On June 27th the whole Troop was glad to welcome back Sgt. Harms. There was considerable celebration one night at the Club Tobasco in his honor.

Sunday, July 1 to July 8 - Pilsen

Six men left for Paris on pass. Sgts. McGonigal, Healy, Flannery, T/5s Stasheski and Pilcher, and Lt. Torrey were the lucky men.

The most important part of the week-end had to do with our losing more men and receiving replacements. It looked as if we were at the beginning of the dreaded but anticipated change in personnel. We learned that the following men were to leave: Sgt. Jones, T/4 Pohlman, T/5's Rizzo, Layton, DaPonte and Pfc's Crenshaw, DePinto, Doran and Sullivan. We had received three new men on July 1st. On the 5th, 14 more men joined the Troop. On the same day the following men slated for transfer, left us: T/4 Pohlman, T/5's Layton and DePonte, and Pfcs. Crenshaw and DePinto. Naturally with these changes every man wondered if and when his turn was coming. The air of uncertainty seemed to make everyone want to enjoy or do whatever Pilsen had to offer with the friends one didn't know how long one would be with.

The 4th of July went by uneventfully as far as our Troop was concerned. Aside from its not being a working day, it was much as any other. During the week there were several dances attended by many of the men, and on Saturday night there was an excellent concert at the 'Elektra', the larger of the two movie theatres open to American soldiers. The Czechoslovakian Soprano, Tenor, Pianist and French Dancer were in top form and most enthusiastically received by :he GI audience. In the audiences were also Ingrid Bergmann, Jack Benny, Martha Tilton and Larry Adler, who had arrived in Pilsen for the four-day run of their show.

Sunday was a quiet day, and for a change. a fairly bright and sunny one, after a week of cold and rainy weather. The week ended with rumors that the following week would see more of the men leaving the Troop. Plans were made for a party to be held on Tuesday before any more of them might go. At the end of the week Pvt. Peruzzi returned to the Troop, having recovered from his accident.

Monday, July 9 to Sunday, July 15

After having opened Sunday, the Martha Tilton-Jack Benny show played two performances daily in the Elektra Theatre, through Wednesday. Although the Troop's allotment of tickets was only 15, many more of the men had the good fortune of seeing the show, having reconnoitered a route over walls and through doors at the rear of the theatre. It was the first really top notch USO show that B Troop had had the opportunity to see since being in the ETO.

The beer party and dance on Tuesday night, under the planning and guidance of Sgt. Sullivan and Cpl. Tipton, went off successfully. Cpl. Turner and Pfc. DiNardo tended bar and dispensed three large size kegs of beer. The newly organized Squadron Band, managed by T/5 Gore and sponsored by B Troop, played, and their excellent music had much to do with the success of the party. There were a few rough spots and some scuffles in the hall, but fortunately the trouble makers were gate crashers from other outfits and not B Troop men.

More changes in our personnel came about this week. It was with regret that the Troop said goodbye to Lt. O'Heron who left on Wednesday. We learned also that T/4 Torcasio, Pfc. Luttenton, T/5 Bonsall and Lt. Torrey were added to the list of men scheduled for transfer. Lt. Miller joined the Troop on Tuesday. On Friday T/4 Torcasio left the Troop.

For several days Cpl. Bleich had been in the hospital, having had an accident. On Thursday T/5 Cooperman was added to the sick list when he was sent to the hospital suffering from a bad case of tonsillitis.

As the end of the week approached it seemed as if we might continue our stay in Pilsen for an indefinite period. On Saturday the 14th we had an inspection by Squadron and a new Capt. was transferred to the Troop. Lt. Collins it seemed was to remain with the Troop, but as ranking officer Capt. Moseley became CO. On Sunday Sgt. Smith was sent to the hospital with a bad case of tonsillitis.

Monday, July 16 to Sunday, July 22

This week went by much as the two preceding ones. We learned that more low point men were to leave the Troop. Early in the week Sgt. Van Edsinga and Sgt. Buschmann left on pass for Paris. Cpl. Hanks and two of the new men, Sgt. Alfieri and T/4 Lafleur went to the Riviera on furloughs. On Thursday the Troop had another beer party and dance to which our neighbors, C Troop, were invited. It would have been more successful as a dance were there more girls to dance with. By the end of the week we knew the following men were to leave the Troop for a replacement center, T/5's Stasheski and Reber, and Pfcs. DiNardo, Swain, Swoverland, McKirdy, Ziehlsdorf, Brennan, Miller and Pvt. Peruzzi. These men left on Saturday morning.

