Eisenhower's Thorn on the Rhine: The Battles for the Colmar Pocket, 1944-45 by Nathan Prefer

Author:Nathan Prefer [Prefer, Nathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-01-11T16:00:00+00:00

That attack came the next morning after an intense artillery and mortar barrage. Communications between Sergeant Bell and the rest of Company I were disrupted by the intense shellfire, and repeatedly Bell went out alone to repair the damaged wires. When the wires became destroyed, Bell made several trips under enemy fire to keep his company commander informed of the situation. Throughout the day Sergeant Bell’s men fought off German attacks, killing several enemy soldiers and taking others prisoner. Running out of ammunition, Bell distributed captured enemy weapons to his men. The sound of familiar weapons attracted many Germans to the schoolhouse where they were captured.

The next morning a German tank opened direct fire on the schoolhouse, destroying the upper floors. Despite the direct and accurate tank fire, Technical Sergeant Bell climbed to the ruins of the second floor and directed friendly artillery fire against the tank, driving it away. He then controlled artillery fire against the large force of German infantry who were preparing to assault the schoolhouse. When the disorganized Germans retreated, he commanded deadly rifle and machine gun fire into their ranks. When another German force took shelter behind a stone wall and fired at his squad, Technical Sergeant Bell found a friendly tank and standing fully exposed alongside it, directed its fire against this latest threat. After holes had been blasted in the wall, Technical Sergeant Bell led his men in firing through the holes at the enemy force. By the time the battle died down Bell had personally killed more than 20 enemy soldiers and captured 33, while his squad had brought in another dozen prisoners. For his gallant leadership on December 18, 1944 at Mittelwihr, France, Technical Sergeant Bernard P. Bell was awarded a Medal of Honor.³⁰

General O’Daniel’s 3rd “Rock of the Marne” Infantry Division soon took over the front as planned and continued the struggle. Even as they came forward to relieve their fellow Americans they encountered fierce fighting. When Company C, 30th Infantry Regiment came up to the front near Kaysersberg on December 16, 1944, it found itself immediately in action. Company C was ordered to send an advance platoon forward to determine enemy defensive positions. The company commander, First Lieutenant Charles P. Murray, Jr., led the platoon forward, descending into a valley below positions held by another American battalion. As they moved down, Lieutenant Murray saw a force of some 200 German soldiers firing mortars, bazookas, small arms and machine guns at the battalion atop the ridge. The Maryland-born Lieutenant saw that the German flank was susceptible to attack. The sunken road in which the Germans sheltered was invisible from above, but easily attacked on its flank. Knowing that his small force was no match for the stronger German unit, he crawled forward alone until he had complete observation of the German position. Then he called for American artillery fire, bracketing the enemy. Just as he was about to call for more artillery, his radio ceased to function. Undeterred, he returned

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