Was Col. John K. Waters (Gen. Patton's son-in-law) wounded in the buttocks or the stomach during Patton's raid on Oflag XIII-B near Hammelburg?

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Background:

I have researched Patton's raid on Oflag XIII-B near Hammelburg March 26-28, 1945 using the following four sources:



  1. Wiki Article on Task Force Baum

  2. War History
    Online's article: The Real Fury: Patton's Disastrous 1945 Raid to
    Rescue His Son-in-Law


  3. Warfare History Network's article: Top Secret Missions:
    Liberating General George S. Patton's Son-in-Law


  4. Don Moore's War Tales: Harry Long was a POW with Patton's
    son-in-law


Summary:

In late March 1945, claiming he was worried about the Germans executing American POWs (ostensibly in the wake of the Malmedy massacre), General George S. Patton ordered a raid on Hammelburg's Oflag XIII-B POW camp to liberate the American officers imprisoned there. However, his real inent (based in part on letters to his family) was likely to rescue his son-in-law, Col. John K. Waters, who was a POW there. The assignment was given to Lt. Col. Creighton Abrams (whom the American M1 Abrams tank is now named after) of Combat Command B in the 4th Armored Division. Abrams wanted to proceed with a batallion or regimental sized force but Patton granted only a much smaller force for the rescue mission. Abrams could not go himself due to illness, so Capt. Abraham Baum was given the assignment and about a company of medium and light tanks and 300 infantry to penetrate deep behind enemy lines, liberate the camp, and return the POWs to safety.



Task Force Baum encountered heavy fighting on the way and suffered many casualties and lost several tanks and vehicles, but made it to the POW camp. During the confusion of the battle at the camp, Col. John K. Waters (Patton's son-in-law) was seriously wounded when shot by a German guard, and could not be evacuated with the rest of the POWs when the camp was finally liberated. The nature of the wound gives rise to my question below. (The initial liberation of the camp is not the end of the story, there was worse to come for Task Force Baum and the POWs, but to get to my question...)



Question:

Was Col. Waters wounded in the buttocks, or in the stomach? The first two sources above indicate the buttocks. The second two sources indicate the stomach. I cannot find a source that indicates multiple wounds (or a single hit with separate entry and exit wounds) so I don't think it is a case of both being true (though I grant that it is a possibility). Is there a superior information source which could clear up this discrepancy? I know it's only a minor detail in the larger picture of this incident, but I would like to know which account (if any) is accurate regarding the nature of Col. Waters' wound(s) in the raid.



Spoiler (for the curious):

Most of the POWs and Baum's task force were recaptured within a day following the raid, and taken back to Oflag XIII-B. Patton, who had not received permission from his superiors in Army Group 12 for the raid, was in trouble and faced Eisenhower's wrath. Patton deftly softened the blow of the tactically botched raid by pointing to the strategic success it offered through diverting large German forces away from the main body of Third Army, thus allowing an easier progression toward their more strategically important objectives. Ike was evidently mollified enough to not officially reprimand Patton for the incident.







share|improve this question


























    up vote
    17
    down vote

    favorite
    1












    Background:

    I have researched Patton's raid on Oflag XIII-B near Hammelburg March 26-28, 1945 using the following four sources:



    1. Wiki Article on Task Force Baum

    2. War History
      Online's article: The Real Fury: Patton's Disastrous 1945 Raid to
      Rescue His Son-in-Law


    3. Warfare History Network's article: Top Secret Missions:
      Liberating General George S. Patton's Son-in-Law


    4. Don Moore's War Tales: Harry Long was a POW with Patton's
      son-in-law


    Summary:

    In late March 1945, claiming he was worried about the Germans executing American POWs (ostensibly in the wake of the Malmedy massacre), General George S. Patton ordered a raid on Hammelburg's Oflag XIII-B POW camp to liberate the American officers imprisoned there. However, his real inent (based in part on letters to his family) was likely to rescue his son-in-law, Col. John K. Waters, who was a POW there. The assignment was given to Lt. Col. Creighton Abrams (whom the American M1 Abrams tank is now named after) of Combat Command B in the 4th Armored Division. Abrams wanted to proceed with a batallion or regimental sized force but Patton granted only a much smaller force for the rescue mission. Abrams could not go himself due to illness, so Capt. Abraham Baum was given the assignment and about a company of medium and light tanks and 300 infantry to penetrate deep behind enemy lines, liberate the camp, and return the POWs to safety.



