..to get away, and the Capt. was able to get to the machine gun lying along side the jeep and dispose of the Krauts. It was after that he burst through, the hedge to find 'B' Co. moving up.

One of the officers directed Dixie to take a few men and go back a couple fields to bring up all the M1 ammo they could carry. The men loaded so many bandoleers across their shoulders they were unable to climb over the hedgerows without helping one another. The next trip they carried less and were able to bring a can of water also.

Lt. Luther was sitting behind the back hedgerow with the company runner and a phone line to the mortar section. The runner, fluent in German, heard a Kraut nom-com shout an order to place a machine gun in a nearby opening and informed the Lt. First the tripod fell in place, then as the machine gun was mounted the Lt.'s carbine wiped the gunners out. He called for the mortars to drop on the hedgerow in back of the orchard and that quieted every-thing-down as fast as it started.

Jim McCall, the first squad's BAR man was ushered back to the medics with blood streaming down the side of his face from under the bandage wrapped around his head. He gave Dixie a little grin as he passed and said, "It's not much". Capt. White came back and a couple man helped pick fine grenade splinters out of his back while he held his shirt up. He said he really thought he had had it that time. but when the effects of the concussion wore off he was able to navigate alright. Wben Lt.Luther came back the Capt. told him he wished he had more men like this in the battalion. The men quietly shrugged off the compliment because they understood it was his foresight that gave them the advantage. None the less it helped restore some of 'B' Co.'s confidence after the loss of their heavy weapons platoon at the beach. Before nightfall a request came down from division for anyone to figure out a method to advance through these hedgerows. Immediately there were such suggestions as marching fire with automatic cannons.

The jokes quickly ran out and the men settled down for the night. The password "Dog Face" was given out and every other man would stand guard. In the darkness Dixie tried to think of a way to get through the hedgerows. He knew someone would come up with it, and he would like to be the one. None of the books, none of his teachers., none of his schools, not even the war movies ever suggested anything about hedgerows. How come the British never supplied some information on this situation? Probably top secret info. Any way it's the damn officers job to figure it out he thought with no little bitterness as he recalled a picayune experience he had back in garrison.

He had reported back to camp in Kentucky after the one and only ten day leave he ever had. After signing in at the orderly room he went around to supply to draw his rifle. The thing was loaded with grease so he carried it by the sling in his left hand so his dress uniform wouldn't get messed. Approaching his barracks he was surprised by a beer belly major who wore his trousers in his leggings like bloomers. Dickson saluted him with his free hand as they passed, then went in the barracks. He hadn't time enough to remove his blouse when the 1st Sgt. burst in and wanted to know if he just passed the major outside? Dixie admitted it readily, the Sgt. demanded to know why he didn't give him a rifle salute. He pointed to the greasy mess against the wall and said, "Ya can't consider that a rifle yet, Sarge." The sarge was reasonable about it, he said, "Well be careful next time." Within the week there was a barracks inspection and when the officers got to Dixie they checked his rifle, his bunk, his clothes, even his person with extra thoroughness. When they pawed through his foot locker they uncovered a copy of 'Infantry', an Army publication. There was an exchange of quick glances among them, then they moved down the room. Dixie was inwardly tickled, he had picked up the magazine in a trash can.

Well, it was time to wake Garrison for guard duty. Maybe tomorrow he would figure some way to move through the hedgerows. At first light the men in the holes began to stir. They shook off the dew on their raincoats and folded them up to put in the back packs. They broke open a 'K' ration, had the can of ground up ham and eggs with a biscuit, and stuffed the little packets of sugar, coffee, and cigarettes in their pockets for later. The word came down that 06:30 we would attack to our front using the new plan, called "hedge-hopping".

Since we didn't have time for a demonstration we would learn on the way. Two rifle platoons would lead the attack and the third rifle platoon would trail behind in order to swing to either side to protect against a counter attack on the flanks. By 0600 first and second platoon were each slipping into the next forward field and the third platoon stayed in place in the roadway behind them. Now the squads of each forward platoon took their places. The first squad of each platoon lined, the front hedgerow, the second squads lined the left side hedgerow, and the third squads were placed along the back hedge- row. When the platoon officers gave the signal to begin, the front squads leveled their rifles and BAR's and fired at a steady measured rate as the squads on the left side moved forward, hopping over the front hedgerow in the left corner. In the next field they ran forward along the left side, and as they reached the front hedgerow the rifles of the first squad to their rear would each cease firing in succession from left to right. This put the second in place along the front hedgerow to begin their level firing, while the third squads would advance on the left side and hop into the next field to take positions at the front of that field. From then on the operation was continuous. During the hedge hopping the fourth or heavy weapons platoon would be standing by for a fire mission if needed.

