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| Johnnie Masterson, 20 years old, Reims France Dad sent this post-war picture to his Mom while waiting for orders to go home |
Love, Johnnie – a World War II Story
By Bob Masterson, January 2020
© all text and photos - Old Paint Publishing, Old Paint
Music, MISL Publishing, except where noted.
Foreword
A little over 75 years ago, a skinny 19-year-old
kid from New Jersey climbed out of boat onto a beach in France. Like so many
others who we celebrate as heroes from World War II, my father, John J.
Masterson, was part of the invasion which saved the world from evil forces.
I am extremely proud of this man
and his fellow soldiers. Despite the horrors they endured, they succeeded in
defeating Hitler, the Nazis and the Japanese Armies.
The men who returned from WWII were
not braggarts, they did not revel in those unpleasant deeds the
enemy and wartime necessity forced upon them. Collectively, those heroes did
not speak openly nor willingly of their personal actions. My father never
shared with me any real stories of his wartime undertakings. The entire country
who lived through that ordeal did not need to be reminded of the hardships,
they carried it with them for the rest of their lives.
But today, 75 years after the end of that conflict, we need
to be reminded of the menace. We need to hear about the horrors. We need to see
the pictures of the concentration camps and the ovens and the atrocities which
placed our most precious resource, our young adults, in harms way to battle
those awful fiends, lest we forget.
The following is just one account from WWII. It is light on the horrors but I hope captures some of the nitty-gritty.
The following is just one account from WWII. It is light on the horrors but I hope captures some of the nitty-gritty.
May God bless those who served, but
also may we never forget the barbarity which led us to confront and defeat the
Nazi and Imperialist horde.
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| Johnnie Masterson - front row, second from left - somewhere in Europe, WWII |
Johnnie is my Dad, John J. Masterson, Sr. (1925-2003) He served in the United States Army from April 1943 to December 1945.
[Scroll down to the John Masterson Remembers sections for the videos]
Dad also kept a small, pocket-size notebook with dates and locations when he moved around the U.S for training and in Europe during the war.
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| Dad's WWII pocket notebook - cover and page 1 |
Dad kept his wartime souvenirs in our
attic when we lived in Garwood, NJ. He kept these when he retired to Arizona
and then returned to New Jersey. These items include some SS and Nazi
paraphernalia as well as coins and bills from various countries. While going through
these and through Dad’s papers recently I discovered that he was attached to
the 115th AAA Gun Battalion during the war. One of Dad’s best friends from
the Service, Elmer Kromer (1924-2019), also kept contemporaneous notes of his service
and provided a copy to my Dad.
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| Cover of 115th AAA Gun Battalion History |
A good portion of this story is peppered with comments from the Army Record of Elmer Kromer, whom I just mentioned. I’m not sure when these notes were typed up. If it was not during the war, then I am assuming he typed them verbatim from notes he took then. When referenced, for the most part, I put Elmer Kromer’s words in quotes and I made no attempt to correct grammar, misspellings, or 1940’s jargon. They are his words and I am glad he gave them to Dad and I can refer to and share them here. As a bonus, Elmer signed the copy he gave to my father.
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| Elmer Kromer's typed and signed WII notes |
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Elmer P. Kromer - 1924-2019
WWII - 115th AAA Gun Bn
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The notebook I mentioned which Dad kept
during the war simply lists each stop he made and the corresponding date. His
dates sometimes differ from the 115th AAA story and Elmer Kromer’s
account. This notebook also contains the names of men Dad served with, most
written in the handwriting of the individual soldiers. Those souvenirs I
mentioned earlier, I believe, will be absolutely fascinating to WWII history buffs,
especially when put together with Dad’s wartime journey. I know it's fascinating to me!
Photos of some these souvenirs will be displayed hopefully in the correct point in the story.
Photos of some these souvenirs will be displayed hopefully in the correct point in the story.
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The Mastersons
My grandparents sent two of their
boys off to WWII. I can’t imagine how they must have felt. The fear, the pain,
the worry, must have been enough to break them, but break they did not. They
endured and luckily were able to welcome both back.
Johnnie was the eldest son in a
brood of ten. He lived in Roselle, New Jersey at the time he was called to service but was born in Elizabeth and called it home, or
as he would phrase it, ‘Lizbet.
My Uncle Eddie was also in the Army
and also fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a year younger than my Dad. He
was sent home after injuries received in a firefight on the northern front.
This is not his story and I have no way to verify the only verbal account of
his heroics, so I’ll point you to the afterword where you can find it (Thanks
to my cousin Eddie for sharing). Dad briefly mentions him in the video but then pushes on without providing further details about his brother. My Uncle Jimmy and Uncle Billy also served in the Army in later years.
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| The only picture I could find of all 12 of the Mastersons possible date - Easter 1951 |
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| Pop Pop and Dad |
The Army comes a knocking
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| Dad's Induction Notice |
Dad started his Army time by
reporting to Fort Dix, New Jersey on April 1, 1943.
Basic Training – April 1943 to November 1943
A week after entering Fort Dix, Dad
was sent to Camp Davis, North Carolina. There was a new outfit that was formed
in March 1943 that he was assigned to, the 115th AAA Gun Battalion.
He landed in Battery A. The AAA stands for anti-aircraft artillery, its members
termed it “Triple A” or “ack-ack” depending on whom you speak to. The 115th
AAA Gun Battalion was initially assigned to the newly formed 3rd
Army but also served as part of the 49th AAA Brigade under the
command of Brigadier General E.W. Timberlake and the 1st Army.
Dad and his fellow recruits spent
five months of basic training over the hot summer of ’43 in Carolina in a place
they called Swamp Hollow. They learned the ins and outs of the M1 90mm
anti-aircraft gun. Dad at some point was also sent to learn how to be an Army
cook. Some would say that a U.S. Army cook was just as dangerous to U.S. troops
as the German Army.
Dad’s discharge paper lists him as
a cook. It also lists him as 5’7½”. He must have grown while in the service
because he came out at 5’10”.
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| Dad's discharge paper |
[Note: I’ve attempted to order Dad’s Army Service Record –
OMPF Official Military Personnel File from the U.S. Army Archives but they say
all that is available is his DD-214 Discharge record which I already have. His
OMPF was most likely lost in the National Archive fire of 1973.]
According to Dad’s notebook, on September
12, 1943, he moved from Camp Davis to Camp Picket, Virginia. The 115th
Triple A account states the battalion moved on the 14th so Dad must
have been in an advance group. The 115th account states how the
barracks were prepped and ready for the full squad when they arrived.
The battalion received a different
set of training at Camp Picket. They were taught how to embark and disembark
from all sorts of floating vessels and landing craft. They did radar training
which they needed to track the planes they would target. The 115th AAA
was selected to be the first battalion to use a new advanced type of radar, the
SCR-584 microwave system developed by Bell Labs and MIT which had an automatic
tracking mode and helical scanning for aircraft detection and lock on tracking.
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| Dad's marksmanship medals |
The 115th returned to
Camp Picket for intensive radar training and then headed for the beach at New
Point Comfort, VA to test their schooling with live ammunition. The big brass
came out to review these live tests on the new radar system and big guns. Major
General Reinhart and Brigadier General McConnel gave commendations for the 115th
AAA’s use of the 90 mm artillery and the .50 caliber water-cooled machine guns.
