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O V E R S E A S . W I T H

HEADQUARTERS BATTERY
119TH ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLERY GUN BATTALION
(MOBILE)

Prepared and Edited by

RAYMOND L. STEVENS
RICHARD A. SCOTT
ROBERT V. LARSEN
ROY K. SWARINGEN
KENNETH W. RAU
PAUL V. TUCKER
and other members of the Headquarters Battery

Illustrations
by
DAVID BODZIN

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- FORWARD -

After many weeks spent at Camp Cooke, California, during which time we received our final furlough, spent many enjoyable hours "toughening up" at the Service Club and generally prepared out equipment for overseas, finally came "THE DAY." On March 18, 1944, under extreme secrecy (approximately a dozen wives of the battery members were at train to see us off) we left Camp Cooke enroute east, destination unknown. However, rumors emanating from the wives at the train gave every indication that our destination was Camp Shanks, New York. How did they know? Leaving Camp Cooke we headed south going through Los Angeles and our old stamping grounds at San Bernardino. The first section headed east on the southern route, while the second section continued south on the extreme southern route by way of New Orleans. At that time little did we know that we would all someday go through the "Old Orleans". The main activities on the train were poker, wrestling, and whistling at the girls at every station along the way. Hopes soared in the boys in the last four cars of the second section as the cars they were riding in stopped abruptly in the middle of the vast expanse of Texas (our sister ally In the "Big War"), when a coupling broke. Visions of unauthorized passes to the nearby town passed through their heads. Some of the more optimistic dreamed of Los Angeles and the bright lights of San Francisco, but all were dashed to pieces as the first hald did to the rear march and came back to retrieve their loss. And so it goes, their fates were sealed. It was Port of Embarkation, come hell or high water or broken couplings.

On 23 March 44 both sections arrived at Camp Shanks, New York, where we underwent an unscheduled physical endurance test when we had to carry all of our equipment, including duffel bags, up the hill to our barracks. At Camp Shanks we checked all equipment and generally prepared for overseas movement. This included a new series of shots and a very rugged physical. At this physical all men were required to strip down and walk through a long room. If they came to the end of the room and were able to "AH', they passed. Our battery was in such fine physical condition that we passed 100 percent. On the morning of 30 March 1944, we boarded a Hudson River Ferryboat and steamed majestically down stream to the New York Harbor where, to the strains of martial music furnished by a WAC band, we boarded the former luxury liner RMS MAURETANIA. The next morning, 31 March 1944 at 0600, we sailed out of the harbor and got our last look at the "OLD LADY" with the torch through the morning mist.

Finally after nine days and ten nights, March 31 to April 8 1944, an American tug and a British Pilot Boat loomed out of the fog, and we guided into Liverpool Docks. We got our first look at the English girls as they sailed by in ferry boats. They seemed to be just as shy and retiring as our orientation talks had led us to believe. They seemed to be very conscious of the fact because each one had a panting GI at her side to give her instructions for mending her ways. We were of course very much impressed by our first sight of England, appearing very majestically from the upper decks of the RMS MAURETANIA. After that sea voyage any land would look majestic. We staggered off the ship at 0200 Easter Morning, carrying all of our equipment, which included a full field pack, an over-stuffed bag, complete with rifle, steel helmet and overcoat. Some of the unfortunates were dragging battalion records behind them. In spite of the early hour of the morning we were treated to a little touch of America in the form of American Red Cross girls who served coffee and doughnuts. We boarded a dehydrated something which in England passes for a public conveyance, and known to us as a train. It was so small it took considerable squeezing and wiggling to get into our compartments with our equipment on. Then came the task of removing our packs and making ourselves comfortable for our train trip.

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IN 1940 singer Tom Jones was born in PONTYPRIDD, WALES

The train headed south arriving at the very picturesque town of Pontypridd, South Wales. The followed three of the most enjoyable weeks our battery has ever spent. The Welsh people proved to be least as hospitable as any we had met before or have since. The most important thing here was to equip and prepare the battalion for operations. For once we were issued equipment that we didn't have to scrape paint or shine immediately. Since it wasn't clothing there was no question of fit, so everyone was happy. It was here that we were introduced to English beer, fish and chips, and the very friendly Welsh Girls. We also got our first taste of driving on the wrong side of the road, which resulted in our vehicles being driven mostly on the sidewalks and scattering the native to the bomb shelter every time they saw an American vehicle approaching.

On the 30th of April we kissed the girls goodbye and moved north by truck convoy to Camp Tonfanau, North Wales. We set up operations for Antiaircraft firing practice. For the first time we had a11 new equipment, and as a result we were able to break all previous firing records at the camp. After chasing the sheep out of huts and using plenty of water and elbow grease we were able to move in. We got lots of exercise every day, the mess hall being about a half mile from our quarters. The double British Summer Time made the days very long. The sun never set until eleven O'clock in the evening and was up again at four AM next morning. There were many recreational facilities at the camp including a movie five nights a week and dances and stage shows the other two nights. Of course most of us didn't appreciate the English humor so we didn't enjoy the shows very much. It must have been the girls that kept us going.

