Leonard Sartain

Joseph I’m giving you my recollections of “A” Battery memory being what it is after 60 years it may be a little spotty.  You may want to circulate it among the guys corrections or additions. 

I volunteered for the airborne while at the Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and was sent to Fort Bragg and thence to “A” Battery 319th in September of 1942.  When orders came for me to go to Fort Benning and Jump School, Maj. Todd (later Lt. . Col. And Battalion CO) told me that upon finishing jump school I would not be returned to the 319th.  I opted not to go.  To remain with “A” Battery was the best decision I ever made.  I later went to jump school with a detachment:from the 319th.

In Sept. of ’42, the Battery Commander was a Capt. Kinard.  Jess Johnson was the 1st Sgt., Harold Jinders was the Supply Sgt., Harold Peters, Carl Davis and your father Ted Covais were in the Signal Section.  Robert McArthur headed the gun sections.  Jesse Holman headed the motor pool.  

Being a fresh 2nd Lt., S/Sgt. Harold Jinders sort of took me under is wings.

 “A” Battery had six 75mm pack howitzers pulled by a jeep.  There were slings that could be attached to the gun and pulled by the men.  On days that we used jeeps we’d go out in the morning, back for lunch and then back out to the field.  On the days that we used the slings we’d eat in the field and then pull the guns back to quarters in the evenings.

I remember one day the snow caught us in the field.  it was good practice for the Bulge.  I guess

We practiced on loading the CG4 Glider and the C47 airplane.  Both in the glider and in the airplane you had to know the weight of each item and its place in the craft so as to maintain its center of gravity.  We used the Boy Scout slip knot to tie down each piece of equipment.  Our training for the glider and the aircraft was very limited as there was a very short supply of each. 

Finally the Battery was cut down to its TO (Table of Organization).  Capt. Johnson replaced Kinard and I was fortunate enough to remain as the only 2nd Lt.  I frankly do not remember who the other officers were.

We left Fort Bragg by train on April 28, 1943, and went directly to the docks in New York and loaded up on the Santa Rosa (or it could have been the Santa Maria). And sailed on the evening of April 29, 1943.  Our destination was Casablanca.  We arrived in Casablanca on May 10, 1943, and were taken to a bivouac area where we spent the night.  The next morning we were loaded in trucks and taken to Oudja in northeast Morocco.  Our assigned area was an olive grove where we pitched our tents.  It was our home for about a month.  There were all sorts of show off parades and retreat ceremonies.  The temperature ranged from 110/115 degrees in-the day to 50-60 degrees at night.

We then were at, Oudja for Kairouan, Tunisia.  It was our first long glider, ride!  The landing strip was a metal, corrugated mat laid over the sand.  The pup tents went up again.  However, I must admit that the officers had larger tents with cots.  The division was assembled in the heat of the day.  We thought it was for a pep talk.  A C47 arrived, a small platform was pulled out of the door and out stepped Bob Hope and Francis Langford.

Our training continued.  We didn’t know it at the time but it turned out to be Sicily.  D-Day was set for July .9th.  Other than being scattered all over Sicily the first troopers performed well.  The second night, D+1 was a disaster.  The C47’s were mistakenly fired upon by our navy and friendly ground forces.  All further airborne operations were canceled.

The 319th was scheduled to go in by glider on D+2 and land at Pointe Olivia airport just north of the beachhead at Gela.  “A” Battery was loaded and ready to go.  Because the 319th was part of the Division’s ready reserve it was awarded a battle star for Sicily.

We all knew that the next operation would be Italy but we didn’t know where.  The 319th had moved to a new area just below the sea port of Bizerta, Tunisia.  The first plan was a pipe dream.  Two regiments of the 82nd were to drop on and take the airport at Rome.  The 319th was to arrive by LST, travel up the Tiber River to Rome and support the troopers.  When Italian support proved untrustworthy this operation was also canceled.  But the 319th had loaded on its LST at Bizerta.  It was then decided that the 319th would land at the small Italian coastal village of Maiori to support the 5th Rangers under Col. Darby at Chiuzi Pass.  Maiori is nestled at the foot of a range of horse shoe mountains.  It is noted for its grapes and wine.  So “A” Battery set up on the down slope of a grape vineyard.  My best recollection is that this was on Sept. 12th or 13th, 1943.  The OP’s were on the top of the mountain with a clear view of the roads leading to and from Salerno and the Mediterranean.  We would pay the young natives.  5 lira (one nickel) to carry water and our gear up the mountain.,  The 319th received the first of its two Presidential Unit citations.  Major Todd was promoted to Lt. Col. And made battalion commander.  A welcomed change.  General Ridgeway left the division for 18th Airborne Corps and General Jim Gavin became 82nd Div. Commander.