Here’s a great article on the .50 Cal machine gun used by
the Triple A, just click the link.
November 6, 1943, Dad returned to
New Jersey and Fort Dix. Winter was dropping on Jersey and the Army provided the
best accommodations they had available - WWI era tents (yes, from the Great
War), outdated woodstoves without firewood, limited electricity and lighting,
and a command staff who thought the 115th Triple As were too
comfortable.
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| Ft. Dix - WWI era accommodations |
Fort Dix is in the Pinelands region
of New Jersey. It is a pretty flat expanse of sandy, swampy earth, with,
especially back in the early 1940’s, not a damn thing around it but pine trees,
bugs and other military bases. McGuire Air Force base is on one side and the
Lakehurst Naval Weapons Station on the other. Lakehurst is where the Hindenburg
crashed in 1937.
The 115th Triple A received
more training on a whole host of weapon systems and three weeks later were
shipping out to Camp Shanks, New York.
Dad arrived Camp Shanks on November
26, 1943 and as reported in the 115th Triple A history, had a salami
sandwich for Thanksgiving dinner while riding the Atlantic Coast Line train
north. The outfit was issued some new
equipment and spent a week training and readying for their overseas journey.
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| One of Dad's 2 copies of The 115th AAA Gun Bn History The "Battery A" was added, not in original. |
December 1943 – Shipping Out
Dad’s notebook shows him boarding his
ship on December 3, 1943. The 115th Triple A says Dec. 4. I can’t
account for the discrepancy but I’m going with Dad’s account. The ship was the
HMS Strathenaver, a former British luxury liner. Luxury was nowhere to be had
for the 150 men of the 115th who were piled three hammocks high in
the “G” hold of the ship. Elmer Kromer’s entry says he was on “B” deck. I’m not sure if "B" deck was any roomier, Dad says on the video, sardines couldn't have been packed better. The officers, of course, were in cabins on the “A” deck.
The outfit manned the anti-aircraft batteries which were set up top-deck in
case enemy planes or destroyers happened upon them while enroute.
Dad tell's a great story about seasickness by battalion members on the cruise across the Atlantic.
John Masterson Remembers WWII - Part 1
Here's the video of Dad. I tried to remove the tape hiss and correct some of the audio issues due to transfer from the 20-year-old VHS. I added the graphics and photos. I had to condense and break into parts to fit the blog size requirements. Part 1, which contains Dad talking about Basic Training, the voyage to England, and preparation for D-Day, is below. You'll find Part 2 further down in the story.
Dad tell's a great story about seasickness by battalion members on the cruise across the Atlantic.
John Masterson Remembers WWII - Part 1
Here's the video of Dad. I tried to remove the tape hiss and correct some of the audio issues due to transfer from the 20-year-old VHS. I added the graphics and photos. I had to condense and break into parts to fit the blog size requirements. Part 1, which contains Dad talking about Basic Training, the voyage to England, and preparation for D-Day, is below. You'll find Part 2 further down in the story.
Six months in England
Twelve days at sea and the
Strathenaver docked at Liverpool, England. According to Dad, he was with the first group of 18-year-old U.S Army soldiers ever on foreign soil. I can't verify that except that in November 1942 Congress expanded the Draft age to include 18 year olds. Previously the lowest age was 21.
On December 17, 1943. Dad and the 115th AAA were heading to Manchester by train. They bunked in a huge abandoned warehouse and quickly the Army ordered the men to covert this shit-hole to an Army worthy shit-hole. They stayed here until early February 1944.
On December 17, 1943. Dad and the 115th AAA were heading to Manchester by train. They bunked in a huge abandoned warehouse and quickly the Army ordered the men to covert this shit-hole to an Army worthy shit-hole. They stayed here until early February 1944.
There’s a lengthy account in the
115th AAA history of how bad the food was at this station. Dad’s
discharge papers list him as a cook so he may have been responsible. I never
knew my Dad to cook anything. He did share anecdotes about peeling enormous
amounts of potatoes. This is a man whose grandparents fled Ireland during the
potato famine only to be assigned to potato peeling for an entire battalion,
Army irony. (Army irony - tongue twister, no extra charge)
In the video, Dad tells about blackouts and the bombings by the Germans. Though they had not yet entered the conflict on the main continent, there was no doubt about the proximity of war.
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| Dad, standing, far right - Cooking Good! |
In the video, Dad tells about blackouts and the bombings by the Germans. Though they had not yet entered the conflict on the main continent, there was no doubt about the proximity of war.
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| Dad, top right |
Dad’s cousin, Cpl. John McGann, 703rd
Bomb Squad, wrote a few V-mails to my Grandmother, his Aunt Maggie. One of
those V-mails from February 1944 also mention Dad as a cook. He said, “So
your Johnny is a cook. I hope he is a good one.”
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| V-Mail from Dad's cousin John McGann to my Grandmother |
Here’s a link to some photos of the
703rd Bomb Squad, 445th Bomb Group.
The 703rd was also the
bomb squad headed up by the actor, Jimmy Stewart. Unfortunately, I have no
further information on John McGann’s service.
It was here in Manchester, England the
115th AAA Gun Battalion put together all the necessary materials and
equipment to run on their own in a wartime environment. Everything from the big
guns to trucks to haul them plus the paper and typewriters to make everything
Army legal was assembled. I guess, Dad continued to peel potatoes.
The 115th AAA history
say they left Manchester on February 4, 1945 and went north to Warton and a
bomber repair base north of Liverpool on the west coast. Elmer’s account says
February 5th he arrived Freckleton, outside a large airport, and
Dad’s notebook says he arrived Freckleton on February 10th.
Dad spent a little over a month in
Freckleton before heading south to Camp Blandford, Dorset, England on March 12th.
The 115th history has the
battalion moving on March 6th and Elmer moved on March 4th.
Elmer also notes that one of the batteries was dispatched “to London to do
some firing at the Jerrys.” 
[I had to use the Wayback Machine to find the website of the 115th AAA Gun Battalion which is now defunct. Captured in those pages is not only the a copy of the same 115th Triple A History Dad had but also a separate book published in July 1945 on just B Battery, Symphony in B-Flak, The History of the 115th AAA Gun Battalion, Battery B. I didn't use the battery B contents here but if interested please check it out. There are some great photos of Battery B and some of the equipment used by the 115th. Sorry, you're going to have to use the Wayback like I did. - Google the Wayback Machine and insert the old 115th website 115th-aaa-gun-bn.com and it will take you there.
There is also a similar account of the 115th AAA Gun Battalion, Battery C called History of 115, C, Can We Forget? I was not able to find anything more than the title and cover page from an auction website. There is most likely accounts for A and D batteries also somewhere in Army archives.]
The battalion did “mobile training” while at Camp Belford which is southwest of London. There was a need not only to know how to operate these big guns but how to quickly break them down, move them and reset them under harsh weather conditions and while under enemy fire. They did simulated-combat training for weeks in the English countryside. They also trained on how to turn their anti-aircraft guns into field artillery.
[I had to use the Wayback Machine to find the website of the 115th AAA Gun Battalion which is now defunct. Captured in those pages is not only the a copy of the same 115th Triple A History Dad had but also a separate book published in July 1945 on just B Battery, Symphony in B-Flak, The History of the 115th AAA Gun Battalion, Battery B. I didn't use the battery B contents here but if interested please check it out. There are some great photos of Battery B and some of the equipment used by the 115th. Sorry, you're going to have to use the Wayback like I did. - Google the Wayback Machine and insert the old 115th website 115th-aaa-gun-bn.com and it will take you there.