At 0630 hours first battalion 329th hopped off. 'A' Co. was on the left, 'B' Co. on the right, and what was left of "C" Co. followed in reserve. "B" Co. laid out a continuous sheet of lead for two hours. Their fields were small and even and they progressed straight as an arrow. Several times they passed through fields with many foxholes, but much deeper than the ones that we dug. Many had log and dirt covers on them. The only German they saw on the way was still pressed against the hedgerow aiming his rifle, just as he had been when a little hole was made in the front of his helmet. The remarkable fact was, each man fired only one clip per field. The fields averaged about an eighth of a mile, so we clipped along at eight clips per mile. A good rate compared to a hundred yards per week.

About noon 'B' Co. stopped in a nice little field about a hundred yards square. To the front was a field so long and so wide they couldn't see the other and, but not far to the right was a wooded ridge. The order was given to dig in. We were too far in front of 'A' Co. to risk exposure in the huge field ahead. Besides that, a tank dug in up to it's turret, was discovered in the middle of the field. A call was made for air support against the tank so in the meantime second and third platoons, reinforced with a heavy machine gun crew dug in at the front of the field. First platoon was assigned the narrow field behind for depth, while the mortars set up in the next field to the rear. Dixie was digging a hole in the middle field when the Germans lobbed some grenades into the field on the right flank. Lt. Downes had a piece of meat taken out of his rear end, Causy, the 1st squad BAR man, and Malcolm a second squad rifleman both were wounded in the arm. Downes, in spite of his injury, rallied six men to return the grenades and persue the attackers through the hedgerow. However, they found no one and returned to help the wounded to the aide station.

Dixie, as well as the other riflemen, sat ready in their holes to support the activities, but since nothing more developed they, curled up in the warm sun to catch a nap. During that time a Sherman tank parked head-on against the hedgerow a few feet from Dixie. He opened one eye when he heard it maneuver into place, but dozed off as soon as it was parked. About a half hour later a P-47 Thunderbolt flow over carrying a hundred pound bomb under it. When it spotted the enemy tank out in the big field, the plane circled and dropped the bomb. The explosion shook our teeth, but the tank was untouched. A little later a high flying P-51 Mustang appeared, but it was armed with two rockets. This kid went straight up when he located the tank. He, brought the plane around in a steep screaming dive, and after unleashing the rockets swooped skyward. Both rockets found their mark and a column of black smoke billowed upward. The man in the front field jumped for joy, but quickly dove for their holes because the P-51 had circled., and was diving on them with all wing guns blazing. He roared close overhead and zoomed skyward to make a return run. Two of the tankers scrambled out of their tank clutching a bundle of bright red cloth. They quickly spread the big strips out in the middle of the field and crawled under the tank. This time when the plane roared over it held it's fire and disappeared.

Beyond the trees it was becoming apparent that 'B' Co. was beefing up it's forces, and Dixie thought ho'd try one more time to catch a little rest. He was just getting comfortable in his hole when heavy small-arms fire broke on the left flank in the forward field. As he peaked over the hedge he saw the riflemen crawling to the left side of the field and finding a place among the men already firing through the hedgerow. Lt. Pontlitz, who was now the company commander, was crawling in back of the men, hitting them on the back and screaming at them to cease fire. When it became quiet enough to talk he told them 'A' Co. had arrived on our flank. Things became extremely quiet so Dixie decided it was nap time again.

