FIRST PLATOON COMPANY “A” (continued)

The following day the companies took a change in position where we were defending the northern exits of the Forest Du Vitrimont. On September 22^nd in axie we added another accomplishment to our list, here we knocked out an enemy O.P. which was reported to us by the 42^nd Cav., then at a Rochelle Farm in Bonniviller. Our direct and indirect firing improving more and more each time we fired. These defense positions were held for several days until September 25^th when we entered Einville at 0300. We found the town clear of enemy but filled with booby traps. In this area we received a much valued replacement for we had been short a man since England . On September 27^th we moved in East of the French town of Arracourt in direct support of the 10^th Armored Infantry. Here we had a taste of what was really was like. Our Company that day suffered the loss of 2 dead and 8 wounded. One of the dead was PFC Hall. PVT Beanblossom was one the wounded men. They both were from first Platoon.

However, before the day was over we had more then evened the score, thanks to the accuracy of the gunners. Our Platoon inflicted heavy casualties upon the enemy in their attempt to penetrate our lines. We fired both direct and indirect fire here. We withstood many days of the enemy’s continuous day by day sporadic artillery and mortar fire upon our then holding positions. On September 29^th we received new replacements to take place of our recently wounded. The next day we lost one halve track and one three inch gun due to the continuing artillery. On October 1^st we lost our ammunition trailer which was loaded with 3” ammo and Lt. Carnines extra 100 pairs of socks. PVT Ogden was wounded and evacuated on October 2^nd. During the night of October 4 and 5 an enemy patrol attacked our position. Daylight proved it had been a costly night for a certain patrol. We've lost another gun on October 7^th. At 1545 on October 12^th the Platoon was visited by the Battalion CO and at 1630 we were all stunned to hear he had been killed by an enemy land mine. The next few days were spent dodging the usual daily artillery shells. On October 25^th we decided it was our turn to throw a little steel around, so our gunners brought their gun sights on the church steeples at Bazange la Petit and Moncourt. The enemy used these high points of O. P’s. until we put an end to it. More direct and indirect fire took place here. The following day we assumed indirect firing positions in the vicinity of Aracourt where we helped reinforce fire of the 263 F. A. Bn. Again no changes occurred for the following three days then on November 1^st we replaced the first and second platoon of Company C in the vicinity of Bazange la Petit where we once more took direct fire positions. Between November 1^st and 9^th we changed from direct to indirect fire several times. On this day we moved to Moyenvic and one more occupied direct fire positions.

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