LE TOMAHAWK
FIRST IN BELGIUM
WESTERN FRONT, Belgium, September 4, 1944
In one of the longest opposed advances in the history of warfare, American troops of a certain Corps which shall for the moment be nameless, early Saturday morning slashed into BELGIUM.
Armored units of a crack American division were the first across the line and were followed by cavalry and infantry and all the other highly mobile elements of a balanced field corps.
Shortly after the entry of this first United States Corps, advance elements of another fighting American corps were pouring across the line, and today a great expanse of BELGIUM is in Allied hands.
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Everywhere, the armies are on the move. Hitler, says a German broadcast, had "ordered his troops back into Germany proper." Hitler did not mention that the Allies are encouraging this "withdrawal" with a bayonet in the seat of the Wehrmacht's pants.
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Welcome Liberators
Belgian citizens were out in their Sunday best yesterday to welcome the liberators. The enthusiasm of their reception surpassed even that of the French people through whom we have passed.
Everywhere were to be seen Belgian flags together with improvised French, American and British flags. The people were in a holiday mood.
In Belgium as in France, armed members of the liberation movement cooperated with Allied armies. Working right with the British and Americans, they helped clean up numerous German pockets so that our advancing forces would not be delayed.
Allied air forces had a field day again yesterday and poured tons of bombs and rockets on retreating German columns. The toll of destruction to enemy forces must have been as high as any day since the Great Retreat began.
Thousands of prisoners were taken yesterday by one Corps alone, while other thousands of Germans were left dead on the roads.
Entry into Belgium
There is nothing in warfare quite as stimulating as a good, fast pursuit of a demoralized enemy. When the pursued include Hitler's SS thugs, his swaggering Wehrmacht units and the robot-bomb babykillers of the Calais area, trying to make their way back to the fatherland, it is a downright pleasure.
Even in a changing situation such as this, censorship considerations prevent a minute description of units and their employment , but even the enemy knows that during the past few days some of the world's best infantry and armored troops, attached to a certain fighting Corps, have made history of a high order.
One day they were on the SEINE, the next astride the SOMME, and the next in BELGIUM! Let military observers, who point to former German swoops through the lowlands and into France as top military efficiency, chew on that.
It must be considered that in this long gallop, these force have demolished tons of German equipment, fought innumerable small battles, run over German columns who proved a nuisance on the highway, killed thousands of the enemy and taken other thousands prisoners.
That these American troops were the first to enter Belgium is a matter of no great moment, militarily, but is a source of considerable satisfaction to some of the boys who have been "often a bridesmaid but never a bride" and who have slugged it out face-to-face with the German Army of the West, harried him in his long retreat and given and taken heavy losses, only to see juicier objectives fall like ripe plums to other outfits.
It is, in a sense, poetic justice.
It will be remembered that certain Johnny-Come-Latelies, who never faced the bitter, grueling, close-in-warfare of the hedgerow country, had become somewhat boastful of their prowess in cross-country marches. They stated, in a friendly way, of course, that we were sloggers incapable of such high dramatic moments as a long dash through broken enemy lines.
We have now proved that first-class troops can do three things equally well: (1) Stand toe-to-toe and destroy the Germans when they stay in there and fight; (2) outflank and outmove them when they begin a delaying-action retreat; (3) just plain slaughter them when they are on the run.
We point out those things for the benefit of those who - in a rapidly moving situation highlighted by certain military histrionics - may overlook the fact that right here in Belgium may be found some of the hardest-hittin', fastest-movin', straightest-shootin', best damned soldiers in the whole history of warfare.
No Job Too Tough
Since this edition is in the nature of a tribute to some grand soldiers, we must not fail to point out the great job that has been done by the artillery, the engineers, the ordnance, the quartermasters, the signals, and all their other agencies who have had to do their job at a dead gallop in order to make the great advance possible.
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Hq XIX Corps Arty
APO 270
5 September
Somewhere in Belgium
My darling Sminx,
Since writing to you this morning, I have discovered that we are allowed to say that we are "Somewhere in Belgium." I thought you would be interested to know it so I am writing again. I am enclosing also a copy of our little corps newspaper [Le Tomahawk - above] which you might also be interested in. Anything that is printed there has passed the censorship and is OK to send.
The Belgians have been just as enthusiastic as the French and possibly a little more so in receiving us. They told me that they had not flown the Belgian flag or worn the Belgian colors since the Germans came and of course it was a big day for them. Every house had the Belgian flag displayed and all the girls wore the Belgian colors. Many wore dresses of those colors.