    Task Force Baum encountered heavy fighting on the way and suffered many casualties and lost several tanks and vehicles, but made it to the POW camp. During the confusion of the battle at the camp, Col. John K. Waters (Patton's son-in-law) was seriously wounded when shot by a German guard, and could not be evacuated with the rest of the POWs when the camp was finally liberated. The nature of the wound gives rise to my question below. (The initial liberation of the camp is not the end of the story, there was worse to come for Task Force Baum and the POWs, but to get to my question...)



    Question:

    Was Col. Waters wounded in the buttocks, or in the stomach? The first two sources above indicate the buttocks. The second two sources indicate the stomach. I cannot find a source that indicates multiple wounds (or a single hit with separate entry and exit wounds) so I don't think it is a case of both being true (though I grant that it is a possibility). Is there a superior information source which could clear up this discrepancy? I know it's only a minor detail in the larger picture of this incident, but I would like to know which account (if any) is accurate regarding the nature of Col. Waters' wound(s) in the raid.



    Spoiler (for the curious):

    Most of the POWs and Baum's task force were recaptured within a day following the raid, and taken back to Oflag XIII-B. Patton, who had not received permission from his superiors in Army Group 12 for the raid, was in trouble and faced Eisenhower's wrath. Patton deftly softened the blow of the tactically botched raid by pointing to the strategic success it offered through diverting large German forces away from the main body of Third Army, thus allowing an easier progression toward their more strategically important objectives. Ike was evidently mollified enough to not officially reprimand Patton for the incident.







    share|improve this question
























      up vote
      17
      down vote

      favorite
      1









      up vote
      17
      down vote

      favorite
      1






      1





      Background:

      I have researched Patton's raid on Oflag XIII-B near Hammelburg March 26-28, 1945 using the following four sources:



      1. Wiki Article on Task Force Baum

      2. War History
        Online's article: The Real Fury: Patton's Disastrous 1945 Raid to
        Rescue His Son-in-Law


      3. Warfare History Network's article: Top Secret Missions:
        Liberating General George S. Patton's Son-in-Law


      4. Don Moore's War Tales: Harry Long was a POW with Patton's
        son-in-law


      Summary:

      In late March 1945, claiming he was worried about the Germans executing American POWs (ostensibly in the wake of the Malmedy massacre), General George S. Patton ordered a raid on Hammelburg's Oflag XIII-B POW camp to liberate the American officers imprisoned there. However, his real inent (based in part on letters to his family) was likely to rescue his son-in-law, Col. John K. Waters, who was a POW there. The assignment was given to Lt. Col. Creighton Abrams (whom the American M1 Abrams tank is now named after) of Combat Command B in the 4th Armored Division. Abrams wanted to proceed with a batallion or regimental sized force but Patton granted only a much smaller force for the rescue mission. Abrams could not go himself due to illness, so Capt. Abraham Baum was given the assignment and about a company of medium and light tanks and 300 infantry to penetrate deep behind enemy lines, liberate the camp, and return the POWs to safety.



      Task Force Baum encountered heavy fighting on the way and suffered many casualties and lost several tanks and vehicles, but made it to the POW camp. During the confusion of the battle at the camp, Col. John K. Waters (Patton's son-in-law) was seriously wounded when shot by a German guard, and could not be evacuated with the rest of the POWs when the camp was finally liberated. The nature of the wound gives rise to my question below. (The initial liberation of the camp is not the end of the story, there was worse to come for Task Force Baum and the POWs, but to get to my question...)



      Question:

      Was Col. Waters wounded in the buttocks, or in the stomach? The first two sources above indicate the buttocks. The second two sources indicate the stomach. I cannot find a source that indicates multiple wounds (or a single hit with separate entry and exit wounds) so I don't think it is a case of both being true (though I grant that it is a possibility). Is there a superior information source which could clear up this discrepancy? I know it's only a minor detail in the larger picture of this incident, but I would like to know which account (if any) is accurate regarding the nature of Col. Waters' wound(s) in the raid.