We cannot proceed without a word about the interesting group of English Soldiers we ever met - the ATS Gals. Their most principal duty was to aim the Antiaircraft defenses at the camp, if necessary, and to assist in the training of the troops. To us, however, this was their secondary mission. The primary one was to attend the dances and., when the occasion permitted, to hold hands with us. You realize, of course, we had to seal Anglo-American Relations. Several applied for transfer were turned down. The boys must have figured that in ATS they had much better chances to get ahead.

On the 27th of May we moved by truck to Senny Bridge near Brecon. Here we practiced firing Field Artillerv. There we no buildings to live in so drug out the old pup tents and set them up. The weather reminded the California boys of home. Some of us had inflated rubber mattresses so we didn't mind too much. One thing did annoy us though, and that was floating out of our tents at three or four o'clock in the morning. However, California sunshine in large doses can sometimes float the Queen Mary.

The 1st of June 1944 we moved from Senny Bridge to Dunham New Park near Altrincham and Manchester. Here we cleaned up all the equipment and put a training schedule into operation. While we were here we enjoyed passes to Manchester, which proved to be a good town for GIs to spend a pass. There were plenty of Pubs (English for bars), movies and good Red Cross Club. The Red Cross arranged dances and other entertainment for the boys. Also, while we were here we received the news that we had all been waiting for - THE INVASION WAS ON. It commenced early on the morning of June 6th, 1944 but we weren't too surprised because gliders and planes had been overhead all day in enormous numbers. The time was here, and there would be no more passes or loafing. In spite of this fact, the spirit of the entire outfit went sky-high and everyone wondered how we would react to our first day of combat.

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We moved to Nettlebed in the vicinity of Oxford on June 20th, 1944, to waterproof our equipment. For the first time, we were within easy range of German fighter planes. Luckily none came over. They did send first cousins, the Buzz Bomb, however. It was here that the Krauts could have stopped General Patton if they had only known. The old 119th would have been easy prey. We just couldn't get any sleep here because we were annoyed by the Air Raid Alarms all through the night.

The day before the 4th of July 1944 found us still waterproofing near Portland Harbour and Weymouth. DEMPSY BULL was "like a chicken with its head cut off" inspecting vehicles and demanding that five more pounds of that stuff be jammed into that bolt hole. JIM KING put everything under his Radar. It wasn't until he was in Germany for the first time that he finally go the last of it off.

On the 6th of July 1944 we were loaded into some LSTs (four of them for the battalion) and the big adventure was on. We spent that night in the harbor and caught the moon tide and headed across the English Channel for the Coast of France. The Channel was choppy but not rough and the food on the LST was excellent with coffee being available twenty-four hours a day. The barrage balloon attached to the LST cut down the knots considerably so it wasn't until the afternoon of the 8th of July 1944 that we sighted France.

Our heats skipped a beat as we passed Omaha Beach, the bloodiest beach of the invasion. We sighted Utah Beach in a short while but had to lay off shore waiting for the tide. We waited we looked and thought. The improvised breakwater of sunken ships and the floating debris gave mute evidence of the tremendous job those boys faced on D-Day. Much of the evidence of the battle had been removed but here and there a twisted gun, a battered helmet, a blown up pillbox remained. It was hallowed soil on which we were going to waIk in a few hours. Hallowed by American blood and bought by American lives and suffering. It was a smiling, joking group that landed that afternoon but deep down inside we were awed by the great deeds accomplished there, and the greater men who accomplished them. We finally got clearance and landed. The ll9th AAAA Gun Bn (MBL) assigned to the Third United States Army and attached to the First United States Amy had landed in France on D plus 32 days for the final examination to determine how well it had learned the lesson taught in a half dozen training camps behind it. From here on in, it wasn't for practice.

The waterproofing activity proved to be unnecessary. The Navy obviously wanted to keep the sea to themselves and deposited us high and dry on the beach. The next stop was to de-waterproof all the equipment, which was accomplished immediately with our first night of bivouac passing uneventful in the neighborhood of Picauville, a small town that bore many scars of battle.

The Gun Batteries moved out of Picauville on the 11th of July 1944 and Headquarters Battery moved one day later. The destination was La Cuiroterie and our mission was Antiaircraft defense of the rear installations of the VIII Corps to which we were attached. Our first mission was accomplished with great success, perhaps due to the fact that the enemy never showed themselves. We did get to know the old nighthawk of the airways "Bed Check Charley" however. He came over the first night to pay his respects but he was rather bashful and never came within bailing distance. The 15th of July arrived and with it "march order"'. Since the Krauts wouldn't fly we were assigned the mission of reinforcing the ground fire of the VIII Corps Artillery. The Germans figured we had been around long enough to meet their famous "88" and they lost no time in the introduction. Foxholes appeared out of nowhere and the Pennsylvania boys lead the pack; their experience at home was of a benefit to them now. Lt Col MICKELSON, our commanding officer, got word that collaborators were spotting for the Krauts artillery and figured it would be a good time to move. On the 23rd of June 1944 we moved to a safer position and here we found out what it is like to referee a wild wrestling match. Our artillery was behind us and the German artillery was in front of us. As the shells passed over us, going in both directions, we prayed there would be no short rounds in the batch.

