Prepare to March

It was near the vernal equinox seventy years ago that Technical Sargent Roy Hovel, a member of the Counter Intelligence Corps, moved from Germany to Holland with the 83rd Infantry Division, part of the US Ninth Army. The 83rd was under the command of General Macon, and was one of several divisions to make up the Ninth Army under the command of General William H. Simpson. The 83rd was the first Allied division to reach the Rhine River.  Let us begin this story, however, not with Holland, but with what previously occurred while in Germany. As reported in this blog’s post of March 9, 2015, Technical Sargent Roy Hovel would mention, in a letter home dated March 11, 1945, his second close occurrence of his “stay over here.” The first occurrence, I believe, happened about a week before the winter solstice, when he and a companion where traveling back from a trial in Luxembourg and came across Nazi divisions poised to start the Battle of the Bulge. In that event, a bullet went right in front of his eyes, and after jumping out into the road ditch his jeep was destroyed by enemy artillery. The historical record would seem to indicate a few options of where and why a second close occurrence happened on March 10, 1945. We also know while the 83rd reached the Rhine in early March, not all enemy troops had been cleared from the west side of the Rhine River by that time. As the March 9 post noted, the division had left its flanks exposed to a significant degree to reach the river Goebbels said they would never reach. The move to Berlin was anticipated, and the 83rd had yet another river of the Reich in their sights.

Lt. General William H Simpson, US Ninth Army
He would make the cover of both Time and Life magazines
Source:  Google images

I do not desire to be like the “Genealogy Roadshow” on PBS where they often rely only on place and time to speculate that a person’s ancestor was involved in some historical event.  We simply may never know what occurred for Roy Hovel’s second close call, as details clearly are lacking in his letter. However, history points to a few options. In a letter home, had noted that his base of operation was with division headquarters. In a 1960’s era letter to a man looking to write a book on CIC involvement in World War II, he makes a statement that his role was often as a troubleshooter, and thus his activities were highly variable, and he was on the move to different areas depending upon incidents that were developing or had occurred. CIC agents were provided with a great amount of independent judgement and movement. In the division’s movement from the Roer to the Rhine, the 83rd covered significant mileage in only a few days, and reached the Rhine in early March. This led to regular movement of division and regimental headquarters to keep up with the troops. The division newspaper, “83rd Spearhead” noted in its March 24, 1945 edition that one regimental command unit had run into heavy cross-fire, and quickly had a battalion front forming to their side, while enemy tanks fired upon them. The regimental command was in no-man’s land--caught between friendly troops and enemy troops. The headquarters would need to travel 60 miles over seven hours going cross country and, as they paper would say: “of out-witting and out-flanking a desperate German counter-attacking column-one of the last pockets of resistance west of the Rhine in the vicinity of Neuss."  It was a game of survivor well before Jeff Probst and CBS conjured such a game.  No date is given for the event, so we do not know if it occurred on March 10.

Division news article on Reg. HQ Convoy
Source: 3/24/1945 "Spearhead"

A hint at a second possibility may be contained in his letter home of March 19. He writes: “about a week ago I had loads of doughnuts and marvelous coffee right here on the front lines as I had gone down aways (sic) on some work. Of course it wasn't too dangerous with the barrier that is in between.” 330th Regimental daily reports noted continued harassing fire from March 9, until 19 March and that the unit suffered light casualties during that time span. He may have chosen to provide more details of his March 10 guardian angel protection several days later, rather than increasing his mother’s worry through his March 11 letter. Note how he ties his description of being at the front with coffee and doughnuts being available.  Perhaps his intended meaning was to say how can it be dangerous with good coffee and doughnuts? His March 11 letter was his first letter to his parents in two weeks (although he had a short letter to his sister on 9 March) and a letter from his parents dated March 13 would have crossed in the mail, and on March 23 he states (likely from a statement in the 13 March letter of his parents to him) that he was “sorry you were concerned again over me.” Obviously his parents were concerned about not having heard from him in two weeks. Of course, a third option exists that the event of March 10 was unrelated to either of the above occurrences.


 The March 23 letter is written from Holland, and we know that the 83rd departed for that country on March 20 to begin their preparation for a march further east. Although, Berlin is getting closer, he knows he is unable to put a date on his departure from Germany.  His March letters suggest that perhaps his Dad should sell his Buick. He noted that the car had served him well, with little work on it being required. He said he had driven it hard while using it Stateside for official CIC business. His Buick, made of American iron may have held up well, but his current jeep was a mess. He would look to repair the jeep during some down time in Holland.

