The shell cracked two feet over: Ibid.
The interior of the two-story brick structure: Hans den Brok, Battle of Burp Gun Corner, 58.
They rescued an elderly couple: Johann J. Nitrowski, “Varsity Folder,” letters from William Horn, September 27, 1987, and April 11, 1988, and Horn to Parks, August 31, 1989.
Their machine gunners on their flanks: 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots,” Richard Barthelemy.
“Things were plenty SNAFU”: 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots,” Albert Hurley.
Most of the 77th Platoon: See multiple accounts in 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots.”
Claims would later be made: Charles O. Gordon, Burp Gun Corner, 14. Despite postwar claims by those manning the Glider Pilot CP that word was sent out to the platoons, the pilot statements made within days of the action make it clear no one on the line knew what was happening.
“During the attack five of our squadron deserted”: 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots,” William Bruner.
Just two superficial head wounds: Johann J. Nitrowski, “Varsity Folder,” letter from William Horn, April 11, 1988.
The “Battle for Burp Gun Corner”: Elbert Jella, documents and notebook. The skirmish got its name from a Stars and Stripes article (April 1, 1945) that covered the event.
A jumpy pilot shot: Charles O. Gordon, Burp Gun Corner, 9.
A burst from the .30-caliber: 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots.” Again I have opted to leave out this pilot’s name, but the curious can find his full account in the above source.
The only sign of Wittig’s patrol: 194 GIR, “2nd Battalion Activities,” 3.
Robinson’s platoon hunkered down: Ibid., 3.
Colonel Harry Balish dispatched another platoon: Ibid., 3.
After a few miserable minutes: Ibid., 4.
But the field telephone lines: Ibid.
A burst of fire spit out: Ibid. Technical Sergeant Lyman Wisler was killed in action here.
“Firing 310 degrees . . .”: 194 GIR, “Regimental Journal,” 6.
Repeated attempts to: 194 GIR, “2nd Battalion Activities,” 4.
Creeping up on the bridges: Ibid., 4. Robert Sheehy and John Kovacs were the two scouts.
Anderson’s troopers loaded up: Ibid., 4.
Sheehy led them to Bridge 2: Ibid.
The platoon watched in silence: Ibid.
They could find no trace of GIs: 194 GIR, officer interviews, 8.
No one had been able to: 194 GIR, “2nd Battalion Activities,” 5.
The low-level gun run was ineffective: Ibid., 5.
Fox Company’s machine gunners: Ibid., 5.
At 22:00 the Germans broke through at Bridge 7: 194 GIR, “Misc. Varsity Documents.”
women were pretending: 194 GIR, “Regimental Journal,” 5.
It worked once: Michael Seaman, “18th Corps Handled Wesel Airborne Job While 17th Division’s 194th Inf. Carried Ball,” 5.
A reliable source indicated: 194 GIR, “Regimental Journal,” 7.
The attack was brushed off: 194 GIR, “Misc. Varsity Documents.”
In one such engagement, Sergeant William Wolf: The Talon Crosses the Rhine, 8, and Don R. Pay, Thunder from Heaven, 42.
Private Levert Smith, Jr., apparently fumbled his: 17ABN Biographies, “Levert Lindell Smith, Jr.”
“We heard the shells coming”: Frank J. O’Rourke, “Eyewitness: A Gliderman Across the Rhine.”
Lieutenant Joseph Kormylo: The Kormylo patrol is based on 507 PIR, “Varsity Narrative,” and Richard A. Boe, unpublished memoir.
They should expect: 194 GIR, “Regimental Journal,” 8.
Chapter 19 “Organized resistance has now ceased”
Scattered around the glider riders’ positions: 194 GIR, “2nd Battalion Activities,” 5.
Efforts to reach them had failed: Ibid., 5. Part of the confusion was due to the canal being below street level in this part of Wesel.
Thirty minutes later: Ibid., 6, and 194 GIR, officer interviews, 14. As one can imagine, prisoner counts vary by source. The officer interviews document states that on the morning of D+1, “the regiment had by actual count, captured 1,153 POWs.” While the 2nd Battalion Activities report states “That night Lt Cunningham, S-2, revealed that his count showed 1,157 prisoners for the two days [D+2].”
Wittig’s men had wiggled their way: 194 GIR, “2nd Battalion Activities,” 6.
Despite the successful counterattack: Ibid., 6.
It wouldn’t be until mid-afternoon: 194 GIR, “Regimental Journal,” 10.
“I don’t know who killed him”: Ben Roberson, WWII Veteran Biographical Sketch, CMH.
