Here We Go, We Meet the Enemy
Marseilles and were a few weeks from finding out they were
heading into 2 huge battles. The mission was to free France
from the Nazi occupation and head to Germany to help
defeat the German army.
Their first battle was in the dreaded Voges mountains on
the border of Northern France and Germany. Throughout
history no army, even Napoleon's, had ever defeated a
stronghold hidden in the steep slopes much less do it in the
mud and snow during one of the coldest winters in history.
During the Voges campaign
The Battle of the Bulge was going on North in
Belgium starting Dec.15 until late January. Christmas for the
103rd was going north of the Voges to be relief elements
for the 6th armored division under George Patton. His third
army was pushing north to pinch off the Ardenes forest
area which left the 7th army to fill in the wide gap on
southern French/German border so the 103rd was left to
protect the left flank. The German's had become desperate
at this point and more vicious than ever.
**********************
Oct. 20, 1944
I am including the same diary entry for continuity.
PFC Frank Block disembarked along with members of the
103rd off of the USS General Brooks about a mile out in the
harbor slightly west of Marseilles at 5 o'clock pm on Oct 20
1944. There were 2 other smaller ships the Santa Maria and
the Monticello that steered through the wreckage of this
bombed out port and the men could walk to shore from a
gang plank.
103rd off of the USS General Brooks about a mile out in the
harbor slightly west of Marseilles at 5 o'clock pm on Oct 20
1944. There were 2 other smaller ships the Santa Maria and
the Monticello that steered through the wreckage of this
bombed out port and the men could walk to shore from a
gang plank.
Marseilles Harbor
It was not so easy for the General Brooks, that PFC Frank
Block was on. The men got out a mile from shore and took a
"Seep" boat to shore.
The troops still didn't know where they were going and what
the mission was. Frank Block's platoon along with the rest of
the 410th infantry regiment marched almost immediately
after landing even into the night. They slogged in mud with
heavy gear till midnight before throwing down blankets
between rocks for a little sleep. They were still a few miles
short of the camp and staging area which is called
"Bivouac"
The first time the men in Frank's platoon had an encounter
with the enemy was an air attack. Fortunately the plane
was shot down by ack-ack (a short term for anti aircraft gun).
The word had gotten out and the German's knew they
had arrived. As one man put Suddenly every man in the
Division, strung out for miles between the port and the
plateau felt a chill. A German plane was a high flying speck
to the east.The word German had a sinister flavor this time.
It was the first time the enemy had shown itself. The new
soldiers dropped their loads and stared. A helpless feeling
gripped them ....From " Report After Action"
The men of the 103rd learned quickly that their mission
was anything but secret. A driver stopped to tell the troops
he had heard "Axis Sally" welcome the boys of the 103rd
Division. Axis Sally (real name Mildred Gillars) was an
American born turned Nazi, who had an English radio show
(full of propaganda) from Berlin that was suppose to
discourage the American soldiers by telling them in between
the hit records she played that they were losing and
Roosevelt is just sacrificing you poor guys.
Listen to Axis Sally
more about Axis Sally
Block was on. The men got out a mile from shore and took a
"Seep" boat to shore.
The troops still didn't know where they were going and what
the mission was. Frank Block's platoon along with the rest of
the 410th infantry regiment marched almost immediately
after landing even into the night. They slogged in mud with
heavy gear till midnight before throwing down blankets
between rocks for a little sleep. They were still a few miles
short of the camp and staging area which is called
"Bivouac"
The first time the men in Frank's platoon had an encounter
with the enemy was an air attack. Fortunately the plane
was shot down by ack-ack (a short term for anti aircraft gun).
The word had gotten out and the German's knew they
had arrived. As one man put Suddenly every man in the
Division, strung out for miles between the port and the
plateau felt a chill. A German plane was a high flying speck
to the east.The word German had a sinister flavor this time.
It was the first time the enemy had shown itself. The new
soldiers dropped their loads and stared. A helpless feeling
gripped them ....From " Report After Action"
The men of the 103rd learned quickly that their mission
was anything but secret. A driver stopped to tell the troops
he had heard "Axis Sally" welcome the boys of the 103rd
Division. Axis Sally (real name Mildred Gillars) was an
American born turned Nazi, who had an English radio show
(full of propaganda) from Berlin that was suppose to
discourage the American soldiers by telling them in between
the hit records she played that they were losing and
Roosevelt is just sacrificing you poor guys.
more about Axis Sally
******************
Oct. 21, 1944
They continued marching west to the staging or (Bivouac)
area. The term "dig in" meant digging fox holes and latrines.
You were always in fear of being attacked so you had to be
ready.
The staging area ended up being around Calas, France
about 26 miles away. To most soldiers this was remembered
as the Marseilles Death March.
The camp or "Bivouac" was where they set up their pup
tents. Unfortunately they were not much protection from the
rain and famous French mud that was gooey and stuck
to everything.
******************
Oct. 22, 1944
area. The term "dig in" meant digging fox holes and latrines.
You were always in fear of being attacked so you had to be
ready.
The staging area ended up being around Calas, France
about 26 miles away. To most soldiers this was remembered
as the Marseilles Death March.
