Memorial

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Pfc. Arthur W. Bates Jr. enlisted in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on 7 January 1941.

Pfc. Ervin Shaffer, Pfc Arthur Bates’ friend, became the squadleader of the 3rd squad, 3rd platoon on the day of Bates' dead. Sgt Shaffer remembers: "...When we crossed the Siegfried Line I was promoted to Sergeant and selected to lead the attack over a German bunker. I had given the Bazooka to another man and Bates may have been the gunner. We started up and over the huge Bunker, the snow was about knee deep. The man with the automatic rifle had fallen and injured his back so I took the gun from him and told his assistant to follow me. There was firing all around us and Pfc Bates was hit and died. I looked over to my left side and two Germans were laying behind a machine gun. I pointed to automatic rifle at them, then coming out of my innermost being was the scripture from The Holy Bible, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay saith The Lord.” I knew I was not to kill them. I kicked the machine gun out of the hands of the gunner and we captured both of them..." Shaffer and other troopers laid down covering fire while two or three wounded men were rescued and the company withdrew to holding positons about fifty yards away to regroup and issue more ammuniton.