He was really out when he was jolted by a blast above his head. The cannon on the tank was firing. His first reaction was sheer anger but instinctively he crawled up against the hedgerow to scan the forward field. Just as he did so a mortar shell exploded on the heavy machine gun in the corner of the field. It's entire crew disappeared in the grass. All hell broke loose. More shelling, more small arms, and all the tanks let loose. Dixie looked around, he knew sitting next to this tank was a bad place to be. He spotted a dug-out with a log roof across the field. In a running crouch he darted across the field and slithered head first into the hole a split second before the mortar shells landed all around him. Sitting on the floor trying to catch his breath he noticed a field phone hung in the corner. Listening in on the hand set he heard the company commander pleading with a Major in the artillery for some supporting fire. The Major was trying to explain that he couldn't furnish a fire mission because he had already used his allotment of ammo for the day. Our commander, who had already described their exposed position, very calmly stated, "If we don't got a salvo now, there won't be anyone to save tomorrow!" Hang on, I'll be right back.", ordered the Major. Meanwhile, Dixie heard the commander say he could give fire directions better if only this phone line would reach up to the forward hedgerow. Dixie traced the line from his phone back to where it was tied in the tree right over his covered hole. He squeezed out of his shelter and climbed up on the hedgerow. Reaching up with his rifle he hooked a loop of the slip knot with the front sight and with a quick pull dropped the wire. He hastily returned to his shelter. After giving the wire a couple of pulls in the direction of the commander, watched it slide away. A few more mortar shells burst over his shelter, but on the phone he could hear the commander comment on his improved view.

It was only a moment before the major returned to the phone and asked for fire directions. The commander supplied the map coordinates and the major relayed the information to the field guns with the request to fire one round for adjustment. There was dead silence on the phone for several minutes. Finally the sound of the shall shearing it's way overhead could be heard. It zipped to earth and exploded in the wooded ridge to the right front. After a fifty yard correction to the left the commander requested "fire for effect". The correction was relayed by the major then both stood by the phone.

Then came the shearing sound overhead. The salvo was on it's way. Every man pressed against the bottom of his foxhole and tried to relax his stomach muscles which tightened automatically whether it was incoming or outgoing mail going over. Even with outgoing mail there was always the possibility of a short round these men had the misfortune to learn. There was a momentary interval of silence, then sixteen shells burst on the wooded ridge. By the time the G.I.'s raised their heads above the hedgerow all that could be seen was a cloud of black dust settling on the burnt ridge. On the phone the commander said a simple, "Thanks Major" and hung up. Nothing more was heard from the ridge for the rest of the day.

In the evening the 329th Regiment was to be relieved by the 22nd Regiment of the 4th Division. As "B"Co prepared to leave, the first platoon was assigned positions in the front field to act as a rear guard until the other platoons left. Brooks, Dixie, Dutton and Garrison were right in the middle of the front hedgerow. They had borrowed some extra ammo and grenades and had everything laid out ready to use. Dixie had picked up the BAR and magazine belt that Causey had dropped when he was wounded and stacked that against the hedgerow to be available also. It was dusk when they got the signal to leave. They gathered all their equipment and left with out incident.

On the way to the rear they wondered if this is the way to fight a war, shooting without seeing, running around blindly, hiding in holes. Someone half answered the question by repeating the old expression, "You think you're a soldier?" We were still alive. but we were also still in the hedgerows.

Dawn found "B" Co. dug-in around the perimeter of a large rectangular field. A fine drizzle added to the misery-of yesterdays defeat and retrea. It wasn't really a retreat,because the 4th Div took over, but the feeling prevailed anyway. Word was passed that there would be a hot breakfast, and mail. One by one the squads filed past the thermo jugs. Scrambled eggs, buttered toast., canned plumbs, and some hot bellywash called coffee. Dixie couldn't understand why they drank. something they complained so much about. He never drank it because he said it would stunt his growth. The mail man handed out the mail to each man at the end of the chow line. Then they settled down at there holes to eat and read. It was a moment of their private world in the middle of a war. A birth in the family or a wedding caused the most reaction. Whereas a loss of a family member, or a girl friend resulted in silent remorse and was only discussed with a close friend. If at all.

Dixie stuffed a half dozen letters in his shirt pocket. The news from home wasn't too bad., Meat was scarce and prices were going up on items that were not price fixed. Dad didn't get much chance to fish due to gas rationing and extended working hours. He had some interesting telephone problems with the military at Port Newark and Kearny shipyards. Mom and the girls were helping the metal collection and Red Cross drives. Brother Bill was in Australia while his destroyer was being repaired. He was on Pacific sea duty before Dixie was even in the army. Dixie had worked for the Western Electric Co. and was exempt from the draf t, but he thought eventually he would have to go so he enlisted in the signal corps reserve.