We were in Maiori for seventeen days when we moved out through Chinzi Pass on to Naples, viewing Mount Vesuvius and Pompey on the way.  Entering Naples was something else.  Snipers were firing from some of the buildings but the natives were out in force.  We got kisses, bananas, apples and flowers.  Our mission was to proceed through Naples and take up positions along the Volturno River.  After about a week. We returned to selected quarters in Naples.

After N Africa, the dust and sand, Naples was back to civilization.  Out came class A dress and “fraternization”.  Our training consisted primarily of long hikes and calisthenics.  Side trips” taken, to Pompey, Sorento, the Isle of Capri, etc.

Early in November 43, rumor had it that our mission in Italy was over.  This turned out to be true.  We then boarded a British troop ship in Naples’ harbor and set sail.  We pulled into the harbor at Oran, Algiers. And docked there for about ten days while Roosevelt, Churchill argued over where the invasion of Europe was to be France or the Balkans.  France was decided upon and we set sail for Belfast, North Ireland. 

We were stationed at Ballymena, North Ireland and quartered in quansut huts.  It didn’t get day light until 9:00 AM and was dark again by 5:00 PM.  We practiced gun drills and visited Belfast.  It was Christmas ’43 in Balllymena.  

In mid-January we left for England.  First by ferry from Belfast to Glasgow, Scotland, and then by train to Market Harboro and Papillon Hall.  Actually, the closest village was Lubenham.  Both had typical English pubs.  You can pull up a good article on Papillon Hall on “hubenham.org.uk”.

Papillon Hall was a large manor house with stables, large farm equipment shelters and barn situated on about 100 acres.  We left from there to go into Normandy, returned and stayed until Holland.  After Holland we stayed on the continent.

While the 75mm was our principle gun we were then equipped with the 105mm (short (howitzer) and ¾ quarter ton trucks and trained equally with both.  An experiment was tried where the battalion was changed from 2 Batteries to three(A,B & C) with men from A & B Batteries.  Capt. John R. Manning and I were assigned to C Battery.  This didn’t last long and the Battalion reverted back to 2 Batteries.  Capt. Manning and I were assigned to “A” Battery.  We used the 75mm for each airborne operation.  When things settled down the 105mm and ¾ quarter ton trucks where brought in on LST’s.

Back to Papillon Hall.  The men were quartered in the main building.  But the Signal Section was given the stables.  Four men to the stable.  I think they had the best arrangement.

The main house was enclosed with a beautiful brick fence with gate houses at the entrance.  On each pillar anchoring the gate was a small angel like cherub.  Sometime during the night someone would put a wool knit cap on each angel.  This would send our Battalion Exec. up the wall Wool knot caps were to be worn only under a helmet liner or you were out of uniform.  Anyone he caught not in proper attire he would assigned extra duty, KP, garbage, etc.

He would remove the caps each morning and each night they would reappear.  Finally he placed a guard each night at the gate.  This was really a burden on the men on guard duty Finally Col. Todd called in the battery CO’s and asked for a truce.  If the wool caps would not return the guards would not be used and no questions would be asked.  I would really like to know who the “wool knit caps” men were.  Following Col. Todd’s order, I never asked.

Up to then our basic gun was the 75 Pack, Howitzer pulled by a jeep.  Both could fit in a glider or C47.  But shortly we were equipped with the short 105mm Howitzer and extra ¾ ton trucks to pull them.  Once things settled down in Normandy and Holland the 105mm’s and trucks were brought in seaborne.  We trained with and became quite proficient with both.

The Battalion added a third Battery “C” with men from “A” & “B” Batteries.  Before Normandy the experiment was ended and the men reverted back to “A” and “B” Batteries. With six guns each.  Capt. John R. Manning commanded “A” Battery and I was made his Executive Officer.

Capt. Manning was severely injured in the glider landing in Normandy and I was made Battery Commander, got a battle field promotion to Captain and remained it’s CO throughout the remainder of hostilities.  Lt. Ragland was made Battery Executive.  When Manning returned just before Holland he was kept on Battalion staff as Assistant S-3.

