All of a sudden the Krauts started cutting loose
on Company F with machine guns, burpguns, and rifles. The son of
a bitch with the white flag ran for cover. A few minutes later the
Krauts opened up with artillery and mortars. Company F, with Bill
Butz's machine gun platoon, was caught in the open orchard. Company
G started getting automatic fire from the vicinity of the railroad
station as well as from artillery and mortars. A lot of fire seemed
to be coming from the cemetery on the west side of the railroad
tracks, along a road that ran east and west on the south side of
town.
. . .
Everybody was catching hell. The artillery increased everywhere
and we got lots of tree bursts. The men in the orchard got it
plenty. Every time someone tried to bring a wounded buddy back
across the track he got it himself. Lew Hing, Bill Butz's medic,
did a wonderful job of getting his boys back. He was the only
medic who repeatedly went into the orchard and came back with
wounded.
. . .
All infantrymen know they will get hit. It's just a matter of
time. They don't talk about it much, but they all know that sooner
or later their turn will come. They just pray to God that when
their time does come they won't get hit in the guts or in the
face. Anywhere but in the guts or in the face.
