By Sidney A Salomon (1913 - 2004)
2 Silver Stars; Purple Heart w/Oak Leaf Cluster
C (Charlie) Company
14 Nov. ---- Germeter area
7 Dec. ---- Bergstein
The men of Charlie Company jumped down from the trucks which had transported them from Esch, Luxembourg to Raeren, Belgium on 3 November 1944. They stamped their feet on the frozen ground trying to get their circulation back after a cold ride in the back of the quartermaster trucks. Now, they were part of Corps Reserve and as such occupied a reserve position out of small arms range but not beyond artillery range. While in this position, they followed a limited training program, living in log reinforced foxholes in the rain, snow and freezing temperatures.
Then, on 14 November, the company received orders to move out. The mission was to occupy part of the town of Vossenack, just over the border of Belgium into Germany. In the early evening, the company moved into Vossenack, relieving the 2nd Battalion of the 28th Division's 112th Infantry, who had captured the town. Foxholes were quickly dug as the area of Vossenack and environs was dominated by the towns of Schmidt and Bergstein, which in turn, were in control of the enemy with their very accurate artillery.
During daylight hours, the company experienced the heaviest artillery and mortar barrage since they had landed in Normandy on 6 June. The most important mission of C Company while positioned in Vossenack was to defend and retain possession of the area for which they were responsible. All throughout the heavy German shelling, and miserable weather conditions of freezing temperatures, snow and sleet, the men of Charlie Company held their assigned territory. Contact was also maintained with the neighboring Ranger Companies on either side of them. In addition, patrols were sent out in an attempt to ascertain enemy troop movement and strength, but their most important assignment had been to hold that ground.
Fortunately, the time spent in this defensive position in Vossenack was only for a brief period, for at 2200 hours on the 19th of November, to the relief of all of the men, Charlie Company was relieved by the 28th Infantry of the 8th Division, and moved to battalion reserve. Although now out of small arms range, sporadic incoming artillery and mortar fire kept the men alert and aware that they were still within the combat zone.
Ironically, one of the men killed by an artillery barrage while in this reserve area was a C Company noncom, who had distinguished himself for bravery during the Normandy invasion on 6 June. Just a matter of days after he had been killed, orders were received by the company commander that the noncom had been awarded the DSC for bravery on 6 June.
On 6 December, along with the other companies of the battalion, C Company moved out of their reserve position, boarded trucks and became part of a battalion truck convoy, destination unknown, but all of the men were guessing that another offensive action was in the offing. Under cover of darkness, and using circuitous roads, the convoy finally stopped and the men disembarked from the trucks, forming a column on either side of the road and proceeded to follow the company commander, plodding through the darkness along a sloppy, cold, muddy road.
It was late at night as Charlie Company, along with Able and Baker Companies, approached the outskirts of the town of Bergstein. At the crossroads just before arriving in the town, the company commander was informed by the battalion CO that he was being transferred out of the Ranger Battalion and that newly promoted Major George Williams, a long-time battalion staff officer, was assuming the battalion leadership as of that moment.
A cold sleety rain was falling, and adding to the discomfort of everyone, intermittent artillery rounds bracketed the line of march. Along the road, the company passed numerous burned out and wrecked and abandoned tanks and armored vehicles belonging to the 5th Armored Division, who formerly had tried to gain control of the town of Bergstein and vicinity.
The Charlie Company mission was to establish a road block along the road about midway between Bergstein and the church at the base of the hill. The other platoon of the company would remain in a reserve status in the town of Bergstein prepared to man 81 mm mortars. The Germans, of course, had observation posts and bunkers on top of Hill 400, in addition to defensive positions scattered along the forward slope of the hill.
Charlie Company moved into their assigned territory and into position on a knoll to the right of the base of the hill about 0430 on 7 December. The men were ordered to dig foxholes before daybreak arrived. The ground was rocky, and the men found it difficult to dig to the depth that they felt would provide adequate protection from the shelling.
At dawn, the enemy sighted some of the Charlie Company locations and proceeded to lay down a barrage of artillery, which some of the men termed the most concentrated artillery barrage that they had ever experienced. Shortly after this barrage on the Charlie Company position, Dog and Fox Companies began their assault on Hill 400. In the late afternoon, when it was obvious that Dog and Fox Companies needed help on the top of the hill, parts of the 1st and 2nd platoons of Charlie Company were utilized to act as litter bearers and aid in the evacuation under cover of darkness of some of the Dog and Fox Companies' most serious casualties from the top of the hill.
The litter detail assembled in the church building, which housed a battalion collecting station, at the edge of the town of Bergstein. The men were given litters, and as darkness fell, a guide began to lead them up Hill 400 to assist in the evacuation of the seriously wounded from the assault companies.
Ultimately, when they reached the summit of the hill, they were led to the makeshift aid station in the form of an enemy troop shelter. Four men would carry the litter with the wounded Ranger on it, while another Charlie Company man would proceed in front and another in the rear, acting as guards, or "riding shotgun" as the saying goes. The litter detail had not carried any replenishment of medical supplies, only litters, with the express purpose of evacuating the most seriously wounded. The descent was difficult; the way down steep and rocky; the night dark. Fallen trees and branches were strewn along the way from artillery shelling, and gaping shell holes made for tenuous footing for the litter team. In addition, sporadic artillery and mortar shelling continually harassed their tortuous way down the hill. Still, they were doing their utmost to aid in the evacuation of their fellow Rangers.
No additional ammunition, rations, medical supplies or radio communications were carried by the evacuation group, therefore, there was not any contact between the litter detachment, company or battalion headquarters, the battalion collecting station, nor the temporary aid station in the enemy troop shelter. Rifles were not carried by the litter group as it had been decided that it would be best to have their arms free to be able to carry the litters with a minimal amount of discomfort to the wounded Ranger. In addition to the hazards of fallen trees, shelling, the darkness of night, and the unfamiliar surroundings, the litter groups were also alert for possible enemy patrols. Several trips were made up and down the hill by the Charlie Company litter detail with the wounded delivered to the battalion collecting station, and then evacuated to the rear. As daylight approached, the evacuating effort had to be deferred due to the heavy artillery shelling. Evacuation of the wounded in daylight was next to impossible due to pinpoint artillery fire.
Ultimately, late at night on 8 December, Charlie Company received orders to withdraw from their Bergstein position, and along with the other companies of the battalion, were relieved by the 13th Infantry of the 8th Division.
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Posted here with kind permission of the family of the late Sidney A. Salomon.
Many thanks Peter.