Around this time it was discovered that cider was excellent preventative for dandruff and hangnails and it was immediately added to our Table of Equipment, strictly for medical purposes.

The breakthrough at St Lo had not yet been affected and the American Army was crowded together in a comparatively small area. Almost any enemy shell fired over the area would be a hit or near hit for some outfit, but the luck of the 119 held out. The "peper hangers" zeroed in on an engineer Outfit in the field next to ours and our medics went over to assist the wounded while they were still under fire. The supply sergeant had a lot of salvage in the form of shell-perforated equipment. Only one man from a letter was hit but not seriously. So far our casualties were lettered battery men who were wounded seriously by a land mine.

We settled down and did some effective harassing fire at junctions, troop concentrations and supply dumps. On the 26th of June 1944 the VIII Corps Drive started. We commenced firing at H-Hour (0537) in support of this drive. It seemed that every American gun on the continent had something big to say all wanted to say it at the same time. It was the Artillery, the Air Corps and Artillery again, the tanks and the Infantry. That day is history now. The break-through was accomplished and the liberation of France was longer in doubt. The Third Army, which was publicly announced the day before, was not destined to be stopped for many miles to come. The 119th AAA Battalion fired 8080 rounds of 90mm Ammunition in this artillery grounds mission at LaHaye DuPuits. 1558 rounds of this total were fired on 137 missions on July 26th 1944, the day the drive started. 1400 rounds were fired in the first 55 minutes of the initial barrage and as a result of this we were nicknamed the "Shot Gun Battalion" by the Commanding General of VIII Corps.

On the 30th of July 1944 the alarm of "march order'' arrived again and we started for Avranches, "the hub of France", and an Antiaircraft mission. When we neared the town we were informed that the town had been liberated so we spent this night a little south of Muneville Le Bingard. The guns weren't set up and the boys from Berlin were out in large numbers dropping flares, bombing and strafing roads. We did not have the usual one gun available, which was always waiting to extend a cordial greeting to old "Bed Check Charley". The last day of the month found us still on the move.

A bivouac was spent south of Contance. As the month of August 1944 dawned we set out with determination to reach Avrances and finally go there but at a tremendous price - not in money but otherwise. On the road between Sartilly and our destination, a bombed bridge caused a costly traffic jam. Eight FW-190s came into spread the welcome mat for us and up and down the convoy. They killed two enlisted and wounded fourteen men in the battalion. It was during this air raid that Torrance Cosgriff lost his life. Three of the planes were accounted for by 50mms. The equipment was scarred in places but not damaged seriously. Real war was coming close and we realized it.

The Battalion mission at Avranches was the defense of the bridge outside of town. The Krauts were really unhappy about that bridge. They spent most of the night trying to do something about it. The bridge was still there in the morning however and with it some assorted scrap contributed by the Luftwaffe. To add to the spice of life, snipers insisted on holding target practice and several of those boys sniped no more in the morning.

Headquarters Battery moved in the morning. It was decided that the side of the road, which was the subject of discussion the night before, was not the best place to insure a night sleep in the future. Anyway, the cider cans might be punctured. So we moved to a Chateau up on the hill - to, not in. A hole in the good old ground was more appealing in those days.

The next two nights were the same story, but things were getting dull with all this bombing and strafing so we sent out a reconnaissance party. They got a moonlight job on the road to Rennes, our next destination. As usual as we came near the town we were informed that the Yanks had not gotten that far yet.

Instead of gambling we played this one safe. We followed the 4th and 6th Armored Divisions through St James down to Rennes, which they bypassed. When we pulled into town the boys were crouching along the streets flushing out snipers and de-mining bridges. In spite of this however, the civilians in town turned out in mass production. Flowers were heaped on our vehicles and were found in button holes and on helmets. Wine, champagne and cognac flowed like lemonade at the circus. Between the shots of the FFI, who were "dusting off" collaborators, cute mademoiselles hugged and kissed every available GI. If anyone went flowerless, drinkless or kissless, it was his own fault. It was one of those French welcomes that make headlines in "Life".

The Krauts floated in to quietly bomb the target - the city itself. Boy they were surprised to find 90s there. They insisted for the next few nights and we detained 6 of the planes for souvenirs. After that only occasional sniper activity annoyed us. Several French girls strolled through the area selling "honey" to give the place a touch of local color and they did a "land office" business.

The announcement of unit transfer was officially let out. We had been transferred from the First Army and were directly assigned the Third Army with "Blood and Guts" Patton as of August 1st 1944.

The weather was really excellent and along about this time green apples were ready for throwing so on the 16th of August we pulled up stakes at Rennes and headed for Le Mans. Sure enough the sun felt swell and the green apples were thrown all along the way, which took us through Vitre and Laval. Le Mans was part of the main supply route and we were defending the city itself. The presence of the I.A.Z. handcuffed us, however, as there were several unidentified planes in the area but we did not fire a round. The tubes of the guns were no longer "red hot babies" but as cool as cucumbers now.

