Smyrna times., 1943-08-12

First of all I was up around Te-
bessa and the Kasserine Pass this
was around February 25th) from
then until May 14th we were in the
battle area. From there We went
to a place near Pichon. Our next
move was a surprise move on
Pichon which caught Jerry with his
pants down. We held this area for
some time then started down the
pass into Seheitta-First American
troops to enter this area. We next
moved into pass around Fondouk
but because of other plans we held
our position for some time. In this
position we had many experiences.
Every morning we would set our
watches by old Joe Stoka as he
came over regularly every day.
They kept hitting all around us and
were careful to avoid our guns. I
used to get in the turret and along
with the other boys pepper the
planes with bullets. I found that
I was better off firing during a
raid than waiting for the bombs to
fall inside of the tank. Every time
a plane came near we dove for
cover, and 1 do mean dovei For
dinner we had M. c. 109's and they
prove very annoying. For supper
they mixed every type of plane to-
gether and sent them over. I think
that we knocked so many down
that they got tired of bothering us.
At night, all you could hear was
big guns and machine guns, but af-
ter while 1 slept as though it were
as quiet as could be. Next came a
very deciding move, in fact,
through the success of our mission
we threw the wrench into ROM
mels chance of setting up a de-
tense line from Fondouk to Sousse.
1 think he was depending on this
line for his last good stand, because
after this period he was in a puzzle
as to where to go.
All around Fondouk are high
hills with a very narrow valley and
only one entrance and one exit. All
of these hills were full of German
guns and men (kind of a natural
fortress. We attacked and drove
into a deep part of the area. Our
fire power was so heavy that Jerry
retreated further back.
On this occasion 1 must have had
the Good Lord pushing me. Soon
after the beginning of the attack
one tank became stuck in a wade,
and our job was to get him out.
1 went out on outpost duty about
200 yards from the main party.
Machine guns and heavy guns were
trying their best to hit us. We
got out of range and they quit-we
went back and they started again.
l think each time they came closer.
Sometimes, I believe they actually
had ten pair of eyes. Everytime I
moved they hit just where had
been; I had a regular game with
them. About this time Joe Stoka
came to pay a visit and there I was
out in the open without trench or
anything to hide in. just laid on
my back and prayed he didn't see
or hit me. Just as he got over me
he let his bombs go. Boy l could
see them leave the racks he was
that close. AS soon as he had gone
by, l ran for it and the only cover
was a cactus patch. That cactus
patch felt like feather bed at that
time, but I've cursed them many
times since. The planes finally left
and 1 continued my outpost duty
Shortly spotted an Arab, think
he was a disguished German, CIV
ing signals to someone so 1 cracked
down on him. The fire got so hot
that we withdrew.
The Infantry held the ground he
had taken and continued up to the
end of the pass. The heavy guns
had no success clearing the end of
this pass so we started again. We
gave them everything we had for
quite a few days, then made the
final push. This final push was a
complete success and paved the
way for the British troops waiting
to go through the pass. Kairorian
was taken and the last stage set.
We rested a bit and then our out
/ fit made the final drive on Bizerte.
We were the first in Bizerte and
got credit for it. Two days after
we took the city 1 wandered around
| it. Boy! what mess it was! An
other interesting sight was the
many prisoners taken--kind of a
symbol of the final outcome of Hit
ler's dream. 1 had'a regular picnic
going over the German equipment.
I am resting now and enjoying
the daily swim in the Mediterran-
can Sea. Before long expect to
be as black as a niger and in ex-
pert shape. All is well and I'm
feeling fine.
We kind of tagged our own
names on different places as each
special thing happened there. For
instance the Fondouk Pass became
"Joe Stoka's valley"
That's all for now,