Phil was called to the regimental CP to meet with Colonels McGarr and Neddersen. They wanted him to go back to his previous command since the A&P Platoon leader had been seriously wounded.[1]

“I need you back there, Lieutenant,” McGarr said. “More importantly, your men need you. We’ve had a lot of replacements, and I need you to get them ready for this upcoming campaign. It may be our toughest one yet.”

Throughout the period of January 17–21, the 30th Regiment rested, rehabilitated, reequipped, and retrained for an all-out attack to eliminate the Colmar Pocket and prepare to invade Germany.

While there, the leaden skies released another foot of snow, but it didn’t matter much as the GIs managed to get cleaned up, see a couple of movies, write letters home, and get their mail.

All armor and combat vehicles were painted white, while mattress covers, sheets, pillowcases, and everything available in the way of white cloth was set upon and redesigned into camouflage suits for the snow.

Soon the men would be in a battle not only for their very lives, but one that could tilt the war to favor a German victory.

~~~~~

[1] Larimore, At First Light, 183.

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