Memorial

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His friend Pfc Guy C. Whidden wrote about how he died in his book "Between the lines and beyond": I was with friends who would never be equaled again in my lifetime. There were four of us including myself, all privates: Charles "Chuck" Schmollinger, George Lineberry, and Ira Brookings. We were grouped together in a closely cut field not to far from a hedgerow. Mortar fire was raining in on us from two sides and obviously in a well-orchestrated pattern. Getting close to the ground was the best way to survive unless you had a mortar round come in 'dead one'. Until we decided our next move, two of us lay on the ground, both with our right leg resting on our bent left knees in a raised position. Both Chuck and George seemed to be kneeling too upright. The German prisoners given to me to "care for" were off to the side and hugging the ground. We would glance around to seeck out or leaders for our next move, but the only movement was of those running for cover and they were dropping all around us. While Chuck looked down for his kneeling position, we carried on a constant conversation. I happened to glance off to my right and saw Pvt John Markowitz running with a few other to a safer spot. John dropped to the ground and was later reported KIA. As we talked, mortars appeared once again to approaching our spot. Our conversation halted when a mortar round landed beside us. As I lookes up at Chuck, he continued to look down at me as he knelt, then blood appeared from his nose and ears. There was no immediate evidence of other wounds. Concussion had ended the life of my friend and a fearless young soldier.