So the German troops surrendering were glad to let the Americans take them prisoners when they had to surrender at this point. On approaching the town of Baoaume, France "D" company was in the lead on the main axis of CCA. The division was advancing forward, and ordered a change in direction somewhat to the east "D" Company swung off a little bit too far to the east and in the Teronna-Bapaume area became involved with a long German column which included a large number of horse drawn vehicles and guns. There was absolute chaos when the tanks pulled up beside the column . Snorting horses were running off in all directions spilling towed guns and vehicles. Some of the Germans tried to run away others tried to reorganize some sort of resistance, large numbers surrendered , It was a site of pandemonium. General Collier , Commanding CCA, was concerned about security of the crossings of the canals, and waterways to the north in order to facilitate the advance the next day .

    He decided that in spite of the approaching darkness "D" Company would be sent to secure the crossing of the canal at Aubencheul-ar. Fortunately it was a moonlight night as the company was to move rapidly towards its objective. After getting on to the Ca Douai road the maintenance half-track which was at the tail of the company radioed forward that a German column of miscellaneous trucks and other vehicles had come up from the rear and apparently wanted to pass. The Commanding Officer had his tank column move well over to the right of the road and the unsuspecting German column started to pass. On a signal from Capt. Karl the machine guns opened fire. There was again chaos and the German vehicles were left completely wrecked along side the road. When Company "D" reached Aubencheul, the company put outposts in the town with tanks nearby. The critical bridge was found to be intact and ready for use. Most all the men that were left in the town that were able bodied were of great help in arranging a defense network in the town and later helped in the gathering and handling of German prisoners. As the German vehicles would approach the town , and it seemed to be a main route of withdrawal- they would be met with tank fire. There were many vehicles knocked out and they were all put into the center of town in one big heap. Also their was a number of prisoners taken and so Company "D" spent a very interesting night. The day following Aubencheul, France Company "A" & "B" advanced abreast with the mission of seizing the objectives along the French and Belgium borders. "C" company then also on the previous day had met heavy resistance at Peronne, France they were in CCB's line of advance. were now put in disengagement to rest up and prepare themselves for their next assigned mission. Company "D" at this time was ordered into battalion reserve.

   On 2 September 1944, we departed Valencianes Sheet: 11, GSGS, #4250, #672932 Rumancourt, France at 0530B the mission of the company was to seize an important cross road three miles northeast of Orchies, a distance of about 3 miles, we moved out and arrived at the objective and crossed the Belgium frontier at 0930B. The first American troops to pass into Belgium were from "A" Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Armored Division. This was a scout quarter ton carrying the following personnel, Sgt. Theron McElwaney, Edward Ott, driver, Virgil Tatom, BAR man and Francis J. Woods. In the town of Orchies, France, the company captured 480 prisoners and the 3rd platoon remained at Orchies to guard the prisoners and to maintain order. The 1st and 2nd platoons out posted the crossroads. Captain McGee, the company commander took the 1st platoon to the Belgium frontier and was returning to Orchies, to see what the situation was and to move the remainder of the company forward. On the outskirts and about ½ mile NE of Orchies Captain McGee 1/4 ton was ambushed and Captain Clark E. McGee, Corporal Lee S. Wanne, Pfc. Leslie Herbig were killed, and 2 hours later Pfc Christain Albert was seriously wounded by machine gun and rifle fire. Sgt. Theron McElwaney had warned Capt. McGee that there were Germans between him and the rest of the company which was SW of us.

