[continued from previous page] Up at 0600. A heavy frost had formed and the day began cold and foggy. It cleared up about 1000 and the sun soon had routed Jack Frost. We had a quiet day and for me at least an enjoyable one. I spent a large part of the day roaming the woods. I like to get off by myself and steal through the forest very quietly. It sometimes takes me an hour to go a hundred yards and I miss very little of what goes on in the animal and insect societies. I work on the assumption that if I go quietly enough to walk up on a deer, I certainly should have no trouble sneaking up on a Jerry. Many German civilians are in evidence today, due mostly to the fact that it is Sunday and helped to some extent by the weather. These Germans are very religious-seeming, but one cannot help but doubt their sincerity. Their professed beliefs and their actions are not at all compatible. We are making satisfactory progress on the ground and the countless planes which pass over us day and night attest to our progress in the air. Hitler must be having a lot less trouble in counting his men. We took a few mortar shells late in the evening but this was just a convulsive effort of a mortally wounded enemy and was quickly taken care of. The civilians seem intent on making us break our Non-Fraternization rule but they can’t pull the wool over our eyes, I hope. I hit the sack at 2200.
Monday, 9 April [1945] Stambach, Germany
Up at 0630. Shaved and had breakfast by 0730. A lovely day and a very quiet day. Yesterday just about finished this pocket of resistance and tomorrow will probably see us on the move towards another. [continued on next page]