Pennsylvania Game News - February 2010 - 5

and would probably then be sent overseas to the front lines. Bob quickly replied that that was what he had signed up for. Bob was transferred to basic training and then sent to mortar school, where he spent time lugging mortars and equipment around the swamps of Alabama. His heavy mortar battalion was then sent overseas, where they joined the 8th Division. The new CO asked Bob what he could do, and Bob replied that he could shoot a rifle. That led to Bob becoming the main rifleman for the mortar crew. He saw combat in France, Belgium, Holland, Luxemburg and Germany. Although the newspapers said that the Americans had not crossed the Elbe River, Bob said that his division had crossed the Elbe River and liberated the Wobbelin Concentration Camp. The Wobbelin Concentration Camp, which was near the German city of Ludwigslust, held 5,000 inmates. The SS had moved inmates from other camps to the Wobbelin camp to prevent their liberation by the Allies. It was on May 2, 1945, when the 8th Infantry Division and the 82nd Airborne Division liberated the camp. They found deplorable conditions in the camp, which had little food and water and about 1,000 dead inmates. In accordance with the policy of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, all atrocity victims were buried in a public place with crosses placed at the graves of the Christians and Stars of David on the Jewish graves. When Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945, Bob said that his unit was in the town of Krak. Because Bob’s unit had seen a lot of combat time, they were sent stateside for rest and recreation. The unit was stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and from there they were to join in the Pacific Campaign. On September 2, 1945, Japan surrendered, ending WWII. Bob was on a furlough and at a theater, in Columbia, when the movie was FEBRUARY 2010 interrupted with the news that Japan had surrendered and the war was over. While waiting to be discharged, the unit turned in their motor equipment, but were later reissued their rifles. In order to keep the men busy while waiting for their discharge papers, the CO held a shooting contest. If a man was able to attain an expert score, he was given a 3-day pass; a sharpshooter score earned a 2-day pass and a marksman score rated a 1-day pass. Bob earned scores in all three categories and earned a 6-day pass. However, the men had received no pay since the unit moved; and hence, no one had money. Those who won passes complained to the CO, who told them that they wouldn’t have to meet musters; could eat at camp; come and go as they pleased and didn’t have to stand watches or inspections. While still on his 6-day pass, Bob was found in his bunk by the inspecting platoon leader. He woke Bob up and demanded to know why he was still asleep. Bob replied that he was on his pass and not to bother him. The leader just turned around and walked away. Next, Bob was sent to Camp Swift, in Texas, and from there, to Fort Meade, Maryland, where he was discharged. Finally, in 1946, Bob was able to go deer hunting. He went on Montour Ridge, between Danville and Northumberland, and bagged an 8-point buck, with the .348 his dad had given him for high school graduation. Although Bob has hunted and killed many whitetails, mule deer, elk and other big game, that 8-point rack holds a prominent place on a wall in the Bells’ home. Bob stayed in Danville until the next spring and then headed to

Pennsylvania Game News - February 2010

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