fly, Over us until we die; Give us faith, our children too, To love the old red, white, and blue. -Sgt. Howard R. Barnes "So Long" By Sgt. Howard R. Barnes They say I'll soon discard this gun; some months ago I used it some; The infantry is tops, I say; it takes doughfeet to win the day. The three years I spent in tan, Were years that made me a man; When my discharge comes, I'll fly; recruits are here to occupy. Buddies, those days we spent in war, All helping settle an old score; We won't forget friends at our side; remember also those who died. Civilian clothes will be okay; It will be nice to have my say: In different places I'll meet you, New York, Chicago, Dallas too. Old buddy don't forget that day; You saved my life, that shot did pay: You won't forget V-E day too, The night you drank too much kraut brew. My address is also in this book; if you're ever near, come see me look; For we shall meet somewhere, someway, Comrades in arms, good luck, good day. -Sgt. Howard R. Barnes Battle of Kesternich Dec 13th - Dec 21st According to the overall Allied plan, the 9th Army was to break through the Cologne Plain, where the flat terrain was ideal for armored divisions to dash the Rhine. The north-flowing Roer River and the three big dams on the upper Roer near Schmidt were a barrier that had to be seized and held. The attack was on December 13th in the region of Lammersdorf. Pastenbach was the first town that Fox Company entered.; The first town that the Fox Company entered was Pastenbach; when they left on January 13th, it was freezing, and the snow that had fallen three days earlier was frosted over and was deceptively thick. They settled in for the night after entering Simmerath further to the west. The Company was awakened by rifle fire early on December 14th; patrols were organized and sent out to find the snipers, but to no avail. Captain John H. Sharp called his Platoon leaders, Lieutenants William J. Barton, Burrel B. Budden, Donald Horsch, and T-Sgt John D. Loos, and gave them the plan for the next move. With the first Platoon in reserve, the second Platoon was selected as the base platoon and launched. It was followed by the