50 A Well, on entering the camp we found along the railroad, one platoon on each side in support, the first thing we came across was a number of boxcars full of bodies. That particular time the men got in a high state of excitement, worked up over that particular sight. As we started to enter the camp itself, the main gate where the trains went, an SS trooper came down the road with a Red Cross arm band. We could not understand what he was talking about but kept him with us at the head of the column. As we started into the camp he made a break through a box car and one of our men shot him. We continued on into the camp and by some armored cars on the tracks. My two platoons were cleaning out some of the buildings. I didn't see all of the particulars, the platoons continued down that road as there was scattered resistance in a lot of the buildings. They had machine guns set up to fire on the road. Then we by-passed some buildings. We got about 100 soldiers out. I segregated the SS troopers from the regular army soldiers, put them in a yard and marched the rest of them down the street in the rear of the platoons. It was about this time that some of the men in the yard on the right flank of that group started to move forward towards the guards. I ordered them back. They still kept going. I ordered a machine gun covering the road to come inside and hold them back, that if they didn't stay back to fire at them. While I was there they still continued to move forward on the guards and I told the machine gun to fire to hold them back. The Colonel at that time came up and stopped the men from firing and said he would take charge of the prisoners and keep some guards on them.

51 Q What is the name of that colonel?

A Lt. Colonel Sparks, the battalion commander. He was following the company up in the rear. At this time my other two platoons went down the road. I also turned over the other prisoners to him, those that were in the road. This done I pushed my third platoon down towards the right flank in the general direction of the crematory. Looking for a way through the crematory, we found a wall and on the other side of the wall was this big pen. The shouting went up from the camp, the inmates shouting and yelling. Then, when our platoon started to clear one of the towers and got about eight guards out of it. The guards were attempting to line them up on the road outside. I think what provocated the killing of those men was that one of the men had a gun, which he pulled when they were trying to line them up. Then, I sent for my other two platoons to come to the pen and set up a guard and clear the rest of the towers. About that time some units of the 42nd Division showed up at the far side of this pen. I understand that they had been in the camp also, because a couple of times they fired at some of my men who were bringing back prisoners. My first platoon was coming up to help on the main gate. Then, there was a firefight with the guards on the main tower. Then, I again met the battalion commander and he told me to deploy my company round the pen itself. Later on we were relieved by the 42nd Division. Also, it might be added that we picked up about 60 more prisoners, which we turned over to the battalion commander, and they were put together in the remaining towers.