Wild Bill Wilder Posted November 1, 2000 Share Posted November 1, 2000 I received this today from a Veteran who was there in the area where this battle took place. During my time of scenario design, I've heard from vets involved to one degree or another in many battles I've done on WW2, Korea, Vietnam, and even DS. I can't tell you how exciting it is to get these. This one is from Mr. Vernon Brown, who served as a cavalry trooper with the 14th Armored Division. Dear Bill.... I was fascinated by your Scenario on Herrlisheim, 'cause as a young cavalry trooper I got shoved into "Operation Nordwind" not with the 12th Arm'd, but in "Task Force Huddleson" of the sister 14th Arm'd Division. As you are no doubt aware, Ike sent George Patton and most of the Seventh and Third Army north to contain the Bulge leaving the VI Corps (in one briefing you have it the sixth Army ) to mind the store in the south. Hitler saw a chance to recapture Alsace, free his trapped army in the south, and wreck the relations between DeGaule and the US for once and for all, and on New Year's Eve he struck with great force. Our lines at TF Huddleson were spread so thinly, that there must have been a couple of hundred yards of forest between my platoon and the neighboring one. Kind of scary. Jerry patrols had been going through us at will on a nightly basis. In the weeks that followed bitter winter fighting took place not only at Herrlisheim, but Hatten-Rittershoffen, Soultz, Gambsheim and all the little heims in between. Tanks slid off the icy roads, the wounded had to be picked up quickly or they would freeze to death. Let me quote a paragraph from my book: "Mount up, We're Moving out!" "By the 19th of January it became apparent to General Patch that his Seventh Army could no longer take the punishment being meted out by the numerically superior German Divisions. He had already lost fifteen percent of his army, of which the 14th Armored alone had suffered the loss of eighty-three officers and 1,038 enlisted men. Some of the infantry companies were so depleted that they were no longer deemed effective fighting units. ~~~~~Colonel Hans Von Luck, commanding the 21st Panzer Division wrote in his memoirs that "towards the end neither side was fighting for anything but survival" referring to it as "one of the hardest fought battles ever fought on the Western Front" On the two sides 10,000 artillery shells were fired each day. Plans were made to withdraw Sixth Corps to secondary positions some twenty miles back along the Moder River." I play alot of strategy war games, and I want to tell you that CC is the only only that has ever approached that awful feeling of "****! There they are!" I have not completed your Herrlishheim scenario yet, my only thought is that at the beginning the guys would have taken defensive positons in the town itself, not in the woods or that broad expanse of open ground in front We hated the woods, not only air bursts but the endless cold and constant snow. In town there were good defensive positions, we could burn furniture in the stoves for warmth,and to heat our K rations. Love to see more of these great scenarios...! Best wishes, Vernon Brown ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OGSF Posted November 2, 2000 Share Posted November 2, 2000 Bill, thanks for sharing! Great read. OberGrupenStompinFeuhrer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Bill Wilder Posted November 2, 2000 Author Share Posted November 2, 2000 My pleasure, OGSF! These guys are leaving us every day. Its a special thing to have any contact with them, of any country. ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Mekanik Posted November 2, 2000 Share Posted November 2, 2000 Wild Bill, Thanks for passing this message along, I have a great interest in that area. My grandfather was in the Hatten/Rittershoffen battle and won a bronze star for his actions in the Anti-Tank Company. He is still alive today and I recently spent a week traveling with him in a motorhome talking about his war stories.... But anyway, I wanted to mention that I'm making a Hatten/Rittershoffen operation. Would be great to speak with Mr. Brown to see if my scenario is accurate. Also, I'm sure you have great sources, but I have seen much written about Herrlishiem in the books "Final Crisis" by Engler and "Winter Storm" by Pommois. Would love to get some advice from you about scenarios and stuff.... Later, Otto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Napoleon1944 Posted November 2, 2000 Share Posted November 2, 2000 Ever get any feedback from German vets? I corresponded with one that fought in Russia. Gotta love the internet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Bill Wilder Posted November 2, 2000 Author Share Posted November 2, 2000 Thanks Otto! Enjoy that time with your Dad. It all passes too fast! I'll try to check with Mr. Brown and see if he could do that for you. If I can help, I am at your orders, sir. Drop me a note. Wild Bill ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Bill Wilder Posted November 2, 2000 Author Share Posted November 2, 2000 Not yet, Nap! I have had some good chats with some sons of vets. They proved to be highly illuminating. It's always a special moment for me to share with those who have "been there." ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rommel22 Posted November 2, 2000 Share Posted November 2, 2000 Great read indeed, Every time I see an eldery person I am reminded of the thing they must of gone through. Sometimes i see seniors (men) with caps that say what ship they served on or something like that. I start talking with them usually, it's quite interesting. My Grandfather fought in WWII, he was 17, fought with the Hitler youth. He fought I only a few times, he didn't talk to me about it much and he lives in europe, speaks German and Czech. Lives in Czech republic. He told when I visit in June, he'll give me his uniform and his iron cross first class. He has the Hitler yout knife, and has a Luger, but he found the gun laying around after the war ended (didn't get in the service). He still has small (kinda a beatup) german flag, with the swastika in the middle. He collects other things too, he has lot's of medevil armor collections, he