Daylight also revealed the toll on the bridges: The state of the bridges are based on numerous reports from surveys conducted by the 139th AEB, specifically: “Daily Engineer Situation Report No. 2” and “Daily Engineer Situation Report No. 3.” A Lieutenant Evans, whose first name I have been unable to determine, defused the demolition charges.
Gene Herrman’s crew was instructed: Eugene Herrmann, letters to the author, September 16, 2015, and August 29, 2017.
Medic Joseph Moscar witnessed the drama: Joseph W. Moscar, “Parts of My Missions.”
Half a mile northwest of Bridge 2: The number of German casualties at Burp Gun Corner varies. I have based the count on the April 1, 1945, Stars and Stripes article, which states, “They counted 13 dead Germans at or near the corner; 45 wounded POWs. . . . Unwounded POWs were well over 80.”
“I still remember today very vividly”: Johann J. Nitrowski, “Varsity Folder,” letter from William Horn, September 27, 1987.
The pilots weren’t sure: Ibid., letter from William Horn, April 11, 1988, and 435 TCG, “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots,” Garnett Holland.
Since the pilots realized the Germans hadn’t retreated: Charles O. Gordon, Burp Gun Corner, 9.
A four-pilot patrol party left: Ibid., 10.
At 14:00 word came down: Ibid., 10.
“I only used fifteen rounds”: Zane Winters, “The Last Glider Mission, Part 2,” 10.
In the vanguard of the supply columns: 717 AOMC, “After Action Report,” 1.
From a reception station: IX TCC, “Activities Final Phase,” 51.
Cots and rations were provided: Ibid., 51.
“These missions are no longer any fun”: Howard G. Schultz, “Account of Glider Pilot in Varsity,” 2.
“Any Glider Pilots picked up”: Harry W. Andrews, untitled personal account, 5.
Despite transportation delays: IX TCC, Control Team No.2, “Activities of Control Team No. 2 on Varsity Mission.”
And within six days: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 191.
Bill Knickerbocker returned to his unit: W. D. Knickerbocker, Those Damn Glider Pilots, 315.
Combat engineers tinkered: 139 AFB, “Monthly After Operations Report,” 2.
The Thirteeners’ 2nd Battalion: 513 PIR, “Narrative of Action,” 2. Fox Company was in the lead, with Dog Company in trail. See also 513 PIR, “After Action Report, 24 to 31 March,” 3.
Two platoons of Grenadiers: The German troops occupying the Diersfordt Forest were primarily from the 84 Infanterie-Division, whose three line regiments were the 1051, the 1052, and the 1062 Grenadier Regiments.
Thirteeners’ final D-Day objective fell at 07:30: 513 PIR, “Narrative of Action,” 5.
While Miller awaited the Tommies: Ibid., 4, and Napier Crookenden, Airborne at War, 111.
The clearing operation netted: 513 PIR, “After Action Report, 24 to 31 March,” 2.
Bicycles and horses became popular: Kirk B. Ross, The Sky Men, 427.
“I didn’t want to go”: Bart Hagerman, War Stories, 188.
Their company had captured: 513 PIR, I Co., “World War II: Battle of the Bulge and Rhine Jump,” E26.
“I think I see a jeep”: Ibid.
Parachute in
fantry regiments had only 15: Steven J. Zaloga, US Airborne Divisions in the ETO 1944–45, 26.
“Like hell you will”: 513 PIR, I Co., “World War II: Battle of the Bulge and Rhine Jump,” E27.
A spatter of carbine fire: 466 PFAB, “History of the 466th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion,” 2.
Unless the situation was dire: Ibid., 3.
By one o’clock that afternoon: Ibid. “By 13:00, the last howitzer of Battery A, which was dropped west of the Rhine River arrived with the complete gun crew. The battalion has all 15 howitzers in action.”
Incoming artillery rounds silenced: 513 PIR, officer interviews, 27.
Two hundred–odd rounds crashed in: 513 PIR., I Co., “World War II: Battle of the Bulge and Rhine Jump,” E9. Casualties were twenty-six wounded and six killed.
“No snow, no ice, no howling wind”: Ben Scherer, Soldiers and Brothers Under the Canopy, 64.
They were to occupy LONDON: 513 PIR, officer interviews, 4.
Large explosions from a dreaded 88: Ben Scherer, Soldiers and Brothers Under the Canopy, 170, and 513 PIR, “Narrative of Action,” 8.
