100 DAYS IN COMBAT
Saturday, 17 March [1945] Ochtendung, Germany
Up at 0600. Another lovely day is in prospect. We have crossed the Moselle River in 3 places and have advanced about 20 miles. We will move our C.P. across the river some time tomorrow. Our artillery kept the sky lit up all through the night. It was the heaviest and most prolonged display which I have seen so far. Both platoons are now across the Moselle. The 1st Platoon is protecting 2 bridges. The 2nd Platoon is protecting the 912 F.A.. Today is St. Patrick’s Day. It is also my 4th anniversary as a soldier. That is a long time in any man’s army. Each day’s progress into Germany impresses upon me the exceptional beauty of the country. I cannot understand how people who have so much could still be greedy enough to plunge the whole world into war in order to get more for themselves. I wish that I could bring a picture of Germany, as I see it, back to the states. I have never before seen anything that could match its scenic beauty. We are sending prisoners back to the rear area in large numbers. The war is over for them and most of them seem rather happy about the situation. I received one letter today over 3 months old. I have been unable to write, due to living conditions, for more than a week. The B.C. had to emplace, 2 search lights on a hill overlooking the Moselle River, so that the engineers could work at night. It was 2400 before the lights could be effectively placed. The East side of the Rhine appears to be one big mass of vineyards seen through glasses. I hit the sack at 2300.
