Memorial

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Sgt William C. Swartz attended Downers Grove High School.

This is an extract from a letter from S/Sgt Werner R. Busche to William's cousin, Glen Swartz:

Dear Mr. Swartz,
Sgt William C. Swartz was my assistant squad leader. I was squad leader of the 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon of Company L. We were a rifle platoon... your cousin was wounded near Witzenhausen on the Werra River. The Squad, Platoon, Company L was on a battle patrol, leading the regiment to capture a town called Nieder-Gandern located on a brook called the Leider River. We took this town and went into defensive positions (fox holes) because a counter-attack was expected due to heavy enemy artillery fire. Sgt. Swartz was mortally wounded by a near direct hit by a German 88.

Per Thomas Clewes, L Company: "A machine gun was in the steeple over a church in Nieder-Gandern. One of our tanks opened fire on it with their 50 cal. They practically tore off the top of the tower.
We raced into town, crossed the river on the east side and seized the bridge. As we moved into Neider-Gandern, the rest of the battalion following behind was pinned down by mortar fire.
Captain Bernard called for the machine guns out front. We crossed the river, and the company minus HQ and the mortar section moved out about 300 yards and dug in. I stayed back with the mortar section. The tanks and T.D.s hid among the houses in the town.
Shortly after dark, the rest of the battalion moved into town. The Germans fired a number of rounds at our position in the attempt to knock out the bridge. One round fell in close to the machine guns and killed Sgt Swartz and Pfc Tipton."