Taught to Kill: An American Boy's War from the Ardennes to Berlin

The Reporter

The Reporter z Infantry divisions in World War II were organized in a triangular configuration in strategic design (the big picture) as well as tactical deployment (our smaller perspective). Roughly, this meant that two of three basic military units engaged the enemy, while the third element served as a backup, an uncommitted reserve . Two divisions would be on the line, a third held as backup. Next step down, two regiments would engage the enemy, often in a pincers-like encirclement, while the third regiment remained available to help where and if needed; eventually, the reserve element would replace one of the attacking regiments, which in turn would earn respite as the reserve. Going down the size scale, the three battalions of each regiment were deployed two-up-front, the third in support, and the three rifle companies, two-up-front, one in reserve. Then, tactically, of the three rifle platoons in each company, two attacked, one backed up. Finally, in each platoon, two of the three rifle squads would lead, the third hanging back for support. It might appear that this three-legged stool approach left no role in the company for a Fourth Platoon. Not so. We were firepower designed to strengthen the basic rifle units wherever and however most helpful. Our squads were carefully parceled out and attached to the three rifle platoons. 145 146 Taught to Kill Going back up the scale of unit size, there was a fourth entire company in each battalion designated as Heavy Weapons. Just as our light mortars and highly portable light machine guns backed up rifle platoons, heavy weapons companies were spread around to bolster rifle companies with their water-cooled machine guns and 81mm mortars At battalion level, extra fire power was available from Cannon Company, whose 105mm field artillery pieces were assigned to the battalion sectors that most needed them. Regiment, one step higher, had artillery and tank units to call on for extra muscle. Then up at division level, you could call on heavy-duty help from the 155mm and 240mm big guns; or you could call for airplanes or other divisions from corps or army. Able Company usually assigned one 60mm mortar squad to each rifle platoon, First Mortar with the First Platoon, Second Mortar with the Second Platoon, and so on. The two MGs were deployed according to the task at hand. They might both go on the attack, or they might both remain with the reserve if we needed to be sure of an exceptionally solid pivot point if it appeared that we were vulnerable to counterattack. Just how our five weapons platoon squads were to be committed was resolved at the company briefing of officers and noncoms that took place before each action. The disposition was then communicated to us men by the company’s executive officer, who also served as Fourth Platoon leader. In the open-country fighting that took place after the Bulge, Able Company’s mission changed daily, sometimes hourly. So, then, did its platoons and squads undertake different assignments. The Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) officer who taught military tactics in college would put me in the stockade for such a simplistic explanation of sophisticated military procedure. As we dogfaces saw it, however, that’s about the way World War II organization worked on a day-to-day, practical basis. When it got to the big picture, I had an unfortunate vision of a bunch of splendidly uniformed high command brass hanging out in a big plans room full of wall maps, colored pins, clerks churning out reports. The clerks, majors, and colonels rushed about delivering the latest poop to ribbon-bedecked, gray-haired generals. With The Reporter 147 coffee cup or brandy glass in one hand, a general would unlimber a pointer and, for the benefit of the others, poke at the map and pronounce the next troop movement. Maybe it was to straighten out a squiggle in the line representing the front. Whatever macrodecision he made, however, profoundly imperiled the lives of frontline troops. Lives like mine. We figured that the staff generals rarely got up into the front lines; otherwise, for instance, they never would have chosen the Hürtgen Forest as a place to do battle with anyone. What may have looked workable on a map had turned out to be a slaughterhouse for dogfaces and tankers...