PHOTO PAGE 19
Tremendous research, maps and photos from Gary Boyce....a million thanks!!
I've spent many hours browsing and studying
your truly fantastic site. I wish each infantry division of the Army of
United States could be so honored. I hate to think of what we may be
losing.
In an unrelated effort, I was viewing an aerial
photo that claimed to identify its location but for some reason it did not
seem right to me. After some careful study I found it actually featured a
section of the 30th Division zone during Operation Cobra.
The attached cobraAerial.jpg shows the Cobra
area map alongside the aerial photo. The photo area is marked on the map by
the CYAN trapezoid. The photo caption mis-identifies the location as
Chapelle-en-Juger facing west (GREEN circle), when it is really St Gilles
facing southeast. The attached cobraAerialDetail.jpg is a section of map
from your site which helps to positively identify the area by the road on
the left, with the distinctive wiggle, and the road running across the top
as it bends east of St Gilles.
It's my guess that this photo covers a bomb run
by the medium bombers of the tactical air force. These came after the
heavies and bombed the far side (south side) of the impact zone. I tried to
find a larger image online but no luck, but I have not viewed all your pages
yet, so it may already be there.
Again great work for some truly deserving
veterans.
Regards
Gary Boyce
While searching for a larger image of
that "Cobra Bombing" photograph, I came across the attached aerial
photo. At the time I put it aside to look at later, but I came across
it again with a location identified. Turns out the photo also covers a
part of Operation Cobra in the 30th ID zone. To check for myself, I
got a satellite image from Google Maps. Unfortunately the French
"interstate" passed through the area making identification difficult
except by the pattern of the hedgerows. The second attachment attempts
to demonstrate how the landmarks in the photo compare with what
landmarks remain.
This photo covers the first part of the
impact zone where the 30th ID started its role in Cobra. I don't see
alot of traffic so this must have been taken awhile after the
breakthrough. I read the 120th Infantry AAR for their role in this
action. The 2d battalion encountered the strongest nest of resistance
north of this area, astride the St-Jean-de-Daye / St-Gilles highway.
The 1st battalion moved south on the east side of the highway. South
of the main crossroad, at the top of the photo, they regained the
highway at the next crossroad. By evening the 2d battalion had the main
crossroad at the top of the photo and the 1st battalion was at a
crossroad just south of this photo. The 2d AD came through the next
morning and probably caused most of the vehicle tracks seen here.
Regards,
Gary
This photo was posted on your site
(one of the photo pages) with the comment that the location was
unknown (at the time?). You may have noted the similarity between
this photo and the "crossroads" photo I sent earlier. Based on that
similarity, I looked at the nearby area and found the attached.
This is the area north of the Cobra
impact zone but still in the 30th ID zone. The St-Gilles highway is
just visible in the extreme lower right corner. Your site indicated
the photo caption stated something about a tank battle northwest of
St-Lo. The area is very close to where the 2d battalion, 120th
Infantry reported being held-up by three German tanks plus machine
guns. According to the AAR, the tanks supporting the 2d battalion
pulled a risky maneuver to drive off the German tanks. Impossible
to say what, if any, part of that battle area is shown here.
I noted the heavily used track
parallel to the main highway. Since I did not see a similar track
in the "crossroad" aerial photo, I'm led to guess that this was the
right (western) column of CCA, 2d Armored Division, before they
deployed to a "battle formation" further south. Traveling parallel
to the highway would keep them separate from the left (east)
column. The left column may have also stayed off the highway so
that engineers could clear mines and repair bomb damage.
This has been quite enjoyable for me
and I'm glad you found the results interesting and valuable. If I
come across more on the 30th ID I'll let you know.
Best Wishes,
Gary
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The following photos, maps and
information are provided by Willi Weiss....MANY THANKS!!!
Click to enlarge photo.
CORRECTION to a previous photo on website:
Nazi soldiers 'help' check for mines near Haulthausen on March 25
Correct :
Holthausen near
Duesseldorf / Rhineland
Nazi soldiers 'help' check for mines near Holthausen / Duesseldorf /
Rhineland on March 2
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A
companion photo to one found on page 107 in the 119th's Official
History
This photo shows ruins of the 1944 farmstead.