There is also a similar account of the 115th AAA Gun Battalion, Battery C called History of 115, C, Can We Forget? I was not able to find anything more than the title and cover page from an auction website. There is most likely accounts for A and D batteries also somewhere in Army archives.]
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| Covers of the 115th AAA Gun Bn Battery B and Battery C histories Somewhere in the archives may be a Battery A account. |
The battalion did “mobile training” while at Camp Belford which is southwest of London. There was a need not only to know how to operate these big guns but how to quickly break them down, move them and reset them under harsh weather conditions and while under enemy fire. They did simulated-combat training for weeks in the English countryside. They also trained on how to turn their anti-aircraft guns into field artillery.
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| Dad - believed to be taken near Stonehenge |
On May 11, 1944, the 115th
AAA Gun Battalion headed for Stonehenge to prepare for the D-Day invasion.
Their orders said they would be on the first wave.
On May 14th, B-Battery
was sent to Lippets Hill to support the 184th AAA in defensive
positions. Beginning on May 15th, the 90 mm guns of the 115th
were fired at enemy aircraft for the first time. Each night brought more of the
same as Germany sent their aircraft to bomb and strafe the British and American
forces.
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| Map from 115th AAA History - battalion's route through England |
Invasion Forces – June 1944
It was while at Stonehenge the 115th received orders they would be attached to General Timberlake’s 49th Brigade for the invasion. On June 6, 1944, the battalion was alerted to D-Day by the site of thousands of B17s and C47s flying above. Dad and the battalion reported to the marshaling area on Southampton Beach June 8, D-Day+2.
Dad’s papers contain an operations map
from the 49th Brigade with some handwritten signatures and addresses
of Dad’s fellow soldiers. That map shows the 115th AAA as part of
the 49th Brigade. The 115th history shows their route
across France as more southerly than the 49th.
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| Dad's 49th Brigade map |
The Triple A history says on D-Day+3 and D-Day+4 the 115th
AAA Gun Battalion was loaded on to four ships, The Elmer E. Sperry, the Edward
M. House, the Samuel Colt, and the Joseph Story. Elmer of course was assigned to
the Elmer. No word on which ship dad was on. But Dad says he boarded on June 7 and "spent 4 days on the water waiting for the Germans to sink them or strafe them."
They traversed the English Channel and Omaha Beach came into site on D-Day+5.
They traversed the English Channel and Omaha Beach came into site on D-Day+5.
Omaha Beach, France
Dad’s notebook has him hitting
Omaha Beach on June 11 which matches his video tale. Dad tells of how he and another gunner had
to help one of the soldiers to the shore. The landing craft pulled up short due
to mines or other obstructions. The soldier of short stature, with full gear,
stepped off the LST and went down in water above his head. Dad helped keep this
fellow’s head above water until he could find footing and breath at the same
time.
Welcome to Omaha Beach.
Welcome to Omaha Beach.
Elmer’s record says he landed June
12, and the 115th AAA history says they unloaded on D-Day+7 which
was June 13. Elmer’s account says they de-waterproofed the equipment on the 12th
and moved forward to Isigny on the 13th. Dad’s notes state the same.
Despite it not being June 6 when
the members of the 115th AAA Gun Battalion hit Omaha Beach, do not
get the sense that it was an easy task to cross that stretch of sand. Enemy aircraft were
still strafing. Mines were still planted and routinely blowing up
reminding the 115th to use caution where they maneuvered themselves
and their equipment.
Dad says getting across the beach wasn't too bad, the bunkers had been cleared and wiped out, but when they moved about a mile forward, "then all hell broke loose."
Dad says getting across the beach wasn't too bad, the bunkers had been cleared and wiped out, but when they moved about a mile forward, "then all hell broke loose."
They kept moving inland and set up the big guns, the 90s, around Isigny, France to protect the new command HQ and more importantly
to protect the forward areas from enemy aircraft and the beaches from Luftwaffe
planes as more troops poured forth from the channel. During the night, the
Germans shot flares of varying colors to light up the positions of the Allies. The
men operating the 90’s took cover in their foxholes as the barrage of German
artillery followed the flares. They climbed back and fired on the planes
dropping bombs and also pointed their guns forward to shoot at the enemy’s
field artillery positions.
Dad tells about how the German planes came around the same time every night, 11:30. It had to be an accident if they showed at 11:15 or 11:45. German precision, I guess.
Dad’s notebook lists an entry for June 17 which looks to be a #2. Elmer’s account states on June 15 that he moved to the other side of Isigny, essentially the second position at Isigny. The 115th history states that their outfit put out some heavy fire while at Isigny. Dad says they got 7 planes.
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| Dad with Anti-Aircraft patch and submachine gun medal |
Dad’s notebook lists an entry for June 17 which looks to be a #2. Elmer’s account states on June 15 that he moved to the other side of Isigny, essentially the second position at Isigny. The 115th history states that their outfit put out some heavy fire while at Isigny. Dad says they got 7 planes.
On June 25th they got
orders to head to the port of Cherbourg where heavy fighting and strong
resistance by German forces were giving the Allies hell. The 115th
AAA packed up and rolled out. They passed through burned out cities which,
according the 115th AA account, “had taken such a pounding from
land and sea and air that they had simply ceased to exist, not one building
stood … it was too much to conceive of such utter destruction.” They
reached the outskirts of Cherbourg only to find that their pre-ordered
positions to set up their guns were still under enemy attack and some still
under enemy control. The battalion was essentially turned into infantry as they
defended their new positions. Their big guns shot into the night but missed the
few planes that attacked. A mine blew up one of their trucks but luckily only
minor scrapes was all they suffered.
Another Day at the Beach
Another Day at the Beach
Three days later the battalion returned to
Omaha Beach.
The 115th AAA was given
the mission to protect the rear echelon unloading. The men initially thought they were going
backwards but soon found out that they were engaged regularly with the enemy who was desperately trying
to stop the supply of fresh troops and supplies from coming across the channel. 
The 115th used their 50mm guns more at this station. They had their first hot meals since entering France and their first man to suffer a serious wound after stepping on a mine. From June 26 to July 12th they provided much needed protection during the offloading of the ships which brought more and more troops to battle.
Moving Inland
The 115th used their 50mm guns more at this station. They had their first hot meals since entering France and their first man to suffer a serious wound after stepping on a mine. From June 26 to July 12th they provided much needed protection during the offloading of the ships which brought more and more troops to battle.
Moving Inland
They headed to Cartenan on July 12 which
changed hands a few times but was secured by the Allies when they arrived. From
here, the 115th set up their guns and pounded the town of Pierriers
and the road to St. Lo, which the 3rd Army was desperately trying to
seize. At this point the 115th was still with the 1st
Army but was supposed to be with the 3rd. It seems the men in charge
were wrestling for control of this outfit but the 1st won out for at
least a while longer as their battalion moved to Avrenches on August 2.
Elmer’s notes state, “Moved to
Avraanches and had to pull of the road because the road was being bombed by the
Jerrys.”
