45th Division News

October 4, 1943

Loss is Coffee, Scope and Truck

Chalk up another engagement for Sgt. 'William E. Woodhams and his mates, Pfc's. Richard H. Bashore and Douglas Studebaker who who do a lot of fighting for one regiment's (157th) I and R platoon.

The three dogfaces from Denver were holed up in a cozy obscure farmhouse 'which Was serving as OP, but Jerry got wise and sent Up a tank to Wipe out the Yanks. Woodhams and his crew' were doing a lot of hot observing on the second floor with a captured Jerry telescope when the tank, parked now in front of the only exit, sent its first shell crashing through the third floor.

Woodhams returned the fire with a round from his trusty bazooka, but the tank wasn't through yet. It's second shot tore a hole in the second floor where the trio hugged the floor. Another she11 ripped out a second story window.

Things were getting pretty hot by now so the paddlefeet leaped to the ground from the second story, put the tank out of action with t wo more rounds from the bazooka and got away on foot. T heir truck containing all their equipment was buried under the debris.
" burned me up, " growled the avenged woodhams " 'They not only beat up our German scope, but they burried all the coffee we had. In that truck.

Mr Studebaker now resides in Alaska, he recieved recognition for the distance traveled to the 2002 reunion in Virginia.