European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 16, 1945, Darmstadt, Hesse                                German guards stationed at the pm Cage ordered Smalley and Patterson to stand in the classroom while they took positions in the adjoining where they could keep their prisoners covered without exposing themselves to flying Glass if the windows were at that was the it didst work too the first both Shook the shattering some windows and forcing the two americans to huddle in a Corner to escape flying their guards waited safely in the the next bomb was a direct hit on the it landed squarely in the Center of the continuing Down through the hallway where the germans had taken when Smalley and Patterson dug themselves out of the they found various legs and arms of their four guards mixed in the All had been the two americans escaped with Only in the the two yanks found some German blankets and a couple of but food was another after going All the next Day without they decided to do a Little about they cautiously approached a House about 125 Yards it was evidently a nazi for they could hear German voices in the front that deterred them for a few but not they were too hungry to Stop they sneaked in a Back door which conveniently led into the while three Jerry officers talked a mindfully in the front the two american fugitives ransacked their there were no Staple but they did find a Jar of some sugar and and six bottles of red All of which they quickly still searching for meat or Smalley and Patterson tried an adjoining it turned out to be a German officers sleeping from the germans suitcase they got five packs of Jerry cigarettes and two badly handkerchiefs for the head colds they had contracted As a result of during the Daylight the two from their Vantage Point on a watched German soldiers trying to repair roads and i Bridges which american artillery and bombers had knocked they also saw the germans Load ammunition and Jerry cans of gasoline into ambulances plainly marked with red Cross on the afternoon of the two yanks decided to make a break through the German after three Days on a sugar and wine they were ready for any kind of a changed despite the risk Start ing at 1800 they headed Southwest from they passed within 20 feet of the Ger Man guards at the outposts but were not Chal at 0400 dead tired and they sneaked in a barn behind a belgian farmhouse and decided to spend the Daylight hours that was new years started out again at they walked until 2100 hours when they came to an open Field about two Miles right in the Middle of the Moonlit Clearing they spotted three Jerry patrols coming toward they flopped Down in the Snow and two of the patrols passed but the third had spotted the patrol loader flashed his when they didst answer his he started toward after 10 minutes of hair grading the patrol Cut Over near a clump of when they saw their Smalley and i Patterson ducked into the Woods and got it was just minutes before that was the most exciting new years eve i Ever want to Smalley said just before they walked into a quiet Little town which seemed to be after conning the place from the they decided it was probably part of romans with hands in they walked casually Down the Middle of the main turning to go Down another they bumped Square into a German the apparently let Loose with a frightened yell Amerikaner Amerikaner he started Smalley and Patterson followed in the opposite a few seconds from houses All Over about 40 panic stricken some without shirts or rushed out and headed for the nearby Hill toward which the americans were at first Smalley and Patterson thought they were being when a couple of Jerries sprinted past them in the darkness they caught the germans thought the town was under american taking shelter behind some Trees on the Smalley and Patterson watched the nervous Jerry soldiers cautiously return to the standing there to meet them was Someon Eevi Dently an off in explosive Ger Jii i youre a smart is he kept hollering Dummy opt Dpi Mart Kopf at his shamefaced at a Village a few Miles Down the the two yanks ran into More trying to get across a they were spotted by seven or eight they took off Down the River Bank with the germans in at what they figured was the narrowest Smalley and Patterson waded out into the icy fully when they reached the opposite Shore they were soaked to the skin and shivering in the near Zero the germans were still searching for them on the opposite that was 0630 on new years at 1530 that after twice circling around German the two fugitives reached a Here they Felt Safe enough to Stop and build a fire to thaw after nine hours walking in freezing their water soaked clothes were coated with suddenly they heard an English speaking voice on the other Side of the that an american Smalley its Patterson still mindful of his recent English speaking German there after a few seconds they heard More Patterson was convinced himself this he yelled Are you americans came Back the guarded so Are we Patterson we dont Trust said the americans on the other come out with your hands one false move and Well blow your brains the Hal Frozen fugitives came out with their hands up to be met by 15 levelled mis and the guns of an american after identifying they got medical treatment for expo sure from a battalion Aid both got to their outfits in time for new years dinner that other than minor exposure the Only ill effect of their six Days of Hildean seek be Hind enemy lines was Smalley loss of his fur lined cigarette lighter and they were taken by the germans who first captured