has a musket from the U.S. civil war (not sure how he got that one) and all kinds of other thing. ------------------ "If you are a Republican under 30 you have no heart! If you are not a Republican and over 30, you have no brain!" Winston Churchill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mace Posted November 2, 2000 Share Posted November 2, 2000 Regardless of nationality, any story a Veteran chooses to share is something special, especially as sometimes those stories are of a very personal and upsetting nature! Mace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchy Posted November 2, 2000 Share Posted November 2, 2000 Wild Bill: Thanks for the post. Mr. Brown's account pretty accurate. However, I have one correction. Patton's Third Army did indeed swing north to help contain the German attack by moving north and getting at the base of the bulge to pinch it off. The Seventh Army (Gen Patch) did not move north. What they did was fill the holes left by the Third Army. As Mr. Brown noted...the lines were thin. A decision made earlier by Marshall and Ike to get Divisions over to the front from the States forced the 63rd, 70th and one other to have their regiments put into the line without any of the division support troops. They fought as Task Forces (Linden, Herren and Harris). If anyone would like more information on Operation Nordwind and the fighting in the Vosges, please visit our website, http://www.trailblazersww2.org As Wild Bill can attest to, you won't be disappointed with the visit. Steve Dixon (Frenchy) Honorary Member, 70th Infantry Division Association ------------------ Webmaster http://www.trailblazersww2.org http://www.vmfa251.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Bill Wilder Posted November 2, 2000 Author Share Posted November 2, 2000 I can indeed, Steve. Excellent site and material. I think that was what Mr. Brown really intended to say, some of VII Army was shifted northward to fill in the gaps left by Patton's 3rd. Thanks for the response, Gentlemen! Wild Bill ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruno Weiss Posted November 2, 2000 Share Posted November 2, 2000 These type of personal accounts of historical experiences and individual insights are invaluable. Furthermore, as time passes on they become our final means of determining what the events we are all interested in or studying were truely like. Since we weren't there ourselves and regardless of simulations, never will really know what it was like. In particular, they are ever more valuable since they are usually written by the fellow who was there, in the pit, in the fight, with dirt on their hands and sweat on their brow. In most cases, not some book from some General about the heroics of pushing cardboard counters around on some battle planning table. I have a tremendous respect and admiration for the veterans of this war, and anyone who is wise will take note and sit up and listen when they speak. Well done! ------------------ "Gentlemen, you may be sure that of the three courses open to the enemy, he will always choose the fourth." -Field Marshal Count Helmuth von Moltke, (1848-1916) [This message has been edited by Bruno Weiss (edited 11-02-2000).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchy Posted November 2, 2000 Share Posted November 2, 2000 I think so Wild Bill, posted for clarification only. Also, Otto, what division did your grandfather serve with? ------------------ Webmaster http://www.trailblazersww2.org http://www.vmfa251.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Mekanik Posted November 2, 2000 Share Posted November 2, 2000 Frenchy, He was in the 42nd Division. 242nd Regiment Anti-tank company The 70th Div. web site sure is organized, I like how they have brought together Regimental histories. Rommell22, You have a great connection with your father on firsthand experiences, great material for a website or a book. I have always been fascinated in hearing the German side of battles and experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchy Posted November 2, 2000 Share Posted November 2, 2000 Otto: Thanks for the quick reply! ------------------ Webmaster http://www.trailblazersww2.org http://www.vmfa251.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rommel22 Posted November 2, 2000 Share Posted November 2, 2000 Well i am visiting my family in Czech republic and I am sure to visit my Granpa, I will talk to him about it. when I was younger (7,8) he told me all about it, I was a kid than, so I didn't get it as much as i would enjoy the story today. I'll ask more specific stuff, if he'll talk about it. I am sure he will, he is open about it. I am not sure if I would write a book, or my granpa. But i certainly like his story. ------------------ "If you are a Republican under 30 you have no heart! If you are not a Republican and over 30, you have no brain!" Winston Churchill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medieval Posted November 2, 2000 Share Posted November 2, 2000 Wild Bill, is Herrlisheim included in the game? I thought I had looked for it last night but couldn't find it. Maybe, it was a dream.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Bill Wilder Posted November 2, 2000 Author Share Posted November 2, 2000 NO ,but it is in the Game Depot. I'll just send you a copy. On the way...WB ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Bill Wilder Posted November 2, 2000 Author Share Posted November 2, 2000 A commentary from Tom Hanks on the WW2 memorial states that about 1,000 WW2 vets from all over the world are dying each day. They're going fast. I lost my father (USAAF) 3 years ago. We will miss these warriors more than folks will know. When I was a tiny tot, I met three Confederate veterans of the Civil War (about 1948 - I was 11). That was burned into my childish memory and still burns there today. Each of them was over 100 years old. What an honor for a kid like me, like I was, that is...and that was a long time ago, 52 years and counting. ------------------ Wild Bill Lead Tester Scenario Design Team Combat Mission-Beyond Overlord billw@matrixgames.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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