German Saboteur about to be executed
Source:  Rick Atkinson, Liberation trilogy

But for British Field Marshall Montgomery there would have been no downtime for Roy Hovel and the 83rd Infantry Division.  During the Rhine Campaign, as for much of the war, Eisenhower, as reported by Geoffrey Perret in his 1991 work There's a War to be Won, commented that he often took US forces for granted and often succumb to pressure from Churchill, who always was whining on behalf of his commanders to Eisenhower.  25 Allied divisions had been allocated for much of this, and previous campaigns, to the small in stature Montgomery.  Leaving 39 others to be spread among US armies.  This had depleted US forces during the Bulge, and was a sore spot with other U.S. commanders.  Simpson, leader of the US Ninth Army, according to Perret thought that Germans were "too demoralized and disorganized to stop him" (p. 438).  Accordingly he was planning and assault across the Rhine and so informed Monty.  However, Perret notes that "the British were planning a grand-opera Rhine crossing, clambake and media fun fest.  Nobody was going to plunder Monty of his moment. The men of the Ninth Army drew up to the Rhine and gazed across, wondering what might of been" (438).  Monty would have been a soldier for today's sound byte era.

General Patton, General Bradley and Field Marshall Montgomery
Source:  Google images

The departure to Holland, was part of Monty's scheme for crossing the Rhine, but it would allow more time for some relaxation among the training for the division’s next adventure. Hovel notes that he “had been at Neuss as you probably learned from the papers. Just across the river from Dusseldorf where Daddy’s relation from his mother’s side are from.” This would be a reference to his grandmother, Amelia Duscheck, daughter of Josef Duscheck and Rosalie Belenka (aka Belingkas). One of those two families would have had ties to Dusseldorf. He also noted in a letter of March 19,  that the newspapers "give a very accurate details in general and now that our division is off the secret list the news comes out in the states about as good as can be expected.  In fact, the situation as generally given in the news is more than I'm allowed to write home to you at any time."  Closer to home, he comments on the situation of Leonard Miller, a farmer whose home was also in the Town of Bristol, saying in his March 11 letter that “I was not surprised to hear of Leonard Miller being a prisoner, in fact that’s the best that could be expected in those circumstances.” Being a prisoner of war is better than being dead, although neither would be welcomed. On the other hand he asks if they have heard from Edward, his cousin. He notes that he is very near where Edward is, and inquired about him, but, “afraid he’s not with the division he came over with.”

Amelia Duscheck Hovel
Source:  family archives

He had received two boxes of cookies in the first part of March, after having requested some cookies in February. He commented that “the cookies are always a good treat and whenever can spare the time, I sure do appreciate having something nice like that from home.” The cookies give him a connection to home, and he admits with Easter approaching he is homesick for home and Luxembourg. Regarding foot, it was a comment on the German farms that is rather striking. After commenting that there is some very nice farmland around here, in his letter from Germany on March 19 (likely Neuss), he says he learned “farmers in the area have more money than they know what to do with. It seems they have profited most in the past few years. At least the greatest percentage of them have a home, generally undamaged, which is more than many city people can claim.” The law of supply and demand benefited more than the industrialist Krupp. Yet, part of his enjoyment of cookies was due to food shortages in the area. A letter from “John” (I am not sure if John is a relative or friend) drew this comment in his March 25 letter: “got a letter from John yesterday and it makes me mad the way he gripes about shortage of food, help, etc. If anyone deserves the meat, vegetables, etc. it’s the fellow over here. No one will starve in the states.” The bounty of the home front may have been less than in earlier years, but it was nowhere near the trepidation and conditions faced by men on the European continent, or on the islands of the Pacific.

Some fun in Holland for the 83rd
Source:  3/24/1945 "Spearhead"
83rd Division newspaper

While in Holland, letters of 23 and 25 March note that he is working on his jeep, with assistance of some mechanics from the ordinance section. Valve grinding is underway, but he has been fortunate to cobble parts together from destroyed vehicles, and a civilian car. He notes that “together with a paint job I will have almost a completely rebuilt jeep.” He indicates he is fortunate with the condition it was in “in not having had a bad wreck with it falling apart.”

