The Decoy Doughboy

Souvenir Edition -- Printed in Czechoslovakia

May 23, 1945. -- Publishes by and for the men of the 18th Combat Team. -- First Infantry Division, U. S. Army.

Headquarters 18tb Infantry Regiment

APO 1, U. S. Army

TO THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE 18th INFANTRY REGIMENT, 32nd F. A. BN., CO. B 634 T. D. BN., CO. B 745 Tank BN., CO. B lst Med. BN., and CO. B Ist ENG. BN.

We have just completed one more volume in the history of the 18th Infantry. It is a story of hardship and danger, of bravery and death, of glory and accomplishment. -It is a story of battles that will live in history forever, like Oran, El Guettar, Mateur, Gela, Troina, D-Day, Caumont, Marigny, Mons, Aachen, the Hurtgen Forest, the Ardennes, Bonn, Remagen, the Roer Packet, and the Harz Mountains. It is also a story of countless skirmishes and patrols which will be forgotten and unknown except by the men who fought them.

This enviable record must certainly be a source of personal satisfaction for each of you who contributed toward it. You have won the admiration and respect of all other fighting men, from five star generals to private soldiers, and the gratitude of your nation.

It is fitting t this time to remember our dead. They have gone, but the memory of their deeds and sacrifice will always be with us who were fortunate enough to come through.

What the future holds for us is unknown, but wherever we may go or how we may be separated I know that you will feel, as I do, a sense of great pride and honor in having served :n the 18th Infantry Combat Team in this great war.

John Williamson

Lt. Col. 18th Infantry

Regimental Commander