The camp or "Bivouac" was where they set up their pup
tents. Unfortunately they were not much protection from the
rain and famous French mud that was gooey and stuck
to everything.
******************
Oct. 22, 1944
******************
Oct 24, 1944
Lt Spaysk was the exec officer for the 2nd Platoon. Still not
aware of what the movie was about.
******************
Oct 25, 1944
The ten mile march in the rain was excruciating. With all the
rain the mud was nasty to walk in. The trail was uphill much
of the time also.
******************
Oct 26, 2015
rain the mud was nasty to walk in. The trail was uphill much
of the time also.
******************
Oct 26, 2015
Lee Gutierez on the left and Bill Parsons on the right
One of the 57 MM guns Anti Tank guns Frank Block's squad
was in charge of. He painted Lucky 11 with the dice on
it because there were 11 men in his squad.
******************
Oct 27, 1944
Oct 27, 1944
Frank was on guard detail as the equipment for their advance
to the front lines came in.
As one person said, the equipment being the jeeps and large
artillery arrived and was scattered from here to
breakfast. The dock at Marseilles became like a Ford factory
assembly line getting all the wheels and equipment on the
vehicles. Frank was on guard detail through the night while
others slept to make sure no one sabotaged their stuff.
to the front lines came in.
As one person said, the equipment being the jeeps and large
artillery arrived and was scattered from here to
breakfast. The dock at Marseilles became like a Ford factory
assembly line getting all the wheels and equipment on the
vehicles. Frank was on guard detail through the night while
others slept to make sure no one sabotaged their stuff.
******************
Nov 5
Frank Block is sitting in the back of a jeep (called a
Prime Mover) taking a picture of another Prime Mover right
behind him. In the back was also their Anti Tank gun. They
moved all through France including the mountains, on and
off road. Also through Germany into Austria this "Prime
Mover" was their transportation.
moved all through France including the mountains, on and
off road. Also through Germany into Austria this "Prime
Mover" was their transportation.
******************
Nov 6, 1944
When the soldiers heard the command to put away the tents
and they were leaving for the front they said to each other
"Well this is it" and it was. So Initial Point is a military term.
When they crossed the end of Staging Area it was 10 am in
the morning.
Painted on the bars of the platoons Prime Mover
is the division, (103) company (410) and platoon AT
that stands for Anti-Tank on the front 2 bars. The different
platoons would have different bars so you could tell who is
who from a distance.Missing from the picture is the hoist that
was between the 2 bars. That is what they would use to to
get through the mountainous terrain. You could wrap the
cable around a big tree and then put the jeep in gear and the
drive train would wind up the cable and pull you up.
******************
Nov 7, 1944
They went from near Camp (near Calas) to Dijon it was 300 plus miles. As you can see Dijon is about halfway up France.
************************
Nov 8, 1944
Moving in to the front lines toward the Voges Mountains.
The Germans were not as prepared as they should be.
They never thought the U.S. could make it through the
dreaded mountains in Winter. Even Napoleon complained
about it. As they went up the mountain they were not even
on a road. You didn't want to be out in the open or on a road
The Germans were not as prepared as they should be.
They never thought the U.S. could make it through the
dreaded mountains in Winter. Even Napoleon complained
about it. As they went up the mountain they were not even
on a road. You didn't want to be out in the open or on a road
risking a mine or sniper fire. Often they would need to
cut down a tree to advance.
******************
Nov 10, 1944
The first front was between Herbviller and Chevry and they
were relief elements of the third army. The newbie soldiers
were always welcomed give them a break.
******************
Nov 14 , 1944
Bismarck- Benedictine is the code. On this day, if you were
on guard duty at night and heard some rustling in the
bushes and wondered if they are friendly or the enemy you
would say "Bismarck...Then if you heard them say
.."Benedictine" you were ok.
The bloody battle of St Die was about to begin.
St Die is the largest city in the Voges Mountains.
St Die is the largest city in the Voges Mountains.
******************
Nov 15, 1944
Fox was the Tech Sergeant. The battle was heating up, and weapons fire, from rifles to mortars could be heard loud and clear.
******************
Nov16, 1944
Food for the 103rd
On a good day they would have hot chow cooked on coal
stoves that worked well in the field. For breakfast you could
get hotcakes, and for dinner you would get a stew, Texas
beans or chili. You would eat it out of their mess kits, that
they could clean with hot water provided by the cook. The
menu would usually be a stew. If you were in a fox hole they
would try to deliver to you. If there was artillery or rifle fire
you had to cook your own C rations.
A box of C Rations
Frank said he remembers the C rations coming in 2 large
cans. One would have biscuits, cigarettes, candy and if they
were lucky toilet paper. The other would have the main meal
that could be a stew, pork and beans or chili.
cans. One would have biscuits, cigarettes, candy and if they
were lucky toilet paper. The other would have the main meal
that could be a stew, pork and beans or chili.
You were given a Squad Burner to cook food on.
K rations were for survival. They had a can of spam, crackers. lemon powder for drink and cigarettes.
A "D" ratrion would be a big chocolate bar
Harland Tainter the Driver for the
Prime Mover shows his Catch.
When explosives detonated in the water it always
sent fresh fish up to the top, making easy pickings
for dinner.
On to the
The Battle of the Voges Mountains
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