Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1945-02-03
Stick ToGuns
As Nazi Shells
Rained Above
Howitzers Used
Forcing Germans
To Keep Distance

WITH u. > FORCES IN FRANCE
s-(SNS- SO close to German In
fantry that mortar bombs fell on
them like rain" men Of the 969th
Field Artillery Battalion, a Negro
155-mm hoWitzer outfit, stuck TO
their guns and fired all around the
compass during the defense of en-
circled Bastogne.
The battalion, which landed in
France last July, was attached To
the 18th Infantry Division at the
time of the German attack.
On the me NH z of December II,
the battalion was informed by It's
forward observer that the Germans
were moving to attach There was
heavy artillery fire. ''.rheafxaiA 10
Captain William j. Wood. Com
munieations Officer, OF Wichita
Falls, Texas, "our communications
went out. Jerry artillery knocked
out damn near all communications
in the whole sector. He seemed to
know the location of every switch
board"
MOVED TO LA ROCHE
Unaware of the situation, Ii e
battalion moved back toward..-~La
Roche, where 1t was attached to an
artillery group and ordered toward
Neufchateau. Enemy tanks n d
infantry attacked from the east
and south. Twice the battalion
went. into firing position to repel
threats to the column.
Mortar fire and enemy artillery
grew heavy. Other battalions in
the artillery were knocked t..
Under direction of the 10l st Air
borne Division, the 969th moved TO
Villeroux, where 1t set up its guns.
Enemy tanks and infantry APP
preached. With the help of few
scattered tanks and handful Of
infantry, the 969th made Jerry
keep his distance.
At one time the enemy was so
close that the battalion commander
ordered all classified material
destroyed.
FIRE INCREASES
Enemy mortar fire grew even
more intense. Small arms f
rained on the gun positions. Indi-
.Yidual exploit were Illas4ys
battalion needles evacuated both
German and American wounded
under Jerry rifle fire. When { h e
BATTALION aid station Was7sdestroy-
ed by mortar fire, the aid men sue
ceeded in rescuing all except the
hopeleSsiy wounded.
Cpl. Mitchell Miles, of Chielton
St. Montgomery, Ala. will never
forget villeroux Standing besides
his loaded truck. he narrowly es-
capped being killed by three mortar
shells which exploded on the truck
and set it on fire. Miles ran to
weapon carrier some distance away,
brought II back, and while under
heavy small arms fire disengaged
loaded trailer from h burning
kitchen truck ana drove away.
1t was well that he did. The con-
tents of the trailer were badly
needed by the artillerymen, who
lived for several days afterwards on
one third of k-ration per man
per day.
The list Of individual exploits is
a long one First Sergeant Mayo
Crook, $40 E. Colorado ST., Ham,
mond, La, did the work of ten
men, his officers reported. He help
ed evacuate the wounded -.des-
troyed classified material, rescued
vehicles, and finally was cut off
from his outfi. by enemy fire hay
ing to find La way out of town
himself. He rejoined the battalion
hours later.
Enemy pressure increased and
casualties became heavier.
All except the actual cannoneers
fought infantry fashion, and even
succeeded in taking 80 to 40 priso-
nerS.
At last the battalion commander
Continued on Back Page)