The 325th Combat Engineers

Vosges

The foothills of the Vosges Mountains were their first stop--mist-shrouded, heavily forested with black pines. The trees dripped in the darkness where the sun couldn't penetrate. According to the 399th history, it was the most mountainous terrain where combat occurred in the European Theater of Operations.

The map above is one drawn by the 325th in 1945--"Operations of the 100th Infantry Division in the ETO 1944-1945." The pink shaded lines are the border with Germany. The solid arrow is the 397th Infantry. The dotted arrow is the 398th Infantry. The open arrow is the 399th Infantry.

16 Nov 1944 "Somewhere in France"--"Sunny France. My eye. I haven't seen the sun in so long. Forgotten what it looks like. We have some fun maintaining roads. By the time we get through shelling these towns and the Jerries top it off there isn't much left. Received your Mother's Xmas package and thank her very much. Couldn't understand the powder puff. Well and happy and thinking of you." (Gordon Morse to Margaret Morse)

"One squad repaired shell crater and maintained Regtl. MSR. Other two squads assisted 1st Bn. under fire and had one casualty from shrapnel, Pvt. H. F. Young. Removed Pvt. Young to a clearing station. Built corduroy road in the swamps and maintained same." (daily platoon report)

11/16--crossing swamps at the foot of a foreboding hill called Tête de Reclos in the Vosges Mountains. The fighting was so fierce that day as they moved up the hill that the 1st Bn. he was assisting won the first unit Presidential Citation in the Century Division. (399th unit history, 1946)

Photo montage from the 399th unit history:

upper left, Tête de Reclos, "Much blood and many citations"

lower left, "American propaganda"

lower right, the corduroy road built by Morse's platoon in the swamp, "After a 45 minute artillery softening, the Indian files rose and started across a swamp at the foot of the mountain. German sniper companies opened up with their bolt action one-bullet-per-man rifles."

Souvenirs

"I almost got killed myself after that. We were in a railroad station. We intercepted a lot of clothing going back to Germany. They had a lot of German uniforms. I put on this nice Navy leather jacket. About an hour later, we went up to the lieutenant colonel's, everybody was nervous. I knew the countersign and everything. But they saw that jacket. And I heard the click of the gun. I said hell, I don't know what I said. Anyway, he didn't shoot, but I threw that damn jacket away." (T. C. Moore, 2001)

In France, the first platoon got to a little town. Bombs had blown it to hell except for the jewelry store safe. Sgt. Masi said to J.P., who was a demolitions expert, you come after dark and we'll blow the safe. There was a plastic explosive they called "bologna" for the shape. J.P. said, ok you get me some bologna and I'll be here after dark. He wrapped a coil around the outline of the door and put a wad as big as a hat on the door. We ignited it and the door blew off. The sides blew out. It was so loud, everyone was running and ducking. The safe had been full of watches, now all blown to pieces. All they got out of it was two straight razors and a watch. (J. P. Wallis, 2003 Florida reunion)

December 7, 1944 "Somewhere in France and still going strong. Can't say as I am too miserable either. You would be envious of my quarters tonight a beautiful apartment--the conquering Army stuff.

I took a fireman's holiday in Strasbourg a while back. what an experience. It reminded me of a wild west opera combined with Al Capone. A wee bit dangerous to stand in one spot too long. It is beautiful country, would like to make a peaceful tour of the country some day.

You should see my personal car now, a long, low, captured Mercedes-Benz staff car. It will do over 80 km/hr. Picked it up beyond Serones a few weeks back. Leather bucket seats side curtains, windshield wipers and a trunk even to carry my bed roll--solid comfort, what? When it got good American gas it took off like a scared rabbit. Has a few bullet holes and shell fragments but is in good condition.