Notwithstanding all of our training was in the American CG4 glider, shortly before Normandy we learned that we were to use the British Horsa glider.  It was much larger than the American glider and it was made of plywood.  The pilot and copilot were American.  For the equipment to be unloaded in the tail had to be torn off and everything unloaded from the rear.  On landing many of the gliders hit trees and fences and other obstacles and lost their tail sections.

Prior to Normandy we had a dry run to the airfield.  Most of us, including myself did not know it was a dry run.  However, about May 27-28th we loaded up again for the airfield.  This time it was for real.  We loaded the gliders and tied down the guns, etc.  In one of the buildings there was a large sand table of Normandy, thoughts to be exact in every detail.  It depicted the landing and assembly areas.  Two things were wrong about the sand table.  The hedge rows were not 2 to 3 feet in height like British fences, but were 6 and 7 feet high with fairly large trees rooted on them.  

I don’t know of any glider that actually landed in the proper landing zone.  WE were scattered anywhere from 1 to 3 miles from it.  One historian has said that only 1 in 4 gliders landed without appreciable damage and estimated the casualty rate on landing at 11%.  My guess is that we landed about 11:00 PM on D-Day.  From day light on the members of the 319th started showing up at the assembly area.  That afternoon a group with a jeep started looking for an return to the gliders to collect the guns, equipment and other jeeps.  Again if memory serves me right, “A” Battery was able to collect 4 howitzers with jeeps and other equipment and we were able to go into position that night (D+1).  As I mentioned above Capt. Manning was severely injured I was made Battery CO and received a battle field promotion to Capt. Lt. Marvin Ragland was made Battery Exec. and was promoted to 1st Lt. S/Sgt. Robert McArthur was NCO of the gun sections.  McArthur and Harold Peters shortly thereafter got a battle field promotion to 2nd Lt.

The thing I remember most about Normandy was that we were constantly on the move.  Most if not all of these moves were made at night.  On or about D+12 our 105mm’s, kitchen and rear echelon came in seaborne.  The night moves required a lot of coordination.  I with several of the NCO’s would reconnoiter the new position and mark the route with members of the battery and then at night we’d move out.  I do not recall a single mishap or anyone ever taking a wrong turn.

Throughout Normandy the 319th supported the 508th PIR.  “A” Battery supported its 3rd Battalion.  This remained so during the rest of the war.  A strong bond existed between the officers of the 508th and “A” Battery’s Forward Observers.  I became very close to Lt. Col. Louis Mendez and his staff.  The same should be said about our Forward Observers and the 3rd, 508th.

We were in Normandy 33 days.  For the trip back to England the Glider men were issued jump boots and from then on received hazard pay.  These amenities were long over due.  Having previously received jump pay, etc., I could not understand why the glider men were so long in receiving this recognition.  Glider landing entailed far more casualties than did the jumpers and once on the ground proved the equal to the jumpers.

The return to England was greeted with great fanfare.  Papillon Hall looked even greater.  All men were granted a week’s leave to go wherever they wanted.  But on return it was back to serious training along with our new replacements.

On returning to England there was a change on our Battalion Staff.  Maj. Frederick J. Silvey came over from the 320th as the 319th’s Executive Officer.  He was a good man and welcomed by all.

In early Sept. ’44, we were alerted for another operation  This turned out to be Holland and was set for Sept. 17th and our objective as Niemegen and the bridge over the Waal River.

Fortunately it was a day light operation and we were to use the American CG4 glider.  We had a pilot but no copilot.  One of us occupied the co-pilot seat.  On the flight in we could see where we were, observe the Landing zones and basically decide when to cut loose from the two plane.  At spots there was some ack ack but it was comforting to see our fighter escorts take them out.  Capt. Bill Connelly, Bn. S-4 was riding in the co-pilot seat.  The pilot was killed by either ack ack or small arms fire.  He cut the glider loose and brought the glider in to a safe landing.  

Lt. John Eskoff’s (Hq. Battery) glider some how was cut loose over the English Channel.  They were picked up by the British Navy, returned to England, and joined the 319th in Holland with the seaborne echelon.  Several of the Hq. Battery gliders landed on the far edge of the drop zone and they were all taken prisoners for the remainder of the war.  The eastern edge of the drop zone was located near the German border.  

