The 8th Reconnaissance Troop was activated May 15, 1943, at the Desert Training Center, Camp Laguna, Ariz., with personnel consisting of members of B Troop, 8th Reconnaissance Squadron, 8th Motorized Division. At the completion of Desert Training in August 1943, the Troop, along with the Division, was sent to Camp Forrest, Tenn., where it was staged for an overseas movement. On December 5, 1943, if left Camp Kilmer, N. J., on the USS EXCELSIOR for duty In Northern Ireland, where it remained until June 28, 1944, to be sent to the Normandy beachhead.

Our first engagement was in the vicinity of La Haye du Puits, France, on July 7, 1944. If was there we had two armored cars destroyed by mines and suffered our first casualties in the 3rd Platoon. On July 27, the Troop moved into an assembly area in the vicinity of Lauline, France, with orders to be prepared to move in front of the Division to regain contact with the enemy when the breakthrough had been effected. On July 27, the 3rd Platoon lost another armored car when if tangled with a mine near Lauline.

During the wild chase across France, the Troop had the mission of protecting the right flank of the Division until at Rennes, France, the best mission was assigned the Troop. It was there we were given the mission of going to Chateaubriant to block all roads and keep tab on some 18,000 Germans who had been reported massing along the Loire River. Being some 40 miles from the nearest help made the situation uncomfortable but if had its advantages. For seven days the Troop enjoyed the hospitality of the French population - especially the girls and cognac.

It was there some 50,000 cases of cognac, wines and other spiritous drinks were uncovered in a warehouse abandoned by the Germans. We had the pleasure of recovering 10 Allied aviators who had been taken care of by the FFI and other patriotic French. Also, at this time, the Troop had a small part in the dropping of large quantities of supplies and arms to the FFI from airplanes and all during the time the dropping took place, the Germans were observing the whole show from a distant OP.

On August 12 the Troop, along with the Division, assembled west of Dinan preparatory to moving to take part in the reduction of the strongpoint of Brest. But after an all-day trip, we received word of a German tank column moving toward Rennes and were sent to investigate. Fortunately, for us, the report was not correct.

After our return to the Division we were assigned the mission of making regular reconnaissance runs on the right flank of the Division in the vicinity of St. Renan and east to the Atlantic and north to Ploudalnegeau. During the afternoon of August 29 we were attached to the 13th RCT and placed on their right flank in the vicinity of Lantal to

make contact with the 29th Division. Orders were received on September 14 to assemble and prepare for a movement to the Crozon Peninsula and remain in Division reserve.

The night of September 17 the 1st platoon was assigned the mission of moving out in front of one battalion of the 28th RCT the next morning. Once the movement started the 1st platoon was bogged down by so many Germans wanting to surrender. It was then that the other two platoons were sent out and they, too, made a big haul. After a five-day maintenance period the Troop began a 700-mile march to Luxembourg and closed in on the assembly area on September 30.

After a five-day road march, the Troop closed in on an assembly area on September 30 in the vicinity of Oberfeulen, Luxembourg. We moved from there into the line, assigned to hold a battalion front. After suitable attachments had been made, things went along smoothly until the third of October, when we again became involved -in a small war, but no serious damage was done. Never before in the history of the unit had so many counterattacks been made by various fowl and four-footed animals as were received during our stay in Luxembourg. Our first experience with Allied aircraft was on November 8 during a snow storm when a P-47, out of gas and lost, made a crash landing near Marnach and obliged us to put a guard on it.

On 16 November we moved to the Hurtgen Forest and relieved the Reconnaissance Troop of the 28th Infantry Division. Our first impression of the prevailing conditions was not too good because, at that time, the place was covered with snow and mud and there was nothing to live in except a few huts, plenty of foxholes, and a destroyed pillbox. It was in that beautiful setting the Troop spent Thanksgiving, but a fine meal of turkey, supplemented with some cognac from France, saved the day.

After a none-too-pleasant stay in the Forest, we moved to the town of Hurtgen - or what was left of it-where we were attached to the 121st RCT. One platoon was attached to each of the three battalions and placed on line as a holding force.

On December 16 we fell heir to the important Kleinhau Garrison in addition to our other duties, but received some attachments of a Tank Platoon and a platoon from AT Company of the 121st Regiment. If was during this assignment that the Germans started their counter-offensive to our south and at the very place we had previously been in Luxembourg. In our sector we had a lot of air activity and daily strafings from the Jerries. Christmas, 1944, was not too pleasant for us, but packages from home and a big turkey dinner helped to dispel some of the loneliness for home and loved ones. For our New Year's celebration we delivered extensive fire on the enemy and, of course, received some as a return present.

After a short rest and performing maintenance the Troop was put in line on the 9th of January, this time along the Roer River 10 miles south of Duren, where we remained until February 7, when we moved to Scherpensul to rest until the Roer crossing.

