As we reached the outskirts of Geronsweiller, we speeded up and crouched lower to avoid the rain. I looked up to see something and saw men lying in the fields get up and make a dash for cover. It came to me too late that they were under an artillery barrage. Just then everything went boom, the Jeep jumped to the right and stopped. Sarge and Hairless jumped out as did Ross and Dowd. I saw Ross holding his left arm with blood coming thru his fingers. Then I tried to jump out but couldn't move my left leg, so I rolled to the right, off the Jeep and down into the mud by the right rear wheel. I tried to get up but couldn't. I reached down to feel for my left leg -- it felt as if it wasn't there but I touched it. Then I became aware of a terrible burning that I couldn't fight. God I was scared. Then Hairless ran up and crouched beside me and asked how I was. I told him I couldn't move and was paralyzed -- hit in left side. He said "hang on, and I'll get you help". I tried to move but the effort was so terrible. Just dropped my head in the mud face down and cried. I remember listening to the air escape from the tire as some more shells came in. Then there was shouting and grinding of brakes as a Jeep pulled up.
Soon two medics were on my left side with a stretcher. They rolled me over on my left side, over the wound, and I guess I screamed in pain. They left me flat on my back, loaded me on the rack over the left fender and with Dowd and Ross rear and Weigand standing in the front, clearing traffic, they took off. I grabbed onto the white flag on the fender as each bump hurt me and I know I was praying out load -- O God, give me strength to stand the pain. Finally we stopped beside a house. Dowd went in the door and me they passed in thru a window after they had pried my fist off the flag. The room had electric lights and shutters on the window. They laid Ross down on a stretcher and fixed his arm. I laid on the floor asking one of the aid men for a shot of morphine.
Re: ETO - 1942 through 1945 - Co. F., 405th Regiment, 102th Division (2nd Battalion)
Re: ETO - 1942 through 1945 - Co. F., 405th Regiment, 102th Division (2nd Battalion) -- Edward L. Souder, Pfc, 17:17:40 03/14/04 Sun