      Spoiler (for the curious):

      Most of the POWs and Baum's task force were recaptured within a day following the raid, and taken back to Oflag XIII-B. Patton, who had not received permission from his superiors in Army Group 12 for the raid, was in trouble and faced Eisenhower's wrath. Patton deftly softened the blow of the tactically botched raid by pointing to the strategic success it offered through diverting large German forces away from the main body of Third Army, thus allowing an easier progression toward their more strategically important objectives. Ike was evidently mollified enough to not officially reprimand Patton for the incident.







      share|improve this question














      Background:

      I have researched Patton's raid on Oflag XIII-B near Hammelburg March 26-28, 1945 using the following four sources:



      1. Wiki Article on Task Force Baum

      2. War History
        Online's article: The Real Fury: Patton's Disastrous 1945 Raid to
        Rescue His Son-in-Law


      3. Warfare History Network's article: Top Secret Missions:
        Liberating General George S. Patton's Son-in-Law


      4. Don Moore's War Tales: Harry Long was a POW with Patton's
        son-in-law


      Summary:

      In late March 1945, claiming he was worried about the Germans executing American POWs (ostensibly in the wake of the Malmedy massacre), General George S. Patton ordered a raid on Hammelburg's Oflag XIII-B POW camp to liberate the American officers imprisoned there. However, his real inent (based in part on letters to his family) was likely to rescue his son-in-law, Col. John K. Waters, who was a POW there. The assignment was given to Lt. Col. Creighton Abrams (whom the American M1 Abrams tank is now named after) of Combat Command B in the 4th Armored Division. Abrams wanted to proceed with a batallion or regimental sized force but Patton granted only a much smaller force for the rescue mission. Abrams could not go himself due to illness, so Capt. Abraham Baum was given the assignment and about a company of medium and light tanks and 300 infantry to penetrate deep behind enemy lines, liberate the camp, and return the POWs to safety.



      Task Force Baum encountered heavy fighting on the way and suffered many casualties and lost several tanks and vehicles, but made it to the POW camp. During the confusion of the battle at the camp, Col. John K. Waters (Patton's son-in-law) was seriously wounded when shot by a German guard, and could not be evacuated with the rest of the POWs when the camp was finally liberated. The nature of the wound gives rise to my question below. (The initial liberation of the camp is not the end of the story, there was worse to come for Task Force Baum and the POWs, but to get to my question...)



      Question:

      Was Col. Waters wounded in the buttocks, or in the stomach? The first two sources above indicate the buttocks. The second two sources indicate the stomach. I cannot find a source that indicates multiple wounds (or a single hit with separate entry and exit wounds) so I don't think it is a case of both being true (though I grant that it is a possibility). Is there a superior information source which could clear up this discrepancy? I know it's only a minor detail in the larger picture of this incident, but I would like to know which account (if any) is accurate regarding the nature of Col. Waters' wound(s) in the raid.



      Spoiler (for the curious):

      Most of the POWs and Baum's task force were recaptured within a day following the raid, and taken back to Oflag XIII-B. Patton, who had not received permission from his superiors in Army Group 12 for the raid, was in trouble and faced Eisenhower's wrath. Patton deftly softened the blow of the tactically botched raid by pointing to the strategic success it offered through diverting large German forces away from the main body of Third Army, thus allowing an easier progression toward their more strategically important objectives. Ike was evidently mollified enough to not officially reprimand Patton for the incident.









      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Aug 30 at 0:01

























      asked Aug 29 at 11:41









      Kerry L

      32013




      32013




















          1 Answer
          1






          active

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          up vote
          20
          down vote



          accepted










          In The Patton Papers: 1940-1945, Martin Blumenson cites the journal of Hobart R. Gay's journal entry for April 7th. Colonel (later General) Gay was Patton's Chief of Staff. The description is quite detailed and perhaps explains the conflicting accounts:




          Col. Odom returned with two cub planes, bringing Waters, shot through
          leg, bullett coming up through his buttocks and injuring his spine.
          Condition good, will live and probably not be paralyzed.




