the C.P. that he had a minor injury to his left elbow but refused to be taken to the aid station. First Sergeant Albert J. Rosenblatt advised Isidor Tarnofsky to remain in the C. P. to ensure his safety. However, he disregarded this advice because he felt assisting his squad in reloading clips and magazines was necessary. When Tarnofsky returned, he started to lead his squad and carried out other duties; an immediate hit on his foxhole killed him, and Pfc Walter Trutko was seriously injured by the blast. For his actions, Isidor Tarnofsky would be awarded the Silver Star. With only two officers left, the NCOs took over many jobs besides their own. A meeting of all Platoon Sgts was called, and each Platoon was given a house to use as a perimeter defense and shelter from artillery and snipers. Fox quickly conducted a reconnaissance and discovered they were completely surrounded. The injured soldiers were cared for by Pfc. Joseph Saba, a mortar gunner, and former medic, as there was no conventional medical personnel available to help. Third Platoon, under the command of S-Sgt. Frank A. Leonard could not secure a house, so they decided to spend the night in their foxholes and assist in the defense from their positions. All the aid packs were used, as were old sheets and clothing discovered in nearby houses. After a fierce engagement, the First Platoon's troops were forced to retreat through the same route they had taken to approach the town after running into a dug-in machine gun nest. When German forces overcame the Second Platoon as it cleared out a house to its left, practically every member was killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. All the men who were not crippled searched every house for food because none was available. The Weapons Platoon chose to use the company C. P. as a shelter for some warmth and sleep, pausing to rub their feet to help prevent trench foot, which was increasingly common. In the C. P. cellar, an old well existed, and halazone tablets were used to make the water drinkable. Water like this kept Fox's soldiers alive throughout the struggle. The pears were rotten and full of shrapnel when they fell from the pear trees, which were located about 50 yards from the C. P. (then) Pfcs Dennis H. Keown and John W. Sansone crept out, picked up a few,