The next move on the 17th of August 1944 brought us to Epuisay and the defense of the 4th Armored Division gas dump. There was no enemy action but to compensate for this we played soldier and did close order drill. It was getting to be a rough war.

After four days of "right face, left face, fall on your face, march," we started off on another truck convoy. This time we found ourselves going for the town of Montargis. We passed an uneventful bivouac near Cercottes, and after two days moved to Moulon and more bivouacs. The VII Corps was still arguing with the Krauts over Montargis. They settled the dispute on the 24th of August and we moved in. Our mission was Antiaircraft defense of the river crossings and main supply route in the city.

The War moved quickly and in a few days we were some fifty miles behind the lines. Up came the fighting 207th Group and with it came the order to dig fox holes - fifty miles behind the lines we were then. Pretty rugged soldiers those 207th boys. Montargis was a rest though and a much needed rest. The boys got passes to town and caught up on the good things of life that were available. Enemy action was slight and our trucks hauled Infantry up front and prisoners on the return trip to the rear.

Next came Sens. We arrived on the last day of August 1944 and set up Antiaircraft defense of the main supply route. Enemy action was light again, but a much bigger enemy was starting to push its head over the horizon. The gasoline shortage began. It was getting harder and harder to procure every hour.

On the 2nd of September 1944 we set off on a 95-mile trip over the same route our Dads took when they moved into the Marner Battle Area during the last war. The destination was Epernay and Reims and the mission was again Antiaircraft defense. We did very little firing but drowned our sorrows in tubs full of Champagne at Reims. It was here that champagne successfully occupied the position that cider did a few weeks earlier.

We got priority on gas and continued on to Verdun on the 5th of September 1944. However by some oversight somebody had neglected to capture Verdun so we set down for a bivouac at Clermont. Along the way the boys visited the old German trenches of the last war. This was at LaForet de la Montagne. Our area was on the edge of the Argonne Forest. The names were getting more familiar all the time. Dads and Uncles used to talk about the places and we wondered if they felt the same as we did. We hoped we were the last Americans who would have to trod these roads with guns and rifles.

Our Battalion was fortunate and in the Monument of Verdon our name was inscribed in the Golden Book of Verdun.

Two days later the battalion split, A and B Batteries headed for bridges over the Moselle south of Metz, and C and D Batteries for the bridges at Thionville. En route it was discovered that neither town was taken, as usual. Somebody slipped again. HQ Battery moved on the 9th of Sept 1944 to Chambley and set down in the mud until the 4th of October 1944. I don't think that anybody will forget the "mudhole".

The lack of gas and stiffening German resistance brought the headlong
dash across France to a stop. Matz held and so did Thionville for a while. Our letter batteries moved right up on the lines and supplemented the XX Corps Artillery. At time it got pretty hot for those boys. They fired right down the Krauts throats and the Krauts weren't bashful about firing back (Hill 350). The battalion really went to town in the "rounds expended* department. We fired Antiaircraft, Field Artillery and Flak Lines.

About the only guy capable of bringing the war to a short halt was in the vicinity. BING CROSBY moved in and treated us to our first continental USO show. We drove about 10 miles and stood for almost 2 hours in the rain to see and hear it. Some lads in the audience drove about three times as far and were really wet. But in all the rain-soaked audience there wasn't a guy who wouldn't have done it again. Bing's casual "come today go today" manner plus a swell show brought the states a whole lot closer that afternoon.

October 4th 1944 found Headquarter Battery in Dommartin. We finally got out of the mud, but the letter battery boys were still wearing out tubes. We set up a Gun Operations Room at C and D Batteries for Field Artillery firing. The ammunition trucks were wearing out tires rushing up the "calling cards", the communications section spent the time looking for breaks in the lines and keeping intelligence flowing smoothly. Yes sir, everybody and his uncle was busy twenty four hours a day. Watching the buzz bomb gave the boys a little diversion, but when one landed in the next outfit's area and blew the shingles off a house and reduced a trailer to vacuum cleaner material the watching turned to sweating.

Armistice Day brought Headquarters Battery to Rodemack. This move was pretty tricky. It completely confused the Krauts. In fact, it confused everybody connected with it. We set out from Dommartin for Luxembourg and got there. Since that was so easy, they let us stay put for an hour and a half, just long enough to unload the equipment. Then we got "march order" for Rodemack. We stayed there one day, just long enough for somebody to misplace the radar spare parts. For further information see "hard luck" Jim King.

The next day, 12 November 1944, will long be remembered and revered in Headquarters Battery history. We arrived at Hettange-Grande. By the 17th the entire battalion was in position to defend an Antiaircraft way the bridges at Thionville. C and D Batteries had started out for their positions originally on Sept 7ths. From that date until the 17th the Battalion had distinguished itself once more as the "Shot Gun Battalion". The Field Artillery firing was really good. They hit trains, repair crews and forts and in the dull moments hit chow lines, latrines and broke up Kraut beer parties. The Germans learned to respect the 90s as we respected their 88s.

But to get on with the story about Hettange-Grande. For the first time we were quartered in buildings. Several sections established their headquarters in bar rooms, but the Communications Section was the only one that had beer on tap to soothe their haggard nerves. The towns people went all out for the lads. Nothing was too good for them. This mecca of wine, women and song catered to the taste of everyone.

