[continued from previous page] the traces and forage for food. Their bones stand out prominently. Many of them will die. Quite a few of them still have parts of their harness clinging to their backs. We passed through several rather large towns, which were thickly populated. None of the people openly resent our presence, many of them wave and attempt to become friendly. Their behavior reminds me of a remark, which I overheard an Englishman use quite sometime ago. He said, “The Germans are either at your feet or at your throat.” I believe that he came pretty close to the truth. We arrived at Ochtendung, Ger. about 5 P.M. and took charge of a Duplex cottage, which we are using for a C.P. The name of the street, believe it or not, is Adolph Hitler. We’ll have to change that. We are just about 10 miles from Coblentz, which will no doubt be our final objective.1 Koblenz is a German city located along the Rhine River where it intersects the Moselle River. See Diary Inserts, Insert #58.
It won’t be an easy job because it lies between the Moselle and Rhine rivers and is located on high ground. Today was a good day for planes and they took full advantage of it. Our bombers and fighters were passing overhead constantly. Our column was not strafed. We rather expected some action but I guess Hitler is still saving his air force. We will get no mail for several days because of our move. I hit the sack at 2200.
Thursday, 15 March [1945] [Ochtendung, Germany]
Up at 0600. Shaved and had breakfast by 0730. Last night about 2100, while checking the guard, I had a beautiful view of A.A. bringing down an enemy plane. It was crippled by 40 M.M and finished by [continued on next page]
