From Cleve C. Barkley's Article
Please see it at end of letter
This is a map created by Cleve Barkley
showing the 9th Infantry Battalion
of the 2nd Infantry Division at
Heartbreak Crossroads
showing the 9th Infantry Battalion
of the 2nd Infantry Division at
Heartbreak Crossroads
"On
December 10, 1944, the Regiment moved north to the Monschau Forest
and three days later attacked a Siegfried Line stronghold at
Wahlerscheid, Germany."
Was
ordered, on 11 December 1944, to attack and seize the Roer River dams
December 11, 1944 (Monday) “Stayed
all day and night on the ground. Slept in pup tents. The wind was
really blowing.”
December 12, 1944 (Tuesday) “Moved
on trucks to the front lines. (We) attack in the morning. The snow is
3 inches deep. We are in the woods.”
December
13, 1944 (Wednesday) “Attacked all day through the woods. I got hit
in the side and a tree fell on me. I walked (back) 5 miles to an aid
station. There are only 18 men left in C Company.”
Sgt.
Rice is
wounded in Germany. This is how it happened: On Dec.
13, 1944, the 9th Infantry Regiment attacked toward Wahlerscheid,
which was about 6K inside the German border. Their mission was to
secure the Roer River dams so the Germans could not blow them up and
flood American troops and equipment down stream. This was on the way
to Hellenthal. Resistance at Wahlerscheid was extremely heavy on
December 13th. The First Battalion took an awful flogging there.
He was attacking
on foot through the forest with the rest of his unit. The Germans
started a horrible artillery barrage against them but the Americans
kept charging anyway. One enemy shell hit the top of a nearby tree
and exploded. This is known as a "tree burst." A piece of
the shrapnel hit Hanford in the side of his back and then the tree
fell on top of him. Some of his buddies rescued him and Hanford
walked several miles by himself (thru snow while bleeding) back to
his own lines and the aide station there.
He had his
"million dollar wound" that kept him out of the Battle of
the Bulge, got him honorably discharged, and sent him home.
He had enough
"combat points" earned so he was shipped back to the United
States with a 100% disability pension regarding this injury to his
back. He came back home to Hallettsville, Texas, to his wife, Emily
(Schmidt) Rice (nickname of Vicky) in March of 1945.
Letter from Cpl. Richard L Jones
Somewhere in Germany
December 15, 1944
Dear Mrs. Knight,
When I received your Christmas package a few days ago I was pleasantly surprised to think that you had sent me such a nice gift. Everything you sent I could use. The gift you sent was very nice but what means more is your thoughts which came along with it. I have someone you've never met send you a gift is something out of the ordinary. I wish I could say more than just thanks, but I can add little to that one word which means so much.
You'll be glad to know that Charles is looking fine and seems to be in good spirits. He is a fine boy and I know you must be proud of him. In reciprocation, he too thinks the world of all of you. I don't blame him a bit either.
The card you sent could easily have been a picture of the land over here. It has snowed quite a bit and the land is blanketed in white. No doubt this sort of weather brings Charles much nearer home.
Thanks again for the box it was really sweet of you to remember me and I want you to know that I sincerely appreciate your thoughtfulness. God bless you and may He hasten the day of peace.
Sincerely,
Richard Jones
For those who may have forgotten Cpl. Richard Jones, a friend of Uncle Charlie, was also in Battery B in the First Gun Section of the 15th FAB.
Uncle Charlie was in the Second Gun Section.
Cleve C. Barkley has written an excellent article about the "Battle of Heartbreak Crossroads." I strongly encourage you to read his article at
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/the-battle-of-heartbreak-crossroads-pyrrhic-victory-at-wahlerscheid/
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