Chapter VII
Belgium
back to index
With “Fortress Brest” having toppled, the Rangers went on the move again. After pausing temporarily in Plouneventer and Landerneau, France, the Rangers climbed aboard the old French “40 and 8” box cars, and for four days travelled Hobo fashion. It was a most uncomfortable trip, but everyone took it in good spirits. With the feeling of recently won victories, the Rangers spent the trip speaking of every little phase of the “Battle for Brest”, and they spoke too, of the Rangers they left behind, -- spoke of them as though they were still with us and would fight again.
On 2 October 1944, the Rangers arrived at the French Border town of Longuyon, where they entrucked for a bivouac area outside Arlon, Belgium. After ten days, they moved to Differt, Belgium, six kilometers outside of Arlon, into a Seminary. It can generally be said that some of the happiest days of the Rangers were spent there. The Rangers affectionately called it, “Boys Town”, and as the Red Cross girl, whom we knew only as Kay, put it, “Rangers in a Seminary, -- Imagine!!”
The Rangers began their visits to the city of Arlon, shortly after its liberation, and they were received with all the emotion and sincerity of a grateful people. Every Ranger was coaxed into a Belgian home, and he ate home cooked meals and forgot the War for a few weeks. For the first time since the Rangers left the States, they ate ice cream, pies and pastries and had good beer. At the Seminary, there was a movie every night, and the Rangers enjoyed their well earned recreation. With it all, they trained intensively, while replacement volunteers were brought in to fill the gaps and some of the wounded returned from the hospitals, ready and willing to fight again.
Our mission at Differt, was to provide security for 12TH Army Group Headquarters, by keeping two companies on the alert at all times, ready to protect the Headquarters in case of enemy attack.
Just before the Rangers left the Seminary, the little village of Differt celebrated its liberation. First, Mass was held in the little chapel in Differt, for all Americans who died to liberate the French and Belgians. Then the celebration started, and every home had two or three Rangers at the dinner table, -- a dinner which consisted of the finest style, -- and fine old wines were brought forth from places where they had been hidden from the Germans. There were soccer ball games between the Rangers and the civilians, in the afternoon, and at night, there was dancing at the village café. The Rangers had never received a finer reception than they had in Belgium, and on November 7th, when they left the Seminary, neither Rangers nor civilians were very happy about the parting.
The remaining days of November were spent in Toul and Nancy, France, where training continued and new men were taught to be Rangers, -- for the next battle to come.
NOTE: The following illustrations show the poster announcing the Soccer Ball Game between the Stockem, Belgium Champions and the Rangers, and also a reproduction of the flag that they presented to the Rangers.
P. S. – The Rangers lost the game.