Last night most of the men and officers went to a dance and they apparently had a good time. I did not attend but those who went told me that they enjoyed it chiefly because the music and dancing were so different from what they were accustomed to. Some of them were upset because all the Belgian girls were accompanied by their mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters. And the more attractive ones had Belgian boy friends as well. It seems that it is customary for the Belgian girls to be well chaperoned. As for me I am not interested in dances until I get home and can dance with you.
The news seems to be getting brighter and brighter every day and I am hopeful that Germany may call it quits sooner than I originally expected. It can not be too soon for me as there is a constant ache in me for you and I long to return to you.
Your very own,
Bill
Of course, the "certain Corps which for the moment shall be nameless" was the XIXth Army Corps, and "Le Tomahawk" is its newspaper enclosed in Dad's letter of September 5. The tomahawk is the emblem on the badge sewn on the arm of the uniform of each member of the Corps.
Sugar and I have followed this route from Rosny-sur-Seine to Bousval, Belgium and we are now staying in a hotel nearby. For us the drive was about 250 miles; for them it might have been a little shorter; they covered the distance in less than a week with two major river crossings and presumably some German rearguard skirmishes and attempts to slow them down. And if you add in the topography of the ground they were traversing, wide valleys and large hillsides resembling waves building in an ocean, large periods between the waves but with tall crests and deep troughs. The XIXth rode through them like an ocean sailing racing yacht and, like sailors on such a vessel in such a sea, had an exhilarating reaction to the ride. This march seems like an amazing accomplishment to me, and also to the author of the articles in Le Tomahawk. Well done!
Again I feel we are so fortunate to have had Dad and Mom save their letters. Where would this post be without Dad's enclosure of Le Tomahawk? You can physically feel the elation of the author. It is also plain from this edition that the men in the Armed Forces are competitive, not only with their opponent, but with each other. I suspect that this pride in their outfit is ingrained through their training, an aspect of training you could see with Easy Company in "Band of Brothers." It's also gratifying to see all the struggles that XIXth Corps and Dad have been through, and the reward that their effort brought them. We know now, as they did not, that they have many long, difficult days ahead, that Germany is not "going to call it quits" for another eight months of slaughter, destruction, famine, and desolation. But we will let Dad enjoy his moment of hope, and Mom, too. We salute you, Mom and Dad - you deserve it.
Tomorrow Sugar and I stop our journey following Dad's route but will continue this blog for two more letters as XIXth Army Corps continues on toward the German border, while we start back toward Paris and a little R & R for us.
Three hours later
We walked into town and had dinner at a place where we could eat fondue, and listen to Bob Dylan singing "Mr. Tambourine Man." Imagine that.
Here are a few observations about life in France:
1. The stop sign in France used to say "Arrete" but now says "STOP." And I suppose that in a few years, the "Ceder la passage" sign at a rotary will say "YIELD."
2. Their new method of speed control in small towns is to insert speed bumps.
3. There are more rotaries than stop lights by far.
4. They don't provide wash cloths, and never have, at least in my experience since 1966.
5. The heated towels are now prevalent - why don't we have them? They are wonderful.
6. The rental car has an interior GPS, not something you place on the dashboard.
7. The country roads are NARROW.
8. RAPESEED - this plant grows throughout Normandy, and being very bright yellow, brings in sunshine, even on a rainy, gray day.
9. French bread and butter are still the best.
10. There are many more creperies than there used to be.
11. The Normans are very friendly.
12. There is plenty of livestock in Normandy, mostly cows.
13. Have I told you about Rapeseed? Beautiful, just beautiful.
14. The money bills and coins are of different sizes, and the bills are of different colors.
15. They will tell you on the sign when they are filming you to see if you are speeding. If caught speeding, the fines are steep. In Guernsey, the lady we met was caught going 38 in a 25, and had to pay a 500 euro fine, and lost her license for 30 days.
16. Never, ever get caught with 100 euro bills. They are worthless, at least at the places I shop. The merchants and restaurants won't accept them; the banks won' t change them; the hotels won't change them and they tell you to go to the Post Office and they'll change them. NOT. The postal clerk looks at you as if you are crazy. Finally, since I wasn't going to be able to get my car out of the Parking without small change, I went to an ATM and got 85 euros. And then today, I was on the A1 toll route, when I pulled up to the toll booth to pay my 13.65 euro toll, I asked if he'd take a 100 and he said, "Sure." Alleluia. Just too bad that I have to drive 150 miles on a highway, risking my life going 80 mph (130 k/hr), to get change for a 100 euro bill.
Quiz: where are we tonight? Here's a clue:
Here's a hint:
Love, Nat
