Evening star., 1944-07-03
Henry
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Henry
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tan were opened by the Germans on
D-day.
Fire Wet Ammunition.
The men are unsure as they fire
wet ammunition from wet rifles.
They live day after day in clothes
wet and mud-caked. They sleep in
foxhole bottoms, rainsoaked. beside
hedges near the inundated area.
There are many narrow escapes,
but the night casualties are light.
Many patrollers already have been
mentioned for decorations.
The main bodies of German and
American infantry are dug in on
higher ground over the inundated
area exchanging artillery fire while
the swamp rats fight below.
An enemy patrol seldom gets as
far as the American lines, but the
other night one soldier awoke with
a Germans hands around his throat.
Mountaineer craftsmanship is a
big factor in the American success.
They develop all tricks Of jungle
war.
Listens to Germans for Hours.
Among the swamp rats" is Pvt
Rolf Laerm, born in Germany, of
Hagerstown. Nd. who has been out
four nights in succession. His spe-
cial job is to get close to the enemy
operating post and listen to hours
of conversation.
Usually exchanging sentries only
pass the time of night in the ice
cold water, They must leave an
hour before dawn to get back.
Il never want to see a swamp
again in my life" said Pvt. Laerm.
The water is never less than 8
inches high. The tide is out some
times feet outside of the bitches.
The nights are too short to do
good job.
With woolen underwear you get
used to the cold water. It's not nat
ural to feel dry any more" Laerm
continued.
Last night the leading scout pa
troll of eight men caught a machine
pistol in the face and were spattered
with mud.
Locates Positions for Artillery.
A frequent patrol leader is Sergt.
George Ridenour, former drug firm
manager, of Hagerstown, Md. With
his squad he swan the canal and To-
Gated strong German positions for
the artillery the other night.
He was caught by q German flare
IN the marsh going out and pinned
down nearly all day under water by
able machine gune
fire.
1t. Edwin J. Franklin, Savannah,
Ca, said I'm getting used to water
life except for the mosquitoes. The
New Jersey bombers are little fellows
by comparison. The mud under the
flooded area is the blackest and sog-
giest I ever saw.
IT'S so easy to lose your arms that
the orders now are for tommy guns
to be tied to your belts with ropes.
find the water 6 inches to 4 feet
deep"
1t, Franklin's biggest adventure to
date was entering the enemy-held
town Of LIE Compte as guide for a
tank platoon. He was under heavy
fire all the way. The
tanks were driven out, but 1t. Frank
Inns men got away safely.
He said. 1T was case of do or
die, so we did"
Troops Seek bitches.
1t. Myron B. Wood, concert pian-
ist, Of Duncan, Okla, says the big
swamp extends 500 to 1000 yards.
On both sides of the canal are small
drainage bitches like pathways.
He said these bitches are sought
despite the chin-high water, as they
avoid detections by the rustling of
swamp grass.
The other night in the woods
patrol swan the canal and passed
three German sentry posts.
Challenged at first, they said,
Friendly patrol The German
passed them without examination.
At the second they were asked,
That you. Fritz They said. Yes,
this is Fritz and there were no
more questions.
Take to Their Heels.
The third demanded the name OF
the organization and they took to
their heels through the shoulder
deep canal and stayed in the water
all night.
Another swamp rat. Milton Alison,
Pound, Va. escaped from a big Ger
man patrol the other night while
trying to set up a road block near
a swamp. The next day he went
back, swimming the canal, getting
behind a group of Germans plant
ing a road block.
Swamp warfare is slow. The in
fantry advances with tanks through
the hedgerowed fields beside the
marsh. 1t requires the development
OF new kinds Of tactics. Foot SOL
diers carrying grenades flush hedges
and bazooka armed infantry ad-