As the 89th was waiting its turn to cross the Rhine River to march on Berlin, British Field Marshall Montgomery had informed Supreme Headquarter Allied Expeditionary Forced or SHAEF (aka General Eisenhower) that with the US Ninth and British Second armies he planned to cross the Rhine and move to the Elbe River. Eisenhower, however, had other plans and, according to Rick Atkinson in his book The Guns at Last Light Eisenhower informed the vainglorious British Field Marshall that once the Ninth Army is joined with US General Omar Bradley’s 112th Army Group near “Kassel-Paderborn area, Ninth United States Army will revert to Bradley’s command.” Bradley was to then move to the Leipzig-Dresdean area “to join hands with the Russians.” Little did Roy Hovel, and other members of Ninth Army know that this decision, made on March 28 at the highest level of command, would change the course of history. Ever since the beginning of Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944, Berlin was considered the ultimate objective. Atkinson further noted that Eisenhower had affirmed this in September. But, on that last Wednesday of March 1945 Eisenhower was beginning to change his mind. He would emphasize to Montgomery that “In none of this do I mention Berlin.” (Atkinson p. 578).   Montgomery would persist and continue to demand additional troops to advance on Berlin to which Eisenhower would respond that Montgomery’s duty was to protect Bradley’s northern flank.  

Crossing the Roer River and moving to the Rhine River
Source:  Atkinson, Liberation trilogy

In the meantime, the training for river crossings for the 83rd in Holland would provide some down-time for Technical Sergeant Roy Hovel to repair his jeep. That vehicle would be needed as the United States 83rd Infantry Division under General Robert Macon would head east with a destination in sight, but one that would become different than they had thought when they entered the main continent of Europe in June 1944, and even when they departed Holland. The 83rd Infantry Division would find itself embroiled in a political squabble that will become a little known part of US history. If the 83rd movement from the Roer River to the Rhine River had turned heads, made the division known on the home front, and made CIC agent Roy Hovel very busy, that would turn out to be little compared to what was to come. For that role, dear reader, you will now have to wait for a future post—or posts as we follow the 83rd Infantry Division into the Belly of the Beast.

Ides of March

In 44 B.C. the fifteenth day of March would become famous. Julius Caesar was assassinated while in the Curia of Pompey, a meeting place within the larger Theater of Pompey. His manner of death would become one of the most recognized scenes in western literature, due to a work by William Shakespeare. In his play about Julius Caesar, Shakespeare recalls the moment when on his way to the theater Caesar has an exchange with what would be called soothsayer. The exchange involved a few sentences:

Caesar:

Who is it in the press that calls on me?

I hear a tongue shriller than all the music

Cry "Caesar!" Speak, Caesar is turn'd to hear.


Soothsayer:

Beware the ides of March.


Caesar:

What man is that?


Brutus:

A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.

Bust of Julius Caesar

While the Ides of March is most highly associated with Caesar's assassination, the Ides had been around and part of Roman culture for quite some time. In the original Roman Calendar, March was the first month of the new year, and for that lunar based calendar, the Ides of March referred to the date on which the full moon would appear. Of course, as most know, Caesar would create the Julian calendar, on which the current Gregorian calendar which we use today is based. The Julian calendar would alter the month of March to be the third month of the year, rather than the first. Regardless of the calendar in use, feast days of the original Roman calendar were still recognized. After all, Julius Caesar had only been in power for five years.

Ancient Roman Calendar, prior to Julian reform

If one has ever played the computer video game "Caesar," you would know the importance of ritual festivals to keep the masses in check, and the role played by the temples one needs to construct to honor the Roman gods. Chief of the Roman gods, was Jupiter, and the Ide of each month, was set in the honor of this pagan god. In the Roman calendar, the ides would occur on either the 13th of 15th of the month. It was the middle day of the month, the day of the full moon. But, the Ides of March was also thought to be the Roman festival Annae Festiva Geniale Perannae, which corresponds to the Holi festival celebrated in India as part of their Hindu culture. This Roman festival was for the working class, the plebs, who were the vast majority of the population. The death of Julius Caesar would come to be seen as one of the watershed moments of history. A moment where life would be forever altered, and a new governmental system employed. The moment of course, did not happen with the slaying of the competent but opportunistic Caesar, but had been in the works for about a century.

