"Baker
was cut off"
Baker was the last in the serials in the Battalion convoy, so was
not as lucky as the rest of the Bat-teries on the move. Almost immediately
after Able had cleared a certain cross road Jerry tanks, supported
by Infantry, cut it. With no knowledge of this Baker came on down
the road intending to follow the same route that the other Batteries
had. But that was not to be! Instead Baker had to fight their way
out of a tight situation pitting 40's and half-tracks against tanks
and infantry. It was not a very fair battle and for "B"
things looked might dim and dark about that time. There they were
coming down the road when the lead jeep spotted Jerry tanks on a side
road coming their way. The column stopped and the men took cover as
best they could. At the intersection the lead Jerry tank turned towards
Baker's column and cut loose with its 88, the first two bursts hitting
the trees over the first 2 1/2 ton truck. Two of the officers went
forward to see what they could see along with one of the platoon Sgts.
What they saw was none too pleasant for it was noted that the enemy
had great strength. There were about thirty armored vehicles all told,
most of them going towards Malmedy. One tank was halted on the close
by crossroad and several others were grouped below to deliver fire
on the column. About this time Sgt. Brockway took his 40mm out in
the field and opened up on the tanks below hitting one several times
and also setting the house in back of it on fire. Many many Krauts
must have kicked off at that time. Then the tanks zeroed in on the
40mm and knocked it out. The observation party tried to get back to
the column but got pinned down by small arms fire. The platoon Sgt.
and 1st Sgt. with the aid of the other platoon Sgt. managed to get
the Battery turned around and out which was quite a feat in it self.
But that wasn't the end of it by a long ways no indeed. We got to
where we were going alright but found to our dismay that the units
to which we had been assigned were pulling out under the pressure.
Thus Baker, Charlie, and Dog were accounted for. What about Able though,
that's where we got
"Knocked Out"
22