    Capt. McGee brushed him off. Capt. McGee had been suffering from a Carbuncle on the back of his thigh for a few days , on the evening of the 1st of September he had Capt Marsh Breath, Medic to shoot him with 2 shoots of morphine, almost knocking him out . Then he proceeded to lance the Carbuncle then gave him 1 more shot of morphine and Capt. . McGee passed out , in fact the charge of quarters was unable to rouse him . When the call came for us to move on 2nd of September from the Battalion headquarters they came and notified Lt. Hartford and he went up to Battalion headquarters to be briefed then came back to brief Capt. McGee, when he got back at around 0400, 2 September Capt. McGee was still to groggy to talk and Lt. Hartford had to brief Capt.,. McGee on the battle plan. It is the opinion of Lt. James N. Hartford that Captain McGee was still under the influence of the morphine and the pain when Sgt. McEwaney warned him that an ambush was possible. The second platoon pushed patrols to the outskirts of Tournai, Belgium without further contact.

    In Tournai we encountered Russian troops under German command. During the day many advance tanks of the division were running out of gas, the supplies were not reaching us in time , and it was a critical time. We were not to be supplied with gas for three days, we were using our reserve supplies which was all we had in the tanks at that time. This lull might give the enemy time to regroup and recover. As supplies became available, the Division Commander decided to give his most forward element the 82nd Reconnaissance Battalion priority on gasoline and push them as far forward as they could go.

     The entire company was relieved and we moved to an assembly area at Rumes, Belgium. arriving at 2100B at location 1/200,000 Lille-Ghent sheet: #2, #885275, 1 mile NE of Rumes distance traveled today 50 miles.

    On 3, 4 September 1944 we remained at map location 1/200/000 Lille-Ghent sheet: #2 #885275, 1 mile NE Rumes, Belgium. 1st Lt. Frank Jordan was assigned as Company Commander , these two days were spent doing maintenance and some rehabilitation. Weather clear and warm, morale excellent.

    On 5 September 1944 the was assigned a mission to reconnoiter to the east as far as the Meuse river to cover the advance of certain elements of the 2nd Armored Division. The light aviation of the Divisions artillery was to prove invaluable flying with Piper Cubs as spotter planes they were able to detect enemy forces and could help us avoid any trap that the enemy might be trying to lay for us. It was a rather lonesome feeling to know that at this time we were well in advance of division and we did not have the power of the division to our immediate rear. At Jodoigne we encountered a large number of German Panther tanks, we had to go around them, we tried to radio for an air strike but were unable to get one so we detoured around them.

   It was near here that a Piper Cub of our artillery unit noticed a group of Germans in an open field . While battalion were sending out a maintenance vehicle to take them in, the liaison plane kept the Germans at bay by firing a Tommy-gun at them and throwing hand grenades from the plane at low altitude. This was the only air support we had throughout the advance across Belgium. Unluckily some of the Tommy gun bullets hit the propeller and the disabled airplane had to land in a field adjoining the field that the Germans were in. Fortunately the maintenance truck which had been sent out to bring the Germans in , arrived in time, so that no harm came to the pilot. It was reported to us at this time at the battalion Command Post that a Belgium Army Major who had a battalion of the "Armee Blanche" that he would put at the 82nd Reconnaissance battalions disposal. These men were part of a well organized Belgium underground, they were armed with various types, of small personnel weapons. They were assigned to the companies where they rode on the outside of the vehicles and were dispatched to clear the enemy out of the houses and the woods and to perform dismounted reconnaissance, provide flank protection etc. They were very efficient and willing participants.

   Company "A" less the first platoon, departed from one mile NE of Rumes, Belgium, on the mission at 1500B and traveled a distance of 68 miles, going into and assembly area one mile NE of Les Culats, Belgium, arriving at 2100B, new location 1/200,000 Brussels sheet: #8, # 592339. The first platoon halted in place on its axis and spent the night about two miles north of Lion of Waterloo, Belgium

   On the 6 September 1944 the company departed Les-Culats location at 0730B and was assigned the mission of continuing to reconnoiter on two parallel axis, the northern two of the five axis being covered by the battalion. All the elements of the company assembled at a point one mile east of Hanenille, Belgium at approximately 1330B. The company out posted this position. The lst, 2nd, 3rd platoons were sent by parallel routes to reconnoiter to the northeast in the direction of Tirlemont, Belgium. The first platoon ran into to two enemy half tracks and a light tank which retreated hastily and escaped. The first platoon knocked out two machine gun nests, killing four enemy and wounding an unknown number and taking five prisoners a Opwelp, Belgium. we traveled a distance of 31 miles today the company spent the night near a town called Meldert, about one mile E of Hanenille, Belgium. New location 1/200,000, Brussels sheet: #8,#882457. Weather clear and warm, morale excellent .

