Frederick W. Slater
8th Armored Division The Thundering Herd PERSONAL STORY Invincible Cover Personal Story of: T/Sgt Fredrick W. Slater Co. D, 36th Tank Bn**** Compiled by Frederick W Slater Cover by James Wingate Parr Published by The 36th Tank Battalion Association 1. ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO ENGLAND 2. THROUGH HOLLAND AND INTO GERMANY 3. BLOODY RHEINBERG 4. ACROSS THE RHINE AND INTO GERMANY AGAIN 5. CLEANING OUT THE RUHR POCKET 6. IN THE HARZ MOUNTAINS 7. THE WAR IN EUROPE ENDS - NORTHEIM - CZECHOSLOVAKIA 1. ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO ENGLAND After eighteen months of intensive training in Louisiana at Camp Polk, which included routine maneuvers in the mud of the Pelican State and famed "D" Series in eastern Texas, the 8th Armored Division was finally alerted to move to a port of embarkation. Its days of "dry running" over now, the 36th "invincibles" prepared to move out. At long last, this was "it." On the morning of 25 October 1944, the battalion mounted troop cars and Pullmans on the siding at Polk. Shortly thereafter, at 0900, with a band playing, we began the first lap of our journey. The train had left the camp twenty minutes ahead of schedule but made up for that quick departure by being delayed by a bent axle just outside of Leesville. So, from 0900 to 1200 we sat outside of "the Garden City of the Louisiana Highlands" while a detail under Lt. Robert W. Shaw shifted duffle bags to another car. By mid-afternoon, we were rolling steadily along again, passing through Shreveport and then going through Alexandria on the way to New Orleans. We all knew that we were heading for the New York Port of Embarkation because the taxi drivers in Leesville had told us so, but for a moment we doubted their prophecies and envisioned ourselves as sailing from New Orleans, through the Panama Canal and heading for the Pacific. Any ideas such as that were quickly dispelled though as we continued through New Orleans on our way to the north. By now we had become seasoned travelers, writing letters, playing poker, reading or "just plain sleeping." To the click of steel wheels against steel rails, we passed rapidly through time and space in luxurious idleness. On the 26th we poked along through Mobile, Montgomery and Atlanta and the next day proceeded through Washington and Philadelphia. On the morning of 28 October 1944, we arrived at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. We dismounted into the crisp bright air and marched to the camouflaged barracks which were to be our home for a week. Life at Kilmer was a series of inspections, last minute POM training and visits to New York City. We had usual physical inspection (if you could say "Ah" and didn't have leprosy you were fit for duty) and practiced abandoning ship on the good ship "Rock 'n Rye." Taking advantage of the passes, the men of the 36th, with characteristic gusto, invaded Times Square, appraised it, enjoyed it and --- too soon --- left it. On the evening of 6 November, thoroughly laden with equipment, we marched (we'd marched so much that we thought we were in the ~foot infantry") to the train. With a blanket roll around our necks, duffle bags on our backs, weapons on our shoulders, entrenching tQols, wire. cutters and other equipment dangling from our belts, we boarded the train for the short ride to the ferry slip. Crossing the harbor, we disembarked at Staten Island where we had a ::;ip of coffee and a couple of doughnuts. Next, calling off our names to the Transportation Corps clerk who was checking the passenger list, we trudged up the gangplank of the Marine Devil and were jammed into berths deep in the hold of the converted "Banana Boat." The next twelve days were a seemingly endless procession of meals (for those who could eat), sleep, poker, craps, seasickness, and water. Things we'll never forget about that ocean trip were the long steel alleyways to the mess hall which appropriately enough gained the name of "Puke Alley," the voice coming over the loudspeaker system "All fust saarjunts will repawt to the ship's aw-fice," and the waking up at night and hearing depth charges exploding. We never did learn whether submarines were around or if it was merely routine practice. Eventually though, the blue waters of the Atlantic turned to the green of the Channel and on the 18th of November, we dropped anchor just outside Southampton harbor. The next day we pulled into the harbor, disembarked and boarded trains that were to take us further north. After a fleeting glimpse of some of the destruction wrought in the city by German bombing, we began our ride through the orderly, well-groomed countryside. Night fell and in inky darkness we left the train and climbed into trucks, bouncing along to Tidworth 8arracks on the Salisbury Plain. Dismounting in the dank, dismal dark, we found we were in a sea of mud that almost made us homesick for the swamps of Louisiana. These