Books and Documents

VOSSENACK-KOMMERSCHEIDT‑SCHMIDT
(2-16 November 1944)

The enclosed materials consists of:

1. A list of Battle Casualties of the 28th Infantry Division--exclusive of Killed and Missing which will be found in the Div G-1 or AG reports for November 1944--from the period 2-30 November 1944.

This period was decided upon at a short interview between Lt. Col. Seetz, Division Surgeon, and Capt. J. S. Howe (V Corps) as being the best one which would include all those cases of trench foot etc., developed by members of the Division, during and/or as a result of the action in the Hurtgen Forest.

2. Several reports made on medical evacuation etc., by Medical Officers of the 112th Infantry Regt either to the Regtl Surgeon or the Division Surgeon. Existence of these reports and eye-witness statements was discovered initially by Capt. [William J.] Fox. Three of these reports, according to Col. Seetz, were not immediately turned over to the Division staff, because of outspoken or implied criticism of high officers contained in the reports.

These reports bring out contradiction to many ‘atrocity’ stories on violation of the Geneva convention by the Germans. They bring out many of our own violations of aid station security. They portray graphically the difficulties, the confusion, the hopelessness of the deteriorated situation in the Kommerscheidt area once the Division had gone onto the defensive.

[signed]
John S. Howe
Capt. Infantry

SOURCE: National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 407, Records of The Adjutant General, U.S. Army, Combat Interviews (CI-76), 28th Infantry Division, Hürtgen Forest Campaign, Box 24032.

HEADQUARTERS 28TH INFANTRY DIVISION
OFFICE OF THE SURGEON
APO 28, U. S. ARMY

7 December 1944

SUBJECT: BattleCasualties.

1. The following is a list of battle casualties of the 28th Inf. Div. from the 2 Nov 1944 to the 30 Nov 1944 (inclusive).

Wounds - 1665

Battle Injury - 1037 (674)

Non Battle Injury - 310 (64)

Disease - 422

Combat Exhaustion - 620

Total B.C. 4054

2. A total of 738 casualties were diagnosed as Trench Foot, 674 were reported as Battle Injury and 64 reported as Non Battle Injury. This was due to the fact that during the period the classification of Trench Foot was changed from Battle Injury to Non Battle Injury by higher headquarters. This office was notified to that effect by the Surgeon’s Office, VIII Corps.

For the Surgeon:

[signed]
Stanley H. French
Captain, MAC
Office Executive