Ed & Ray Hersman in WWII - Robert Marks.org

4.18. HARZ MOUNTAINS Ed & Ray Hersman in WWIIConley said we could take them. It was rather funny to hear him say thatsince he had a bullet hole through the top of his helmet. The bullet wouldhave killed him if it had been an inch lower.Conley asked colonel Sharp if he could use me to help lead a charge overthe bridge into town. I was horrified but it was ordered by the colonel to doit.Conley and I running like crazy and with the rest of the battalion behindus, went over the bridge into Schieder.Conley was right when the Germans saw us coming they must have ran.At least very few of them shot at us.Conley, I and some other men started searching houses on one side ofthe street. Other men split left and right from the road as they came overthe bridge. We found civilians in the basements of the houses but no troops.Most of the German troops must have exited out the other end of town andsince it was getting dark we stopped once we captured the town.Some Germans dug in a low spot at the intersection of two roads. Thelow spot was surrounded by houses. The Germans would not surrender sothe G.I.’s climbed upstairs in the houses, set one house on fire so they couldsee and shoot the Germans in their holes.Conley and I were recommended for Silver Stars for leading the chargebut we didn’t get them.4.18 Harz MountainsWe came to the Harz Mountains. These were the mountains written aboutin “Grimm’s Fairy Tales”. The mountains are beautiful and are covered withpine forests.The Germans attacked at our rear and cut off our entire division. Tworegiments turned and fought back the way we had come until communicationswere reestablished.Some of our men captured some German officers in training’. I talked80