Modern day Holi Festival, Source:Facebook

The Roman Republic was one of the early great political inventions of modern man with a system of checks and balances to help keep power grabbing in check. But, over the course of much of its time, it was subject to the opportunism of power hungry individuals. Power is said to corrupt, and one only need to go back to ancient Rome to know why. A number of issues led to problems with the Republic, from battles at the edges of its dominion, a developing rich class outside of Rome in the provinces, soil exhaustion, and other factors would play into certain leaders wanting to accumulate power. Tiberius and his brother would see their lives end due to their efforts to reform the Republic and bring about a system more relevant to the masses. Roman rulers before Caesar would accumulate power and override laws.  One law had limited counsels of Rome to a short 18 month term every ten years, but even before Julius Caesar it would be set aside. But, Caesar would take dominance to a new level, and as Brinton et al report "Caesar carried one-man government to a point far beyond that reached by his predecessors in Rome." His system would become known as Caesarism. While this system would maintain the actual institutions of the republic, the abilities and charges of the institutions were neutered. No checks and balances between the assemblies and the executive. No limitations on the posts the head man could hold. He would control the judiciary. Unlike Franklin Roosevelt who tried but failed to pack the Supreme Court, Caesar was able to expand the Senate to accommodate men who supported him. Caesar's power grab and having named himself dictator for life, was too much for some, seeing the glory of the Republic vanish before their eyes, but more likely the fact that through Caesar's accumulation of power, left senators and others of the ruling class marginalized.

Late 18th century painting of the murder of Julius Caesar

But it was not only the soothsayer who had portended a bad event on this day. Nicolaus of Damscus, while not present at the event, would record what he had heard. He noted that Caesar's wife had visions in dreams that his going out that day of 15 March would not bode well. Brutus, who would be one of the main plotters and assailants would chide Caesar for listening to a woman. Caesar would ignore the advice of his wife, the soothsayer, and others, and walk to the session of the Roman senate. There a group of senators led by Gaius Cassius Longinus and Caesar's own brother-in-law Marcus Junius Brutus would lead a group of senators; out would come daggers hidden beneath their cloaks.  Julius Casaer would be stabbed to death. Accounts vary, but it was likely Julius Casaer endeared a total of 23 stab wounds. The Reins of power would fall to Octavian, later to be known as Caesar Augustus, grand nephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar. The Roman Republic would end, it would now be the Roman Empire. A new course of world history was set in place on the Ides of March 44 B.C.

Coin bearing image of Caesar

It did not have to be so. But Julius Caesar himself set his ambitions to play when he crossed the Rubicon River five years earlier with a legion from the province he had controlled to the north. There was no going back from that point. Many humans are full of ambition, and cling to power. Think of Vladimir Putin. Caesar was rather vain, he was concerned about his receding hairline and he upset people when he began placing his image on Roman coins. Whether or not he posed bare chested on a horse, like the current friendly leader of the Russia, is left to history.

Roman coin bearing image of Brutus and two daggers, with
Roman abbreviation for Ides of March (EID MAR)

Systems of governance, as showed by the history of Republic of Rome, are susceptible to executive actions always pushing the boundaries, and attempt to weaken the system of checks and balances. Recess appointments, signing statements, executive orders all work to extend the power of the chief executive. Over time they can come to set a new standard of what is acceptable. That new standard may have dire consequences. Julius Caesar did not have to die, if he had listened to his wife he may have lived, and we can only speculate on what history would bring from that point. Julius Caesar was not the first, or the last man,to want to grab power, or the first or last to not listen to his wife.

Into the Belly of the Beast

Seventy years ago on this date, March 9, 1945, a small cog in the Allied war machine penned a limited note to his only sibling, his sister, Anita. Written by my Father, Roy Bernard Hovel who was a member of the Counter Intelligence Corps attached to the 83rd Infantry Division, the letter gives a few clues as to something big having occupied his time for several days. First, just below the date, was headlined “Germany.” Second, he noted that he had not written to “Mother and Dad …in the past 10 days (it was actually longer). I hope they won’t be worried due to lack of mail.” It is the next paragraph that provides some basic information, he wrote: “We are kept very busy now days. From the newspaper & radio broadcasts you should know where are at as there was a lot of publicity concerning the division.” Correspondence to the home front was subject to censorship. His letters contained a little information on the trials and tribulations of war, gave a broad geographic notation like country, but nothing on movements passed or planned. A mother with a son in a war zone is likely to be concerned from having not had any mail. If one is looking for details beyond mundane living conditions you will not find much direct information in the letters. What was going on that concerned his division and would occupy his time?

