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When we had travelled about two-thirds of the way up the
hedge row, they opened up on us with rifle fire, and at least two machine
pistols. I returned the fire with my Thompson Sub-Machine Gun at a point
where I could see leaves in the hedge row fluttering. Major McGinity
was killed instantly. As luck would have it, there was a German foxhole
to my left, which I jumped into and from where I continued to fire. I
could only guess where to shoot, but I had to, as part of the Third platoon
was exposed to their fire. Lt. McLaughlin, the assistant platoon leader
was wounded and died later that day. His radio operator was also killed.
The platoon by now was under fire from two directions, from the point
where I was pinned down, and also from the direction of the bridge.

I can't estimate how long we were pinned down in this fashion,
but it was at least an hour. I made several attempts to move, but drew
their fire. On my last attempt, I drew no fire. They obviously had
pulled out.

During all of this time, I could hear rifle and machine gun
fire down by the bridge on the north side. This ceased about this time.
I returned to the rest of the third platoon, instructed the Non-Coms
to re-organize and to maintain their present position. I then crossed
the road and located the first platoon commanded by Lt. Oakley on the
north side. They were moving toward the bridge, so I instructed them to
continue and dig in on the right side. I went down to the bridge and
found that we had received an assist from some of the 508 Prcht. Infantry.
About this time, I ran into Col. Eckman, and sent for my third platoon
to dig in on the left or south side of the bridge. The first was already
digging in one the north side.

I thought that all of the Germans had retreated; but unknown
to us, there were about ten or twelve Germans holed up on the second
floor of a stucco-type farm house. At the time they started firing,
Col. Eckman and I were casually looking the situation over. It lasted
about twenty minutes with about ten or twelve Germans surrendering.
About a squad of men from the 508 made the actual capture.

We dug in, the disposition of my Company as follows: First
platoon on the north side of the road, the third on the south and the
second in reserve, about 400 yards back, so that it could also protect
the rear.

Major Kellam arrived at the bridge with Capt. Roysden, his
S-3. He had most of his C.P. unit with him. I don't know whether or
not a Batallion C.P. had ever been set up as planned, at least, I don't
recall having had any communication with it. Down at the bridge now
was most of Company "A", about one platoon of Company "B", a platoon