A SOLDIERS STORY, CONCLUSION

Conclusion

By DELL ARTHUR

            Now it was time for a final push into Germany itself. Gitts now assigned to the 17^th Glider Squadron, along with his outfit pushed towards the Rhine River dividing France with German. The fighting had been intense and American, English and Canadian forces were seeking a bridge that would allow them to cross into the Rhineland. The Germans successfully managed to blow up the major bridges denying Allied forces access to the homeland.

            Then at Ramagen an unforeseen opportunity happened. The bridge that had been mined with explosives failed to go off allowing American soldiers to make it across. Now holding the bridge the 17^th Division poured across before German artillery fire finally caused the bridge to collapse. But it was too little and too late.

            Gitts was assigned as a Jeep driver and the chief objective was a push to Berlin. He recalled that one of the “tricks” the Germans used was to stretch piano wire across a road. The result was an unknowing driver would easily be decapitated.

            But as a paratrooper Gitts would also fight as a regular infantryman. This nearly caused him his life. He recalled a town his outfit had just entered still contained enemy fighters. He recalled working his way along a sidewalk and when he stepped out into the open space a German sniper took aim and hit him in the back of his head. If he hadn’t been for his steel helmet he would have been dead. Falling to the ground unconscious he was bleeding copiously from the wound.  Quickly a medic came to his aid and pulled him to safety and treated him as best he could. He was then transferred to a medical aid station where doctors were able to stem the flow of blood and stabilize him. Still unconscious Gitts was loaded into an ambulance and sent off to a major hospital at Paris.

            The wound was so severe that doctors had to insert a metal plate in his skull which remained for the rest of his life. He was confined in the hospital for a month. Just before being discharged from the hospital and returned to duty, Gitts was visited by a Captain who said that he needed a Russian speaking interpreter. His knowledge of the language made him perfectly suitable for the job. He was ready to go back to work and was switched permanently to the 82^nd Airborne and put on light duty.

            And then the big disappointment; General Eisenhower made the decision to let the Russian army capture the German capital.

            By now the war in Europe was quickly nearing the end but there was still Japan to be reckoned with. On April 30, 1945 Hitler put a gun to his head and along with his new bride Eva Braun who he had just married, the two committed suicide. Shortly after surrender document was signed by the last of Germany’s high command and the war was officially over. But now the occupation forces had to divvy up what was left of Berlin.

            Berlin was divided between the American, English, Russian and French forces. Gitts recalled that the American headquarters was located only a block away from the Russian command. The Russians made it very clear that their territory was “off limits” to the
Americans. The “cold war” had just begun.

            Berlin was devastated. Gitts said that over three-fourths of the city was rubble. Allied bombers had leveled many historic buildings but the damage was necessary to war. But now it was a time for rebuilding. Assigned to the 325^th Glider Infantry office, Gitts was able to get a pass to roam throughout the western section of the city.

            By now his European duty was winding down. As a consequence of his head wound he was sent to Bremmer, Germany to await shipment back to the United States. Waiting orders he and some friends took the opportunity “to do nothing” but relax. The danger and sound of gunfire was now in the past. Not having to wake up after sleeping on the cold wet ground, hearing the whistling of shells overhead, not having to dodge being shot at and seeing close friends die in front of your eyes, the change was welcomed.

           

But the wound to his head plagued him with severe migraine headaches. The rifle and bayonet that the German soldier had stabbed him with was recovered and successfully sent home where it remained a life-long souvenir. The rifle was a German  Mouser Karabinger 98K. When he finally got home he had it converted into a hunting rifle and he used it for years hunting deer and elk.

Finally the day came when he was put aboard an Army hospital ship, the John S. Meany for shipment back to New York. So, on October 31, 1945, the ship left for America and Gitts left the horror of memories behind him. Because of a storm the trip took 16 days to make the crossing. Finally on November 15, the ship docked at Boston and he was transferred to an Army hospital. After five days Gitts was aboard a train for Washington State and a stay at Madigan Army hospital at Fort Lewis. Here he was evaluated to determine if he would receive a medical or honorable discharge from service. Because of his head injury and the migraine headaches he went under observation of 60 days before being allowed to take a furlough and go home.

After arriving home to the joy the family his mother and father was hit with hard news. His brother Victor, who had enlisted in the Coast Guard, had fallen ill with lobar pneumonia. His parents were advised that he most likely would be okay but four days later a Coast Guard officer and chaplain came to the front door to inform the family that Victor had died. Because of his brother’s death Gitts was immediately discharged.

In all Gitts served two years, fifteen days in the service of his country. He underwent horrific battles and was wounded three times. His record showed that he received three Purple Hearts, the Belgium Fourrangere, the Netherlands Orange Lanyard, a Good Conduct Medal, American European Middle Service Eastern Service Medal, Marksman Pin, Infantry Combat Badge, the Bronze Service Arrowhead, Paratroop Wings and certificate of Merit for outstanding bravery in enemy fire—all of this before his 23^rd birthday.

And now with Veteran’s Day ahead the accomplishments of men like Gitts who were once boys, have indeed proved to be our “greatest generation.”