U.S. GIs Looted, Mutilated Bodies at Bulge

The beginning of our part of the Battle of the Bulge was the 29th of December 1944 near the town of Neufchateau, Belgium. Our column of tanks and half-tracks, representing Combat Command B, 11th Armored Division, U.S. Third Army, commanded by George Patton Jr., had been rolling north, where to and what for we did know. I remember the day was cold and windy. There was a layer of snow blanketing the ground and here and there it had drifted. We had met many supply trucks on the road headed for the rear. I was particularly aware of the ambulances that we met. I noted their red spotlights flashing, which meant that they were evacuating wounded. And more significantly to me there was fighting ahead. Finally we passed artillery with their muzzles pointed skyward. The guns would cough and spit and belch their flame and then relax. From this I knew we were close to the German lines. First we passed the big boys, the long Toms, 240 mm and 155 mm Howitzers, and then closer to the front the standard army 105 mm pieces which backed up the line.