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We move our prisoners across the tracks to the point where we first reached the railroad hours earlier. The prisoners made a litter of a large piece of corrugated iron to carry their worst casualty. The walking wounded were assisted by their more fortunate buddies. Looking at the man on the litter, I wondered how he could possibly survive. The prisoners were taken under guard to the rear area.

Other 'A' Company troops have joined us - we were no longer alone. The men were breaking cut food rations and some were souvenir hunting. Civilians (elderly men) were emerging from basements and air raid shelters.

Some time later, Sgt. Hartwell and each of the squad leaders came up to me, almost like a delegation. Hartwell said, "Lieutenant, will you come with us. We've found something we think you should see."

I followed. They led me to a two storied, tile roofed house, unscarred except for the broken tiles on the roof. We walked inside. They went up the stairs and I followed. Hartwell opened a door at the top of the stairs and I walked in.

I was in a bedroom. The sun was shining through the broken tile roof. There was a dressing table with an unbroken mirror. There was also a large, four poster bed covered with a huge goose down comforter.

Hartwell said, "Lieutenant, the men found this and would like you to use it. We w1ll stand guard while you get some sleep."

I remember taking off my boots as I sat on the edge of the bed and I remember leaning toward the comforter. I don't remember closing my eyes. I was gone!!

An eternity and about fifteen minutes later, Hartwell touches my shoulder. We are moving out. The 'mop up' troops from CCB were moving in. Our half tracks have been brought forward. We are waiting for the order to 'mount up' when Bill Bopp (the 'bugler') comes by. Being part of headquarters, Bopp always seems to be in the know.

"Hey, Bopp, what's the 'poop'?"

"Are we pulling back ...?"

"Any ten day passes to Paris ...?'

"Where are we going ...?"

Bopp grins, "I'll tell you ... tomorrow."

"Is he trying to be funny? What did he mean, 'I'll tell you, tomorrow'? Did he say 'tomorrow' or was it 'to Marl'?

The order is given to 'mount up'. We leave Dorsten.