Patrol To Palzem
David.Gettman January 27th, 2008
21 – 25 January 1945
Major Andrews, 42d Squadron
Palzem (map 33) is a small German town on the Moselle river directly across from Stadtbredimus, Luxembourg (map 33). After about 3 weeks of routine patrolling into Palzem after a prisoner, I finally decided to try it myself. I had picked 16 men to go with me as this was the patrol that was going to do or die. I can remember a few of those on the patrol – Sgt. Roy, 1st Sgt. Beasley, S/Sgt. Magnum, Sgt. Benvenuto, Cpl. Francis, Cpl. Bower, Cpl. Brady.
I gave them such a pep talk about how we were going to stay over there until we got a prisoner that it wasn’t long until I believed it myself. I gave them 24 hours off prior to the jump off to rest up, and for the assistant patrol leaders to make their reconnaissance. We really had the plan down to perfection. I still can’t figure out how we missed getting a Kraut. Continue Reading »