    Sept 7, 1944 the company's mission was to continue to push reconnaissance to the east toward the Albert canal along the two Northern axis of the five the division was using. We departed at 0800B from the present location, one mile east of Hanenille, Belgium. The 2nd platoon had the northern axis and reached the canal at Hasselt, Belgium without meeting any resistance.

    The platoon received an extremely enthusiastic welcome. About one mile east of the city ( Hasselt) the platoon ran into heavy small arms fire and was in the process of overcoming this when it was forced to retire due to anti-tank fire and direct fire from artillery which was located across the canal. The 2nd platoon out posted Alkin, Belgium for the night. I was sent with two other men to scout the position across the canal from a ridge where you could see across the canal, we were to go to the top of the ridge overlooking the canal and we immediately drew 20 millimeter fire from across the canal and we had to turn back to a place further back in the tree line, we stayed near the area that night and returned to the platoon the next morning to report our findings. I was carrying a BAR and lost the ammunition belt during our retreat down the back side of the ridge, we could not recover as artillery started to come in and we had to distance ourselves from this immediate area.

    The 3rd platoon furnished the holding force and sent security to the left flank. The first platoon was employed to go cross country and come in on the right rear of the road block. This force inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. This section of the 3rd platoon covering the left flank was attacked by enemy infantry and killed 13, captured 376 Germans prisoners, and completely stopped the attack. The two platoons at this point had captured a total of 58 German prisoners. After reducing the road block the two platoons pursued the retreating Germans toward Cortessem, a section of armored cars moving at about 300 yards along each side of the road, the remainder of the column was on the road.

    Almost in the center of the town, the armored car commanded by 2nd Lt. Carl Wilson was hit by a 75mm anti-tank shell, 2nd Lt. Burns, the platoon leader happened to be riding on the back of the car at this point. He was knocked off the car by the concussion. Everyone in the car managed to out except Technician 5th grade Hu bbell, Lt. Burns climbed up on the car to get him out, but was again knocked off by another round hi tting the armored car. On the third t ry Lt. Burns got the man out of the car and dragged him back of a house. The Germans were attacking up the street and it was necessary to organize and drive them out of town to evacuate the casualties. Captain Breath, the attached medical officer, worked about 2 hours on Technician 5th Grade Hubbell and Lt. Wilson under very difficult conditions, as the Germans attempted to retake the town on two occasions. Both attempts were broken up with heavy fire from all weapons, inflicting heavy losses on the Germans. Mortars were especially effective.

     The company then secured the cross roads one mile north of town for the night. As the company was isolated, and the large town of St. Trond, Belgium directly to the west had not fallen, the company took the precaution of laying three mine fields in the event of the heavy tanks of the enemy should attempt to withdraw through that position. The following casualties occurred during the day Technicians 5th Grade Leslie F. Hubbell and Clarence H. Wenger accidentally killed when his tank turned over an embankment., tank turned over SW of Nontaigu, Belgium an 2nd Lt. Carl J. Wilson, and Tech 4th grade James E. Parker wounded. We arrived at new location at 1700B distance traveled 45 miles, Belgium # 1/200,000 Brussels sheet: # 82,365503, miles NE Cartassam, Belgium. Weather cloudy and wet, morale excellent. The above is excerpts of writings by Howard Swonger. ( all the facts stated above are from personal knowledge and actual morning reports, plus some information from other sources, such as the narratives of the 82ndReconnaissance Battalion. )