Our First Casualties

I spent most of my time at the Aid Station. A number of men were brought in—some from the 422nd Infantry Regiment and one or two Germans, but most were from A Battery of the 590th Battalion. A call came in that A Battery was being hit hard and several were wounded, including Capt. Pitts, the Battery Commander. Lt. James Youzoh, our medic and his driver went out to bring back the wounded; when he returned, he brought the sad news that Capt. Pitts died. Friday, the day before, I had been with Capt. Pitts and he had decided upon a place for services. We went into an old church and found an organ. Ha said he would like to hear it so I had Scho play it for him. We examined it first, however, to be sure it was not mined. After Scho finished, Pitts told of his enjoyable visit with his sister. She was a Red Cross worker and had found it possible to spend a few hours with him a day or two before.

After the shelling, Lt. Col. C. E. Lackey, Nashville, Tennessee, the Battalion Commander, said it would be permissible for me to go and bring back the body of Capt. Pitts for Christian burial. Scho and I went up and some of the captain's men helped us and we brought his remains back to the Aid Station.

Most of the afternoon was spent in the aid station helping as best we could. We held lights, carried the wounded, helped give blood plasma, and had prayer with every soldier. Some were seriously wounded, some died and others were more fortunate. About five o'clock I decided to return to St. Vith, but was talked out of it. Again we got in the jeep and started but this time Captain Irving Chapnick of New York City, Headquarters Battery 590th, came and said he and his men would appreciate it if I would stay there that night. I didn't have my bed roll, but when they said they would fix a place for Scho and me, we stayed. Capt. Luzzie, of Chicago, a member of the staff, fixed me up with a sack which belonged to Capt. Lamb, a laison officer, who was up with the infantry. It may have been just as well that I stayed for the Germans cut off the road a few hours later and
then ambushed the Division Artillery Staff as they pulled out. Lt. Martin was killed in the skirmish. When we were at Camp Miles Standish, Martin and I led all the staff members around the two and one-half miles commando course. Each time we were neck and neck as we came in but I was lucky enough to be a step or two ahead when we finished. He was a good soldier. He did commendable work and all of us thought well of him. Jerry paratroopers got him. We heard that several others were killed, but those rumors were false for which we were thankful.