PFC Ervin Shaffer served in the 3rd platoon of A Company as a Bazookaman. He recalled of the afternoon of 20 September 1944, just before the Waalcrossing, the shelling by German artillery:


“We were delayed that day until about 2 o’clock. We were waiting for some boats or something near the riverbank. The British tanks had linked up at an orchard to cover the crossing. And the Germans were shooting at them and one piece of shrapnel landed nearby my rear pocket. I went up to a drainage ditch and there were three British soldiers sitting nearby a tank, making tea!
I said “I have seen everything, but this…”
“Well Yank,” one of them replied, “our tanks can’t swim.” They had nothing to do so they were making tea.

Frank,

Very similar to what my dad told me. However the tanks he saw were on the other side of the river.

Jim

Frank do you know Erine? he is my 82nd Chapters Honorary Chaplin for life. I see him now and then. He hasnt made the last two meetings though. drop me a note if you need any info on him there.

Hallo SgtV,

Thanks. Could you ask him about the patrol into Germany (Wyler) in October 1944? This patrol involved most of the 3rd Platoon of A Company and they had to capture some Germans as General Gavin needed some prisoners to interrogate. For days many patrols had failed to take some prisoners, so Lieutenant Reneau Breard (who I will meet in May next) and his 3rd Platoon were detailed to carry out an aggressive reconnaissance patrol into German held territory in BROAD DAYLIGHT. They carried out their patrol splendidly and brought back the prisoners. PFC David Whittier (Regimental Recon Platoon) wrote an article about this patrol in an magazine in early 1945.

When I spoke to Ervin on the phone last year, he told me that he had been involved in this patrol, but didn't tell me any specific details. I would like to know his story about this legendary patrol of the 504th PIR.

Frank

On the occasion of the 4th of July I have made the following: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so25tgGyOSM