We rediscovered wet misery, working our way east to the forts at Metz, assigned to their siege, and the Finn and I to guard duty. The approaching figure did not know the day’s password when challenged and continued in our direction that night. We clicked the safeties and leveled on the wine-saturated soldier from the 5th Division staggering into view. We almost shot Him! The experience was filed for future reference. New men are trigger-happy while on guard duty at night in outpost locations. This could save our lives from “friendly fire”.

Unfriendly fire befell the Second Platoon of A Company on December 24 in the Saar. Maj. Vincent Usera, First Battalion Executive, selected me to accompany him to the platoon’s position, along with the A Company guide. The major explained, as we walked the logging trail, of the need to capture a prisoner to supply “intelligence” to our confused situation. I nodded at the “confused situation” part, since I had been suffering from it for some time, but assumed he was aware of my lack of experience in prisoner capturing. The trail led to a rise through the woods where the platoon was visible, along with medics, and litter bearers.

The bloodless face of 2nd Lt. Robert Sunfar was my first encounter with the reality of war. The squad, some 100 yards ahead, were lying prone as Maj. Usera and I continued past the wounded and the dead. Crawling to the closest man, we were told of the machine gun dug in on the right. I continued forward to the point man and observed the concrete water tower to the left front and inched ahead until I heard, “Psst, wanta grenade?” from the man I had just passed. He rolled the grenade carefully forward to my right leg.

It was time to raise my head and look to the right for that machine-gun position and offered a quick prayer before taking a quick peek. Some 50 feet ahead were 2 nervously bobbing heads peeking back. Their show of uncertainty brought me to my feet, releasing the safety and leveling the M-1 while shouting, “Hans die Holt”! I moved toward the Germans. The squad from A Company moved with me to the surrendering three men leaving their dug-in emplacement. I was relieved to have their support as 3 more Germans also surrendered from the water tower on the left. I had long discarded my dirty glasses and my uncorrected left eye had not caught their position.

The six prisoners pleased Maj. Usera, as he marched them off for interrogation, escorted by members of the platoon. A few days later, the company clerk requested information on the incident. Maj. Usera was putting me in for a medal. As I tried to describe the particulars, my thoughts went to A Company’s losses that day, and their young men whose risk was routine and whose only medal awarded was often the Purple Heart.