This story is found on page 107 of the 119th Official History
Book.
119th in Kircherten.
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The above photo's location is listed incorrectly on another
page...it is not in Kirchherten but in Kirchtroisdorf near
Kirchherten. Then/Now.

117th Co K 2 2nd Plat. Loy Robinson 1945
This photo is in front of the windmill Grottenherten. Small
to right is same windmill today.

The above Then photo was taken between the border of the 29th
and 30th Divisional lines. Not sure if soldiers or 29th or
30th. Now view below it.
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From my German historian he first circles a bunker his father was
held when captured 12/24/44 near Bastogne. The second photo
shows him in a POW cage near Isigny, France. It was taken by
an American medic he befriended...both American and German medics kept in touch after the war.
This
is the story of Willi Weiss' father:
The circle drawn in the bunker was a medical bunker of the
German army near Neff / Bastogne.
There
was no water, everything was frozen. Between Bastogne
and Neff the only source of water that was not frozen for
German and American medics was at the church.
In the early days when German and American medics took their
wounded for water, they were at a distance. There was no
discussion, all were very cautious . . . .
Over time, the situation became more relaxed. There were
words exchanged a little German and English.
They smoked cigarettes together, German smoked American
cigarettes, and the Americans tried German cigarettes.
Photos of family has been shown......
On the evening of Christmas 12/24/44 my father in the
medical bunker decorated a small tree with cotton wool for
Christmas.
At that time there was no shooting on either side.
At 8:00 PM the door was pushed open in the bunker ( My
father was alone with the wounded ). There were 5 U.S.
soldiers in the door and said a quiet voice, "Hands up" !
For my father, the war was over. One soldier said to my
father he need not worry about the wounded. American medics,
they will provide.
My father was imprisoned in Bastogne until there was a way
to transport him. In Bastogne, because he spoke English, he
provided help for the wounded of both sides.
Medics are bound by the Convention Genve to help friend and
Enemy.
When the Americans broke out of the pocket of Bastogne, my
father was transferred to Mons in Belgium.
There was an old factory where the German prisoners were
questioned about the German secret weapons V1 and V2.
After a long question period the transport went up to
Normandy near Isigny. Here my father was reinstated as a
medic. Until the surrender of Germany he treated the German
wounded prisoners,
At that time my father did not know what was happening
in his homeland. A German soldier had told him the area of
his home was totally destroyed.
When my father was to be released from American captivity,
an American doctor asked him whether he wants to work for
U.S. military at Camp Isigny - 5 $ per month was the pay.
He agreed. He did not know how it would be in his
hometown. He was given new U.S. jacket and trousers and
armband with a red cross. He was the only German among
American soldiers.
He became friends with the American medic named Griffin. It
went in well, he was treated like one of them. From his
first American pay he bought a large cheese rom a farmer in
Isigny and ate it with Griffin.
So there was my father until the summer of 1948 in the camp
Isigny. Then Camp Isigny was closed.....
During this time, my
father trained in American schools for medics. In 1950
my father received the above photo of him in the Isigny POW
camp from Griffin in the United States.
The contact between my
father and the American medic Griffin never stopped, he died
in 2003.
It is the Code of Ethics by Medics to have remained faithful
to his dead in 2005.
Enemies can become friends !
A picture of the medics and their wives...the Griffins on the
ends, the Weiss' in the middle
At the Battle of the Bulge
there was a church. It was used as a
hospital by the Germans and was marked with large red cross
flag. One day, my father was looking for wounded. Everywhere
soldiers were
calleding in German " hilfe " or in English " help me ". After my
father had provided a badly wounded German soldiers with first
aid, he brought him to this church. The next wounded - the same
path to church.....
(
Light wounded were treated in the bunker at Neff, seriously
injured in the Church )
Once again, my father brought in a badly injured soldiers to the church. My
father was frightened, standing before the church of German and
American ambulances. Carefully my father carried the wounded man on
his back into the church. An American doctor told him, your
comrades lie down there, we'll take care of him. In the church
were mixed German and American medics and doctors !
