Experiences of Soldiers from This Territory Told in Army Magazine
Robert Owen, Sioux Cityan, Member of Party in African War
One Sioux City soldier, Robert Owen: another Iowa soldier and one South Dakota soldier were mentioned in a recent issue of the African edition of Stars and Stripes, the United States army newspaper, as having taken part in a hazardous journey just before the initial break-through at Kasserine.
“A large group of Nazi armored cars rushed an infantry unit at Hataba pass and the order came through to disperse quickly to the hills,” said the article. “Three combat engineers, one medic, one guy from the motorized artillery, another from a cannon company, and one French horn player and one clarinet player in the infantry band all got together with three lieutenants.
“For seven days and seven nights they hunted for their lines, always one full day behind the German advance. Guided by a compass they marched through three days of rain, slept on wet ground, lived on bread and water and goat’s milk and six quietly killed chickens.
“After walking for days on their paper thin shoes they reached Sbeitia and after that Kasserine and Bou Chebka, only to discover that the Germans had been there ahead of them. So they kept moving, the medic treating their sore feet en route.
“They spent one night in an Arab hut and the next morning found all their rifles stolen except one that one guy slept on. Right after that they saw six Italians headed their way. With four pistols and one rifle they opened fire, killing one Italian, wounding another and capturing three prisoners. They kept their prisoners with them until it became too impractical, then they let them go.
“Early the next morning they came across a French patrol which directed them to the French line near Tebessa. Their first meal was corned beef, and that, they said, tasted like caviar.”
The South Dakotan in the party was John Pine of Deadwood. The other Iowan was Harold Au of Clinton.
The article was written by Ralph G. Martin.
The copy of the Stars and Stripes was received by A. E. Line, 3132 Jennings Street. It came from his son, Lieut. Col. Gerald Line, who himself has seen considerable action in North Africa and who has had some close calls.
Source: The Sioux City Journal-Tribune, April 9, 1943
IN UNIFORM
Lt. Col. Gerald Line is a guest in the home of his mother, Mrs. A.E. Line, 3132 Jennings Street. Since returning to the United States six months ago after having seen considerable active service in Africa early in the war, he has been stationed on the west coast but expects soon to be ordered back into active combat. Col. Line is a nephew of the late veteran fire chief, George M. Kellogg, whose funeral was held Tuesday.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, March 21, 1945
Kasserine Pass Campaign Revealed in Letter Here
Lt. Col. Line’s Story Now Made Public for First Time
A letter written by Lt. Col. Gerald C. Line, son of Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Line, 3132 Jennings Street, to his wife, 914 32d Street, on March 2, 1943, has been released following a statement made by Maj. Gen. Charles W. Ryder, commander of the 34th division in the Kasserine pass campaign, in which the general said it was Iowa’s 168th infantry that saved the allies from disaster in southern Tunisia early in 1943.
Lt. Col. Line was the only officer to come out of that campaign alive and he describes the action in the letter as follows: “We took it from the start on the chin and continued to for three days on very little food and water. When you stand up to the pride of the German Africa corps you know there has been a battle and it leaves you a little surprised that anyone is alive after it is over.”
“We came out at night and managed to get through their lines without a shot, but the next morning everything hit us in the open country and it became every man for himself of our little group. I had to take cover behind a hump in the ground from machinegun fire and I lay there until the Heinies moved on and had forgotten me. An Arab came over and sat down beside me and said the boche had gone, so I hunted a dry wash and his there the remainder of the day. The boche came around once looking for me, but not very close, so at dark I got an Arab to guide me over the mountain to a town I thought our troops held. You can guess my feelings when I heard Germans talking in an olive grove outside the village.”
Naps Near Germans
“I wandered around there looking for water until I found a stream and got half a canteen of water. Then I made a mistake of trying to take a 15-minute nap and slept until 6:30 a.m. so I had to hide in a cactus clump and cover up with cactus pads for the day. I thought sure I was a goner that day as the boche had a mortar set up about 200 yards from me and were wandering around the place all day, I got out of there in a hurry at dark and took to the desert.”
“Just missed a couple of German patrols, so I hit for the mountains, I had a wet time there as it started to rain. I found a niche under a rock and slept a few hours. The rain gave me some water to drink and I managed to get a canteen full, so I started for over the top. Well, between rain, fog and a couple of funny compasses I became lost and wandered around the top until I was soaked and badly scared. As a last resort I climbed down into a gully and found a trail that led down to the valley. I had made it over, but I will never know how, except that God was kind to me, and I wanted to see you and home again.”
Befriended by Arabs
“An Arab family fed me some boiled eggs and I made a cup of coffee so that put me on my feet again. I picked up an Arab guide a little later who helped me to find the road our troops were using, so about 4 p.m. I flagged an ambulance and got a ride to a hospital. They fed me breakfast in bed the next morning. I felt well again and went looking for the regiment. I was in command as Col. Drake didn’t make it back.***Between building up the outfit and sleeping I haven’t been able to do anything more.”
Lt. Col. Line also said that in the mountains he lost everything but his field bag and toilet articles, and that he had only one suit of clothing and hadn’t been able to take a bath since January 30, 1943.
He was home on leave in September, 1944, after 31 months overseas.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, August 1, 1945 (photo included)