          Also in April, Patton wrote to his daughter Beatrice (Waters' wife) with a more technical and specific description, saying the bullet struck Colonel Waters




          in the left groin but below the peritoneal cavity. The bullet went
          through the rectum, knocked the end off his coccyx, and came out his
          left hip...




          The coccyx "is the final segment of the vertebral column".






          share|improve this answer


















          • 3




            Thank you! I think this information (and sources) should be used to update the Wikipedia article on Task Force Baum to enhance its accuracy.
            – Kerry L
            Aug 29 at 13:42







          • 3




            @KerryL - You appear to have somewhat of a passion on this history subject. Wikipedia is a community edited site to which you could contribute to add references and additional commentary.
            – Michael Karas
            Aug 30 at 1:55






          • 1




            @MichaelKaras - an interesting thought there - I have never considered myself qualified to contribute content to Wikipedia... always felt I would need a PhD in thinkology or something like that. But perhaps I should reconsider that. Thanks.
            – Kerry L
            Aug 30 at 15:50










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          1 Answer
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          active

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          up vote
          20
          down vote



          accepted










          In The Patton Papers: 1940-1945, Martin Blumenson cites the journal of Hobart R. Gay's journal entry for April 7th. Colonel (later General) Gay was Patton's Chief of Staff. The description is quite detailed and perhaps explains the conflicting accounts:




          Col. Odom returned with two cub planes, bringing Waters, shot through
          leg, bullett coming up through his buttocks and injuring his spine.
          Condition good, will live and probably not be paralyzed.




          Also in April, Patton wrote to his daughter Beatrice (Waters' wife) with a more technical and specific description, saying the bullet struck Colonel Waters




          in the left groin but below the peritoneal cavity. The bullet went
          through the rectum, knocked the end off his coccyx, and came out his
          left hip...




          The coccyx "is the final segment of the vertebral column".






          share|improve this answer


















          • 3




            Thank you! I think this information (and sources) should be used to update the Wikipedia article on Task Force Baum to enhance its accuracy.
            – Kerry L
            Aug 29 at 13:42







          • 3




            @KerryL - You appear to have somewhat of a passion on this history subject. Wikipedia is a community edited site to which you could contribute to add references and additional commentary.
            – Michael Karas
            Aug 30 at 1:55






          • 1




            @MichaelKaras - an interesting thought there - I have never considered myself qualified to contribute content to Wikipedia... always felt I would need a PhD in thinkology or something like that. But perhaps I should reconsider that. Thanks.
            – Kerry L
            Aug 30 at 15:50














          up vote
          20
          down vote



          accepted










          In The Patton Papers: 1940-1945, Martin Blumenson cites the journal of Hobart R. Gay's journal entry for April 7th. Colonel (later General) Gay was Patton's Chief of Staff. The description is quite detailed and perhaps explains the conflicting accounts:




          Col. Odom returned with two cub planes, bringing Waters, shot through
          leg, bullett coming up through his buttocks and injuring his spine.
          Condition good, will live and probably not be paralyzed.




          Also in April, Patton wrote to his daughter Beatrice (Waters' wife) with a more technical and specific description, saying the bullet struck Colonel Waters




          in the left groin but below the peritoneal cavity. The bullet went
          through the rectum, knocked the end off his coccyx, and came out his
          left hip...




          The coccyx "is the final segment of the vertebral column".






          share|improve this answer


















          • 3




            Thank you! I think this information (and sources) should be used to update the Wikipedia article on Task Force Baum to enhance its accuracy.
            – Kerry L
            Aug 29 at 13:42







          • 3




            @KerryL - You appear to have somewhat of a passion on this history subject. Wikipedia is a community edited site to which you could contribute to add references and additional commentary.
            – Michael Karas
            Aug 30 at 1:55






          • 1




            @MichaelKaras - an interesting thought there - I have never considered myself qualified to contribute content to Wikipedia... always felt I would need a PhD in thinkology or something like that. But perhaps I should reconsider that. Thanks.
            – Kerry L
            Aug 30 at 15:50












          up vote
          20
          down vote



          accepted







          up vote
          20
          down vote



          accepted






          In The Patton Papers: 1940-1945, Martin Blumenson cites the journal of Hobart R. Gay's journal entry for April 7th. Colonel (later General) Gay was Patton's Chief of Staff. The description is quite detailed and perhaps explains the conflicting accounts:




          Col. Odom returned with two cub planes, bringing Waters, shot through
          leg, bullett coming up through his buttocks and injuring his spine.
          Condition good, will live and probably not be paralyzed.