On December 6th 1944 we sadly tore ourselves away from Hettange and moved into Germant. Leidingen was the town, a sleepy little farming village that squatted right down the boundary between France and Germany and drooped over both sides. True to their French traits, the farmers piled their wealth in the front yards right on what passed for the main street. Once more we were in buildings and after a few weeks this caused a problem. The troops couldn't live in the same house as civilians in Germany. The problem was solved by moving all the civilians out of one house where the officers and motor pool slept, and moving some of the lads in the other sections across the street to France. That main drag was a lot more than a boundary between France and Germany. Interior decorations were liberated from Saarlautern and to a stranger it would be a question whether the Gestapo or Americans were occupying some of the rooms. The mess hall was the village school and we ate at the desks. It certainly was fun to see some tall guy with a heaping mess kit trying to slip, or wiggle into a first grade seat. The Motor Pool did everything but publish a timetable for buses to Hettange-Grande. That was the best thing about the village-- it was close to Hettange-Grande.

Our mission was the defense of the Saarlautern bridge against air attack. The Kraut guns were pretty active when we first arrived and a lot of heavy stuff went past us. Our own 155s were behind us. So once more we were the "hot dog" between the roll. It's lucky nobody decided to put mustard on the "hot dog".

THEN CAME THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE.

The Battalion sent out trucks to haul the 5th Division out of Saarlautern up to Luxembourg to join in the ack-ack. A and B Batteries moved on Christmas Day to positions at Metz. These were the same positions they started out for September 7th 1944. Rumors and alerts for German parachute troops were quite numerous and every body in the area was strictly "on the ball". P-47s with Nazi designs flew over Christmas Day and at least two of them didn't fly back. C and D Batteries held at Saarlautern while A and B Batteries moved into the bulge area for New Years Day. Around this time the front at Saarlautern was being held by the 95th Division reinforced by the 119th.

New Year's Eve brought a resounding volley from every gun on the front and on New Year's Day the Krauts returned our greeting with a flock of flying M.E. 109s. One came in so low that the pilot thumbed his nose at us. We got in a few bursts from the 50 calibers on the trucks, but they came and went so fast we didn't do much damage. However the letter batteries, who we setting on higher ground were able to bring their 50s on them sooner, and there was more junk in the surrounding country side.

As the thrust of the bulge faded, things began to ease off somewhat. The Krauts got tired of flying over our positions. We gave them the same treatment we dished out back around Thionville, therefore, it was hardly a profitable investment from their point of view. The motor pool kept busy hauling Infantry and one thing or another. At Arlon, Belgium, where A and B Batteries were located, a runaway A-20 plane cost the life of one of the drivers, the likeable BENEVEDES.

After months of trying we finally got a crew for the Headquarters Battery Radar. On February 8th 1944 they dragged the "old cheese box" out to Oberfelsburg to support for the 26th Division Artillery who had by this time relieved the 95th Division.

The shells came in too often and too close after a while so they moved over to Berus on the same ridge and still searched Saarlautern, The boys had a nice house all to themselves with a wonderful view of the Siegfried Line. The 65th Division relieved the Yankee Division and our trucks hauled them. They were just off the boat and rode jeeps with their rifles at high port. More than once our wire patrol, skidded gleefully over the preensward, scandalized then with their lack of Air Guards.

The radar boys needed a little faster firing than division artillery could give, so C and D Batteries were enlisted and they did the firing. Those poor Krauts driving into Saarlautern on a foggy night were sure surprised. In fact we learned later that the life insurance premiums for Kraut truck drivers in became very expensive.

Then one bright morning the artillery started in on the Krauts in earnest, the Infantry pushed off and kept right on smashing through the Siegfried Line and past it. The front was moving. On March 25th 1944. Headquarters, C and D Batteries hit the road again and moved up to Beurig, across the river from Saarburn, to protect the bridge. A and B Batteries were already there. There wasn't any activity from the enemy there at all. He was too busy watching where he ran to look back. Our wine stock hit a new low during the winter and at Saarburg we "happened" to find a wine cellar. When we floated out of Daarburg after a three-day stay, life was once more beautiful and bleary.

Mainz was next on the list. On the 28th March 1944 the letter batteries were on the banks of the Rhine, and Headquarters Battery was a few miles to the rear at Winterheim. For once we moved in to protect a town that was already captured, but there was some question about a bridge. It seemed that the Germans objected to the Americans using anything but the regular bridge in town. That was all right with us but the Krauts had removed the center spans of each before they left.

