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All
about the official picture of the Virtual Museum
The picture of the first page of the website, selected as
the official picture of The Virtual Museum has not been
chosen by chance. Indeed, this one reflects our objective
as well as possible: to honour the soldiers of the
95th Infantry Division who released the city of Metz.
Thanks to the assistance of Stephen J Bodnar, it was
possible to find one of the soldiers present on this
picture and be in contact with him: Fletcher B Cox.
These men are from the 2nd Battalion of the 377th Infantry
Regiment and more precisely of the 1st Squad int the
Anti-Tank Platoon of Company "HQ" (Head-Quarters).
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Now, we
know more about three men on this picture : |
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Boarding the truck is Earl Honeycutt, from Roan
Mountain (Tennessee). He was the gunner on their
57mm anti-tank gun.
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With the hand on the wheel, cugaret in mouth, and
M-1 rifle slung from his right shoulder is Oscar
Doyra, from Sandcoulee (Montana).
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- The
soldier on the right is Fletcher B. Cox originaire,
from Baltimore (Maryland).
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In the background, we can see an artificial smoke on the
field beyond the truck, with an aim of covering the attack
of the infantry on Fort Deroulede. (Probably
Company E, 377th Infantry Regiment).
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Composition
of the 1st Squad, Anti-Tank Platoon of the Company
"HQ", 2nd Battalion - 377th Infantry
Regiment: |
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Squad leader: |
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Staff
Sergeant Alfred Arndt, from
Lafayette, Indiana |
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Assistant squad leader: |
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Corporal
Albert M. Albaugh, Tipton,
Iowa |
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Gunner: |
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Corporal
Earl Honeycutt, Roan
Mountain, Tennessee |
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Driver: |
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T/5
Walter E. Hunt,
Ohio |
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T/5
Robert L. Smith, Glenford,
Ohio |
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T/5
Melvin Miller, Rhame,
North Dakota |
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PFC
Armodos J. Belisle, Two
Rivers, Wisconsin |
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PFC
Robert S. Trial, Haliovell,
Maine |
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PFC
Armand G. Powers, Summerside,
Prince Edward Island, Canada |
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PFC
Oscar A. Doyra, Sandcoulee,
Montana |
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PFC
Fletcher Cox, Baltimore,
Maryland |
This picture is from a series of photos that a
Signal Corps Photographer realized then he was
accompanying the riflemen passing the truck. he stopped at
that point, to wait while riflemen cleared Germans up
ahead of the street and take the pictures.
Thanks to the assistance of Fletcher B. Cox, and using the
original map, we found the exact place where the pictures
had been taken. Indeed, it is at the Northern entry of the
city of Woippy that the famous panel of indication
« Metz » was installed.
Above :
On this
picture, we see the truck with its 57mm anti-tank gun and
the pannel « Metz ». The truck is a Dodge 1 ½
ton 6x6. Gun-ring mount was for .50 caliber machine gun
for anti-aircraft combat combat. Truck driver T/5 Walter
Hunt was trained in its use.
On the right-hand side, you'll see a building with a hole
in the side. Today, the wall has been restorated but we
see always the place of the impact.
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Above :
Picture
of the actual street, taken in November 2005.
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Above
:
Picture
of the house where we can see the place of the
impact. |
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Above :
Around
the Dodge and the 57mm anti-tank gun, we see
tank Sherman and infantry. Notice the tree at the
right-hand side. It has probably a covering for
explosives... |
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Above :
Picture
of the actual street, taken in November 2005.
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My thanks
with those which, by their assistance, enabled me to
obtain this invaluable informations: Fletcher B. Cox,
Stephen J. Bodnar & Vincent Thuillier.
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Rhineland