Joining the 3rd Army – August 1944
This was a mobile unit and two days
later they were in positions around Saint Hilaire protecting a dam which if
blown would flood the highway and stop Allied troop movement. The 3rd
Army had somehow won out and the 115th became part of General Patton’s
force on August 4, 1944. The 115th was now placed in the dual role
of anti-aircraft batteries and emergency anti-tank deployment to support the
American 30th Old Hickory Division. Dad says they were moving with the 4th Armored Division and talks about firing at the German tanks.
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| Dad's notebook - page 2 |
The AAA battalions brought down 35
planes that week. Elmer’s account states, “Moved to St Hilare, and quite a
time of it for about a week. We received credit for quite a few planes.”
The troops and supplies kept
pouring into France and the 115th was on the move again August 13
heading 150 miles to the Le Mans/Alençon area and assigned to the XV Corps.
On August 20 they moved again to
Chateaudun digging in in the rain to protect vital routes. Elmer’s account
says, “no action here.”
Days later, on the 23rd,
the battalion moved to Orleans and quickly moved again to Sens on August 24,
accompanying the 4th Armored division. The 115th was
again given the dual role of anti-air and field artillery fighting off 53
planes in four days and firing to protect the bridges of the Yonne River. The
Germans were being pushed back with haste. On August 24, Elmer says, “Moved to Sens,
on a little hill over-loking the city which is quite beautiful city, also
having a little action.”
On August 30, the 115th
AAA set off for Vitry-Le-Françios. The 115th AAA account
says it was a 90-mile trip and the convoy stretched for 5 miles slowed by
cheering, over-joyed locals.
The American GI's were still very leery of the French locals. Many had been recruited by the Germans and they weren't sure who they could trust.
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| SS French recruiting pamphlet in Dad's WWII collection |
The 115th Triple A
history recounts that joy was soon overshadowed by a foreboding that came with
traversing a forest of desolation down the lone road to set up their guns in
protection of the bridges of the River Marne. The Germans viewed those bridges
as an important route and were determined to close them. The 115th AAA
dug in and that night came 23 enemy planes in an attempt to bomb the bridges.
The 115th AAA batteries won out.
That night was also a good one for
the 115th infantry who accompanied the AAAs, they captured 169 SS
troupers trying sneak in and wreck havoc while the big guns were pointed to the
sky. The battalion also scored a trainload of brand new German trucks while
sweeping a trainyard. They enhanced their own motor pool with some of this new found
booty.
September 12th, the 115th
were on the move again, heading for Joinville and Neufchâteau. Elmer’s account says, “the
Krauts still have the town so we had to take a different position. Had to set
up in the dark.” And, on September 13 said, “moved to Charms and not too
far from the krauts.”
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| Elmer's notes page 3 |
The Bad with the Good
Elmer writes on September 16, “Now
on the hill over-looking the city it-self, it is raining and is quite muddy.
Knocked down a B-24 [American bomber] to-night but it wasn’t our fault.
All were killed cept the pilot and he was pretty sore at us, until after we
explained to him. Also saw Bing Crosby and his U.S.O. show, it was pretty good.”
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| Dad, Europe 1944 |
A Postcard Would Be Nice
September 21 the battalion moved
again, on to Lunéville. Elmer writes, “Lunéville, we have been doing
quite a bit of field artillery firing and had some very good results.”
The 115th AAA account states, “the Germans had securely dug-in outside Lunéville in the Foét de Parot area, and all attempts thus far to evict them had proved unsuccessful.” The 79th Division was running out of ammo and suffered heavy casualties. The 115th had plenty of 90mm ammo and experience in field artillery. “Our first firing mission came down on the 25th of September, and from then until the 11th of October, we fired field artillery day and night, expending a total of 2297 rounds.”
The 115th AAA account states, “the Germans had securely dug-in outside Lunéville in the Foét de Parot area, and all attempts thus far to evict them had proved unsuccessful.” The 79th Division was running out of ammo and suffered heavy casualties. The 115th had plenty of 90mm ammo and experience in field artillery. “Our first firing mission came down on the 25th of September, and from then until the 11th of October, we fired field artillery day and night, expending a total of 2297 rounds.”
The 115th Triple A had
been taking heavy enemy fire from October 7-9. The history states, “By now
we were tired of being on the receiving end and the following day, October 10th,
we really meant business. From 0800 in the morning until ten o’clock that night
we fired 653 rounds into German positions. It was a grueling day, but that
night we were a tired yet happy bunch. We had paid the Jerrys back tenfold, and
they must have learned from that lesson, for during the rest of our stay at Lunéville,
not one enemy shell came in.”
Sometime during their three weeks
in Lunéville,
Dad picked up a book of postcards. I doubt at the end of that stand-off that
the town looked as picturesque.
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| Dad's Luneville postcard book - it looks full. I guess no time to send. |
Rolling 7’s, came up 3’s
During the field artillery stand at
Lunéville,
on September 28th, the 115th AAA was assigned to the 7th Army
and the battalion was reorganized. The 115th AAA history states that
their battalion was again reassigned to the 3rd Army on October 15th.
The 115th pulled out of Lunéville
on October 15 with the Third Army and headed to Commercy, France. Elmer writes
on October 15, “Commercy now, back protecting the supply dumps, the weather
is still pretty lousy.” 
Elmer writes on October 26, “Capt.
Thie was transferred to-day and we got Lt. Heironymus for B.C. now. The old man
was odd but a pretty good fellow.”
On October 27, “Lt. Stoddard was
transferred to-day and I sure hated to see him go as he was a pretty swell
fellow. We got Lt. Beasley in his place. Mac was one of the best dam Officers I
ever knew.”
Be Careful What You Wish For
Be Careful What You Wish For
November 21, Elmer writes, “Been here for more than five weeks and nothing much has been happening, I’m hope we move out pretty soon. The other night the crew knocked down a A-20 [American bomber] and we had a little trouble but all is well now.”
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| Dad, Europe 1944 - 19 years old |
December 6, 1944, the 115th
AAA got orders to move. Elmer wrote, “Moved out of Commercy to-day and sure
was glad to get the hell out of here, to-night we are staying at
Chateau-Salins.”
They moved to Puttelange on
December 7 and headed for Sarreguemines on December 8. Elmer writes, “Left
here this morning and going to a position at Sarrguminnes, pulled into position
and got our radar stuck in the mud. The krauts are on the other side of the
woods, our infantry and mortars are in the woods. They threw about twelve
rounds over at us and got three of our fellows, one of them has lost his eye.
It took us about six hours to get out of there because everything was pretty
well mired. We moved back a half mile and stayed there over night on the side
of the road. Moved into a field and sat up the equipment, also lost seven
fellows to the infantry, all were volunteers.” 
The 115th history states, “While
A Battery [Dad’s and Elmer’s] was moving into position they found
themselves under direct enemy observation. Three shells lobbed into the battery
area wounding three men, one seriously. Some of the boys claimed that they saw
the flash of the gun that did the firing. A Battery requested a change of
position. It was granted.”
 |
| The 115th AAA route through France |
The 115th AAA history states, “When you think about it, there’s something crazy about those days in Sarreguemines. The Headquarters men lived in fine houses and less than a mile away the Infantry was slugging it out. At night you could see tracers arching across the land – both ways. The racket was deafening. Machine guns, small arms, artillery, and yet in the midst of all this, the boys would sit at tables writing V-Mails or listening to radios, or playing guitars. (We found guitars in almost every house.) … Enemy shells would come whistling over our heads – still that guy would pluck his guitar. Bravery? Hell no! There was nothing else to do.”
 |
| 115th AAA Gun Bn French Junket dates |
Dad’s participation in The Battle of the Bulge – December
22, 1944 – February 1, 1945
On December 16, 1944, the enemy
attacked in force at Ardennes, Belgium. The 115th AAA got orders on December
22 to move out to Luxembourg where they joined what is now known as the Battle
of the Bulge. During the war they called it the Ardennes Counter-Offensive.
