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Lt Sammon and his Plat. was directed to proceed and
assist the 3rd Plat. By the actions of his men and his
courage and gallantry the saved the lives of many
troopers. Sammon used hand grenades to lead an attack
across open terrain to assu[a]lt a machine gun position
which was killing our troopers in the attack. We all
remember the courage and daring of an Indain named
Buffalo Boy, the fighting spirit of Sgt. Nunman, Sgt
Niland and many others who laid down their life for
our principles. Prisoners were being brought in right
and left. It didn't take long for them to find out
they were fighting the baggy pants boys. Bodies were
laying on the roads and in ditches.
Troopers could fight on to the last man, pressure
was increasing, a little help with Sherman tanks
could go a long ways. The Div Comdr was to get
tank assistance. The Bn. Cmdr detailed Lt Doefler
to meet the friendly tanks and guide them into
position down a road ^ in front of and ^ which paralleled our main
line of resistance. Shortly Doefler returned leading
the tanks. He looked so much like a boy, walking
about 50 feet in front of the lead tank. They
were to make a turn off the main road and
proceed down a lane which had ditches on both
sides. They were not expecting to see the enemy
so soon. As they turned down the lane, they ran
smack into the enemy lined up in the ditches
ready to assu[a]lt our position. They had infiltrated
the hedgerows without notice. No doubt the
surprise froze both sides momentarily. Doefler calmly
stopped, removed his sub-machine from his shoulder and
proceeded to shoot and kill 10-15 of the enemy. The
tank commander slammed his turret down, ready
for action. The remaing enemy threw down their
guns without firing. Lt. Doefler didn't look so much
like a boy now. Later he organized and led
many successful night combat patrols into enemy
held areas. Doefler was awarded the DSC
and SS for his actions. Chaos existed for the
enemy . Over 300 prisoners had been taken. The
German 1058th Inf. Regt. had been beaten. Enemy
75 mm SP guns were destroyed