barracks,. designed for Queen Victoria by. KaIser Wilhelm n of Germany, were to be .our homes for six weeks. Despite the mud of Tidworth, our stay in Southern England was quite pleasant. The working day was devoted to drawing and processing equipment, training and guessing when we would cross the Channel. The surrounding towns, Andover, Salisbury, Amesbury and a host of others, received us nightly. Although English girls were different from our American girls, few of them were overlooked. The companies held dances and guests included not only civilian girls but also A TS girls from nearby Bulford Barracks. Almost every man in the battalion received, a two-day pass to London where we had our first glimpse of systematic bombing and saw Londoners still going about their business nonchalantly as if a bombing were just a nuisance to be tolerated but not noticed. The most lasting impression of London was the persistent soliciting of the 'Commandos' in Piccadilly Circus. In England, most of us were surprised at the lack of conveniences which are commonplace to Americans, such as central heating, showers, comfortable automobiles and well-lighted trains. English beer, we found was nothing like the American variety and their coffee was even worse. We admired the British though for the inconveniences and strict ration regulations they were forced to employ in order to devote every iota of national energy to winning the war. It was our first realization of the vast wealth of the United States as compared to the rest of the world. Christmas rolled around and though we were far from American soil, we did have our "Turkey and Trimmings" and shared our feast with orphans from nearby Salisbury. Our stay in England was drawing to a close rapidly and we began last-minute preparations for moving to the continent. : 2. THROUGH HOLLAND AND INTO GERMANY The train ride to Kilmer was very pleasant. Some of the boys passed their home towns but had to be content to stare out the windows. We were traveling under secret orders, therefore we were unable to communicate with anybody en route to our new station. Finally, after three days traveling, we detrained at Kilmer. The first three days there we were disgusted with the place, for we were restricted, and were awakened from our sleep as early as one o'clock in the morning to issue us any equipment we were short of. After being fully equipped, we were given passes of twelve hour duration. Some of the boys had a chance to get home, and others went to N.Y.C. to see Broadway, Greenwich Village, Brooklyn, Radio City and other places of entertainment and interest. No one will ever forget the rigid physical test given to qualify who was fit for overseas combat. We were ordered to strip completely and pass a doctor with a strong spotlight shining on our chests. That's all there was to it. I guess if the light penetrated our chest, we'd be considered unfit for combat. We must have had a very healthy company because everybody passed. We left Camp Kilmer, New Jersey and went to Staten Island via ferry. Our unit was lined up in front of Pier 19,. Everybody was tired and hungry from being pushed around all day with heavy luggage. But as usual, the Red Cross was there to lighten our burden with coffee and doughnuts. The band on the pier started to play, and we were filing up the gang plank. Yes we were getting what we wanted, a chance to see for ourselves what the war was like. Naturally we couldn't help but wonder what was in store for us. Our particular troopship, the "Marine Devil", was certainly no luxury liner. The food was bad, the sleeping quarters overcrowded and the ship was small, therefore bobbing up and down with every wave. After being at sea for one day, some of the men became sea sick, which isn't a pleasant feeling. The next day we were informed that there is no such thing as sea sickness, so therefore we couldn't help wondering why the hell everyone looked so pale, and were unable to retain food or drink on their stomach. Other than the experience of crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the trip was uneventful. Even though, rumors floated through the ship that our convoy was sinking enemy subs by the score. One anxious night was spent by most of us when we were forced to spend it away from our protective convoy due to the ship developing mechanical trouble. However, we made up our loss of distance and were back in our convoy position the next day. The three main occupations about ship were gambling, reading, and sleeping. After fourteen days at sea, we landed at South Hampton, England. While waiting for the trains to take us to our new station, we had coffee and doughnuts, and received our first copy of the Stars and Stripes, which is the official newspaper for American troops overseas. After our ride by train, we reached our new station, "Tidworth Barracks", on the Salisbury Plains of Southern England. Our first impression was unfavorable but