The 115th AAA moved
north to Luxembourg City and set up protection of the city and Radio
Luxembourg. I found this US Army video on Radio Luxembourg and how it was used
by the Allies.
On December 22, Elmer’s account
states, “Left here this morning and are moving up to the first army front, trip
about 120 miles. I drove quite a bit and it is really ok, staying over-night on
the road.”
 |
| Christmas 1944 Telegram from Grandpa to Dad |
The 115th history
states that this firing at a few targets was a little more intense than Elmer lets on, “Soon after dusk they came. In the GOR the AAAIS operators were
going nuts trying to plot the courses of the enemy planes. They came from all
directions, singly and in groups. Our radars picked up targets, the intricate
machinery began humming and following the invisible enemy. Then we opened up.
Luxembourg trembled from the concussions of our HE shells and Jerry tracers
crisscrossed madly and 40 mm pecked at him. They retreated without damaging a
single installation.” The 115th AAA claimed 14
hits that night, must have been one hell of a fight!
Luxembourg with the Locals
Luxembourg with the Locals
Both the 115th AAA
history and Elmer Kromer’s account go a bit thin here. The battalion spent 47
days in Luxembourg City. The AAA history states that even though they were in
the Battle of the Bulge they were also “enjoying such hospitality as we had
never imagined. Many boys who were not on duty Xmas Eve were wined and dined in
the homes of the good people of Luxembourg.” The end of December brought the
prowess of the U.S. Air Force and the need for the 115th big guns
was reduced. They still took random enemy fire from what turned out be rockets
and they were issued M-51, quadruple mount 50 cal. machine guns to strafe enemy
planes.
 |
| Dad at the house he stayed in Luxembourg (Per my Mom - With nowhere else to stay, the natives brought them into their homes !!) If you look close you can see the T under his stripes signifying T-5 rank. |
Dad was in or around Luxembourg
City on the day Saint Vith, Belgium was recaptured by Allied forces. January 23,
1945 was considered a big day for Belgium and Luxembourg and essentially the
end of the Battle of the Bulge. You’ll get different dates on many different
accounts but I’m using that day due to the souvenir clay medallions Dad brought
back which clearly have 23.1.45 on one and 23-1-45 on another.
The Battle of the Bulge may have
ended but the war was far from over and the 115th had a lot of
fighting left to do.
 |
| The Luxembourg house |
 |
| Dad with Luxembourg family |
John Masterson Remembers - Part 2
Here is Part 2 of Dad's video. It covers the trip across the English Channel, landing on Omaha Beach, the campaign across France, the Battle of the Bulge, Germany and Czechoslavakia.
Pushing into Germany
Elmer’s entry for February 12
states quite simply, “Situation normal, all snafu.” For those not
familiar with Army jargon of the 1940’s, SNAFU stands for - Situation Normal
All Fucked Up.
February 13, 1945 the 115th
AAA moved to Consdorf, Luxembourg. 
On February 22 they got the march
order and headed to Echternach, Luxembourg on the German border just north of
Consdorf. They were attached to the 4th Armored Division heading for
the River Rhine.
Extra Credit Reading
An account of the importance of Luxembourg City and the steps taken to protect it and the Consdorf/Echternach region. https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_10.htm
The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge by Hugh Cole
https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_Cont.htm#toc
https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_Cont.htm#toc
The people of Luxembourg were very happy that the allied
forces freed their country.
 |
| 2 of Dad's clay medallions believed to be from Luxembourg |
Germany
Dad’s notes show that he went to
Triers, Germany on March 16. On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, Elmer and the rest
of the 115th crossed the border into Germany.
I don’t know if Dad was ahead of
and not with the rest of the 115th when they crossed into Germany.
His notes put him in "Blitzenheim" on the 17th and “Bad Krueznach”
on the 18th.
The 115 Triple A says it was "Bretzenheim." But apparently Dad had a good reason for the misspelling. The 115th came across a load of barrels of Rhine wine and didn't want them to go to waste. Dad and the boys must have gotten blitzed, so that how he remembered the town.
Elmer’s notes sort of match up with Dad’s putting him outside “Bad Kuzennach” on the 19th, a day later. Elmer also states, “Now on the other side of Bad Kuzennach, while setting up the heinies came over twice, also came back about eight that night and dropped a few eggs, pretty close and they shook the hell out of the mount.”
The 115 Triple A says it was "Bretzenheim." But apparently Dad had a good reason for the misspelling. The 115th came across a load of barrels of Rhine wine and didn't want them to go to waste. Dad and the boys must have gotten blitzed, so that how he remembered the town.
Elmer’s notes sort of match up with Dad’s putting him outside “Bad Kuzennach” on the 19th, a day later. Elmer also states, “Now on the other side of Bad Kuzennach, while setting up the heinies came over twice, also came back about eight that night and dropped a few eggs, pretty close and they shook the hell out of the mount.”
Losing Friends
On March 20, Elmer writes, “Krauts
came over this morning and dropped a few anti-personel bombs on us. Two of the
fellows were hit and Chuck [Charles Shoenfelt] died the next day at the
hospital. Benny went back to the states and was discharged.”
I don’t know if it is the same “Benny”
but Dad’s notebook lists Ben Redman from Brooklyn.
Charles L. Shoenfelt’s obituary
states he was killed in action on March 24, 1945.
 |
| Charles Schoenfelt death notice |
The 115th Triple A
history states, “We threw everything at them … this was also the day that
the 88’s tried to knock out the bridge and ford at Bretzenheim. Do you
Headquarters boys remember that? The raids started at 0640 the next morning
(what a hell of an early hour). There were four raids by nine jet jobs and one
recon mission. Those jets came in from all directions travelling at 500 mph. We
claimed one Cat I. A Battery area was bombed resulting in two casualties.”
Crossing Guards
Elmer continues on March 22, “Moved this morning to a place between Mainz and Worms, here is where the third army is to make its crossing of the Rhine River. We are on a hill overlooking the river. The infantry made there crossing about eleven-thirty and they met very little resistance. There wasn’t even one dam plane over to-night so the boys really didn’t need us. I also had to put the mount in the hole in the dark.”
Dad’s notes and the 115th
Triple A history puts the battalion in Dexheim on March 23, 1945.
March 23, per Elmer, “Plenty of
planes out to-night and we got a few of them also, they didn’t do much damage
and the engineers are getting the bridge across the river ok.”
March 24, per Elmer, “
The tanks
are now crossing the river and the planes are still coming, have gotten quite a
few.”
 |
| Dad, middle |
Per Elmer, March 26, 27, “The
krauts haven’t been around to-night and I guess they have had about enough for
a while.”
Elmer writes on April 1, “Easter
Sunday, “C” rations for just about a week now. Mass at two this afternoon.
Still back behind lines and not much of anything to do. About all we are having
is group inspections and they are just about driving me nuts.”
