We were assigned to go to Belgium, to the Battle of the Bulge.

When we got the order to go, my platoon did not have any weapons, but our commander told us that we would get them when we reach our assigned area in Belgium, and we did.

We were told that the weapons that we got were the weapons that were taken from casualties of units that had been in Belgium before we got there.

On one occasion, we were being assaulted by German Artillery and I was called to a meeting. We had been occupying foxholes for protection. I left mine and went to the meeting.

After the meeting was over, I went back to where my foxhole was and one of my platoon troopers was digging in my hole.

When he saw me he said he was very surprised to see me because while I was at the platoon meeting, an artillery shell had landed directly in my hole and the trooper was digging to see if he could find me.

Lucky me, I never missed another platoon meeting again.