Thursday, 7 December [1944] Lotes
[Continued from previous page] At 11 o’clock, a runner came calling for Lt. Arenstein.1David Arenstein (1920-1997), was born in Richmond Virginia, and was a first lieutenant in the B Battery of the 549th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Unit of the 87th Division in the U.S. Army. Arenstein was trained as a lawyer and was, on occasion, called on by the Army to prosecute crimes committed by GIs. On January 9th, 1945, Arenstein was called in to prepare a defense for a D Battery soldier accused of raping a Belgian girl. Arenstein kept a diary, very similar to that of Vernon Goetz, which can be found at https://joanpone.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/david-arenstein-book-with-spreads.pdf. He received orders to move at 6 in the morning. We hadn’t actually gotten to bed yet so the separation of days is for chronological reasons only.
Friday, 8 December [1944] Lotes
We arose at 2400. Struck our tents in the rain and mud. March ordered our equipment in pitch darkness. It was cold, wet, and that goddamn mud was everywhere. We struggled and cursed, sweated & strained but at 6 am were ready to take off. We traveled over 300 miles today and met the B.C. at a little town east of Metz called Piennes.2Piennes is a small town in north-eastern France in the region of Lorraine. It stopped raining at 1900 & began to snow. Our itinerary included Rouens, Compeign, Reims, Soisson, Verdun, etc. all one big battlefield.
Saturday, 9 December [1944] Piennes
Up at seven, moved out at 0850. Arrived in Metz about 1000. Most of city in Allied hands. Two German forts still holding out. Being constantly shelled by our artillery. Noise is terrific. Spent the day working on equipment. At night we were able to do nothing. Complete black out. Shots rang out every once in a while from the few snipers who still remained. We are moving up Monday with the second combat team – the 34th regiment of the 87th div.
Sunday, 10 December [1944] Metz
Spent the whole day tuning up. Getting used to artillery now. Don’t even notice it till it stops. We were all loaded before dark and ready to take off in the morning.
