Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
4:07 | Immediately when he got to the Vosges Mountains, Higginbotham and the other men were tasked with replacing the men that came before them. He was given the position of machine gunner and squad leader, and he recalls his first combat experience up in the cold mountains. (This interview made possible with the support of ANITA ENDRIS MANUEL.)
Keywords : Clarence Higginbotham France Vosges Mountains infantry combat machine gun squad leader Pfc sergeant front line German army return fire foxhole marching sleepwalking machine gunner replacement depot (repo depot) under fire
Clarence Higginbotham grew up in Georgia and studied for a little bit at the University of Georgia before enlisting in the Army. He was granted access into the Army Specialized Training Program, but once that was disbanded he was sent to Fort Riley for basic training. Once he was ready, he was shipped overseas to France. He talks about the living conditions he had to endure for the beginning of his time in the war. (This interview made possible with the support of ANITA ENDRIS MANUEL.)
While not in the midst of combat, Higginbotham and his company were taking some time to go around a flank. Suddenly, they heard the firing of enemy machine guns and, before he knew it, Higginbotham was hit in both of his legs, leaving him unable to stand or walk. He was transported by railroad to a hospital in England. (This interview made possible with the support of ANITA ENDRIS MANUEL.)
When he got back to his outfit, the war was still ongoing, and Higginbotham was still having trouble with his legs. While making their way through Germany, it was his job to keep an eye out for young Germans who might shoot from steeples. He remembers a time in particular that a young German boy shot at and killed one of them. Shortly after, the war was over and he got to go home. (This interview made possible with the support of ANITA ENDRIS MANUEL.)
