Slavit_May_1945

Cpl. S.B. Slavit #31133370

Co. K 385^th Inf. A.P.O. #76

c/o Postmaster N.Y.C., Ny.

May 23^rd 1945

Germany

U.S. 9^th Army

Dear Edna,

I received a few Salem news letters and sort of got behind in my outgoing mail; I offer no excuses.

Well, thank God its all over, over here. If there's anything I despise, its war. Each time I think of being shipped to the Pacific, chills grip me. I've had only seven months of combat but, believe me that's more

2/

than enough.

In a few days my orders for a furlough to Paris shall come through. So many men who are taged "combat fatigue" are entitle to three glorious weeks of real fatigue in gay Paris.

I suppose this is just another one of those things you read in the "letters from overseas," my outfit was here and there and we did this and that. Here goes --

3/

My outfit, the 16^th Division was made part of the 3^rd Army last January. Our first action was mopping up german airborne troops landing behind the lines in France. Later we we're shipped to relieve the pressure on the 1^st Army by the german breakthrough. We took up [?] in Hotonville, Belgium just 2 miles south of Bastogne. The germans found out we we're green troops so opened up

4

with all they had. We retreated to Bastongne and reorganized with aide from the 4^th Armored Division and 101^st Airborne. Then we set out to gain back the ground. It took 3 days to gain back the 2 miles, at a heavy price.

On January 17^th we we're shipped to the Luxemborg Sector to stop a flanking attack that would cost cause disaster if it succeeded. The 16^th did it again but, at heavy cost.

5.

On Feb. 5^th the 16^th crossed the Saar River into Germany and paved the way for the entire 3^rd Army. We broke the Siegfried Line at Trier and Bittsbargh, Rhineland. The moselle pocket was formed and we we're relieved for five days. Out of 193 men, 11 remained. Our boys paid dearly, the going was never easy. The constant strain, the blood. The groans of wounded