Roy B Hovel
Source:  family photo

One only need to turn to the news around that period of time. The March 2, 1945 edition of the “The Wisconsin State Journal” blares out in its lead headline—“U.S. TROOPS SMASH TO RHINE.” The US war machine had reached the Rhine. This feat was accomplished by elements of the 83rd Infantry Division at 1000 hours on Friday, March 2. The 83rd was in the belly of the Beast, next stop the heart of the Beast--Berlin!

Wisconsin State Journal, 2 March 1945
Source:  Newspaper archive

The race to the Rhine had started among regiments of the 83rd at 1400 hours the previous day. But, the march was not a straight line. The battle started on 23 February 1945 after having crossed the Roer River, and for a division who thought they would be held in reserve for this movement the moment of glory would be theirs. The move to the city of Neuss was not to be a straight line, but, as described in the “9th Army Overview of Operations, May 1944-May 1945” (declassified NND 735017) they would be required to “execute a vast wheeling movement to the north” and wheel once again, a bizarre movement later described in the "Overview of Operations" report as a “crooked figure S.” After having reached the Rhine, the division spent much of the next day taking the city of Neuss.

Map showing Allied troop movements
 from "Wisconsin State Journal" 2 March 1945
83rd Infantry was part of US Ninth Army

Today it seems like no big deal, but to those involved in World War II reaching the Rhine was a BIG deal. The Rhine was the last bastion of a natural defense feature before Berlin. The Rhine is the river which the Nazi propagandist, Goebbels had noted the Allies would never reach. The banks of the Rhine was home to cities producing the armaments for the failing German Wehrmacht, SS, and the deflated Luftwaffe. Not only did the Allies control the skies, they now were at the Rhine, and things were not going well for the former corporal who thought himself more knowledgeable of war tactics than those men of the German high command that were under him. Adolph Hitler and only a few within his inner circle would not believe the end was near. Instead, at this point they believed their own words that the German people would not allow their enemy to get past the Rhine. German propaganda was regularly reported in the newspaper of the 83rd Division, and they relished having turned the tables on the propaganda by turning up on the east bank of the Rhine.

Sign commemorating 83rd reaching the Rhine
Source:  Google images

After having survived three weeks of continuous battle in the bitter cold and deep snow found late December into January in the Ardennes Forest, commonly known as the "Battle of the Bulge," the 83rd Infantry had a training interlude for part of February to prepare for the push to and beyond the Rhine. The Rhine was indeed a prize of the war. British Field Marshall Montgomery hearing that allied troops had reached the Rhine on that early March day noted that the events of the previous 12 hours “are the most significant of the war in the west since D-Day.” The 83rd, was commanded by Major General Robert Macon, which was part of the U.S. Ninth Army under the command of Lieutenant General William Simpson. The allies had five armies streaming toward Berlin from the west, which was complimented by Russian troops heading for the same prize from the east.

Roy Hovel overlooking a European Mountain
Source: family photo

Under the banner headline, the “Wisconsin State Journal” article for that day has two front page stories, the first is a news account with the headline “Ninth Army Rips Front in Half; Trier, Venlo, Krefeld Fall” which recounts the events leading to the Rhine, and the second is an “Eyewitness” account titled “U.S. Guns Loose Hell Over Rhine” by war correspondent Clinton Conger. Conger’s account begins with a simple lead-in letting every reader know which division had reached the prize: “WITH THE U.S. 83rd DIVISION ON THE RHINE….” I am sure not only did Roy’s sister see the story, but so too did his parents. One only wonders what thoughts were going through his mother’s mind wondering if he had been injured, was he in some sort of mess, or was he simply busy. Personal communication was by letter.  Pieces of basic war information could be had by radio or newspaper. It was not unusual for letters to arrive in a different order from date written. Not unlike the Christmas cookies that were sent in early December, but arrived in February, although still reported by her dutiful son to be “tasty.” Either he was being polite, or they were good.  Compared to army food two month old cookies may indeed have been tasty. (Although I have to think with my grandma's baking, they were still good.) Without Facebook, tweets, and email a mother’s worry today is not the length of mother’s worry seventy years ago. Having lived with my wife for her 23 + years as a mother, I know that is what a mom does—worry-- it becomes part of their DNA.