Not far from McDonald, Ben Scherer’s squad: Scherer’s account is based on Ben Scherer, Soldiers and Brothers Under the Canopy, 170. Scherer was later evacuated to a hospital near Liege, Belgium, where he met up with a paratrooper from the 13th Airborne who got them several bottles of American whiskey. “We drank Early Times and Seagram’s Seven without chasers and loved every drop of it.”
It took several lucky artillery rounds: Ben Scherer, Soldiers and Brothers Under the Canopy, 170.
“A squad leader who makes”: Kurt Gabel, Making of a Paratrooper, 75.
“it was too dark”: Ben Scherer, Soldiers and Brothers Under the Canopy, 64.
“You tell General Miley”: Ibid.
“as welcome as Betty Grable”: Hamilton Whitman, “Airborne Operation: Mission Completed,” 3.
The gun teams of the 605th . . . The other twenty-four guns: 605 TBD, “After Action Report,” 1.
The patrol radioed back at 12:50: 507 PIR, “Varsity Narrative.”
After getting the report, Raff: Ibid.
With one battalion on their left: 507 PIR, “The Operations of Company H,” 19.
The approaches to Wesel were cluttered: 507 PIR, “Varsity Narrative.”
The crews shuttled the howitzers forward: 464 PFAB, “After Action Report,” 2.
It took the combined firepower: 507 PIR, “Varsity Narrative.”
“The city had been pulverized”: 507 PIR, officer interviews, 19.
They held Bridge 3: 194 GIR, “2nd Battalion Activities,” 6.
They’d have a few hours: 507 PIR. “Varsity Narrative.”
“Organized resistance has now ceased”: 194 GIR, “Regimental Journal,” 12.
At Bridge 6, the German attack: Ted Velikoff, “Velikoff Diary,” 54.
By the next morning: 194 GIR, “Misc. Varsity Documents, (Narrative of facts: 1st Battalion),” 11.
Chapter 20 “This is a pursuit”
Description and history of the 771st is based on Edwin Castagna, History of the 771st Tank Battalion.
Cochrane’s tankers found the Thirteeners at 03:30: 513 PIR, “After Action Report, 24 to 31 March.”
Coutts explained that the assault companies: 513 PIR, I Co., “World War II: Battle of the Bulge and Rhine Jump,” E10.
The Nazis ground attack commenced: 17ABN, “Operational Diary,” 25.
A mortar shell killed Able’s radio operator: Ben Scherer, Soldiers and Brothers Under the Canopy, 86.
Eyes wide, MacFarlane nodded and scrambled: Ibid. The machine gun position was manned by Privates Ken Eyres, Joe Timinski, and John Peagler.
Private Noah Jones found himself: Ibid., 134.
Cochrane’s Shermans plastered them: Edwin Castagna, History of the 771st Tank Battalion, 61.
As the three-man mortar squad: Ben Scherer, Soldiers and Brothers Under the Canopy, 134.
Daylight confirmed what they’d suspected: Ibid., 65, and 17ABN, “Operational Diary,” 24.
The tanks ceased fire at 08:00: 513 PIR, I Co., “World War II: Battle of the Bulge and Rhine Jump,” E30.
Fifteen troopers were cut down: Ibid.
Lieutenant Dean Swem’s platoon advanced: Ibid.
“maniacal frenzy”: Ibid.
The Thirteeners pressed their attack: Ibid., E31.
The last remaining obstacle: Ibid.
To crack it the Thirteeners called: 466 PFAB, “History of the 466th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion,” 3.
George Holdren, who’d been advancing: George Holdren, WWII Memoir, 47.
they were Volkssturm troops: Ibid., 47.
At the cost of three wounded troopers: 513 PIR, I Co., “World War II: Battle of the Bulge and Rhine Jump,” E31.
“there were only about fourteen”: George Holdren, WWII Memoir, 47.
Coutts had suffered thirteen KIA: 17ABN, “17th Airborne Casualty Rate, Daily By Unit.”
Was she a frightened German: George Holdren, WWII Memoir, 48.
He craned skyward as Messerschmitts and Spitfires: Ibid., 46.
“the necessity of that sort of thing”: Ibid., 47. The burning of houses is also discussed in Ted Velikoff, “Velikoff Diary,” 54.
A search of the house: George Holdren, WWII Memoir, 48.
“There is evidence of considerable looting”: 17ABN, “Looting Memorandums.”
“personnel of this command are ransacking”: 17ABN, “After Action Report for HQ, Apr. 2, 1945,” Inspector General’s Section.
“I have personally seen and stopped”: 17ABN, “Looting Memorandums.”
“This part of Germany wasn’t hurt much”: John Yanok, History 155th Airborne Anti-Tank, Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 35. This was Lieutenant Colonel Bill Paddock, CO of the 155th.
