Chapter 44: God is with us
In Chapter 44, John experiences combat for himself.
1. The dead soldier on the hill is as described by Al Wiedorn. We do not know if Johnny saw him.
2. The details of the combat on Hill 1003 were reconstructed from various sources. Although the details of the combat sequence have been reconstructed, accounts from that time indicate that James Winterbottom took out a machine gun nest with his knee mortar during that attack.
3. We do not know if Johnny ever shot a German. However, it is likely that he did, since so many of the soldiers who served with him had to do so. It would be somewhat more fanciful to assume that he somehow managed to avoid killing any Germans. Since we don't know if Johnny actually killed a German, we don't know if he had a photo in his pocket or if he was wearing a Gott Mit Uns belt buckle. However, both are possible. There were two versions of the buckle, one with a crown in the center from WW1 and another with an eagle in the center from WWII. The German woman and child in the photo are unidentified.
4. Review the F-85 morning reports for March 6th and 7th, 1945.
Media and Web links:
1. Figure 44-1 Video: Watch an 81mm mortar squad in action.
2. Figure 44-3 Web: Learn more about Mount Della Castellana.
3. Figure 44-4 Web: Learn more about Mount Della Spe.
4. Figure 44-6 Video: Listen to James Orwig as he describes his "accomodations" on Mount Della Castellana.
5. Figure 44-7 Web: Learn more about the Gott Mit Uns belt buckles.
Copyright 2007 by Dan Oja