General Eisenhower visiting 83rd With General Simpson
83rd commander, Gen. Macon showing the way
Source:  "83rd Spearhead" 10 March 1945

With stateside mothers worrying about their sons the men would move on to the Rhine. A Ninth Army spokesman would report “rapid progress against light German resistance, which in some sectors could be called a rout.” Tanks and troops of the 83rd were the first to drive a wedge to the Rhine. While reporters and commanders may make it seem easy, it was not always a rout. Congar, in his eyewitness account, quotes a solider from Eagle River, WI who said the 83rd position “consists of practically nothing but flanks.” Not a good way to run a military operation. Confederate General Lee was a master at turning Union flanks and winning battles with significantly lesser forces. The March 10, 1945 issue of “83rd Spearhead”, the division newspaper, provides an account of two companies in the division of having been surrounded by the enemy. In one case, the Germans thought they had killed all  in the unit, only to find some had survived and they surprised the Germans and would win their way through the encirclement. The other company was in more dire straits, and it saw success in a manner not unlike that in the movie “Saving Private Ryan” where near the end of the movie as Captain Miller (Tom Hanks’ character) lays dying, P-47’s come in to handle the German tanks. So too was it in early March 1945 for a platoon of the 83rd. The platoon, which was fighting in another part of town, was surrounded by enemy tanks and infantry. Let us pick up from the Division news account: “By this time P-47's were on the scene. Nothing appeared more beautiful to the men on the ground in the middle of enemy armor and infantry than these planes roaming in and dropping their eggs on Nazi tanks and then returning to strafe the fleeing supermen scrambling from their burning tanks.”

US Soldiers clearing out German Soldiers
Remains of tank and German Soldier due to P-47 attack
Source:  Regimental newspaper TTF, 10 March 1945

As elements of the 83rd division approached the west bank and city of Neuss, which is opposite the east bank city of Dusseldorf, the artillery and unimpeded air flights would pound both cities. But yet the infantry would go through Neuss block by block, dwelling by dwelling. Those German soldiers that had not departed for the protection of the Rhine by going to the east side were said to have easily given up in town. Among the rubble of war, civilians by the thousands could be seen coming out of their cellars and air raid shelters. Allied estimates placed up to 20,000 persons in air raid shelters. The German propaganda of every child of the Fatherland fighting to the last to keep the Americans from reaching the Rhine did not happen. Many of them knew the war was lost and would rather give up to the U.S. than face the Russians. The division news would, in a special edition recognize the achievement by writing: ”that Dusseldorf, once great industrial producer for Germany, is finished as a source of material for the Wehrmacht. Whether the Allies cross the Rhine now or later, artillery falling 24 hours a day makes impossible the operation of factories since workers are forced to remain in cellars.”

German tank hit by P-47
Source: "83rd Spearhead" 17 March 1945

The primary activity of the CIC, as noted in its history “was to secure our forces from espionage, sabotage, and subversion and to destroy all enemy intelligence services.” It is the refugees, evacuees, and civilians who pose threat to security of forces, because there were so many one could easily get lost in the shuffle. A common German trick was to have German soldiers change into civilian clothes and mingle with the hordes of humanity being released from the bondage of fascism. Some of these German soldiers would stay behind as agents. The CIC were charged with sifting through the hordes of humanity to find the bad actors. They not only had to set up systems of security, but capture saboteurs and spies, investigate and question local residents, and evacuees to find collaborators,enemy soldiers and infiltrators. They were the spy catchers. The CIC history notes that as some divisions were moving 20 to 30 miles in one day, the detached CIC personnel, like Roy Hovel, had to “devote themselves to the neutralization of communication between Allied and enemy territory, the arrest of Nazis and other Germans whose presence in the area constituted a threat to the security of Allied operations.” They also had to tend to sealing party buildings and preserve the records therein contained for later use by the occupying forces.

