Beginning of Battle of the Bulge

On Saturday morning, December 16, we had planned to go to the rear echelon to see the Divisional Chaplain (Lt. Col.) William Veazie. We pulled out just as the Germans opened fire on St. Vith. Our business with the chaplain was transacted in short order. When we arrived back at St. Vith at noon, we found the town had taken a shelling and the excitement was high. After dinner the general said the Battalion was under fire, so Taylor and I decided to go forward. I ran to my room to get my bed roll and a few things. Taylor said that we would be back that night, so there was no need to take the bed roll. I was glad later that I didn't take it, because through the months that followed I had hopes that some American was using it instead of a German.

I usually carried my New Testament with me, but had left it in my room that morning. However, when I saw it, I was prompted to take it along. I had fixed it up while in the States so that it and it alone would serve my purpose. I also had cut out pages 211 to 222 from our church Manual which contained all the rituals of the church and pasted them in the back. I had a number of Calls to Worship and Helps for Bible Study pasted in it, to say nothing of the outlines and notes. After I was taken prisoner, the only paper I had on which to keep a diary was the backs of these.