied, only ruins remain. The repute that once belonged to this city has gone-gone with Hitler and his tribe. It took Munich a thousand years to build a house: it took Hitler 12 years to tear it down.

Left is the foundation. It is a good one; it is up to the peoplq, out of their wide experience, to build a new and better one. Can they do it ? No one knows. Only history will tell.

Berlin fell, the Russians swept on to a junction with the American 1st Army. The British and Canadians strangled Hamburg and moved toward Kiel. Vienna fell, and the Americans headed for Prague. Surely everything" looked bright to the men of the Company. The end, for which they had waited so long, was in sight After traveling 900 miles from Southern France to Munich, they had accomplished their mission.

Headquarters Forty-Fifth Infantry Division
Office of the Commanding General

To the High Point Men of the 45th Division:
It is difficult to leave an organization after living 'and working" in it as long as you have. It is even more difficult for those of us who remain to express our emotions at your leaving.

Through your efforts and by your unselfish devotion to duty as members of the 45th Division, you have brought this division to the glorious culmination of the first stage of its mission-V-E Day. Now, it is the mission of this great battle-wise division to carry on in the war against the Japs. Your individual contribution has been recognized by our government and now you will be relieved of further combat duty.

The friendship, the loyalties and the deep sympathy which combat soldiers feel toward each other will not die with your departure. The 45th Division will always be the richer for having had you among its gallant men. 1 know I speak for every member of this command when I wish you good luck and extend to you a sincere salute from your division.

ROBERT T. FREDERICK
Major General, U. S. Army Commanding ,