Imperial Valley press., 1945-05-24
{. {. Soldier
Writes Of
War Scenes

cant Hans Merklein, Ell Centrar
serving with the 104th infantry div
ision
His letter follows in part:
For the second time since I've
been over here. 1 find time drag
ging on my hands. For the past
four days we've been sitting here
IL this little town doing practically
nothing but waiting to make con-
tact with the Russians. Some other
division on our south made the
first patrol contact but we were
right on their heels, and for the
past two days its been just a series
of visits to one and another, promot-
ing friendly relations and seeing
who can drink and hold the most
scotch or vodka, depending on who
is calling on whom
II don't mean to create the i'm
preston that the enlisted men are
doing that. We aren't that close to
the Russians and it is just the brass
who fly back and forth as ambas-
sadors of goodwill
SEES RUSS GENERAL
To-day one of the Russian gen.
erals visited our headquarters which
called for lot of spit and polish.
and he got it. He is a very stern
and serious looking soldier, short
and stocky and, very reserved. al
though he did finally break down
and smiled few times, usually
when he had glass IN his hand.
The officers with him were very
young and carefree, although many
times wounded and highly decorated.
I suppose they'll keep up these So
cial calls until the liquor runs out
or hangoverS get everybody down.
It's quite an occasion or event at
that, and the more 1 think about it
the more I think I'll get drunk my
self. Have bottle of liberated cog
nae which should do it.
"You are right in presuming that
my last letter was written from
Cologne. We were there a little over
q week although we thought it
would be longer but the bridge at
Remagen changed all of that. 1
didn't find all the wine cellars I
wanted although on my first visit
10 the Cathedral the Germans start
ed throwing in a few mortar shells
from across the river and as we
were leaving two of the fellows ran
back inside. But my buddy and 1
were out in the center of the street
| SO the nearest cover was the Dorm
hotel just across from the Cathedral.
ard we ran in there. The hotel is
pretty badly damaged so just to
play safe we took the first stairs
going down and ended up in the
basement and all the supply rooms,
plus the wine cellar which was
practically intact. Needless to say,
we loaded up the jeep and went
hack for more the next day, but un-
fortunately (for u.s. our activities
Of the previous day had not gone
unnoticed, so we found an empty
cellar upon our return.
LIVING IN CELLARS
"We were still living in cellars
end Easements in Cologne because
OF occasional shelling and while
rummaging around in our quarters
we unearthed some excellent brandy
and limited supply of champagne
"We left Cologne just a few days
after I wrote, crossed the Rhine at
Hannef and then took out after the
Third armored They don't waste
time on anything and it was quite
a JOB mopping up after them. Those
we're pretty exciting days with lots
of hard work and maybe one of the
reasons I'm sort of restless now do
ing practically nothing, although ]
fully appreciate the rest and the
opportunity to get clean, wash
clothes and get Strengthened out.
I'VE have very nice set up in
this little town of $4,000 and are
very comfortable. Headquarters is
set UP in three story candy fac
tory though there isn't any candy
damn it). For the past three OF
four years it has been producing
airplane parts. 1t is quite modern
and the offices are luxurious. steam
heat, with rugs, etc. The town has
ut been damaged bit We are us
ing the kitchen and mess halls in
the factory which are very COM
plete and have about 30 individual
showers, running with plenty of hot
water, which is the best thing OF
ALL
"Our quarters are just a hall
block away which is very conven-
lent The enlisted men of the Sec
ton were assigned one four room
apartment which would have beer
adequate for the nine of us as we
work in shifts, but I found another
apartment across the hall occupied
hv only couple SO I showed them
out Il think the wife was going
home to Mother anyway so now
each shift has an apartment of theii
own and our individual bed. The
lights, water, and sometimes the
gas are on and we are really max
ing ourselves at home. If only they
would let us fraternize!
JUST ABOUT OVER
THE war on this particular front
seems well on the way OF being over
The fight is out of the Germans
and they are surrendering by the
thousands. We dropped leaflets BY
plane inStructing them what to dc
and it has almost gotten to The
point that 400 or 500 armed to the
teeth will surrender to one or two
GIs.
Just a week or SO ago I saw one
of the most horrible things I've
ever seen. We overran a concentra.
ton camp so went out one after
noon to see it for myself 1t wa.