I guess Dad’s new-found cooking
skills and potato-peeling were put on hold for a while if all they were getting
were “C” rations. 
 |
| Dad's notebook page 3 |
Guarding General Patton
 |
| Outside 3rd Army HQ Dad on right |
April 14, 1945 came the orders to
move. The Triple A history, Dad’s, and Elmer’s notes match up putting the 115th
AAA in Hersfeld.
Elmer writes, “Pulled out this morning, crossed the Rhine
and went through the city of Frankfort. Then got to Hersfeld where we are on a
hill over-looking the city, and guarding Third Army headquarters. Haven’t had
any mail in the last two, also seen some good looking gals around here, but not
supposed to mess around with them.”
 |
| One of the boys changing a tire |
On April 22, Elmer writes, “Moving
out about noon to-night and have a trip of about one hundred fifty miles ahead
of us. We are going to Erlangen to give Patton some more protection.” Dad’s
notebook also shows April 22 in Erlangen.
[Note: There are many history books
which dedicate considerable print to Gen. Patton at Hersfeld and Erlangen. Gen.
Eisenhower visited the salt mines at Miner’s, where a huge cache of Nazi gold
was found, with Patton during this timeframe and gave Patton the order not to go
to Berlin. Gen. Patton was not happy but obeyed that order. During this time is
also when the U.S Armies reach the concentration camps and see first-hand the
atrocities. Gen. Patton and Eisenhower personally visited those camps and accounts
state that Patton gave orders to have as many soldiers as possible to visit
those sites so there would be witnesses to the horrors and to curtail
fraternization with the Germans.]
Dad would tell the story of how
Patton wanted to go into Berlin and continue on right into Moscow and how Patton
had the support of the troops behind him.
 |
| The 115th AAA route through Germany |
 |
| Regensburg post card |
Hitler dead
My favorite entry from Elmer’s
record comes on May 1, 1945, “They say Hitler died, too bad for the old man.”
This is just dripping with sarcasm and dry wit, and I love it.
Dad’s notes puts them in Hoenpolding
(Huf) on May 2. The 115th AAA history says it is Hohenpolding
and Elmer writes it differently on May 3 in his account, “
 |
| unmailed |
Czech your notes
Dad says that he went all the way into Czechoslovakia. There are accounts of some of Patton's forces entering the country and going to both Pilsen and Prague. No Czech towns are recorded in Dad's notebook. But in the box with the video he did were my nephew's notes saying Dad went into a town called Horsovsky, Czechoslakia. According to a historical marker, Horsovsky was liberated on May 5, 1945. which fits right in the timeframe of Dad's notes and his proximity to the Czech border.
The video notes also state Dad was in Regensburg, Germany which is about 35 miles from Horsovsky. Dad's notebook has a stretch from May 2 to May 11 in which the Czech infiltration is most likely. There is a commendation to the 115th AAA from the Commanding General 3rd Army which I found in the Coastal Artillery Journal which also lists the 115th AAA as part of the forces which went into Czechoslavakia.
There is an entry in the book Last Shots for Patton's 3rd Army by Robert Paul Fuller which lists the a battle for the town of Horsovsky Tyn and the surrender of Germany's 11th Panzer division.
here's a link to some more info:
https://www.radio.cz/en/section/czech-history/the-us-army-and-the-liberation-of-czechoslovakia-in-1945
Victory in Europe
On May 8, 1945, Elmer writes, “War has officially ended to-day. Leaving here for Shwarzenbach, going to pull guard for a while.”
Dad says that he went all the way into Czechoslovakia. There are accounts of some of Patton's forces entering the country and going to both Pilsen and Prague. No Czech towns are recorded in Dad's notebook. But in the box with the video he did were my nephew's notes saying Dad went into a town called Horsovsky, Czechoslakia. According to a historical marker, Horsovsky was liberated on May 5, 1945. which fits right in the timeframe of Dad's notes and his proximity to the Czech border.The video notes also state Dad was in Regensburg, Germany which is about 35 miles from Horsovsky. Dad's notebook has a stretch from May 2 to May 11 in which the Czech infiltration is most likely. There is a commendation to the 115th AAA from the Commanding General 3rd Army which I found in the Coastal Artillery Journal which also lists the 115th AAA as part of the forces which went into Czechoslavakia.
There is an entry in the book Last Shots for Patton's 3rd Army by Robert Paul Fuller which lists the a battle for the town of Horsovsky Tyn and the surrender of Germany's 11th Panzer division.
here's a link to some more info:
https://www.radio.cz/en/section/czech-history/the-us-army-and-the-liberation-of-czechoslovakia-in-1945
Victory in Europe
On May 8, 1945, Elmer writes, “War has officially ended to-day. Leaving here for Shwarzenbach, going to pull guard for a while.”
 |
| Dad on a German tank the day the war ended |
The 115th history puts
the battalion in Kulmbach on V-E Day, May 8, 1945 and moving to Adensberg on
May 17. They spent weeks there awaiting further orders. The Third and Seventh
Armies were declared “Armies of Occupation” but no word on what that meant.
Rumors of being sent to the Pacific to fight the Japanese were rampant.
 |
| Clipped from the Coastal Artillery Journal Commendation from General Patton to the 115th AAA |
Dad’s discharge papers show him
with a score of 75 points in September 1945. I don’t know how this equates with
the “cook” designation.
Reims, France – July-October 1945
 |
No matter the scores for those
soldiers it would be a while until they were headed home. Dad and the 115th
AAA Gun Battalion were ordered in mid-July to turn in their big guns, "the 90s,
the noisy, rough riding cats, the machine guns and the ammo." They pulled out of
Germany and arrived at Reims, France on July 19, 1945. Dad did not head back
stateside until late November.
Dad’s notebook states, “3000 miles from Omaha to Reims." What a hell of a journey for a "man" not even 21 yet.
On July 29, Elmer’s account states,
“We have relieved the 385 M.P. Bn. and are on our own now, it isn’t a bad job
so far. Also living in some good billets, Maison D’Retreat.”
Dad's discharge papers show that his last assignment was with the 720th Railway Operating Battalion. This fits right in with his description in the video of guarding the trains from looters.
Dad's discharge papers show that his last assignment was with the 720th Railway Operating Battalion. This fits right in with his description in the video of guarding the trains from looters.
It looks like Dad and Elmer
separated on October 10 when Elmer writes, “leaving the old outfit to go home.”
Dad’s notebook states, “Left Reims on Oct. 15 to Liege, Belgium. Left Liege Nov.
2, 1945 to Camp Philadelphia, France. Arrived on Nov. 3, 1945. Mileage covered
on moves only.”
 |
| Dad's souvenir program from circus in Reims, France |
Headed home
Dad continues, “Arrived at Camp
Herbert, Tareyton, November 22, 1945 (Thanksgiving Day)."
Elmer writes on November 24, “Got
home this afternoon about two o’clock and Ruth was home. Home at last …..”
Dad was still in England awaiting
transport, “Boarded ship Vulcania for home November 28 – 45 (0930).”
 |
| Dad's souvenirs from the Vulcania |
“Arrived at Staten Is. December 5,
1945 – 8 P.M. two years to the day we left for overseas."
“Staten Island to Camp Kilmer –
December 5. Kilmer to Ft. Monmouth Dec. 7, 1945.”