While the Infantry and Engineers banged away at the bridge building, the Hitler boys threw everything over. Mortars rained down on the gun batteries and 88s were coming in close to Headquarters Battery. Several entrenching tools were dragged out and they were needed before the bridge was finished, Six hours after snipers had been cleared from the east bank of the river the radar boys dragged out their box again and set it down on the bank of the river for their own special 'Watch of the Rhine". Headquarters Battery moved into swell quarters just outside of Mainz itself on Easter Sunday and as the war rolled on, they played softball. That pontoon bridge was pretty important, but it was the weak link in the chain of supply. The Engineers started to build a couple of real bridges across the river and one eventually became the biggest bridge built in the ETO. In the meantime, the 119th and 411th defended what they had. The guns watched for aircraft and Headquarters radar swept the river for floating mines. The Krauts kept right on running and caused no trouble. We sent several patrols into to town to look for snipers and had remarkable luck. We captured two wine cellars and our beverage stocks soared once more.

The war kept on rolling and the wine cellars were giving out so we hit the road for Wurzburg and arrived on April 21st 1944. Headquarters Battery was at Westheim, about five miles out of town. The Colonel decided that we were going to rough it out so up went the tents and down came the tents. The violent sneezing and coughing whenever the "old man" was around brought no relief, but finally the "old boy" caught cold himself (probably the only real cold in the bunch) and we moved into buildings. The mission was the defense of the bridge in Wurzburg. The Luftwaffe knocked out a pontoon bridge the night we arrived and tried to improve their score on several nights thereafter. They came in low so only the machine boys got a crack at them. We never did get one and they did raise a hell on the roads. We liberated a wine cellar in Wurzburg but the loot was just enough to tide us over.

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On April 29th, 1944, we set out to catch up with the front in earnest. We spent the night of April 29th at Gaimersheim just outside Ingolstadt in a brick factory. The next day we crossed the Danube River and pulled into our last tactical position of the day.

The Battalion mission was the defense of the river crossings across the Isar River. The gunmen were moderately busy and celebrated the no fire order of the 8th by knocking down three planes. The Krauts made the old mistake of firing first instead of last. The War ended at 0001 on the 9th of April 1944 and we ceased operation at 0536 hours. We observed the end of hostilities by 'march order". The destination was Biburg, a wonderful place to recover from a nervous breakdown and the best place in the world to develop one. Here we did final scraping and painting and learned our future fates, which is another story. While at Biburg, the action was light with only a few minor casualties.

You can now understand why we all have combat fatigue, can't you? After all, we have been through the war and it was a helluva war, wasn't it?

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B U R I A L S

TORRANCE D. COSGRIFF
United States Military Cemetary in Blosville, France
Plot W
Row 2
Grave 32

ELMO E. BENEVEDES
United States Military Cemetary Number 1
Grand Failly, France
Plot K
Row 6
Grave 148

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PRINTERS NOTES
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.....Due to lack of time in which to properly compile and prepare material for this book, and also to the redeployment of original Battery personnel, it has become impossible to take advantage of private printing facilities. Therefore, in order to have Battery History, the editors have given their time to prepare mimeograph stencils for a quick production by the only means left available.

.....For differences in size and color of issue paper, and lack of technical knowledge of mimeographing, the printer apologizes for any defects in printing.

.....While proofreading, naturally the printer couldn't help but notice the absence of recognition of the forgotten section. While not actually a section, as it was a function of S-3, it operated more or less independent of any section.

.....Always on duty twenty-four hour a day, seven days a week. It's personnel consisting of only two men, were out of the sack at sunrise to carry the night's reports to our Group headquarters, which might be anywhere from five to one hundred miles distance. Disregarding the weather and time of day or night, where communications were cut, to deliver messages thru rain, snow, mud, pitch-black nights, and fair sunny weather, to any Battery or higher headquarters, anywhere at anytime.

.....Regarded as a "Red Headed stepchild" of the army, the Message Center consists actually of one buck Sgt., nothing more. All equipment and transportation had to be begged, borrowed, stolen, or improvised. What orders were given, the job was completed.

.....Also not to be forgotten, is the well known Bn mailman "T-5 Stirling" (any mail today?). No, he couldn't help it if our mail didn't arrive from the states in seven days, or that your Xmas parcels came in July.

.....From the beaches to Biburg, "Scotty" was on duty seven days a week. For weeks at a time the round trip for our mail was over tow hundred miles. Regardless of the weather or road conditions our mail did come thru (eventually).

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MEDICAL DETACHMENT

.....The Medics of your Battalion have one common goal in mind and that is to see to it that all men of this organization get the best medical treatment available and to see to it that all casualties have the best of medical care and get into the fastest chain of evacuation hospitals so that they may have the proper treatments and care of higher echelons of Medicine and Surgery.

.....During the first part of this year the weather was very cold, damp and almost unbearable at times. For that reason the Medics saw to it that those men developing respiratory diseases were properly cared for to eliminate the possibility of hospitalization and a loss to the this great organization. At the Battalion Aid Station, the Medics set up a small hospital for those of severe respiratory diseases so that a more vigilant medication could be had for the benefit. Through this vigilance, that lasted 24 hours a day during the inclement weather, the Battalion was saved the loss of many valuable men and Officers.