Using tanks and artillery: “Diary of B Co.—194th Glider Infantry,” March 26, 1945.
All told they bagged 250 prisoners: 194 GIR, “Misc. Varsity Documents,” 8, and 17ABN, “17th Airborne Casualty Rate, Daily By Unit.”
Captain George Streukens and his men captured a creamery: George L. Streukens, “Personal Manuscript, 194 GIR,” 8.
The Ruffians, despite constant shelling: 507 PIR, “Varsity Narrative.”
On Montgomery’s right flank, the US 30th: Ibid.
“assigned objectives for operation”: Ibid.
Captain Ernest Carpenter needed a drink: Accounts of Carpenter and Wienczak based on Edmund A. Wienczak, personal diary.
One of the patients was a Ruffian: Ibid. The Ruffian was Joesph Kowalski.
The medics had been ferrying: 224 AMC, “224th Airborne Medical Company, Inclosure 24.”
Braving stray artillery rounds: Ibid.
As such the wounded were lifted: Ibid.
They arrived at the 17th Airborne Division’s aid station: William B. Breuer, Storming Hitler’s Rhine, 276.
The clearing medics loaded up: 224 AMC, “224th Airborne Medical Company, Inclosure 24.”
When the Rhine bridges opened up: Ibid.
The patients’ first stop: Everett C. Johnston, CMH, “WWII Veteran Survey.”
Care stations had been organized: Bill Tom, untitled article, 8.
“There was no discrimination”: Quinn A. Whiting, “Memories of World War II,” 9.
A grievously wounded paratrooper: Ibid., 9.
The announcer declared: XVIII Corps (ABN), “Periodic Reports,” a review of German broadcasts.
The two airborne divisions’ three-day: 17ABN, “Operational Diary,” 25, and XVIII Corps (ABN), “Operation Varsity,” 6.
“there is nothing left”: Lewis Brereton, The Brereton Diaries, 407.
Brereton . . . uncharacteristic visit: Ibid., 408.
Ridgway had the operation well in hand: FAAA press release dated March 26, 1945, FLP, CMH.
“Have not received any copy”: FAAA, “Outgoing Messages, 13–31MAR45,” March 24, 1945.
“Okay, fellows, unload y
our rifles”: Lewis Brereton, The Brereton Diaries, 408.
“disregard . . . to obtain maximum exploitation”: Matthew B. Ridgway, “An Airborne Corps Operations,” 7.
“Advance to Dorsten. This is a pursuit”: John C. Warren, “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater,” 190.
“Their columns sometimes resembled”: Edwin Castagna, History of the 771st Tank Battalion, 63.
To take advantage of: Brian Jewell, Over the Rhine, 45.
The Thirteeners served as: Ibid., 45. The Thirteeners served as infantry support for the British 6th Guards Armored Brigade, the Ruffians went to XIX Corps (Guards Armored Brigade), and the glider riders were farmed out to the 95th Infantry Division.
Simultaneously, American units having: Matthew B. Ridgway, Soldier, 138.
“sporadic and rang[ing] from”: Kurt Gabel, Making of a Paratrooper, 266.
“They [the Germans] were in the woods”: Ben Scherer, Soldiers and Brothers Under the Canopy, 134.
“a long, unwieldy, weapon”: Richard W. Homan, “Donations Needed for Memorial to Pendleton County WWII Hero.”
VARSITY was his second: War Department, untitled press release.
Hedrick’s squad, according to: Ibid.
“It makes no difference”: Ibid.
When the glider riders rallied: Richard W. Homan, “Donations Needed for Memorial to Pendleton County WWII Hero.”
Hedrick’s father was later: War Department, untitled press release.
In the month of April: Rick Atkinson, The Guns at Last Light (Henry Holt and Company, LLC, 2013), 596.
On the outskirts of town: Ben Scherer, Soldiers and Brothers Under the Canopy, 6.
Münster was taken on: FAAA, “History of Headquarters,” 88.
Thad Blanchard, leading his squad: Thad Blanchard, letter to the author, February 12, 2007.
The Ruffians’ commander, Edson Raff: Dominique François, The 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 80.
With the reassignment of: FAAA, “History of Headquarters,” 88. The 17th Airborne was assigned to the XIII Corps, while the 6th Airborne went to VII Corps.
The 300-mile journey: OSS, “Covering Report 1–15 April 45.”
Team Alsace had been found: Ibid.
Helmut Steltermann had been evacuated: OSS, Stephen P. Vinciguerra, “Field Report from ETO.”
Four Hours of Fury Page 50