What had happened ?
This church was constantly changing hands between German or American ownership.
The
German and American doctors refused again and again to evacuate
wounded from the church. They had to decided to work
together as long as it was possible.
The
church changed hands 15 times the " official " owner -
The staff, a mixture of German and American, was always the
same.
This was maybe a small episode in the war but a huge
humane event for these soldiers on opposite sides.
Such a story
shows the respect soldiers of both sides had for one
another.
Soldbuch and identity of my father as a medic.
See the stamp and signature top-right : Lt u Kp.-Fuehrer - > the
name is Faber.
( Last name ) Nachname:
Faber
( First name ) Vorname:
Otto
( Rank ) Dienstgrad:
Unteroffizier
( Birth date ) Geburtsdatum:
( 2/21/1913 ) 21.02.1913
( Birthplace ) Geburtsort:
( Date of death ) Todes-/Vermisstendatum:
23.12.1944 ( 12/23/1944 )
( Place of death ) Todes-/Vermisstenort: Neff / Bastogne,
Belgien
Otto Faber ruht auf der Kriegsgr�berst�tte in Recogne-Bastogne
(Belgien) .
Endgrablage: Block 15 Grab 303
Otto Faber rests on the military cemetery in Bastogne,
Bastogne (Belgium).

Grave at the end: Block 15 grave 303
It is a day before my father was taken prisoner.
Unteroffizier ( Sgt ) Faber wanted to get food. A
shell hit the kitchen.........
Note :
( A special website on the battles in the Rhineland in 1945
with rare photos and documents. )
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Although the
following history occurred just east of the 30th Division
during the Roer River Crossing, it is an incredible
story told by Willi Weiss!! MANY THANKS
TIGER vs PERSHING at
Elsdorf, Germany
On the road Steinstrass to Elsdorf
- In the area of 1 / 117th - ( Reichsstrasse 55 now
Bundestrasse 55 )
End of
Weiss photos.
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Warren,
This picture is taken in France 1944. I believe these are all
members of
Co. I 3/117th of the 30th inf. Standing left to right," Murray Kemp", he
still lives in Dyersburg, Tn,
my dad, "James E. Glass" passed way in 1985. On the right, the name is
smeared, but it looks
like" Gordon Manley". Kneeling, I can not make out the names, except for
the last man on
the right, his name is "Cecil Autry" he is from Dyersburg Tn.
Warren,
This is a Christmas card and picture of my Dad from WW2 he was a member
of the
3/117 of the 30th Inf., he was a member of the Tenn. national Guard, from
Dyersburg Tn,
when they where activated.
Warren,
Thank you I will watching the mail.
I am forwarding this picture, can you make out the shoulder patch, I can
not enlarge anymore.
Thanks
Ronnie
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Modified Mark VI Tank manned with a 380mm howitzer captured by
Co. C,
117th
Feb. 26th, 1945 in Oberembt, Germany coordinates 130628
http://www.oldhickory30th.com/Photos%20NARA%20Summer%202005.htm
Hi Warren,
the Monster in Oberembt -> then and now .
http://www.archiv-oberaussem.com/doku.php?id=kreis-bergheim-1945:oberembt-im-feb.1945
Hi Warren,
you want accurate information ?
The driver of the Sturmtiger was very young and
inexperienced.
He has slipped with the tanks in the little ditch at the
edge of the road.
At this moment the tank was fired upon from the direction of
Buschgasse.
The tank was damaged by U.S. fire in the engine. The crew
got out, the driver tried to flee.
An American soldier has asked him to stand still - he ran on
towards the bridge over the Finkelbach.
The American soldier who shot him.
______
New findings from Oberembt Monster !!!!
A different crew member from the Monster lies dead in front of the tank. He
took the gun from the tank, and wanted to shoot. A U.S. soldier threw a hand
grenade....
The right soldier in the photo he looks at the dead
Nachname:
Hauser
Vorname:
Josef
Dienstgrad:
Geburtsdatum:
23.04.1926
Geburtsort:
Gnadendorf
Todes-/Vermisstendatum:
25.02.1945
______
Many greetings from Germany,
Willi Weiss -
MORE!!!