          Also in April, Patton wrote to his daughter Beatrice (Waters' wife) with a more technical and specific description, saying the bullet struck Colonel Waters




          in the left groin but below the peritoneal cavity. The bullet went
          through the rectum, knocked the end off his coccyx, and came out his
          left hip...




          The coccyx "is the final segment of the vertebral column".






          share|improve this answer














          In The Patton Papers: 1940-1945, Martin Blumenson cites the journal of Hobart R. Gay's journal entry for April 7th. Colonel (later General) Gay was Patton's Chief of Staff. The description is quite detailed and perhaps explains the conflicting accounts:




          Col. Odom returned with two cub planes, bringing Waters, shot through
          leg, bullett coming up through his buttocks and injuring his spine.
          Condition good, will live and probably not be paralyzed.




          Also in April, Patton wrote to his daughter Beatrice (Waters' wife) with a more technical and specific description, saying the bullet struck Colonel Waters




          in the left groin but below the peritoneal cavity. The bullet went
          through the rectum, knocked the end off his coccyx, and came out his
          left hip...




          The coccyx "is the final segment of the vertebral column".







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 4 hours ago

























          answered Aug 29 at 12:31









          Lars Bosteen

          28.1k7144190




          28.1k7144190







          • 3




            Thank you! I think this information (and sources) should be used to update the Wikipedia article on Task Force Baum to enhance its accuracy.
            – Kerry L
            Aug 29 at 13:42







          • 3




            @KerryL - You appear to have somewhat of a passion on this history subject. Wikipedia is a community edited site to which you could contribute to add references and additional commentary.
            – Michael Karas
            Aug 30 at 1:55






          • 1




            @MichaelKaras - an interesting thought there - I have never considered myself qualified to contribute content to Wikipedia... always felt I would need a PhD in thinkology or something like that. But perhaps I should reconsider that. Thanks.
            – Kerry L
            Aug 30 at 15:50












          • 3




            Thank you! I think this information (and sources) should be used to update the Wikipedia article on Task Force Baum to enhance its accuracy.
            – Kerry L
            Aug 29 at 13:42







          • 3




            @KerryL - You appear to have somewhat of a passion on this history subject. Wikipedia is a community edited site to which you could contribute to add references and additional commentary.
            – Michael Karas
            Aug 30 at 1:55






          • 1




            @MichaelKaras - an interesting thought there - I have never considered myself qualified to contribute content to Wikipedia... always felt I would need a PhD in thinkology or something like that. But perhaps I should reconsider that. Thanks.
            – Kerry L
            Aug 30 at 15:50







          3




          3




          Thank you! I think this information (and sources) should be used to update the Wikipedia article on Task Force Baum to enhance its accuracy.
          – Kerry L
          Aug 29 at 13:42





          Thank you! I think this information (and sources) should be used to update the Wikipedia article on Task Force Baum to enhance its accuracy.
          – Kerry L
          Aug 29 at 13:42





          3




          3




          @KerryL - You appear to have somewhat of a passion on this history subject. Wikipedia is a community edited site to which you could contribute to add references and additional commentary.
          – Michael Karas
          Aug 30 at 1:55




          @KerryL - You appear to have somewhat of a passion on this history subject. Wikipedia is a community edited site to which you could contribute to add references and additional commentary.
          – Michael Karas
          Aug 30 at 1:55




          1




          1




          @MichaelKaras - an interesting thought there - I have never considered myself qualified to contribute content to Wikipedia... always felt I would need a PhD in thinkology or something like that. But perhaps I should reconsider that. Thanks.
          – Kerry L
          Aug 30 at 15:50




          @MichaelKaras - an interesting thought there - I have never considered myself qualified to contribute content to Wikipedia... always felt I would need a PhD in thinkology or something like that. But perhaps I should reconsider that. Thanks.
          – Kerry L
          Aug 30 at 15:50

















           

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