The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1946-05-04

! departure from previous L. \.
Army practice Is operating sue
ressfully." STARS AND STRIPES
staff writer reported in an article
in the papers April issue
FRIENDLY WELCOME
EVERYWHERE
Negro reinforcement reported
sincere. friendly welcome every
where They also spoke OF excel
lent relations With their white fell
low -doughs. OF the making OF inter
racial friendships.
one company commanders com
mem was typical The integration
OF the Negro platoon into this unit
WAS accomplished quickly aud
quietly There was no problem
In is first action The Negro
platoon OF X Company Of the S9ith
Infantry Regiment OF the 99th Dl-
vision led an attack on the town
OF Ilonningen across the Rhine
River cleared one-fourth Of It and
captured over go prisoners.
Another platoon with l. Com
pany Of the 393rd Regiment OF
the >ame division, got its baptism
OF fire on March % when II at.
tackled German positions near
fairfield. Germany. Employing
marching fire. they advanced.
routing the GermanS. knocking
oui Mark " tank and iIak
wagon. Milling e. Of the enemy
and capturing 81. These men
gained their objective. Hill s5s.
The Negro platoon OF Company
6 u the 275rd Infantry Regiment
helped The 69th Infantry Division
70 become the first American unit
70 make contact with ths Russian
forces During the platoons first
combat action a, Ham Munden.
Staff Sergeant Ames shipper OF
Philadelphia Pcunsylyanis. took
MS psisonsrs from barn.
Helped in capture
This platoon was later attached
60 the Ninth Armored Divisions
Combat Command a for The drive
across the German plains TO the
Nude River This platoon helped
in The capture 81 Falkenharst. wer-
seufeld ana a number OF othe
German TOXINS during this drive /
NIT RUSSIANS
On W pa,. NAY = group
from The Negro platoon led by
Lieutenant ". {. Hind. Los Ange.
les. California. and STAFF SER
erani ElmanS Starks. Washing.
Ton, u. :. crossed the Elbe RiV. 2
r. met Russian troops and held 7
a ,lctory celebration. II was the 4
first time that these Russians I
had seen american Negroes and
they exchanged stories and sou.
1tnirs and had victory feast.
sergeant Edgar r Zeno q mcm-
10 81 ne Negro platoon OF C Com
pany ~ The 39th Infantry Regimen,
of the 9lh Infantry Division re-.
ccred the silver starr for gal
ianfry IN action against The enemy
\ear Siedlnehausen Germanys
Ieno company mot heavy enemy
M hinegun fire Zeno worked his
0ay across open terrain armed
~uh q BAR ntine all the while
Twenty-Five Yards from The ma
shIuegIn position he hurled
hand grenade and rushed the chi
place ment MS action led 70 tho
captase of the machinegun position.
denng which no killed seven Ger
many wounded three and enabled
hi, uni, 70 take so more prisoners
ANOTHER SILVER STAR
Another Silver Star recipient vss
private First class June Jefferson
lr Of Company A. H4th Infantry
Regiment ~ the l04th Infantry Di-
rs'on The award citation stated &
when an enemy tank crashed
through a road block and entered
a recently captured town. Private
Jefferson voluntarily and At
great rlsk of his life. crossed
open, flre-swept terrain in the
face o. direct fire from the tanl.
made his way TO the house where /
The tank was located, and drop.
ped incendlary. fraCmentatlOn
grenades int. the omen turrct ~
the tank. cansing II TO catch fire.
kIILED CREW
IS tho crew emerged he killed z
them with his rife lie then re-
turned 20 his position and quickly
organized an assault OF the enemy |
riflemen who were supporting the
tank killing wounding or captur.
ing all Of the enemy infantrymcn
One OF the finest tributes paid
ron rnAINnrCC