Infantry Division Association

Major General Harry J. Malony Commanding General  94th Infantry Division 9/15/1942 - 5/21/1945

THE BATTLE OF ORSHOLZ WOODS

At Bastogne Hitler threw
His remaining might
Nuts to surrender the Colonel said
To the last man we shall fight

Banner headlines and by radio
Each day the world was told
How the last great battle did unfold

But not one word was said
of another fight
the hell of three 0 one
that lasted but one night

South from the battle great
thin the lines drawn
as men north were rushed
to meet Hitler’s final thrust
t’was here the Nazis chose
to test America’s great
to open up another gate

In foxhole cold and damp
Infantrymen with fingers numb
softly to rifles a love song hum
Cannoneers but a mile to rear
Their 105’s and 155’s
Behind sandbags do appear

Still farther back, in house so snug
Fire direction center, artillery’s hub
Hand picked men, highly trained
Alertly wait, the fire to direct

On this fateful night, no officer in charge
Gone away on some special call
Hardly had he gone it seemed
The telephone did ring
Fire Mission, Fire Mission the urgent cry

Cannoneers we must alert
No hesitation, with death we flirt
No questions by this crew
Each man a job to do
Targets on map to plot
Distance, direction to computers got
To ‘A’ battery, directions given
Right 20, up 10, charge 5
Much the same to ‘B’ and ‘C’

Cannoneers respond with haste
Not a moment will they waste
Guns at enemy unseen
with charges primed are aimed
Ready ‘A’ ‘B’ and ‘C’

No officer on fire direction floor
the mission cannot wait
FIRE is the order given
by Sergeant in command
on the way comes from ‘A’ ‘B’ and ‘C’

Returning Major takes command
Thanking Sergeant for his stand
Then through the night the guns do roar
As Infantry ask for more and more

Many were the heroes of that night
As they fought off Hitler’s might
Private in front lines with shattered arm
two unconscious buddies pulled from harm

Ammo Sergeant back for shells
No time for orders written
With 45 at Captain’s head
from ammo train his trucks he fed

Cannoneers with weary arms
Into cannon muzzle, snow they fed
To cool the smoking breach
so another shell they could unleash

Saw we in the morning light
that Hitler had lost his fight
battered tanks and trucks
and men who had no luck
shared the forest floor
they would fight no more

Medals by some that night were won
but no greater tribute was ever paid
‘tho no spoken word was said

What was left of Company ‘A’
Bloodied, tired, weary men
Back from the front they came
As they pass the guns of Battery ‘B’
Silently as one
their helmets in unison they lift

Cannoneers without a word
Hands to hearts did hold
A silent prayer by all is felt
For a job well done
Thank you God and friends
And you brave comrades of 301.

...Benton
HQ Battery 301 FA Battalion
94th Infantry Division

Copyright 11/9/83
Benton B. Singleton