“A” Battery landed in the proper zone.  However, there were some casualties.  S/Sgt. William Siegel headed our kitchen and always came in later with the seaborne personnel. before we left for Holland he came to me and said, “Capt I’ve been with this unit from the very beginning and cannot go home and te! My children that I never made an airborne operation.  May I go with the Battery into Holland?” I said, “Yes.”  He was killed on the landing zone.

“A” Battery was able to quickly assemble with its full compliment of men, guns and jeeps.  We left the drop zone immediately and went to our assigned position to support the 3rd Bn. 508th.

I don’t remember how long we were in Holland, but I do remember that we were in constant combat and it was rainy, wet, soggy and generally unpleasant.  The troopers were able to take Nijmegen and the bridge.  The British tanks arrived and then further operations were canceled.  But the Germans counter attacked from all directions.  The British lost its entire airborne division at Arnhem.  Read the book “A Bridge Too Far.

We left Holland for a base camp at Suippes, France  All men were granted short leaves, we received new replacements and continued to train.  We had a Battery banquet where the officers NCO’s served the tables.

On Dec. 16th, ’44, the Bulge started.  On the 17th or 18th we were alerted and moved out to Belgium.  I remember going through Bastogne.  We got as far as Werbomont, Belgium, on the northern fringe of the Bulge where we were positioned to support the 3rd Bn. 508th.

There was a lot of movement of all units to straighten the lines and to extend a solid front.

On Christmas’ Eve, ’44, “A” Battery was selected to support the withdrawal of the 508th.  Everybody withdrew but no one told “A” Battery and we were left high and dry.  I couldn’t get anybody on the radio as the radio silence had not been lifted.  I don’t remember how long we waited, but I finally decided we had to get out also.  It had been too quiet far too long.  The Battery was ready.  I made my way to the 7th Section, Sgt. Frank Marshal and said, “Lets go.”  We were very fortunate that the Germans were not in pursuit.  It was our first and only “tactical” withdrawal.  Col. Todd later told me that it was the responsibility of either the Liaison Officer or the Forward Observer with the 508th to tell me when they were pulling out, but no one told them either.  Fortunately we had reconnoitered our new position earlier that afternoon.

It had turned bitter cold and the snow had increased.  We were near a small village and in one of the houses I saw a sign where the lady took in sewing.  I gathered about 15 blankets from supply and the lady made us enough scarfs and hoods for the Battery.

Turkeys:  About December 22nd the cooks were given about 4 turkeys for our Christmas meal.  They were hanged in the back of the mess truck and naturally froze.  Every time we thought we were going to stay put for a day or two the turkeys were taken out and defrosted and before they could be cooked we moved.  The turkeys were hung up again and froze again.  This went on for about a week.  We finally got to eat the turkeys around New Year’s Eve.

We were all over the map and our final mission were the damns over the Roer River at Schmidt.  Our recon crews went through the Hurtgen Forest.  It was an unbelievable sight.  Fallen trees, stumps, anywhere from 3 to 10 feet, all the result of intensive artillery fire.  The mission was canceled and on Feb. 17th the Bulge ended for us and we returned to Suippes, France.  

The stay in Suippes was short lived.  Around April 1, 1944, the Division was ordered back to Germany, back up throughout France, Luxenburg, Belgium to Cologne, Germany.  We bivouacked the first night in the stadium grounds then set up just outside the stadium.  Our OP was in the Fort building on the banks of Rhine River.  The German’s OP was in a similar building on the other side of the river.  We’d wave and duck and their snipers would shoot.  They’d wave and duck and then our snipers would shoot.  

The pocket of Germans across the river was finally overrun.  The 82nd was assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps which was assigned to the British 2nd Army and the race to the Elbe and Berlin was on.  I can’t remember all the towns we went through and the many positions we took.  But as fast as we could set up we’d move again.  I think one of them was Lubthien(?) and it had a swimming pool.  It had a unisex shower room with no curtains.  Only the 319thseemed embarrassed.  Our duffle bags arrived and naturally we had a parade.  On one of our later positions, Sgt. Holman riding on the running board of the lead truck was taking them up in the wood when it hit a land mine and he was killed instantly.  The last member of “A” Battery to be KIA.  Sosa and I took his remains to grave registration.  I should mention that Louis Sosa was my jeep driver throughout the war and Robert Miller was my radio operation.  

Our last position was near Ludwigslust on the Elbe River and probably 80 miles west of Berlin.  Nearby was a concentration camp at Wobelein.  It was horrible.  Hundreds of skeletons and near dead.  General Gavin ordered the entire town to turn out to dig graves, bury the deceased, and witness the burial ceremony on grounds of the palace.  

