When a group of
officers would be coming in from the field in
the back of a truck, we would often start
singing. I knew a lot of college and nonsense
songs, but Beine knew even more and he had a
fine deep voice.
Beine and I were
the same age.
We became good friends;
Lt. Walter (Buddy) Dixon of Bn Hq was about 5
years older; Lt. Francis Bingham about 10 years
older. We did a lot of singing, drinking
and partying generally. When in Nashville, we
would rent one of the large rooms where
salesmen display their samples. Beine would call
room service, have bell boys bring up ice and he
would mix drinks and kid the bell boys.
Sometimes he gave them close-order drill or
calisthenics and the boys loved this, as we were
usually generous with our tips. On one occasion
the hotel management called and asked us to
please send down one or two of the bell boys to
serve other guests.
While we were playful on weekends, Beine was an
able officer, who was liked and respected by the
men in his Reconnaissance Platoon and by
everyone else in the Battalion with whom he had
contact."
The 14th
Armored Division landed at Marseilles, France,
29 October 1944. The 19th AIB moved to the area
of Nice on the 13th, with the 68th AIB following
the next day. The two battalions were the first
elements of the Division to enter combat,
maintaining defensive positions in the Maritime
Alps along the Franco-Italian frontier.
By 11
December advance elements of the Division began
movement across the Moder River into the
Haguenau woods in preparation for an offensive
to clear the Alsace of German forces. The
Division began its attacks on 13 December and
reached the German border along the Lauter River
two days later. Led by troops the 19th AIB, the
Division crossed the river into Germany in the
area of Wissembourg. On the 17th they began to
attack the Siegfried Line in force. Despite
making good progress in breaching the German
defensive line, the Division was ordered to
withdraw into the Alsace on 19 December due to
the major German offensive in the Ardennes.
On New Year's
Eve, the 19th AIB was part of Task Force
Huddelson which was
stationed around the town of Baerenthal, in
support of elements of the 70th Infantry
Division.
Lt. Beine was
captured by the Germans on 1 January, 1945 in or
near Baerenthal, France during the opening blows
of the major German counter-offensive, Operation
Nordwind, which was launched in support of the
already fledging Ardennes offensive.
Lt. Jack DeWitt
continues:
"At the time of
Beine's capture, my platoon had been assigned to
protect the Command Post of "Task Force
Huddleson", located in the Village of Barenthal.
The Germans attacked and we drove them back. I
do not recall seeing Beine there, but here is
what our Battalion history says:
"The Reconnaissance Platoon under Lt. George K.
Beine had previously placed road guides at
Zinswiller, when the battalion column originally
moved through on its way to Barenthal. After the
column had passed, the road guides were picked
up, and the platoon moved on to Barenthal to
join the battalion. Upon arrival there, they
discovered the battalion had moved on further
toward Mouterhouse, and as Barenthal was under
attack, the platoon remained and aided "A"
Company. When the enemy's first attack was
repulsed , they remounted and started for
Mouterhouse, with the exception of Lt. Beine and
his driver, PFC Charles L. Campbell, who stayed
in Barenthal for another mission. They left
town, the reports say, and were never seen
again.
----This is all I can tell you about "Big
George", one of the nicest persons one could
ever meet."
Lt. Beine was taken to PoW camp Stalag XIIB in
Limburg, Germany. He was shot when trying escape
from the PoW camp and died on March 22, 1945 in
the hospital camp, Stalag (Lazarette - Hospital)
IXB in Bad Soden.
Lt. Beine was
awarded a Bronze star and an oak leave cluster
to the Bronze star.
1st Lt George K.
Beine is buried at Margraten American Military
Cemetery, Plot A Row 3 Grave 11.