Cover of the History of CIC
Source:  Google images

Over 16 days the 9th Army had captured over 29,000 POW’s, and were on the west side of the Rhine and within shelling distance of the Ruhr industrial complexes. The document of the 9th army, notes that U.S. casualties were under half of what was expected. It is here that we can pick up a longer letter Roy had written to his parents on March 11, the first letter to his parents since February 25. In the middle of the letter he acknowledges something that would concern any mother (perhaps that is why he buried it in the middle of the letter). He writes: “We are still busy and everything is fairly quiet. My guardian angel saved me again last night I’m sure. The 2nd closest occurrence of my stay over here and I know someone’s prayers must be answered. However, it is just one of those things that goes with war and if you are at the wrong place at the wrong time its (sic) a matter of bad luck or just that your time has come.” Later he would comment that he was not able to attend mass the past Sunday, but did find a chapel later in the week and was able to attend a high mass. There are no atheists in foxholes.

German Soldiers, and Civilian evacuees, near Neuss Germany
Source:  "83rd Spearhead" 17 March 1945

A simple letter to his sister written seventy years ago today sent me on a journey of discovery for details of this event. I had recalled hearing of my Dad’s close encounter with death while traveling from a trial of accused spies in Luxembourg back to his unit. A blog account of this was posted last December. But, as far as I know, he never shared the story of his second close call that occurred on March 10, 1945. I never knew that he would write the March 9 letter to his sister as part of a division which was not just at the front line, but was for that time the leading edge of the Allied front. They were heading into the belly of the Beast.  Within two months the Allies would have secured the unconditional surrender of Germany. Adolph Hitler would have killed himself, and the work to rebuild Germany would begin. In between there would be more events to capture the imagination of the home front. More stories to be told.  More lives to be lost. Mothers with but one desire to once again squeeze the cheek (Grandma like squeezing the checks of us grandchildren) of her son. A man who would say little about his experiences overseas. The giant war machine that became the U. S. Army was dependent on the duties of thousands of small cogs, each doing their duty to finish off the Beast and get back home.

War is also full of some odd occurrences, this also reminds
me of a scene in "Saving Private Ryan"
Source:  "83rd Spearhead" 17 March 1945

Weather Prognosticator

Four weeks ago, on February 2, Jimmy the Groundhog of Sun Prairie, WI made a prediction through the Mayor of Sun Prairie, that the area would enjoy an early spring.  The theory of groundhog predictions is that if it is sunny, the rodent will see its own shadow and hibernate for six more weeks.  If the shadow is not seen, the groundhog stays out of his hole and the area will see an early spring.  Of course, most of us put no faith in the prediction of a rodent, although it is one of those odd events that can make one help survive the winter. Although we don't have to put our stake in trying to have a furry animal predict our weather, we have highly trained scientists who rely on a variety of detailed computer models to make false predictions as well.

Jimmy biting Mayor Freund's ear

In Sun Prairie this year, even though it was  clear with a bright blue sky being seen on the horizon early that morning when Jimmy came forward to put forth his proclamation, the Mayor of that grand city noted that Jimmy had predicted an early spring.  This has set forth a series of events of which the Mayor may now regret.  First, the handler for Jimmy said the Mayor was wrong and it would be six more weeks of winter.  This was followed by the Economic Development Director of the city saying that no, it would be an early spring as even though with a clear sky and the sun coming up, Jimmy during his conversation said it would be an early spring.  Dispelling the legend of ground hog prognostication, Jimmy he said, takes a variety of factors into account, and the Mayor's prediction was accurate.  Legend in Sun Prairie has it that only the mayor can understand groundhog-speak,   Third, the web site for Jimmy indicates the following:  "As the mayor leaned in to hear Jimmy’s message, Jimmy nipped the mayor’s ear! Not serious, but enough to lend confusion to the event! The Mayor said Jimmy told him Early Spring, but since there was not a cloud in the sky… We’re pretty sure he misinterpreted it!" Yes, the rodent bit the ear of the Mayor, but more importantly the editor of the web site did stay on the message as set by the Economic Development Director. A startled Mayor may well have been shaken by the bite, and indicated the wrong thing, but not according to the Economic Development Director. Mayor Freund would become quite famous as the ear bite made national news. I recall seeing the "CBS Evening News" at 5:30 pm, where it was the second news story following the cold and snow out east. But,the turn of events of that day would last for two weeks, and beyond. The Mayor, who had been appointed to fill an unexpired term of another who left office, was in a primary election facing a former Mayor and a current member of the County Board. Wagging tongues had it that Mayor Freund would receive a boost out of all the local and national coverage of his ear having been bitten. There was no bump up although a bump down may have occurred as Mayor Freund placed third out of three candidates. Perhaps he was not well known beyond his aldermanic district, or the residents of that community do not like the direction the town is taking, or perhaps residents of that community do not like a person who clearly misinterpreted their spring prognosticating groundhog.