The days were passing more or less uneventfully except for the nervous strain under which we lived, not knowing when one's turn to leave the Troop for some undisclosed destination might come. Pilsen seemed to be as adequate as any European city jammed with GI's, for finding diversion and amusement, and this helped the days go by. The movies changed often and were popular, as well as various concerts which were given from time to time. The lake on which the Club Tobasco was located, as well as the river, offered fairly good swimming, and near Sgt. Oliviero's outpost a concrete storage tank for water to be used for fires from air raids, proved an excellent swimming pool.

During our stay in Pilsen, B Troop's kitchen was feeding an average of from 180 to 200 men daily at both the outposts and in the CP. We had 20 men on DS from E Troop and F Co. to help man the outposts. In addition to these we had the Squadron Band and Base Ball team living at the CP and a number of German PW's who came to the CP daily to clean and maintain the large building and grounds.

In addition to Guard and other specific duties, the men in the Troop were able to work on all our vehicles and put them in the best possible condition, considering the wear and tear they had suffered in combat and during our time and traveling in Europe. While here in Pilsen we received our ETO jackets, or more properly, our Jackets Field Wool OD. This was fortunate as the men were beginning to take an interest in their personal appearances and there seemed to be both more facilities and reasons for being well groomed.

Monday, July 23 to Sunday, July 29 - Pilsen

The last week in July was marked with many more changes in the Troop and rumors of additional ones to come. A reversal of policy seemed to be in order and we learned that all the high point men we had recently acquired (85 points or more) were to be transferred to the 6th Armored Division in preparation for returning to the United States. Along with these men our own few in the same bracket were to go. This included Sgts. Smith, Ackerman and Oliviero, and Lt. Collins. It was also learned that Cpl. Denend, having over 100 points, would leave for America in the near future, probably more directly than the large group. Under the new plans the 8th Armored Division was to be made up of men with low points. For the time being it appeared we might remain somewhat intact. To add to the general confusion we were informed that our so recently acquired CO, Capt. Moseley, was to be transferred and that another new one would come to us.

Monday, July 30 to Sunday, August 5 - Pilsen

This week, ending the month of July and beginning August, started off under the same upset circumstances as the previous one. It seemed our stay in Pilsen would always be remembered for its series of conflicting changes. Word came that all types of equipment would be turned in shortly. This included combat vehicles, Ordnance equipment, Signal equipment, and many other items such as gas masks, entrenching tools, stoves, combat clothing, etc. The difficult job of getting much of this equipment in to Supply from the various outposts had already been mostly completed in preparation for checking property, necessitated by the changes in CO's. All the combat vehicles had been cleaned and painted. Various interpretations were given this latest move.

On Wednesday there was a Retreat Formation and Parade at which time General Devine presented the following men with awards.
Two Bronze Star Clusters
Sgt. Oliviero, (Albert M.)

Bronze Stars
Sgt. Schmiedeler, (Francis E.)
T/5 E. L. Smith
T/5 Gutziet, (Karl H.)
T/5 Pilcher, (Donald A.)

On Thursday. Capt. (Roy F.) Triner arrived to be our CO and with him came Lt. (Walter J.) Vachal as a replacement for one of the officers we had lost. The high point men left on Friday morning. There were 18 of them including Lt. (Earl E.) Collins and Lt. Miller, and this left a considerable hole in B Troop's ranks.

It was with deep regret and sadness that the men said goodbye to Lt. Collins. The feeling of affection with which he was held by his men in the 3rd Platoon, while their leader, soon spread through the whole Troop after he became CO. No one could have been more human and understanding with his men, than was Lt. Collins, during the difficult period of readjustment following the completion of combat and while awaiting the various plans and decisions to decide the future of the Troop both as a whole and individually.

By the end of the week still another change became apparent. Capt. Triner was transferred from the Troop and Lt. Vachal became CO. On Sunday we received 14 replacements from F Co. to help fill the gap left when our newly acquired high point men left. Lt. Barker joined the Troop during this week.

Monday, August 6 to Sunday, August 12 - Pilsen

Another week began with conflicting rumors of changes to come. On Monday we heard all personnel in Division was frozen, for the time being, but on Tuesday afternoon word came down that Cpl. Tipton and Pfc. Eldridge were to be transferred. Lt. Thompson had already left the day before. Tipton and Elbridge departed on Wednesday morning. Lt. Thompson and Cpl. Tipton's leaving the Troop had particular significance as Lt. Thompson was our last officer of the old regime and Cpl. Tipton seemed synonymous with B Troop, having been with it since it was activated back in Polk, and knowing more of its history than anyone else.

At this point it seems well to mention that there was a note of comfort and familiarity in having Sgt. Sullivan as 1st Sgt. It had been thought that when Sgt. Smith left with the high point men, he might be succeeded by a man from outside. For the time being this was not to be the case. We were in for a continuation of other changes however. During the latter part of the week it became apparent that under our new setup it was desired that we leave Pilsen and go back to some small town or village nearer Squadron, where the Troop could be drawn together.