attack. Hundreds of tanks, trucks, artillery and desperate men transited the 508th PIR corridor to safety.
On Christmas Eve the 508th PIR executed a perilous eight-mile with-rawal over snow covered densely forested hills to the main battle pos-ition where we helped stop the German’s last desperate attack.”
Note: Oscar Prasse’s memoirs contain a description of the strategy and skill employed by the triad to prevent their hoard of Christmas cheer from being confiscated by the attacking Germans or envious Hq1 officers.
“In the first weeks of January 1945, the 508th PIR launched an offensive to destroy the Germans remaining in the bulge area, penetrate the Siegfried Line fortifications, and seize the west shore of the Roer River.
They were tough days. We fought through the deep snows and the heavily forested Ardennes, without shelter or hot food, and often without medical evacuation means.
We fought through the Siegfried Line and reached the Roer River. The price was high; we absorbed as many cold weather casualties as the Ger-mans inflicted upon us.
Oscar Prasse was evacuated with severely frozen feet. It was the last time I saw Oscar.”
“In February 1945 we broke contact with the Germans and returned to Sissonne. We moved into a tent camp.
We held memorial services for our lost comrades, welcomed replacements and started training, which included a practice jump.
A few weeks later, we were alerted to parachute into German prisoner-of-war camps to liberate allied prisoners.
We packed up and moved to airports near Paris ready to execute the mission.
However, the war in Europe ended, our missions were canceled, and we returned to Sissonne. A few days later the 508th PIR was selected for Occupation duty as General Eisenhower’s security force and honor guard.”
The 508th PIR packed and moved to Germany. Joe Bressler packed and went home. A point system for returning qualified men to the United States was being implemented and Joe qualified. Joe was discharged from the Army July 3, 1945 at Fort Dix, New Jersey. | 
