"The yanks are here!"

New Years day 1944/45 had arrived. The news came to me that a promotion to Ober-Kanonier (Senior Gunner) for me was decided. This to me was an insult and I successfully avoided the occasion by volunteering for guard duty. This meant that I was not available at the time of issue. Never put that star, that goes with it, on to my uniform. This so-called promotion, was for sure the doing of an officer that did not like me too much.

From now on, day by day, we slowly moved back to where we had come from. First stop near a farm in Recht. A very cold night, time for me to warm up inside a shed, whilst on guard duty. Someone calling outside for the guard. That must be this lousy officer. Sure enough, it resulted in a extremely strong talking to, in the morning. Things like deserter, court-martial and other nice words.

On the 9.1.1944. I ended up in Nieder-Emmels. Our telephone operators were reported missing. This spot was under observation by the enemy. I had to hide behind a house at all times. A call for the Company to line up outside. My name was called and I had to step forward to receive the EK 2 (Eisernes Kreuz) Iron Cross 2nd class, quite an honour for me. That's funny, yesterday I was nearly shot and today I receive a medal? Something is gone haywire! Back to my beloved town St.Vith, the last place on earth for me to go to, at this moment. In one of the first houses, we all took shelter in a cellar.

Lack of ammunition for the cannons, the roads already mined and standing guard at the front line. Here I never forget the moment, when I reported a suspicious movement at our road barrier. The NCO from the Infantry said to me: "The sooner they come, the better." From that moment on, I bothered even less then before. The time had come to look after No.1 and try to stay alive.

23. January 1945, in the afternoon. My mate Albert Z. did wake me up in the afternoon with the words: "Take your belt off and come outside with your hands up, the Yanks are there." This explained why the officers and soldiers that went upstairs before me, did not return. Outside American soldiers made me stand against a wall, which was under fire from our own people. Forcing me and the others to stand straight. Bullets were hitting the wall above me.

Another one of those unbelievable things occurred. There came this Jerry running and shouting: "The yanks are here!" He had not realized, he was running directly towards them. When one of the American soldiers turned around and fired a few shots. The Jerry made a somersault, got up and held his hand, That's where he got hit. How lucky can you be?