Vet's artillery crew saw action on German front

The most sobering moment for U.S. Army artilleryman Archie Buffington happened in the early days of his deployment.

It was late in the war, in the spring of 1945, and Buffington, a member of the 97th Division, 922nd Field Artillery Battalion, had just arrived at the the front lines in Germany.

The artillery was set up about a mile-and-a-half behind the lines to support the infantry.

Buffington's gun crew was responsible for firing 105 mm shells into the enemy when the forward observer — in this case a battalion first lieutenant — called in the coordinates.

That officer was killed just two days into battle.

“Seeing that first lieutenant come back on the back of a Jeep on a stretcher” said Buffington, his voice trailing off.

As the 97th Division pushed toward Berlin, the artillery kept up a relentless aerial attack, firing 40-pound shells — some designed to blow up on impact and others set to explode 20 feet above the ground.

Others, placed on the ground, were designed to be triggered when somebody approached the shell.

He said it was a wake-up call the first time the enemy fire made its way into the artillery battalion.

“The first time a shell came over — that gets your attention real quick.”

Buffington said the battalion moved around a lot, but was never sure exactly where they were headed — or from where they had come.

“We were in combat from March until June,” he said. “I didn't know where I was half of the time.”

To break up the monotony, the men would turn artillery work into a competition.

“There would always be a contest between the gun crews to see who could do it faster,” said Buffington.

He said a captain, worried that the men would burn out the gun, would come by and tell the men to slow down, Buffington said, laughing.

War was no laughing matter to Buffington, however.

While the artillery was relatively safe, he said those who fought at the front experienced the real fear of war.

“In the artillery, you don't experience what the infantry guys experienced,” said Buffington.

The 97th division made its way south, into Czechoslovakia, where it became part of Gen. George Patton's 3rd Army. The U.S. troops eventually met up with the Russian army.

Buffington said the 97th Infantry Division was credited with firing the last official shot in the European Theatre of Operations during World War II.

“This shot was fired by Pfc. Domenic Mozzetta of Company B, 387th Infantry Regiment, 97th Division, fired at a German sniper near Klenovice, Czechoslovakia shortly before midnight, May 7, 1945, thus ending the greatest war in the history of mankind.”

Those words are inscribed on the 97th Infantry Division “Last Shot” Memorial, dedicated Oct.12, 2000, at Fort Benning, Ga.