There were a total of five monsters in Oberembt of the 11. Panzerdivision /
Sturm-Mörser-Batterie 1001.
The places in the attack were : Jülicher Strasse Crossroad - > Auf dem
Luetchen and Buschgasse Crossroad ->Tollhausenerstrasse.
The monster tried to escape on the road Neusser Strasse.
The driver of the Monster ( photo ) was very young and inexperienced. When
trying to escape, he has gotten stuck.
During this time, a Sherman tank followed the direction of Bushgasse.
From crossing Jülicher Strasse / Buschgasse he shot him in the engine.
These are the details from the gunner of the Monster. He was captured.
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Looking for any information or if anyone knew: Wilfred D. Wagner of the
117th, Co. G He received the Bronze Star for heroic achievement on Feb.
24th, 1945 in Germany...Roer River Crossing.
He was from Stroudsburg, PA.
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Photo Page of Clyde
G. Farmer, 120th, Anti-Tank Company
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Pfc. W. Staehling, MP
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Lt. Snow is listed as being a member of 120th IR, Co. M as is S/Sgt. Naynik.
I also discovered the story behind this gun in the 120th's history book.
Sgt. Maddrey is listed as 120th, Co. M and Capt. Shaw and Sgt. Bishop 120th, Co.
I.
MAPS of the area:
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120th Troops attacking in Nov. 1944.
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Not 30th troops but tremendous photo of
German Panther:

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Attached is two photos from inside and the window from Mason Armstrong's
bazooka position in Neufmoulin, Belgium which was actually open and I climbed up
into the hayloft where he was.
Here is a photo of the hole I climbed up to get to the hayloft in the Armstrong
house. If you could please put a disclaimer about not copying them other than
for your site since they may be used in a documentary.
Please note the above photos of the
Armstrong house in Neufmoulin are COPYRIGHTED and not to be used but only viewed
on this website!! Thanks for honoring the author's request.
On this website's
Links Section find more on the Armstrong story under The Battle of the Bulge
link.
Also this scan from
the 30th's history:
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Photo provided and credited to Melvin Holt:

Private First Class Melvin R. Holt,
20453805, Infantry, United States
Army, for heroic achievement and service from 18
August 1944 to 27 February
1945, in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany.
Entered military service
from North Carolina.There is also
some information you may find interesting about Pfc Holt. Melvin was reported Missing
in Action during the Bulge (I have the telegram they sent his
mother) and the Army tried to give the insurance to his mother but
he had written to his mother after the date he had gone missing.
When they asked Melvin about it, he nonchalantly said "What do you
mean? I've been here the whole time!". When he went to the Red Cross
to show that he was alive, he had to prove it, they believed he was
a German soldier in an American uniform. Melvin also said he was one
of the very few from his original unit to come home, the number
seems to be 17 out of 150 or so. He was not a replacement, he joined
the National Guard in 1940, and went through every major campaign in
Europe, and has 5 Campaign stars on his ETO ribbon.
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Follow the links
below to 30th photos:
http://www.ww2incolor.com/us-army/1216.htm
http://www.ww2incolor.com/us-army/ww2_52.html
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Further more I send you pictures of a monument of the 30th
Inf Div in St. Geertruid in Limburg The Netherlands Near to Maastricht.
and pictures from a monument I found in Gronsveld also near Maastricht.
a statue of a soldier´s face. Raymond F. Gargenes.
The information goes as follows.
Thanks to the liboraters of Gronsveld on September 13th 1944. and specially
Sergeant Raymond F. Gargenes from
Pennsylvania. who was killed at the age of 21.
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Unveiling
new memorial plaque Tec 4 Ed G. Erickson (Cannon Co, 120th Inf Rgt, 30th Inf
Div)
May 5th,
2010 a new plaque was unveiled for Tec 4 Ericson in the Dutch town of
Simpelveld.
The realization of the new plaque
has been made by the Municipality of Simpelveld and the Historical Society "De
Bongard"
Thanks to Arno Lasoe
Click for Photo
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