Around May 1, 1945, the Germans started to surrender and over 145,000 crossed into 82nd lines.

We stayed in position for several weeks after V-E days.

I do not recall whether we went back to our base camp at Suippes, France, or went directly to Epinal in Eastern France.  It was in Epinal that I was brought up to Battalion Staff and Marvin Ragland was made Battery CO.  I truly regretted to leave the Battery but the move enabled Ragland’s promotion to Captain, a promotion he richly deserved.

From Epinal we moved to Neufchateau, France.  There things really happened.  The high point men were assigned to 621st Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 17th Airborne Division.  The low point men stayed with the 319th, 82nd, and went on to occupy Berlin.   

We were in Neufchateau for several months awaiting the outcome of the Pacific War.  It was all “fun and Games” and very boring.  Around the 2nd or 3rd of Sept. we boarded 40&8’S (WWI box cars) for Marseille, France and along with 5,000 others boarded our ship for home, landing in Boston on Sept. 14th, and to our respective separation centers.

Joseph:  The following re my answers to your letter of August 10, 2004.  For convenience, I’ve also included the questions.

Q. Are there. A’specific fire missions which stand out in your memory?

A. In the early stages of Normandy we were brought up to support the 3rd, 508h, in its crossing of the Merdeey River. The artillery fire on both sides was terrific.  For further fire missions see my response to my Silver Star citation below.

Q. How was it decided who would go in each glider?

A. Each section of the Battery, gun, survey, etc., was assigned to a particular glider.  The FO’s jumped with the 508th.

Q. Do you recall the name of “Indiana Annie” painted on the hood of a jeep?

A. No. But if I had to guess it would be Lt. Mullen.

Q. How would you have handled a situation in which members of a gun crew complained of their Sergeant refusing to come out of his foxhole, insisting that the men deliver his meals to him there and not emerging even to answer the call of nature?

A. I would have reduced his rank and replaced him. This situation was never brought to my attention. I would like to know who he was. 

Q. Who were the officers in Charge of B and C Batteries?

A. When we had B & C Batteries, Capt .Robert Cargile was CO of B Battery and Capt John R. Manning was CO of C Battery.

Q. Do you remember having blankets cut up into scarves and issued to men during the Bulge?

A.  Yes.  See Page 7, Para. 4,.above.  

Q. Do you recall anything about having men’s class A Coats shortened into Eisenhower jackets?

A. Yes.  At one point and I think it was after Normandy. everyone was issued Eisenhower jackets. 

Q. Would you read the citation of your Silver Star, and add anything you can recall?

 A. Unfortunately my Silver Star citation along with the rest of my records were destroyed in a storage facility at my home.  However I’m enclosing a copy of a short article that appered in my home town paper.  The article incorrectly gave me credit for conducting the artillery fire.

A. Silver Star continued:  We were in position in Holland, right on the German border near Grosbeck.  Things were rather static and calm.  Around noon, Capt. Manning called and asked if he could accompany me when I visited one of our FO’s.  I said “Yes”.  Lt. Fellman and his radio operator were in position with a unit of the 325th, A platoon of about 30 men.  We arrived shortly after 1:00 PM.  

Within minutes of our arrival, the Germans attacked with tank support.  We were on a ridge with a clear view of the attacking forces.  Our troops must have been new recruits because they were clearly bewildered and hunkered down in their foxholes.  There were no NCO’s or officers with them.  Manning took over the radio and started directing artillery fire  we had no:contact with the Infantry Bn.  

I organized the Infantry, sent out outpost, etc, and we started returning small, arms fire.  The troops started to act like troopers.  The first wave was repulsed but they reorganized and attacked again and again.  This wen ton throughout the remainder of the afternoon and most of the night.  In late afternoon they brought up a flame thrower.  

The artillery fire separated the men from their tanks and took care of the flame thrower who got within 150 yards of us, but not close enough to reach us.  At night we used illuminating shells to light up the battle field.  By daylight they were gone and Manning and I returned to the Battalion.  I had no idea of a Silver Star until there was a Battalion formation and General Gavin showed up and Manning and I were called front and center.

On reflection, I’ve never understood why there were no NCO’s or officers with this group or why once we were under attack the Infantry Battalion did not send reinforcements.  It’s like no one knew that this group was there before and during the attack.  I’m sure that had Manning and I not shown up when we did they would all have been killed or taken prisoners.  

