Memorial

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Pfc Eugene I. Printzenhoff enlisted in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on 19 April 1943.
He worked in a machine shop before he enlisted.
The company was ordered to move into the area, given up by C Company, at night in the hills near Tillet. F Company somehow found the foxholes dug by C Company and settled in to defend their new position when all hell broke loose. A medic named, Elwood said he could not leave the wounded and decided to stay with them. The Germans came and Elwood, who was tending to the serious wounds of Eugene J. Printzenhoff, decided to carry his charge up a hill away from the advancing Germans. Elwood, who weighed 172 pounds picked up the 220 pound soldier and staggered one hundred yeards up the hill until they were overtaken by the Germans and captured. The day was 8 January 1945. Though Elwood had not yet heard about what happened in Malmedy thought he would be shot. He pleaded with his captors stating he was a medic and should not be captured and should be released. His mission was not military but humanitarian and he should be returned to his lines. They only laughed and denied his request. Elwood was then sent to the German battalion headquarters for interrogation and he was greeted by a German colonel who told him, that he had done a very brave thing on that hill that day. Elwood replied he was only doing his duty. He was a medic and should be set free. The colonel told him he was a prisoner of war and would stay where he was. Elwood and Printzenhoff were loaded in a German ambulance and sent towards the rear. The ride was frightening as they were subject to strafing along the route and had to take evasive action several times. They arrived at a field hospital and Elwood wanted the Germans to operate on Printzenhoff who had been shot through the stomach. The German surgean told Elwood they could not operate on him. "Who not?" asked Elwood. "Because we do not have any anesthesia!" Printzenhoff died within the hour.

The exact location of the German field hospital is not known.