Chapter 17: The Occupation 1945

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My job at this time was to drive the executive officer around to see how the battalions were occupying the territory they were in. They would be in some little town within convenient distance of Divarty. This is a street in Melsungen. The next one is the town square. Although my MOS was radio operator we were doing no radio operating being so busy with occupying Germany and taking care of homeless and displaced persons. Some of the time I would drive the Buick. The car the ex off would get if the General had the Mercedes. One time on the Freeway I wanted to see how fast it would go. I was alone of course. The Autobahn was clear of traffic except for military vehicles. I could drive from Darmstadt to Kassel about 70 miles without seeing another vehicle. The only thing to watch out would be filled in bomb craters. Anyway I got on the autobahn and put the throttle to the floor. Really not a smart idea. This was a 39 buick I think and who knows what shape the tires were in. It was flat out at 92. Then I heard this loud rushing noise as if someone was trying to pass me. I had not been checking my rear view mirror as I was sure no one else would be on the road trying to pass. Then I looked up above the autobahn and saw a P38 going right over me as if it were strafing me. That was scary. If it had been for real I would have been a dead duck. Another time later I wanted to see how long I could keep the throttle on floor in a jeep. This was Darmstadt to Kassel. 67 miles an hour was as fast as it would go but I held it on the floor for 37 minutes. About to the city limits of Kassel. One time coming back from Le Harve after making a delivery of an officer I was coming back in France moving along about 65 when I heard a beep. Behind me was a 6x6 truck wanting to pass. As I could not outrun him I had to let him pass. It was driven by a black guy another good reason not to contest the right of way. These 6x6's supplied the army. Good in mud too as all wheels pulled if necessary.One time I was driving the Col. and he had a VIP with him. A German was just walking down the road and I swerved as if I was going to hit him. We were an arrogant bunch. Like all occupying armies. I heard the Col. tell his guest that Soldiers didn't like Germans. This guy might have stuck out his thumb was the reason for my reaction. But it signified the typical attitude of GI's in the Occupation. Arrogant and think tough. I would not have hit him of course.




However I almost lost this job before I got started. The driver for the Col. got fired for some infraction. I think it was driving drunk or something like that. The first time I went to the Officers club to pick him up as I was going out the long driveway I turned right to get on the road my right rear wheel went into a ditch covered by grass so I could not see it. Now this was just a couple minutes after I picked him up. But it was a deep ditch and I am sure his head hit the roof when the car came back down. He said "Gudgel, if you cant do better than that I am going to fire you." That was the only time I had a problem because later he wanted me to be his orderly.


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