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Belt 10 - Page 4

sniper fire from hedgerows kept the men cautious and worried. A number of 502nd
men left their hedgerow positions when they spotted Lieutenant McDowell ’s group
and attached themselves. From here until they reached Ste. Marie-du-Mont the
gorillas had a field day cutting wires and filling full of bullet holes every trans-
former and switchbox in sight. The scout signaled "halt" and reported clouds of
dust 600 yards ahead. Well concealed in the hedgerows on both sides of the road
it was easy work ambushing what was a Gerry wagon supply train, killing most of them,
capturing a few. Lieutenant McDowell was a far happier man riding in the wagon then
he was hobbling on his bad leg and Droogan was far happier too. He had his wagon now
in which to transport the wounded. All he needed now was to find the 2nd Battalion
aid station. Approaching Ste. Marie-du-Mont the group took extra precautions sure
there would be Krauts there. But Lieutenant Borden's band and the tanks that made
this place [?]. They wondered who piled those dead
Germans against the wall and who destroyed the two 88s with blistered barrels.
Leaving St. Marie-du-Mont they met Lieutenant Colonel Strayer, 2nd Battalion C.O.,
Major Clarence Hestor then Captain, 2nd Battalion executive officer, Major Richard
Winters then Lieutenant, Mr. Hill, a warrant officer and about ten enlisted men. The
502nd were told it would be O.K. if they left to join their own outfit. The well
staffed group headed for Herbert where it was rumored the 2nd Battalion was forming.
Dutch Ostrander and David Edwards were sitting about twenty-five yards from the
gateway leading to a cow pasture waiting for somebody to join up with them. Two men
alone are dead ducks in this hedgerow country. Dutch happened to glance at the gate-
way and was startled. "What's wrong?" Edward asked. "Did you see that bush before
in that gateway?" "I never took notice." "Take a shot at it and find out." He did
and an arm flopped out. It was a German. As daylight dawned that morning they saw
the damage they had done during the night. "The men could now see that chutes were
scattered everywhere, draped over fences, trees, telephone wires, some men still in