And so ends Dad’s WWII account.
 |
| Dad's notebook page 5 |
 |
| The Army gave the soldiers a booklet with guidance on post-Army life. |
----
Just Another Hero
I don’t
know your definition of hero. I still don’t know for sure whether Dad did any
more than peel potatoes and follow orders during WWII. But I do know that from the moment Dad stepped
off that LST on Omaha Beach and helped another soldier to land, to the day he and the 115th AAA Gun
Battalion turned in their big guns following V-E Day he was part of the Allied
force that defeated the Germans. He watched his buddies fall. He traveled
across France, Luxembourg, Germany and Czechoslovakia right beside Gen. Patton.
 |
| Some of Dad's WWII collection |
Until I took a hard look at Dad’s
papers and items carried home from the war and put them together with his and other
historical accounts, I did not know how much action he must have had really
seen. Dad came home with the bruised soul of a soldier who has seen the worst
and he carried on. I call him just another hero because just like his many
peers during that war he did what was necessary to help in that fight and
achieve victory. And that is enough.
 |
| WWII era Foreign currency Dad brought back |
Dad returned to the States went to work for the Standard Oil Company and then the
U.S. Post Office and was appointed, via Act of Congress, as Postmaster in
Garwood, NJ. He was also very active in the VFW and every year would be out raising money through the Buddy Poppy program.
Dad married Eileen Dugan of Garwood, NJ. They raised six children together in the house where my Mom was born and grew up
in. Dad passed away in May 2003 and, except for a very short video of his personal
participation in WWII meant for school children, took with him the full account
of what he had been through. I hope this story sheds a little light on just
another hero of the Bulge.
---
The Spoils
Dad brought home some Nazi paraphernalia from Europe, what I call spoils. He, as I've stated previously, gave no description of how he gathered these items. I venture to guess that it was a 19-20 year old's impulsiveness that grabbed them up, or perhaps Dad wanted these relics of hate as a solemn reminder.
But Dad never pulled these out to show them. We, his kids, found them on our own when exploring our attic. He would yell at us to put them away. But he kept them - A full-size Nazi flag, an arm-band, a belt buckle, two medals, one with ribbon.
 |
| The Mastersons of Garwood, NJ - Summer, 1970 Sandusky, OH - Elmer Kromer's house me, in between Dad and Mom |
---
The Spoils
Dad brought home some Nazi paraphernalia from Europe, what I call spoils. He, as I've stated previously, gave no description of how he gathered these items. I venture to guess that it was a 19-20 year old's impulsiveness that grabbed them up, or perhaps Dad wanted these relics of hate as a solemn reminder.
But Dad never pulled these out to show them. We, his kids, found them on our own when exploring our attic. He would yell at us to put them away. But he kept them - A full-size Nazi flag, an arm-band, a belt buckle, two medals, one with ribbon.
 |
| The spoils German Army impedimenta from Dad's WWII collection |
----
The spoils of the war were tucked away in an attic drawer
But he never once spoke of the enemy he saw
Just another hero of the Bulge, he taught me never to divulge
What you see, what you hear, and what you’re carrying within.
But he never once spoke of the enemy he saw
Just another hero of the Bulge, he taught me never to divulge
What you see, what you hear, and what you’re carrying within.
- from All that Matters by Bob Masterson Old Paint Music © 2008
Dad’s WWII buddies
 |
| The 115th AAA fallen |
Having both Dad’s notebook and
Elmer Kromer’s personal account along with the History of the 115th
Gun Battalion was enormous in putting this together. Dad keeping all his
wartime souvenirs, even the Nazi memorabilia, is also telling of where he had
been.
The 115th AAA Gun Battalion lost eight men. There is no listing of how many were wounded.
Dad didn't talk about it but he forged bonds I can not know with the men he served with.
I met Elmer Kromer in 1970 on a cross-country trip Mom and Dad took us on, eight of us in a Chevy station wagon. His family treated us like family.
The 115th AAA Gun Battalion lost eight men. There is no listing of how many were wounded.
Dad didn't talk about it but he forged bonds I can not know with the men he served with.
I met Elmer Kromer in 1970 on a cross-country trip Mom and Dad took us on, eight of us in a Chevy station wagon. His family treated us like family.
But Elmer was not the only one in Dad's heart and mind so I’m listing here the soldiers Dad
served with whose names are listed, most in their own handwriting in Dad’s
notebook. [Apologies if misspelled due to poor deciphering of handwriting.] I’m
not sure if everyone in Dad’s notebook was in the 115th but if they
were listed, they are wartime buddies and most likely fought beside my father.
I thank them all for their service and sacrifice.
 |
| Dad's notebook entries |
Joseph D. Durek, Brooklyn, NY
Donald G. Esterly, Emmaus, PA
Sammy Gambale, Brooklyn, NY
John R. Grasser, West New York, NJ
Frank Hulbert, Montville, NJ
Elmer P. Kromer, Sandusky, OH
Lawrence Lalonde, Tupper Lake, NY
Frank Larusso, Maple Shade, NJ
Salvatore J. Louppino, Brooklyn, NY
Ben Redman, Brooklyn, NY
Donald Sisco, Newfoundland, NJ
Anthony “Joe” Tedesco, Brooklyn, NY
Samuel Viscer, Kent, OH
Robert J. Voag, Clifton, NJ
Walter Allen, Roselle, NJ
Michael S. Auletta, Hackensack, NJ
William Carmody, Jersey City, NJ
Donald W. Chretien, Bethel, ME
 |
| Dad's notebook entries |
Frank Larusso, Maple Shade, NJ
Salvatore J. Louppino, Brooklyn, NY
Ben Redman, Brooklyn, NY
Donald Sisco, Newfoundland, NJ
Anthony “Joe” Tedesco, Brooklyn, NY
Samuel Viscer, Kent, OH
Robert J. Voag, Clifton, NJ
 |
| Dad's notebook entries |
Walter Allen, Roselle, NJ
Michael S. Auletta, Hackensack, NJ
Robert Backert, Paterson, NJ
Bud Baumgardt, Wausau, WI
Fred R. Beamen, Madison, NJ
Carl E. Campbell, Rehobuth, DE
 |
| Dad's notebook entries |
William Carmody, Jersey City, NJ
Donald W. Chretien, Bethel, ME
George Dobnick, Rockford, IL.
John Domeries, San Francisco, CA
George A. Dormani, Brooklyn, NY
Earl D. Bush, Bloomingdale, NJ
Leo Cunningham, Brookfield, MO
Bill Doerflein, Hillside, NJ
Jack Egleston, Mount Ida, AR
Bernard R. Bailey, Mobile, AL
John Domeries, San Francisco, CA
George A. Dormani, Brooklyn, NY
 |
| Dad's notebook entries plus 49th Brigade map signature for Brown |
Earl D. Bush, Bloomingdale, NJ
Leo Cunningham, Brookfield, MO
Bill Doerflein, Hillside, NJ
Jack Egleston, Mount Ida, AR
Bernard R. Bailey, Mobile, AL
Everett T. Layman, Hot Springs, VA
Duane E. Snider, Winnemucca, NV
Philip Brown, Milford, DE (signature from 49th Brigade map)
French Medal of Honor
 |
| From the Asbury Park Press - Mom and Dad 10/24/1999 |
Back to France
September 2001, Mom and Dad took a trip with the Kromers to France where they attended the D-Day Museum at Omaha Beach and the adjacent cemeteries. They were on the 1st international flight out of New York when the restrictions were lifted following the terrorist attacks on 9-11.
 |
| Elmer & Ruth Kromer, Eileen & John Masterson |
---
Afterword:
The Story of Edward Francis Masterson at the Battle of
the Bulge
[Note 1: This story comes entirely from my father through my cousin Eddie who posted it on facebook a few years ago. There was probably alcohol involved in both the original telling from Uncle Eddie and the relay from my father to my cousin. Like
my father, my Uncle Eddie did not speak of the enemy he saw with his children.
