WWII-Europe

        After the decisive victory over the Germans on the Isle de Cezembre the troops moved into the resort center of Dinard. "Here was unexpected luxury and a chance to meet the French people. GI language guides became dog-eared and brains weary with franc-value problems, as the men wandered about the town buying drinks and souvenirs. That didn't last though because on the 11th the 751st was on the move again, "bivouac at Mortain the night of the 11th, at Logny on the 12th, at Tremblay-sur-Mauldre for two days, a quick trip through Paris--pretty girls on bikes, the Seine, the Effel Tower, Vive la France, Vive les Americains--finally, to Ohain, France on the Belgian border on the 15th".

   "The 751st assumed active combat status again on the 9th of October near Raath, Holland with the mission of general support of ground troops,      counter-battery and interdiction fires. From this position Battery C fired the first of the 751st's rounds to fall on German soil. Two ME109s strafed B Battery but no one was hurt. CSMO came through on the 23rd of October and the battalion pulled back to Oirsbeeck, Holland overnight, enroute to Dorff, Germany".

  "Dorff was the setting for the battalion's real baptism of fire. Five days after arrival, FDC, which was operating in the cellar of a hilltop-house looking down the valley towards Stolberg, received three direct hits and was forced to vacate to a position in which communications could be better maintained".

    "The firing batteries were under nightly harrassing fire, and communications were constantly being knocked out. One night Battery C received 138 rounds in six minutes, but outside of badly mincing phone lines, no damage was done". 

   "But the battalion replied profitably in kind. For instance , an incident on the 8th of November: the infantry had called for the destruction of a hedge which was obstructing them. In the process of obliterating the hedge, a piil-box behind it was disclosed. During the firing, a machine-gun emplacement, a bunker, and an armored vehicle were revealed in the immediate vicinity. The emplacement was destroyed, the bunker was penetrated at least twice, and the armored vehicle splintered by fragments. The total expenditure was 31 rounds.