Just Rewards - WWII Combat
Experiences of Grant Miswald
By
Grant Miswald/Robert W. "Bob" Lally
(As
told to or witnessed by Bob Lally, a foxhole buddy)
Like many lowly
riflemen during World War II, Grant Miswald's exceptional heroic
achievements were never officially recognized, nor was he ever
rightfully cited for bravery, or awarded earned medals.
But in the words of his
squad leader, S/Sgt. Richard Smith, for Miswald and his few surviving
comrades, just being alive was glory enough. Smith was shot through
the head by an enemy machine gun, given up for dead when he couldn't
answer shouts, and abandoned when attempts to reach him failed. After
being miraculously rescued, and spending four months in the hospital
in England having the roof of his mouth rebuilt. Smith was callously
returned to the front for more action. The bullet had entered just
below his left eye and exited behind his right ear.
Of the six ASTP men in
Miswald's squad, three: Long, [Arthur T.] Kubler [Joseph E.] and
Orzekowski, [Leonard W.] were killed in action. Two: Miswald and
Reynolds, [Lloyd W.]were seriously wounded. Only Lally escaped with
minor wounds.
ASTP, which stands for
the controversial Army Specialized Training Program, was terminated
early in the year 1944, and the men sent involuntarily to the
infantry. Fooled by enticing army promises, Miswald and his friends
briefly attended Purdue University for specialized engineering
training. Probably never before in history, or since, has a nation so
wantonly wasted its best, brightest and bravest men on the field of
battle as ordinary soldiers. Orzekowski wanted to be a priest, after
first serving his beloved country. Another KIA friend, Krumiauf,
[Joel W.] wanted to be a minister, like his father.
One November 30, 1944
Miswald's Ozark Division attacked a formidable enemy deeply
entrenched in the midst of the German Siegfried Line. They met stiff
resistance.
Incredibly, Miswald was
the only member of the decimated 200 man, L Company 407th Infantry,
to reach the company objective, which was to encircle the Rhineland
village of Welz. Covered with blood (not his own) and nearly
exhausted, after dark he alone managed to enter the village from the
rear and contact the frontal assault troops, with whom he spent the
night.
Earlier that day, when
his lead platoon encountered heavy machine gun fire from the front,
Lt. Morris [Joseph B.] sent Miswald's squad on a flanking maneuver,
attacking up the wooded hill on their unprotected right flank.
Surprisingly, they successfully managed to reach the ridge, which
opened up onto a broad, flat, open plain leading to the villages
tucked along the Roer River, less than a mile away.
Miswald and three
others then followed along the high ridge toward the company
objective. As they crept along the ridge, they were fired upon from
below by their own troops,-- who mistook them for enemy soldiers.
They kept going until a concealed enemy machine gun opened up on the
from short range, killing Long and Kubler and mortally wounding
Stamirowski, [Theodore] a day old replacement.
Carrying Stamirowski on
his back, Miswald tried to cart him to safety. Before he died,
Stamirowski sadly talked about his loving family back in the States.
It was two days later before Miswald was able to wash Stamirowski's
blood from his hands and clothing.
The next day after the
failed attack, the remnants of Miswald's platoon - about a dozen men
- attacked again, and managed to secure the ridge and a long, deep
tank trap a hundred yards beyond, but most of the enemy had already
retreated.
Then, according to
Miswald, going back over the battlefield of the previous day and
examining the dead, Lt, Morris, the platoon leader, remarked to
Miswald, "What in the hell were you guys doing way up
here?"
In mid-December,
scheduled to lead the attack across the Roer River, Miswald's
battalion was back in Holland for a practice crossing of the Maas
River near Masstrichtwhen the Germans counterattacked south of them.
During the following cold, miserable, lonely winter days of the
Battle of the Bulge, Miswald's outfit froze defending the exposed
northern flank of the American Army.
During their brief stay
in a brick factory in Holland, Miswald, Reynolds and Lally befriended
some young Dutch boys, who managed to get them a haircut, have their
pictures taken by a professional photographer, and arranged for them
to sleep in their house in beds with white sheets and down
comforters. This incident was one of the few brighter moments in a
brutal war.
In late January, 1945,
when returning at night through the town of Linnich from a mission in
the bottomlands along the raging Roer River, the enemy attacked with
mortars in the center of town near the church plaza. Three rounds
dropped in on Miswald's squad which was strung out single file.