Q. What sort of things would enlisted men typically do to cause them to be reduced in grade?   

A.  Generally, it would be drunk and disorderly in town or involved in a brawl in town and picked up by the MPs.  Fortunately, “A” Battery and the 319th had very few cases.

Q. Do you recall any instances which deserved a Bronze or Silver Star, but went unrecorded or unrecognized?

A.  No, I do not but I’m sure that there may be.  I would appreciate it if this was mentioned to you and you could call it to my attention.

Q. Can you tell me about Colonel Todd? Major Silvey?

A. Colonel Todd was a member of the National Guard who volunteered for active duty right after Pearl Harbor.  He was a lawyer and lived in Tahlequah, Okla.  His expertise was in the Indian affairs and he represented the Cherokee Indians.  He was constantly looking out for the welfare of his men.  He never let a vacancy go begging and would promote the next in line immediately.  He was low key but knew what was going on at every level in the Battalion.

Major Silvey:  from the 320th GFA joined us right after Normandy as Bn, Exec. – ‘As Exec.  He was supposed to be the bad guy who was always looking for someone or something to +--ghten. Was always visiting the Batteries both in and out of combat.  He too was rather low key but very positive and very

Q. You described yourself as a guardhouse lawyer during your time with the 319th.  With no obligation to -iel-lonu names I you preer not to, can you recall any of your clients and their cases?

A. Yes.  I remember my first case. There was a member of “B” Battery named Goldfarb.  We were in North Africa.  Our bivouac area was in a large quadrangle surrounded by thick 8’ to 10’ cactus trees with a break in the front for an entrance.  He was on guard duty at the entrance.  For some reason he was laying down and for all appearance was asleep.  His head was just under the cactus.  This was a man named Goldfarb from B battery.

Our Colonel at the time (not Todd) was returning from a nearby village which was off limits to everyone but him.  He approached the entrance, had his driver get out and kick the guard in the feet.  The Colonel insisted that he be tried for sleeping on guard duty.  Major Todd asked me to defend him.

It was a three man court headed by Capt. Battalion Medic, who was senior man on the Court.

Now, our Colonel at the time was a very unpopular man (and rightly so).  He was a stickler for spit and polish.  At a previous bivouac he made all the men who had pitched their pup tents in the shade of an olive tree remove their tents to the open and lined them up with a survey instrument.  He was a very cold individual and never associated socially with anyone.  The private who was charged testified that part of his flash light came loose and he was looking for it.  The driver who kicked him in the foot testified that he really couldn’t tell whether the guard was really asleep.

The court found him not guilty.  The Col called me in later and said “I was using my meager knowledge of the law to disrupt the discipline in his command.”  I really don’t know how many court martials I gemera; Court Martial level several included sexual assault on female civilians, and refusal to jump which was a failure to follow a direct order.

Q. What as the legal status of Arthur Pease, and were there others men in the battery who shared his circumstance?

A. I recall the name but I don’t recall the circumstances.  Could you brief me on it?

Q. Can you tell me about Christmas Eve, 1944, when the battery was nearly left behind during the tactical withdrawal?

A. Yes.  See detailed account on Page 7, Para. 3 above.

Q. Can you recall Charles Spainouer?  I believe he may have been the first member of.the battery killed in action?

A. Yes, I remember Spainouer very well.  He and Ray Lampley were both killed in Italy.  I don’t recall which one was the first.

Q. Were the morning reports written by the CO. or were they witten by a subordinate and then reviewed and signed by him?

A. When not in combat the mornin reports were written by Will Mounger, our Battery Clerk, as dictated by 1st Sgt Jess Johnson, and then either signed or initialed by me.  When in combat they were prepared by the 1st Sgt.

Q. Were there any qualitative differences between the men in A battery, as compared to those in B Battery or the headquarters battery?

A. Basically, I would say no.  The only difference I would make is that A battery’s gun sections were consistently faster than B battery’s.  And, I think fire direction at battalion would agree with this assessment.    

GENERAL COMMENTS:  Joseph, other than my parents, wife, children, grandchildren, son-in-law, I can truethfully say that the best thing that ever happened to me was my days with A Battery, the 319th and 82nd.

Even though it was 60 years ago there is never a day that I don’t think about those days.  A Battery was a special group every last one of them.  We were blessed with good men, from the Privates to the NCO’s.  And, to feel that I Had their respect is a cherished memory.