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The following is a Memory of Jim S. It was written by Merle C. after an interview with Jim.
Jim went overseas just at the end of WW II and spent almost four years in Germany as a member of the US Army of Occupation. He landed in Bremerhaven and traveled by rail to Augsburg in southern Germany. He was assigned to an outfit referred to as the "Circle C Cowboys." This name was based on the shoulder patch that the members wore which consisted of a large "C" with a lightning bolt superimposed on it. The outfit was part of the Constabulary, so referred to because the term had meaning to the people who were residents of the area. Jim was a three-stripe sergeant at this time and was assigned for a while to a regular patrol route of about fifty miles length. He had a driver assigned and they patrolled this route in a Jeep on a daily basis. On one of these routine patrols, as they passed a farmhouse, Jim noticed some khaki clothing on a clothesline in the farmers yard. He told the driver to stop and backup so that they might investigate why a German farmer would have US Army khaki shirt and trousers hanging on his clothesline. As Jim dismounted from the Jeep he reached for his M-1 Carbine and headed for the door of the farmhouse. Just as he approached the door, it was opened just enough for a large German Police dog to exit the house. The dog proceeded to attack Jim, who was able to wrestle the dog to the ground and using his driver's belt, Jim was able to restrain the dog. At about this time the German farmer came out side and called off his dog. The German was able to speak some English and proceeded to invite Jim into the house. Both Jim and his driver entered the house with their weapons at the ready. Jim was wearing a .45 Caliber Army Automatic Pistol on his hip and was carrying his M-1 Carbine as was his driver. After some tense moments, the German invited Jim and his driver to eat with the family. In the course of conversations during the meal, a young man who had been quiet until this time admitted to being AWOL (Absent With Out Leave) from the United States Army. He was a Paratrooper and had jumped into Northern Italy more than a year earlier, had become separated from his unit, and met up with a girl who was a daughter of the farmer. The AWOL trooper and the girl had traveled together for some time and made their way to her father's farm. The AWOL soldier, after telling his story, asked Jim what he planned to do with what he had learned. Jim told the American soldier that it was up to him to decide when and where he would turn himself in to the authorities, if he wanted to return to the United States. Jim did not report the incident to his superiors and never saw the man again. Jim still feels that he did the right thing.
Jim also performed guard duty of prisoners during the Nuremburg Trials and also guarded German Prisoners of War who were forced to clean up the furnaces used in the Nazi attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe. Jim was reluctant to relate the very distasteful details of these activities, preferring to, as he put it, to forget them as much as possible.
Thank you Jim, for sharing your Memories and thank you for your service.
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