State veterans recall WWII battle
Germans attacked Allies 61 years ago

As William O'Connell drove to work Friday on what he called a beautiful morning his mind drifted back to the Belgium-German border 61 years ago when all hell broke loose.

On Dec. 16, 1944, O'Connell was an artillery officer in the 18th Artillery when the Germans launched a surprise attack against Allied forces in what would be called the Battle of the Bulge.

The Germans overran some American units that day, but not the 18th Artillery.

"We were already in position with 105s (artillery howitzers), said O'Connell, 85, who lives in Norman and owns a lumber company.

Later that week, he led a 4.5-inch rocket launcher unit into a secluded area, where it fired rockets that destroyed a German ammunition depot.

"They (rockets) set the whole ammo depot on fire, O'Connell recalled.

More than half a million men on both sides would fight in the Battle of the Bulge, although many didn't realize how extensive the German attack was until much later.

Willis Johnson, 84, a Bixby native now living in Oklahoma City, was also in the 18th artillery when the battle began.

"We were in it before we even realized what we were doing, said Johnson, who was an artillery gunner.

His unit quickly realized German soldiers were in front of them and behind them.

The day the battle began was cold, and there was snow on the ground, he said.

"We were just fightin' for our lives, Johnson said.

Jack Talley of Bethany also was in the 18th Artillery the day the Germans struck.

The first he heard of an attack was when a sergeant told him and other soldiers that some kind of combat action was going on in the area, Talley said.

He was a messenger for the 18th Artillery and was at the 2nd Infantry Division.

Talley and another soldier in the 18th were told to get back to their unit.

"That was our ticket to get the hell out of there, Talley said.

Close calls

He had two narrow escapes on the way from the division to his unit.

First, a German artillery shell hit 10 yards from the jeep he was driving.

It blew the helmet off a soldier riding with him but didn't hurt either of them, Talley said.

Next, they were spotted by an American P-47 that was circling to strafe them.

As the plane circled, Talley told his buddy: "We don't have time to get out of here, and if he doesn't recognize us, he'll tear us up.

Fortunately, the P-47 pilot realized they were Americans, wiggled his tail and flew off, Talley said.

Those are his most vivid memories, although the Battle of the Bulge lasted until late January, Talley said.

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