MAHANOY CITY — In the early hours of Dec. 16, 1944, there were growing hopes that World War II in Europe was nearing its end.
A Mahanoy City Army soldier learned by the end of the day, however, those hopes were premature.
Today marks the 75th anniversary of a surprise attack by German military forces that put the Allied armies in retreat against the huge offensive as a last-ditch effort to win the war.
A native of Mahanoy Township, Sgt. Francis C. Chesko, 95, had been fighting in the European Theater of Operations since June 7, entering Normandy at Utah Beach on the second day of the D-Day invasion, and working his way across France into Germany. At that time, he was with the 148th Combat Engineers.
“I made it all the way to the Baltic Sea,” Chesko said at his home, wearing his WWII Army uniform.
Chesko still lives at his Mahanoy City home and gets frequent visits from his daughter, Susan “Susie” Kester, whose lives nearby. He has some difficulties getting around, but he still gets out.
Chesko’s home is like a military museum, and he has been remembered for his service many times, the latest being in November at Penn State University’s Beaver Stadium at State College.
Wounded in France
The German offensive included more than 200,000 troops and nearly 1,000 tanks.
“... The Germans struck in the Ardennes Forest, a 75-mile stretch of the front characterized by dense woods and few roads, held by four inexperienced and battle-worn American divisions stationed there for rest and seasoning,” reads the Army’s website. “After a day of hard fighting, the Germans broke through the American front, surrounding most of an infantry division, seizing key crossroads, and advancing their spearheads toward the Meuse River, creating the projection that gave the battle its name.”
The German offensive lasted until Jan. 25, 1945.
As Chesko’s company moved across France, it was hit by shells and mortar rounds, causing him to be wounded. He still does not remember what happened.
After the attack, he woke to find himself in a field hospital and doctors were giving him blood and pulling the skin off his legs, face, arms and hands.
Chesko recuperated for 50 days in England before being sent to Holland on Sept. 7 to join the 7th Armored Division. By Dec. 1, his unit was in Acchan, which was the first city in Germany to be taken by the Allies. Fifteen days later, Chesko found himself fighting in the Battle of the Ardennes, most commonly called the Battle of the Bulge.
“I was in Acchan, Germany, and they told us to load up because we were going back,” Chesko remembered. “So we thought we were going back for R&R, but the Germans had pushed our lines back 50 miles.”
Chesko said there was no indication the Germans would launch an attack.
“We were completely caught by surprise,” he said. “There were so many tanks and troops. We didn’t think they had that much left.”
Chesko was in the Battle of St. Vith, which lasted six days. The small town was very important to the Germans since the six paved roads and railways there were needed for its army to continue its advance.
Even though the Allies lost the battle, holding the town for six days slowed the German momentum.
“St. Vith, Belgium, was the big battle,” he said. “It was a crossroad of roads and rails. We were supposed to hold it for two days and we held it for six. They finally pushed us out.”
Notable 21st
Chesko said after regrouping and with reinforcements, his company returned to recapture St. Vith on Jan. 23, 1945, which was an important day for him.
“We took it back on my 21st birthday,” Chesko said.
That previous December was not so pleasant.
“On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in ’44, I was eating snow,” he said.
“ They couldn’t find us to get supplies to us,” he said of the battalion of about 700 men.
One reason the German attack was so surprising is that it came me through the Ardennes Forest, which didn’t have any good roads through it, Chesko said.
There were other deceptions by the Germans.
“They dropped down paratroopers and they were well versed in English,” Chesko said. “They could speak as well as we did. They would change all the signs along the highway, and then we would go the wrong way and they’d capture us. We learned quick.”
Medical issues at the beginning of the offensive also caused many problems for the American troops.
“Many men lost their fingers and toes. For the first few days, we had no winter clothes, no gloves and boots,” he said.
When battling enemy troops, many were captured, according to Chesko, and they were interrogated afterward, adding that any answers were usually lies.
“They were very defiant. They didn’t want to give up their pistols or anything,” he said. “You had to force it from them.”
When the Ardennes offensive was over, Chesko’s battalion moved on to take Germany.
“We went into the Ruhr Valley in Germany and we captured 113,000 prisoners,” he said. “From there we continued on to the Baltic Sea.”
When Chesko got to the Rhine River, he met up with his old company, the 148th Combat Engineers. He explained his old unit had built a 1,300-foot bridge across the Rhine in a day and a half.
Special memories
One special piece of memorabilia is something he made for himself and likes to show off. A B-17 bomber crash landed near his position, but it did not explode, leaving a vital piece of equipment — the Norden bombsight. The top secret device was not to fall into the hands of the enemy, so Chesko was ordered to take his squad to the site and destroy the plane. While at the plane, he picked up a piece of metal tubing as a souvenir, and eventually made the piece into a ring.
Chesko has a story that he always likes to tell about the war.
“I dug a foxhole for two and I covered it with logs and dirt,” he said. “I put my TV in that corner, and my microwave in the other corner and my lounge chair in another. I just settled down and what do you think happened? Some old lousy sergeant comes along and tells us we’re moving.”
After laughing, Chesko said, “One guy actually believed that. He asked me where I got the electricity. Oh, gee!”
Chesko likes to smile and tell jokes.
“I tell people that I’m built backwards. My nose runs and my feet smell,” he said.
But his service was a serious matter.
Chesko was awarded the Purple Heart, five Bronze Stars, Good Conduct/World War II Victory Medal, European-African Campaign Medal, American Campaign/Army Commendation Medal and Presidential Unit Citation. The medals and ribbons are in a shadow box display in his home with many pieces of memorabilia, including his Colt .45 sidearm, German pistols and daggers, binoculars, photos and other items.
Contact the writer: jusalis@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023