eventually we grew to like our home. The most popular nearby city frequented by the men was Salisbury. The famous Salisbury Cathedral is located here, and is one of the most majestic and beautiful cathedrals in the world. There was also a large English women's A. T. S. Garrison a few miles away which got quite a play from soma of the men. We also invited them to the Company party held on the post. Our time spent at Tjdworth was in getting our new equipment and bringing it up to combat readiness. Thanksgiving, as all holidays in the Army, was just a specially prepared dinner and another work day. Just before Christmas, the Germans launched a terrific counter attack through Belgium using' sixteen divisions in their drive. Their gains were impressive at the beginning and we were speculating on the fact being an Armored Division, we'd probably be used to help wipe out their gains. Christmas came and we were still here to enjoy Christmas dinner, even though we worked half that day. 3. BLOODY RHEINBERG The blood-red clouds in the sky that greeted the sun on the morning of 5 March 1945 were a forecast of the shedding of the blood of men of the Thirty-Sixth who were to die that day on German soil. The tankers were to meet an overwhelming force, yet in spite of great odds they were to emerge victorious from the ordeal. On the morning of the 5th, the Invincibles, as a part of CC "B," 8th Armored Division, were attached to the 35th Infantry Division with the mission of moving forward, seizing Lintfort and Rheinberg and then, if ordered, to seize the bridge across the Rhine at Wese!. Our G-2 information was that there was only minor opposition to be expected; that there were only three self-propelled weapons, one anti-tank gun, no tanks and about 300 disorganized and demoralized soldiers on this side of the Rhine. That information, we were to learn soon, was "all wet." Task Force Van Houten that fateful day was composed of the 36th Tank Battalion, minus "en Company and Service Company, and included "A" eompny of the 49th Armored Infantry Battalion, a platoon of "B" Company of the 809th Tank Destroyer Battalion and a platoon of "B" Company of the 53rd Armored Engineer Battalion. "C" Company of the 36th was attached to the 49th Infantry, and Service Company was moving with CC fiB" trains. Task Force Van Houten moved out of Aldekirk at approximately 0800, following Task Force Roseborough (the 49th). When TF Roseborough reached Lintfort, it encountered minor resistance and TF Van Houten was ordered by the combat commander to double the combat command column and pass through TF Roseborough which was to remain behind to secure the east side of Lintfort, an important mining town. When the 36th reached Lintfort, which was still being cleaned out, they learned that reconnaissance had been sent ahead to check on routes through the town but had not yet returned. The combat commander then decided not to wait for the reconnaissance report and ordered TF Van Houten to continue through Lintfort and to seize Rheinberg and destroy all the enemy in that zone. At this time the leader of the "recon" troop called in and reported that he had not yet heard from his platoon but that he would send a guide to lead us out of Lintfort. This guide took us to Schmidt Brook where the "recon" platoon had been held up by small arms fire. Captain "Cowboy" Tucker, commanding officer of "A" Company of the 36th, at the head of our column, reported this condition over the radio and inquired, "Shall I by-pass and double the "recon" column and keep on going?" As only small arms fire had been encountered, he was ordered to keep moving. His tanks proceeded north into a patch of woods, where they drew fire and returned it, killing Germans both to their right and left. At this point, Captain Tucker, doomed to die that day himself, reported "I'm killing Germans left and right. lust got a Mark IV tank. Having a good time. I also got a truck and a half-track." Leading "A" Company, he continued to a point along the Fossa Canal road which goes north to the canal bridge, which was blown as the tanks approached. At this time there was heavy fire from both sides of the road. as well as from fox-holes, houses and the woods. One of our tanks was knocked out by a mine while several others burned up after being hit by bazookas or anti-tank guns. Meanwhile the infantry platoon which had been attached to "A" Company was pinned down by fire from the woods north of the canal and from southwest of Rheinberg. The rest of the infantry company, which was following Captain Tucker, was engaged in a fire fight near Retschenhof and Kereschenhof. Following orders, Captain Tucker got in front of his infantry with the tanks he had and headed toward Rheinberg, moving parallel with the canal, under a continual mortar and anti-tank fire, including shells from 150mm guns. In the meantime, "B" Company of the 36th, commanded by Captain David B, "Irish" Kelly, moved to hit the m
