As mentioned earlier, at some point
Eugene gets a furlough. Generally this are 30 day for rest, relaxation
and recuperation and to spend time with family. After the fighting in St.
Barbara and the attrition within the 377th it would seem that this would be the
time period for a furlough.
Much of what happens to the 95th and
the 377th after January of 1945 is clean-up. While only a few miles from
the Siegfried line, the 377th would not cross it, instead the 95th is moved to
Belgium and reassigned to the Ninth Army.
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| 2nd Armored Div. |
Germany
By the end of January, their new regimental reserve area would be not far from Bastogne in the town of Herdern. Here the 1st bn would reorganize, care and clean weapons, receive additional training and rest and clean up. The men would be housed in homes of the civilian population, enjoying heat and electricity, warm water and the kindness of the people. On February 13th, the 377th would be placed under the command of the British 2nd army in relief of British troops. In March, they would be moved into the area of Mersch Germany. Here they would hold positions along the Rhine. The 1st bn would move from Spiel Glindholz, where they would prepare for an attack that would carry them to the banks of the Rhine. Here they would meet little resistance and only light artillery fire, however the Anti-tank and Cannon Companies would rain heavy fire on the enemy positions in Duisburg. On the 10th, the regiment was relieved and move to Kaster, Germany. Here they drilled and trained until the 27th when it moved across the Rhine.
By the end of January, their new regimental reserve area would be not far from Bastogne in the town of Herdern. Here the 1st bn would reorganize, care and clean weapons, receive additional training and rest and clean up. The men would be housed in homes of the civilian population, enjoying heat and electricity, warm water and the kindness of the people. On February 13th, the 377th would be placed under the command of the British 2nd army in relief of British troops. In March, they would be moved into the area of Mersch Germany. Here they would hold positions along the Rhine. The 1st bn would move from Spiel Glindholz, where they would prepare for an attack that would carry them to the banks of the Rhine. Here they would meet little resistance and only light artillery fire, however the Anti-tank and Cannon Companies would rain heavy fire on the enemy positions in Duisburg. On the 10th, the regiment was relieved and move to Kaster, Germany. Here they drilled and trained until the 27th when it moved across the Rhine.
At this point, the 377th's mission
would shift to the Ruhr manufacturing district. The 377th would
coordinate it efforts with the 2nd Armored Division and move north of the Ruhr
Valley. To do this, they would move in 2 columns, Combat Command unit.
Eugene's company C would become part of the CCR (reserve). With the
Armored Tanks and vehicles and the battle hardened veterans of Metz and
Saarlautern, the push into the heart of Germany would dash into Germany and
isolate the Ruhr Valley and Hitler's industrial war machine.
Ruhr Valley
The CCR unit, following the rapidly
advancing elements, would meet their first action in Olfen. Thanks in part to
the support of the USAAF strafing of the area, the enemy fighting quickly
ceased and were flushed out. By April 1st, the 1st bn would move further into
Germany and find themselves in Wiedenbruck, having only been met with minor
skirmishes.
Eugene's Company would be deployed
with the 66th Armored Regiment and as the moved into Wiedenbruck were met with
a small, determined force of Germans entrenched along a railroad track.
Demolitions team crawled to within 200 yards of the entrenched troops.
When a troop train tried to cross, the team detonated the explosive and
destroyed the tracks. This resulted in 250 German prisoners and the
capitulation of Wiedenbruck.
With all the coordinated attacks
from element of the 377th, by April 2nd, the Ruhr Valley was isolated and the
Germans' ability to make war was several diminished.
Furlough
Earlier, I stated the Eugene
received a furlough. If my speculation was correct, during this time
Eugene would have been stateside, resting and relaxing with family and friend
back home. His granddaughter Brandy conveyed to me a story I will share
here. 
After Eugene returned stateside, on
his first day back home, Grandmother Kessler told him that she would make him
anything he wanted for dinner. Eugene decided that he would like ham and
mashed potatoes. Eugene's older brother Donald, either just being a
sibling or just being argumentative, expressed his desire NOT to have Ham and
mashed potatoes, to which Eugene promptly head to his gear, pulled out a
package of K-rations, set them on the table in front of Don and say,
"Here, you can have this!". I believe this ended any further
discussion on the matter of what would be for dinner. (Next, Occupation,
Training, Camp Shelby) 
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