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March 29, 2025
March 31-April 1, 1945 — Phil’s second Easter service while in the war
March 31, 2025The next plan was to cross the Main River, a barrier nearly as wide as the Rhine, which called for another spearhead by the 30th Infantry.[1]
A reconnaissance team patrolling the Main River’s banks in the vicinity of Wörth, southeast of Frankfurt, drew considerable fire from the enemy.
As Phil’s 3rd Battalion drove south to their assigned river crossing, they destroyed a tank, two twin-barreled 37-mm anti-aircraft guns, a pair of 20-mm Flakwagens, and killed a surprisingly large number of German snipers.
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher W. Chaney tasked Phil and his company with procuring a German barge to carry the entire battalion across the river.
The crossing began at 0300 hours on the morning of March 30.
For Phil, it was déjà vu, remembering the time when he and his men had used a barge to cross the Ognon River in France [an action for which Phil was awarded his first Bronze Star as a 19 year old Lieutenant, and during which he had to put his considerable sniper skills to use].
However, this time, there was no enemy fire.[2]
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[1] Larimore, At First Light, 220.
[2] Ibid, 220-221.
Learn more about my book about my father’s heroics and exploits at Amazon’s First Light page here. You can also read more of my WWII blogs here as well!
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