An animal only my nephew would love

Of course, what occurred that day may not be misinterpretation, but a matter of micro-geography. The Mayor clearly noted that Jimmy did not see his shadow, and hence would have an early spring. Beyond the mayor one can see blue sky. But the problem was that the Mayor was standing in front of a building which houses my sister-in-laws favorite place to hangout and confabulate--Beans N' Cream coffee house. The multi-story building was east of the Mayor as he stood in Cannery Square. Apparently those who set up the event never thought to make sure the Mayor was not in shadow of a building or other objects. Any student of geography would know that the sun rises in Sun Prairie about 7:12 am, so the sun is very low in the sky and long shadows will be produced. February 2 also happens to be about half way between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox. Where Jimmy was positioned, in building shadow, he would not see his own shadow, and the information passed to the Mayor by the Mr. Ed of the rodent population either before or after the ear bite recognized this fact. While Cannery Square is a fairly nice urban square, holding an event in shadow in front of my sister-in-laws favorite hangout obviously leads to confusion, and lost hope for a Mayor with a nibbled ear. I can think of a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin in environmental studies and economics that may well be able to discern a better placement for the prognostication in Cannery Square other than in front of that coffee shop which blocks the rising sun. Other than Jimmy's handler, that former UW student is probably the only one who really likes that groundhog.

Photo of Jimmy giving his prediction to Mayor Freund.
If you look behind around the Mayor it is all in shadow, except for the blue sky in the distanced
and the sun shining on the Market Street diner which is west of the Mayor.

The Mayor and his fuzzy compatriot, it appears to me, is clearly in the shadow of Beans N' Cream and other buildings. As those of us in Dane County (as much of those in the Midwest and East Coast) have chattered our way through a cold February, some are perhaps cursing the groundhog, or at least its message. For example, of the twenty eight days in February, 14 or half of those days had low temperatures of zero or below. This, when the average high on February 2 is 28 and average low is 12, while at the end of the month the average high is 36 and low 19. Only two days in the month would surpass the average high temperature, and that was only by a degree or two. Cities out east are certainly cursing Jimmy's nemesis Punxsatawney Phil, who had predicted six more weeks of winter. If we have cold, at least we did not have to clean massive amounts of snow. Spring certainly has not yet sprung

My wife's artwork (photo by author)

Sun Prairie claims that Jimmy has an astounding record of success, but they provide no metrics as to how to say if it is an early spring.   Of course, the whole prognostication thing, of six more weeks, ends with spring beginning at about the time it normally would, at least according to the calendar.  The local weather man tell us that from their stand point spring starts March 1. Anyone who lives in the upper Midwest knows that is a great deal of bunk, and in fact, winter can last beyond the calendar date of the spring equinox.  Spring should not be judged by the calendar, or a weatherman, but how the weather feels. Are temperatures in late February and early March warmer than normal to give a feel of spring? to let us see robins, crocuses and emerging daffodils? Of long-lost snow and kite flying?  That is how to judge the arrival of spring.

If you want to judge spring by the equinox,
Sun Prairie should put spot lights behind Jimmy--to create shadow

With February being the shortest month, the weatherman's winter season is the shortest of the four in number of days, although it certainly can feel like the longest.  With the spring equinox coming March 20, we have about as much day light now as we have about October 11.  What does the weather hold for March?  NOAA's prediction for March-April-May has the Midwest with an equal chance of being above or below average temperatures.  They do not say average, but an equal chance of being above or below.  A nice way for a forecaster to hedge their bets--it is either going to be hotter or colder than normal.  More closely, as of today, weather.com, looking ten days out predicts March 11 to have a high of 47 degrees which is  6 degrees above the 41 degree average.  If this occurs, friends of Jimmy may well use this to say he was correct in his prediction of an early spring. That leaves us taking the weather day-by-day, and not putting much effort in long-term prognostications.

Some of my few readers may be wondering why a post on this rodent; I think it is to help have fun with a long winter.  But, no need to worry, next week I hope to write about an historical event that occurred on March 2 seventy years ago.  Until then, as my spouse wrote--Think Spring!

Unless otherwise noted all photos from Google Images.