On 28 September 1944, at Remiremont, France, Dad’s 30th Infantry Regiment devoted the entire day to the care and cleaning of equipment and preparation for participation in the general 3rd Division attack toward Gerardmer, with immediate objectives in the vicinity of Le Tholy.[1]

War hero, Audie Murphy (whom Dad will meet very soon) wrote:

It is late September.

Drizzly rains sweep over the hilly, wooded country through which we move; keeping warm during the night has already become a problem.

The leaves of the trees are turning color. The gold and red contrast sharply with the evergreens; and the camaouflage men must start mixing new paints to conform with the changes in nature.

It is the prelude to another long, grim winter.

We plod up the wet roads doggedly, wondering vaguely which of us will still be alive when the new leaves return to the trees.

The Germans fall back stubbornly, but steadily.

Each day, however, their resistance grows stronger, their retreats shorter.

As they approach strongly prepared positions in the Vosges mountain area, they lash back at us with counterattacks.

My regiment is on the verge of some of its hardest fighting of the entire war.[2]

He had no idea how soon his prognostication would crash down on he, my Dad, and their men.

~~~~~

[1] Prohme, 253.

[2] Murphy. To Hell and Back. 196.

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