John R. Scales - A Reluctant Heros Footsteps

Copyright 2013 John R. Scales

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-9648-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-9649-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013909601

Printed in the United States of America.

WestBow Press rev. date: 5/29/2013

Contents

Also by John Scales

Sherman Invades Georgia

To my parents,

Dick and Anne Scales,

both Reluctant Heroes.

Any book such as this is the result of the efforts, not only of the author, but of many others behind the scenes. Most important, of course, are my children. Richard drove the rental car throughout France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany, and only stalled it once (which I did, tooEuropean stick shift cars are often rather underpowered). Mary, although not along for the original trip, provided encouragement and accompanied me when I needed some follow-up photos, and Stephen lent his abundant common sense to our detailed itinerary at every turn.

My friend Crystal Harrison heard me talk about the trip and, knowing I was somewhat an author, suggested I turn the story of the trip into a book. I hadnt even thought of that, so in some sense this is all her fault.

The National Archives staff, both in Bethesda, Maryland, and St. Louis, Missouri, was very helpful in every way. As an appendix to this book I offer a few words of advice on how to navigate among these archives for those who would like to replicate this effort for their family.

Stephen Everett of the US Army Center for Military History provided the 1944 organization of a rifle platoon and pointed me towards the maps at the National Archives.

There is an 83rd Infantry Division Association active on Facebook and the web. Some of the unit members still attend reunions, such as the 66th Reunion in Nashville in 2012. Dave Curry, the association historian, was the person who posted the records on the internet that started this journey. Many others, including William Spriggs, a World War II veteran of C Company, Jelle and Eric Thys of Belgium, Marc Miller, and Jean Paul Pitou of France all offered encouragement. All are active in the association and have posted photos and records that greatly illuminate the trials of the soldiers of the division.

Of course, responsibility for any errors is mine alone, so I hope there are as few as possible!

Lieutenant Thomas R. Scales

My father, Thomas Richard Scales, rarely talked of his military experiences but the Army was a shadow always present when I grew up. His left tibia had been shattered in northern France in 1944 and he always walked with a limp. He could not run. In his closet, however, were items fascinating to a young boy such as me: a Nazi dagger and cap, a German camouflage poncho, patches, ribbons, and other bits of clothing. Among other influences, these inclined me towards a military career.

In 1994, the 50th anniversary of D-Day, I proposed to take him to Europe to visit the places he had been, but he waved me awaynot interested. Five years later he died and I thought the opportunity to see it through his eyes was gone forever. I had some of his old personnel records that gave some insight but the real details were not there.

In 2011 by chance I discovered the after action reports of the 329th Infantry Regiment, his wartime unit, on the internet. An idea was born: use these to reconstruct my fathers path in World War II. I would take my three children, Richard, Mary, and Stephen, on a trip to retrace those footsteps. For several months I worked on the records, transforming them into a guide to the ground. Final arrangements were made for September of 2011. Richard would take vacation from his job. Stephen would use the trip as the kickoff for his wanderjahr . Marys study of art restoration in Florence had already started, so she had to drop out but was able to join me on a subsequent trip.

This book is about our trips, but it is much more. It documents the story of a man and his family, the story of a unit, and the story of two trips. As far as possible I tell the tale of my fathers life with pictures and artifacts from that life. In parallel I relate the history of the unit he joined in combat, inserting pictures where I can. In fitting all the records together with the trip itself, I discovered my father in new ways and built a memory for my children.

John Scales

Huntsville, Alabama

October, 2012

Thomas Richard Scales was born on March 12, 1914, to Dr. John Perkins Scales and his wife Nelle Stallings Scales. Dr. Scales was a family physicianthere was no other kind in rural Alabama back thenin Livingston, a small town near the Mississippi line. Called Dick by everyone, my father enjoyed the attention of his parents and two older half-brothers. Their mother unfortunately had died several years prior.

Dr. and Mrs. Scales with Infant Son Dick

As a young child Dick had a mild case of polio, an endemic disease back then, and had to wear supporting leggings. He recovered with no lasting ill effects.

Leather Leggings

However, out in the larger world events were occurring that would have a profound effect on him and his family as well as the country and the world. Within six months of his birth, the Great Powers of Europe went to war in what was then to be called the Great War or the World War, now known to us as World War I. Although initially the United States stayed neutral, the war drew the country into its folds, culminating in a declaration of war by Congress against Germany on April 6th, 1917.

The United States embarked upon the immense task of building an army. Although the Mexican Incursion during 19161917 had resulted in a minor buildup of the armys strength over the 93,000 officers and men in the Regular Army (half overseas) and 27,000 National Guardsmen in 1914, the aggregate strength of both was just over 200,000 men when war was declared. In comparison the French Army lost 187,000 men in a little over three weeks starting in mid-April 1917. By the wars end in November of 1918, the U. S. Army had expanded twenty times over to almost 4,000,000 men.