.....On the may moves that the Batteries made they have had different encounters with enemy weapons of war. The Medic in your Battery performed his duty with the least concern for himself and his only thought in mind was to see to it that the casualties were cared for first. This notation brings us to the incident of 25 March 1945. On this date, Batteries "C" and "D" were protecting the bridges of Saarlautern, Germany. This place was mined to the inch and it so happened that a soldier from another outfit was lying in one of these dangerous mine fields. Tech-5 Walter Dye and Tech-4 William Garvin, Aid Men of Batteries "C" and "D" respectively, were called upon to treat the wounded man. These two Medics of your Battalion knew the circumstances of danger that surrounded the probability of getting this wounded man to safety and in readiness of proper evacuation. The two Medics had a one second discussion of what to do. Disregarding their own safety and thinking only of the wounded man lying in agony in the minefield, they proceeded to administer first aid. Their mission was accomplished but the resulting action of the courageous efforts was that both Medics were wounded. Through the courageous leadership of Captain Kaplan, who was also present at that time as the Battalion Dental Surgeon, all men were given emergency Medical treatment and evacuated.

.....Your medics wish the thank the Officers and Enlisted Men of your Battalion for the cooperation that they have shown in their part of the care of the sick and wounded in the past, present and future. We know that without that cooperation the things that have been accomplished by the Medics could not have been possible.

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S-1 SECTION

.....Remember how those boys used to sit there pecking at that typewriter until the early hours of the morning had come? Their work never ended but they were forced to take time out to eat, sleep and rest occasionally.

.....This section was the one that handled most of the administrative work of the Battalion. First it was Special Orders, Court Martials, General Orders, Letters, Endorsements, Applications, Reports and numerous other things that goes with the administrative work of a Battalion. It isn't an easy task by any means!

.....Those boys knew every man - where he was and what his job was. They always knew when something took place in the Battalion. In other words, they were the "Back bone" of the entire organization.

.....Their job was well done and even most of us do not realize the metal strain caused by long hours of endurance and hardships involved and placed on these men.

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S-2 SECTION

.....The S-2 Section during war time becomes one of the most important cogs in the war machine. For security and intelligence matters of a unit, we look to S-2 to provide that necessary information which will help to protect us against the enemy.

.....Top Secret, Secret and all other messages are taken through S-2 and decoded and the proper information disseminated to all units and higher echelons.

.....During the advance across France, information received from FFI and Civilians regarding troop movement and material were coordinated and sent to higher headquarters.

.....Enemy front lines were kept up to date by a situation map to enable the unit to tell just what was happening and how the general situation might affect us.

.....S-2 was responsible for all Signal Operation Instructions and cryptographic security. These consist of aircraft recognition signals, call signs, colors of the day, and authentication code keys. Without these instructions, we could not have operated and might have been fired on by our own planes.

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OPERATIONS SECTION (S-3)

.....In the Battalion's primary role of antiaircraft firing, the Gun Operations Room was essentially a coordinating center. To provide the necessary information enabling the batteries to compute accurate firing data, wind speeds and directions, air density and temperatures were collected from various sources and given to them at regular intervals. Constant radio contact was maintained with the Fighter Control Center controlling all fighter activity and antiaircraft Battalions on the entire front. Cease fire orders and, perhaps most important, the position, altitude, and direction of flight of all enemy or unidentified planes broadcast by the Fighter Control Center were relayed by the Gun Operations Room to the firing batteries. In turn, all information on enemy or unidentified planes picked up by our radars was relayed to the Fighter Control Center. In the event of multiple targets it was the duty of the men in the operations room to assign a target to each battery so that the best results could be obtained. To carry on this procedure a telephone or radio loop including all batteries was maintained constantly.

In the secondary but more interesting role of firing at ground targets the Gun Operations Room became a Fire Direction Center rather than a fire coordinating center. Firing data, involving the use of meteorological information, range, direction and altitude of the target above or below the guns, was computed by men selected with that duty in mind. For the major part of our field artillery firing the location and type of target and number of rounds desired were given to the Gun Operations Room by the Field Artillery Group or Battalion controlling the firing. It was the duty of the operations section to see that fire was delivered on target at the proper moment. However, during the early part of February the Headquarter Battery Radar was set up on a hill overlooking the valley across the Saar River. From then until the final push through Saarlautern it was the nightly duty of the operations and radar sections to search the roads leading into Saarlautern for moving vehicles and the fields near the town for guns and infantry activity. It was a great satisfaction to prepare firing data for a certain spot on a road and to see an oncoming vehicle stop there at the instant the rounds were supposed to hit or to see activity around a suspected enemy gun cease at the exact time the rounds were to burst there - even though the night was pitch black.

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BATTALION SUPPLY SECTION (S-4)

.....The biggest problem in this war or any war is supply. Without supplies an army is useless. Men must be properly fed, clothed and equipped to do their job. With those phases in mind the Battalion Supply Section tackled one of the most difficult tasks in the Battalion and accomplished their mission in an unprecedented manner.

.....From the 15th of March 1944 until the 7th of July 1944, many thousands of miles of British Isle's narrow, winding roads were traveled, many sleepless nights were endured pounding out shortage lists and untold difficulties encountered to make the 119th AAA Gun Bn (Mol) the best and most completely equipped unit to land on the continent of Europe during the initial stages of the Normandy Beachhead.