For the crossing, the Troop became the basis for a task force and had attached a Tank Platoon and direct support from an Artillery Battalion.

On February 22 the Task Force moved across the Roer and had the mission of outposting Neiderau just south of Duren. All night the Germans attempted to destroy the bridge behind us with bombs and rockets. This, along with heavy artillery fire, made it a little uncomfortable.

One battalion of 28th Infantry was in Stockheim and on the 25th we received the mission of relieving them. This was accomplished, but not until we had lost two of our tanks by mines.

After a sizable bridgehead had been established, the Division began the wild dash to the Rhine and since there was no unit to our immediate right the mission of protecting that flank was assigned the Task Force, Things went along fine until on the afternoon of February 28 when a small pocket of German SP guns and tanks, supported by infantry, was discovered in the vicinity of Onnau. A dismounted reconnaissance patrol became involved in a fight and had to be assisted by our tanks and supporting TDs before they could return. It was at this time Cpl. Archie Piro earned for himself the Silver Star for gallantry in action.

After we reached the Rhine River and took part in several fighting engagements, we patroled the river from Bonn to Cologne and Worrington. After a short rest and performing maintenance, the Troop began movement from the vicinity of Cologne, and crossed the Rhine River at Bonn, and upon arrival at the new area we were given our first Reconnaissance mission: securing the Division right flank and clearing the enemy from within the sector to the Sieg River.

On moving to our objectives we were held up by the 4th Cavalry who was having a fire fight. After bivouacking for the night in the vicinity of Fischelbach, the Troop then moved on toward its objectives and captured several towns, and then encountered heavy enemy armor which held up our advance.

The 3rd Platoon was given the mission of taking the town of Erntebruck, but after sending in several dismounted reconnaissance patrols the town was outposted with several Panzer Tanks, which held up their movement. The 2nd and 1st Platoons were ordered to fake two towns on theright of the 3rd Platoon. Here, again, they were stopped by enemy tanks. It was later believed that General Von Model's CP was located in Erntebruck.

There was a big morale factor in the Troop when we were supported by one platoon of Tank Destroyers, as we had no communication with the friendly troops on our left or right flank, and our rear was not too well protected. Still we were unable to move to our objectives with the kelp of the TDs against heavy armor. We received several counterattacks which were repulsed again and again.

The Troop was relieved of their mission by an infantry battalion which received heavy losses, and then we, a small reconnaissance troop not as large as a rifle company, were to retake these towns.

We left this sector and moved toward Siegen, one platoon attached to each infantry regiment, and moved continuously day and night, and received some missions that should have been the job of the tanks or TDs but the boys carried out their orders commendably.

After the fighting, or mad rush into the Ruhr Pocket, was over with we moved to Cologne and occupied good quarters, but had a feeling if wouldn't last long. It didn't.

We then prepared for the long move north, and assembled in Wriedel in the vicinity of Luneberg, where we carried on small unit training for approximately one week, and made preparations for the crossing of the Elbe River. After the river crossing, we were surprised to see the Germans giving up as they did. for it was our belief Mat the Germans would make their last stand in this part of Germany.

After two days of 'moving, with not much fighting taking place, the platoons were making good progress. The Troop CP was finally set up in Viez, 10 miles south of Schwerin.

The Germans began surrendering without any fight whatsoever. The main reason was that they were running away from the Russians. The Germans commenced surrendering by companys, divisions, corps and even armies. It was an odd thing to see, the prisoners going to the rear without any guard. The boys were receiving plenty of war trophies, and small arms were hauled in by the trailer loads. Each man had at least three, to our knowledge.

Enough saddles were sent home to equip a horse cavalry troop. But the most important day of all was when the Germans surrendered unconditionally on May 8. This was the day we had all been waiting for.

While in this particular area, we visited a German concentration camp near Ludwgslust, which was a horrible sight and will be remembered by all.

All members should remember the free entertainment we witnessed while at Viez on the street corner in the afternoons.

We moved from this location to Veckerhagen, vicinity of Kassel, on the Weser River, where fishing, swimming and boating was enjoyed by all.

From here we had a long move to make across Germany, Luxembourg. and France, to Camp Old Gold, the staging area for the 8th Division. The boys who made the move by train in the 40-and-8 cars will find their trip difficult to forget.

On June 29, 1945, we boarded the USS GEN. GEORGE S. SQUIRE at Le Harve, and no one was late getting aboard. That was one formation they made sure not to miss.

On the 8th day of July we saw the shore of the United States-for most of us the first time in over 18 months. After spending another night on board ship in the harbor, we arrived at Camp Patrick Henry, Va., for a few days and then we received well-earned 30-day furloughs. After our recuperation leave, we assembled at our present station (1945), Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.