Evening star., 1942-12-01
First Wounded to Return From North Africa
TeII of Battle for Morocco Beuchheuds

offered to carry my mortar and I
took his rifle. We pushed anead
and saw f1rst-aid station, where
they dressed my wound"
Pvt. Russell Schemik. Chicago.
one of the group landed just outside
Casablanca at dusk November 8,
told how, after being on outpost
duty on hill that night. he and
five others became separated from
a party moving forward. The six
men. pushing on toward Casablanca,
ran into at least three machine gun
emplacements, as well as artillery
fire. He was wounded in the right
shoulder by a machine gun bullet.
Since he had not had a chance to
refill his water canteen, another
soldier loaned his to Pvt. Schemik.
He was then taken to an aid station.
Pvt. Rosenella, member of an
anti-aircraft unit attached to the
infantry, related how French planes,
mostly Kittyhawks which we sent
to France before the fall of France, +"
strafed them with machine gun fire
as they landed on the beaches.
They operated in pairs" Pvt
Rosenella said. I'VE got one of them
with our anti-aircraft fire, but when
we went to look it over as it lay
there on the beach, the pilot had
disappeared"
Amazed by Arabs.
Pvt. RoSenella, too, was amazed
at the behavior of the Arabs, who
stood around watching while bull
lets were whizzing."
They'd stand around in groups
while we were eating our rations," ,"
he said. They'd stare and stare
until we tossed them some candy,
then they'd stuff it in their pockets
and go to another group of soldiers,
where they'd repeat the process
They really went for our rations," !"
added Pvt. Rosenella, who was
wounded while climbing out Of his
half-tract vehicle. Something,
don't know whether it was a bullet
or shrapnel, hit my right hand,
I've lost finger"
Corpl. Ifford's group was assigned
to take equipment to command
post, then returned to the beach to
aid vehicles coming ashore. That
night they returned to the command
post, which had moved forward.
After brief nap, they were awak-
ened by the roar of German two
motored bomberS. which were blast
ing away at the recently abandoned
command post.
Advance Under Fire.
Corpl. Ifford'S detachment marched
all the following day, heading for
CaSablanca, and advancing under
artillery fire as they neared the OBJ
jective. That night he was assigned
to laying wires for his gun battery,
then was picked up by truck for a
further advance toward Casablanca.
On the way an enemy gun emplace-
ment knocked out jeep, but was
promptly smashed by 105-mm.
gun.
A close shell-burst. which hurled
him several feet, put Corpl. Ifford
on the casualty list with two shrap-
mel wounds in the left thigh and a
sprained back and left knee. He
was picked up by stretcher bearers
and carried to an aid station.
Shot by Sniper.
The men interviewed were:
Pvt Robert L. Bethel of Aums-
vile, Greg, wounds in the arm by
shrapnel. when his doughboy outfit
was fighting near Casablanca. They
were pressing against Nazi snipers
when artillery opened fire on them.
They got" the snipers.
Pvt. Leonard G. Middlebrook
from Venice, Calf, related how his
buddy was killed and he was wound
ed by shrapnel as they huddled be-
hind cement road guards under an
enemy barrage. Arabs, for a few
cigarettes, helped him and others
across wire fences.