[Note 2: I updated this on 2/18/20 to include some additional info and Uncle Eddie's Discharge paper.]
[Note 2: I updated this on 2/18/20 to include some additional info and Uncle Eddie's Discharge paper.]
 |
| Edward F. Masterson |
My Uncle Eddie, Edward Francis Masterson (1926-2000), was also in the
Army, an infantryman. It was the 60th Infantry. I wish I had more on this service but do not have any further detail. I am working on tracing his journey also.
I do know, from family lore, during a pretty intense firefight somewhere on the north shoulder during the Battle of the Bulge, he suffered a blow from a tree cut down by enemy machine gun fire. He was trapped under the tree in the snow, which most likely saved him from being captured or killed. The tree busted up his back and he got a bad case of frostbite while awaiting rescue. He was sent back to the States after being saved by his buddies and received the Purple Heart.
I do know, from family lore, during a pretty intense firefight somewhere on the north shoulder during the Battle of the Bulge, he suffered a blow from a tree cut down by enemy machine gun fire. He was trapped under the tree in the snow, which most likely saved him from being captured or killed. The tree busted up his back and he got a bad case of frostbite while awaiting rescue. He was sent back to the States after being saved by his buddies and received the Purple Heart.
My cousin Eddie, his father’s namesake,
tells the story as it was told to him:
My Dad pulled “Little Eddie” aside
at a bachelor party at our house in Garwood, NJ and relayed to him the story
told to him only once by Uncle Eddie. Dad said it was time for somebody to hear
this.
Uncle Eddie’s unit was camped out on
the edge of a forest. The fighting ceased as both sides rested overnight. The
soldiers did what all the soldiers did after a day of fighting. They sang songs
to pass the time. Uncle Eddie was a harmonica player and carried it with him. His
captain came to him and asked him to play. He asked the captain, “Won’t they
hear us?” His captain said, “let them know we’re not afraid.”
Uncle Eddie played along with the
singing. He and some of the crooners knew the enemy could hear them as they
could hear the enemy, they were that close. Uncle Eddie and the boys cooked up
a scheme to confuse the enemy who they knew were prepared to attack their
location come morning.
The singers and Uncle Eddie blowing
his harp, slowly started moving away from the U.S. encampment with their rifles
and gear. By morning they were hundreds of yards away from the camp and the
rest of the unit.
The Germans attacked as they
routinely did in the morning but they attacked where they believed the entire
unit was based on the late night music. It was only the small musical band that
strayed away during the night drawing the morning fire. In the melee, a German
machine gunner mowed down a tree which came crashing down on Uncle Eddie. He
was injured and trapped!
The Germans over-took Uncle Eddie’s
position but the branches of the large pine tree blocked the Germans from
discovering him. The rest of the U.S. unit responded and took many casualties.
It took a couple of days of fighting to drive the Germans back far enough to
search for the now missing Uncle Eddie.
Two days in the snow, trapped under
a tree, nearly captured or killed during the largest German offensive of the
war in the worst winter weather conditions in a century.
 |
Uncle Eddie's discharge paper - showing
Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze star!
|
After being rescued from his frozen predicament,
Uncle Eddie was first treated in an Army field hospital. The medics recommended
amputation of both legs due to the extreme frostbite. A chaplain convinced them
to send him for further analysis and he was transported to a hospital in England.
New techniques being administered in Britain allowed him to keep his legs. He
was then sent to the 1st Indorsement Hospital Center at Camp Butner, NC for
rehabilitation.
If not for that Divine Intervention of the Chaplain, Uncle Eddie may have lost his legs in Europe.
Uncle Eddie received a Combat Infantry Badge, dated 2/14/1945. He was awarded the Bronze Battle Star and later the Purple Heart, not quite the Valentine’s heart he was hoping for.
For the rest of his life Uncle Eddie battled the pain that came from those injuries sustained in WWII. Again, “just another hero of the Bulge.”
If not for that Divine Intervention of the Chaplain, Uncle Eddie may have lost his legs in Europe.
Uncle Eddie received a Combat Infantry Badge, dated 2/14/1945. He was awarded the Bronze Battle Star and later the Purple Heart, not quite the Valentine’s heart he was hoping for.
For the rest of his life Uncle Eddie battled the pain that came from those injuries sustained in WWII. Again, “just another hero of the Bulge.”
 |
| Uncle Eddie, left, and my Grandfather Always with harmonicas |
Some helpful links:
A great article on the Battle of the Bulge in Luxembourg
A quick clip of the M1 AA 90mm breakdown and set-up
Photos and description of the M1 90mm AA gun from the U.S.
Army Air Defense Artillery Museum
Ernie Pyle – War correspondent – He was there and pulled no
punches in his writings.
Ernie Pyle’s column on anti-aircraft batteries
The Fort Sill, Oklahoma site contains all of the issues of
the Coast Artillery Journal and the Antiaircraft Journal. They are fascinating
reads.
Library of Congress WWII Situation Maps
Learning to Fight from the Ground Up - American AAA in WWII
https://jfsc.ndu.edu/Portals/72/Documents/Faculty/Learning%20to%20Fight%20from%20the%20Ground%20Up--American%20AAA%20in%20World%20War%20II.pdf?ver=2019-02-14-133956-187
https://jfsc.ndu.edu/Portals/72/Documents/Faculty/Learning%20to%20Fight%20from%20the%20Ground%20Up--American%20AAA%20in%20World%20War%20II.pdf?ver=2019-02-14-133956-187
Helpful Books
Patton’s Third Army at War by George Forty
Fiery Fight for a Frozen Hell: Battle of the Bulge in
Luxembourg by James G. Bilder
Documentary: Gen. George Patton, Jr., 2nd Lt.
Peter Bonano, and a Vanishing Cache of Nazi Gold by Joseph Sprouse
Last Shots for Patton's 3rd Army by Robert Paul Fuller
Last Shots for Patton's 3rd Army by Robert Paul Fuller
Bibliography
WWII Pocket Notebook of John J. Masterson, 115th AAA Gun Bn, Battery A
Army Record of Elmer P. Kromer, 115th AAA Gun Bn, Battery A
The Story of the 115th AAA Gun Battalion - published late 1945, Luxembourg
Army Record of Elmer P. Kromer, 115th AAA Gun Bn, Battery A
The Story of the 115th AAA Gun Battalion - published late 1945, Luxembourg
Anti Aircraft Journal – January-February 1949 featuring
First Army AAA
https://sill-www.army.mil/ada-online/antiaircraft-journal/_docs/1949/1-2/Jan-Feb%201948%20Screen.pdf
Coast Artillery Journal - July-August 1948 - Featuring 3rd Army AAA
https://sill-www.army.mil/ada-online/coast-artillery-journal/_docs/1948/7-8/Jul-Aug%201948.pdf
https://sill-www.army.mil/ada-online/coast-artillery-journal/_docs/1948/7-8/Jul-Aug%201948.pdf
