Pencil drawing of two soldiers in foxhole near army truck : Art 1945.

Format:

Book

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Summary:

Description: Pencil drawing of two soldiers in foxhole near army truck; one soldier with hand to head. Titled variously "Close Call" and "Near Miss". Donor's description of piece: "In the van of 3rd [Third] Army's drive to the Rhine River. G-302 was mounted on 3 or 4 6 x 6 trucks with the Captain and 1st Sergeant and driver in a jeep leading us. As shelling by 88 cannon (German) came too close, we pulled over and everyone looked for cover in numerous foxholes along the road. I was last off as the next shell screamed in. The quick decision to dive to the road instead of jumping normally saved my life as the shell exploded about fifteen feet away. If I had jumped, shrapnel would have cut me in half. Flat on the road the fragments whizzed just over my prostrate body and shredding the truck's tailgate and tires. By the time the next shell came in a few seconds later, I had thrown myself on top of three men from my platoon in a foxhole as the shell destroyed the truck. Killing its driver and wounding another rifleman"; Donor's description on back of cardboard mount: "Our company G was the point of the Third Army drive to the Rhine River. We were jammed into 6x6 trucks. The captain and first sergeant led in the jeep. Occasional shell fire failed to slow us until an 88 cannon began to zero in. Braking to a stop every man leaped from the three trucks of our convoy. Everyone raced to the v shaped trenches common along major roads. Since I had been leaning over the cab I was last off the tailgate, hearing the third shell shrieking in its one second sound bite, I dove to the road rather than a normal jump. This was my closest call as the shell burst about fifteen feet away, its shrapnel screaming just over my prostrate body shredding the truck's tail gate. The next shell destroyed the truck as I dived onto the heads of riflemen in a trench." Location of drawing ETO; created in ETO. Signed by "W. A. Foley, Jr.".

Notes:

Description based on online resource (viewed on June 12, 2019).