.....All through the big breakthrough that extended across the whole of Northern France, this Battalion ate regularly and was always ready to move although the ration and gas dumps were many, many miles behind us. There were times when the supply situation was very dark and seemingly impossible but through endless hours of work and numerous hardships the mission was successfully accomplished.

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COMMUNICATION SECTION

.....Have you ever used one of the telephones of this battery or sent a radio message? Headquarters Battery Communications Section had to assist you or actually this for you and they have kept busy continually throughout the long campaign. It is impossible to count the miles of wire laid and the number of hours that they have operated the switchboard and the radios. When we were on the race across France and actually in operations against the enemy this section had a continuous tour of duty, which never ended. Communications were available by some means at all times.

.....These boys deserve a lot of credit because they have done a very good job and have successfully performed a duty that was hard and strenuous.

PERSONNEL SECTION

.....An Amy consists mainly of just one composition, manpower. In the case of our huge army, this manpower ran into millions of men, in our own Battalion, it consisted of nearly a thousand. It is a tremendous job to handle such an enormous number of men, train them, watch over them, seeing that they have the correct number of medical shots to insure them a reasonable safety as far as health is concerned, take care of the never ending supply of food to feed these men, see that their personal matters with the folks at home are always taken care of, and mainly for the army itself there is a tremendous job to train and move all these men here and there in an orderly, efficient manner.

.....All of these staggering jobs are handled by one section of each unit, the Personnel Section of the Battalion. Personnel is a very descriptive word in naming this section. You, as members of the 119th, were always a predominate figure to us; the results of your training was our problem, your very accomplishment our business for your credit. If you became sick., we knew it and handled many reports to insure you the best of care, if you went on pass, we were the ones to work the details out so all you had to do was pick up your furlough papers and have a good time. In fact, if some of you had a little too good a time, we knew that too and had much to do for you about such incidents. If you wanted to send your folks money, we took rare of many details involving the safety and assurance that it reached home for you. And we know how familiar you all were with the many allotments, insurance applications, Bonds, etc you handled thru our efforts. Oh yes, and did you ever sign a payroll so all those foreign cigar coupons could be pocketed each month; yes it was the Personnel Section who religiously saw to it that financial affairs for every man were kept right up to date and that payrolls were completed so you did have that money, even though we all were right in the midst of the darkest days of battle. Of course too, there were many unhappy occasions for our Battalion throughout the days of conflict and some of you received wounds and injuries and some even paid the supreme sacrifice, never were we into your existence in a more personal manner than during those times. We looked after all types of affair for you, so that besides fighting your battles back to health, you had no other worries; we took care of those worries for you.

.....Whatever it thought of in regards of clerks and headquarters, we have had a Personnel Section that has been right in there with you every step of the way.

.....No, this is not a note from braggarts; you have probably taken for granted so many things about this battalion, because to you the problems were never big, we are glad they never were; when you are as busy as all of you were these past years, you don't want to have other things on your minds, but just the job at hand for you. Your carefreeness was your compliment to us, because it was then that we knew we were doing out job properly. We trust that we have helped all of you to your fullest desires in all matters we have been equipped to handle.

HEADQUARTERS SECTION

.....This part of the Battery takes in a good many things. It was the section that took care of all battery activities and knew what each man was doing and where he was. It also furnished supplies and other necessary personnel and items that were not included in any other particular section.

.....Remember the times that you were on K.P. or guard. This section had control of this. In a few words, this section was the "back bone" of the battery.

.....All administrative work, all PX rations - when they were distributed free, among many other thing were taken care of there.

.....Swell job those fellows did even if we didn't like what they did sometimes.

KITCHEN SECTION

.....Remember one motto of the Army, which is "The Army Travels On Its Stomach".

.....The kitchen prepared the food we needed to keep going and the cooks knew the fellows were happy when they were bitching about the chow. Sure, it was rough at times. You had to eat Ks, 10 in 1s and even when we were getting A rations it was rough. We were issued beans, beans, and more beans. But remember the meals of steak, chicken, roast beef and those other good things.

.....Remember those convoys! Wasn't it nice to pull into an area and have a meal of hot food after eating K rations all day. The kitchen was just taken for granted just as we took every other section for granted. The hardest job the kitchen had was keeping enough coffee made for Captain WALKER and to keep the guard from taking the good from the kitchen.

.....When we hit Normandy it was 10 in 1 rations for sometime. You hated to eat them and we hated to prepare them. Remember when we got our first ration of white bread on the continent? It was rationed to one slice per man. It had to be but you bitched and ate your one slice.

.....When we are all in civilian clothes we will look back and remember the G.I. chow. It really wasn't too bad, was it?

MOTOR POOL SECTION

....Our trucks have traveled over many, many miles of roads of various countries since the struggle began. Who do you think was responsible for, this? It was our Motor Pool Section. These fellows serviced the trucks that kept us rolling across England, France, Germany, and to the many other places of Europe that our travels have taken us. Besides keeping the Battalion rolling it also serviced the trucks that hauled numerous Infantry Divisions from place to place to engage in the battle.
.....Regardless of the weather conditions or the hardships involved these boys were right in there and always came through victorious. Plenty of credit is due those boys.

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