Miswald was hit with fragments from all three rounds, Reynolds from
two, and McLemore, [Arthur J., Jr.] from one.
A bloody mess, Miswald
was helped to a busy aid station located nearby in a brick barn (now
the police station and museum) and deposited on straw in the big
arched doorway. When Lally tried to comfort him while awaiting
medical attention, Miswald said 'Don't worry about me. I'm going
home. You're the unlucky one." That's the kind of person he was,
always concerned about others. His million dollar wounds, arm and
head nerve injuries, won him a medical discharge and a life of
suffering and pain.
Today Just outside the
Rhineland town of Linnich, a huge memorial stone at the St. Hubertus
Cross wayside shrine honors Miswald's spirit and memory. Erected by
veterans and villagers, it proudly displays the Ozark Division
insignia. In the town inside St. Martinus Church, a similar Peace
Window memorial honors all victims of the war.
Surely, many just
rewards must await Miswald in Heaven. He was more than a comrade,
buddy, and friend. He was extended family, a brother, and will be
dearly missed.
----- Grant Miswald/Bob Lally
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Taps for
Mr. Grant W.
Miswald,Jr.
Date: January 2, 2000
Burial Site Location: Holy Cross Cemetery, Milwaukee, WI
Co. L., 407th Regiment, 102d Division, [3rd Btn]
World War II Veteran
United States Army
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Holy Cross
Cemetery in Milwaukee
(Editor's
note: Attempts were made throughout the text of the following story
to place full names to the men listed in the story. For the most part,
this is an educated guess and some names may very well be mistaken in
their identy. The names were all taken from the division history
book: With
The 102d Infantry Division Through Germany, edited by Major Allen H.
Mick. Using the text as a guide, associations with specific units
were the basis for the name identifications. We are not attempting in
any to rewrite the story. Any corrections are gladly
welcomed.)
12 January 2005.
A photo of Co. A., 2nd Platoon,
407th Regiment, 102nd Division. This image is on a
page that is dedicated to Mr. Edward Marchelitis, Sr., by his
daughter Carol. Most of the men in the photo taken on December 20,
1943 are identified on the back of the image.
To view the photo of Co. A., 2nd Platoon, 407th
Regiment as well as other photos of Edward Marchelitis, click on
the image above.
The family of Mr. Marchelitis is seeking
information on his platoon.
A special Thank You is extended to the daughter of
Edward Marchelitis, Sr., Carol Marchelitis Heppner.
Interested in some background
information?
Check out the related links below...
United
States Army, 102nd Infantry Division
102
Infantry Division
History
of the 102nd Infantry Division
Attack
on Linnich, Flossdorf, Rurdorf - 29 Nov -- 4 Dec
1944
Gardelegen
War Crime
Gardelegen:
April 13, 1945:
Massacre
at the Isenschnibbe Barn
American
Battle Monuments Commission: WWII Honor Roll
National
World War II Memorial
The above story, "Just Rewards - WWII Combat
Experiences of Grant Miswald", by Grant Miswald/Bob Lally was
published in the 102d Division "Ozark Notes", Vol. 53, No. 1,
October/December 2000, pp. 10-11.
The story is re-printed here on
World War II Stories -- In Their Own
Words with the kind
permission of the 102d Infantry Division Association, Ms. Hope
Emerich, Historian. Our sincerest THANKS for the 102d Infantry
Division Association allowing us to share some of their
stories.
We wish also to extend a warm "Thank You" to Ron
Miswald and Jeannie (Miswald) Thibodeau, children of the late
Grant Miswald Jr., for their very kind contribution of the photo
of their dad, Grant Miswald Jr. taken during World War
II.
We would also like to extend our sincere THANKS to
Mr. Edward L. Souder, former historian of Co. F., 405th Regiment.
His collection of stories of the "Kitchen Histories Project"
series entitled, Those Damn Doggies in
F, were responsible for bringing the stories of the
men of the 102nd Division to the forefront.
Original Story submitted on 2 November
2004.
Story added to website on 5 November 2004.
Story updated on 27 December 2004.
Veterans
Survey Form
September 5,
2002.
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Updated on 17 February 2012...1446:05
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