A rather noisy night. If anyone gives a long low whistle when I settle down to being a husband, don't be surprised at my action--am liable to dive in a ditch full of water." (Gordon Morse to Margaret Morse)

7 December 1944 "minefield north of St. Louis, 15 mines. Removed dead horse from MSR. Made recconaissance." (daily platoon report)

399th in a pincers attack at Lemberg. Several units led into death traps--open fields, across open roads. "All afternoon it rained and two battalions lay out in the ceaseless shelling...bouncing betties, flak, and mortars." (399th history)

13 December 1944 "War is Hell: Coffee on the kitchen stove perking, radio playing dance music from BBC and just had my nightly bath in the tub. You should see my bed, a European inner spring/twin bed conformation. The war did knock the city water supply out and ruined the electricity so that the appliances won't work. The rent is about due tomorrow and we haven't the money to pay so will be on the move. It's a pleasure to come home to something like a cozy little apartment. Had to repair the roof today, a breeze went by. Remind me to tell you about the merits of French windows some time.

Have had a struggle getting anti-freeze for my Mercedes. Got a nice hot air heater attached now.

Took a trip over to see Willie in A-Co. we haven't seen one another for a month--companies stay split up--he liked my bus. Wants a picture of it. Seems Denton isn't standing up too good. Have seen a few deer I would like to shoot at." (Gordon Morse to Margaret Morse)

13 December 1944 "Two squads built 18 foot span two bridge. One squad instructed 2nd Bn. in demolitions" (daily platoon report)

End of the battle for Lemberg and got a few days rest, bivouaced in the town. (399th history)

Operations Summary: 14 December to 21 December--

"Supported the Division attack on the Maginot Line on Fort Schiesseck and town of Bitche....Engineer troups followed close behind the attacking wave of infantry. Despite heavy artillery and small arms fire, Engineers reached the forts but were deterred from immediate destruction because of Infantry desire to use the forts for OPs and shelter. Charges were finally set off after advancing troops had pushed on. Fair results were obtained as the construction of the forts was so effective that they withstood large charges of explosives. Tankdozers were used to cover the cupolas and the netrances. In this work a tank dozer got stuck on top of Fort no. 10 and had to be abandoned."

14 December 1944 "New home tonight, an underground command post from the 1940 war. Have a lead light and stove installed all well underground, comfortable in more ways than one. Wish we could be together for Xmas. Don't believe I can make it though, pressing business. Forgot to tell you, had a cuckoo clock in the last place. enjoyed it. Had a rough day today, feel rather tired. Sometimes get 12 hours sleep and still feel tired. Stars are really out tonight. Woods are silvery." (Gordon Morse to Margaret Morse)

14 December 1944 "Supported 2nd Bn. Moved to new bivouac area north of Lemberg" (daily platoon reports)

399th on a long march through Lemberg through the winding road cut between pine-covered hills toward Reyersviller, to the Maginot Line. Their orders were to march the few kilometers to Bitche, take it in the morning, and go into Corps reserve in the afternoon. It didn't exactly happen that way. (399th history)

"In my company, there was a guy named Winston. He kept telling everybody that Germans are good people, they aren't going to hurt you. We somehow got mixed up in these World War I trenches, and we had about 20 or 30 of them pinned down. They had us and we had them. They had to come past us to get out. Winston said, "don't shoot them. They're friendly people." He spoke German. He tried to talk to them. He came out of the trench. They had a burp gun. That'll kill you right quick. And they let go with eight to ten rounds of the burp gun and then he wanted to kill them all. He thought they'd give up easy. Sometimes it's not so easy for someone to give up." (T. C. Moore, 2001)

16 December 1944 "Received your Xmas package today and it was duly appreciated. I was just wondering what I would do for pipes, none left. I am in the same underground shelter as last night, very cozy. You would never send shoe polish cloth if you could see my clothes, condition slightly muddy. Going to send them to the cleaners or hang them on the line tomorrow. Haven't had a chance to get Xmas card or present. My German is improving." (Gordon Morse to Margaret Morse)

16 December 1944 "Supported 2nd Bn. marked mine field. Maintained MSR. Made Reconnaissance" (daily platoon reports)

399th was told to wait while the 398th "did their stuff." A journalist named Ed Clark had written an article in Stars and Stripes that the doughboys at Bitche will hang their wash on the Maginot Line, which they all read to each other with much derision since the full scale of the fortifications was becoming all too clear as they faced the assault in the next days. (399th history)

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Bitche	Rhine	Heilbronn

The 325th Combat Engineers

Vosges

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