Bob Rutledge Lawson

"The squad leaders took their respective squads and put them in position and by 0600 the 26th Division was completely relieved in our sector.  The CP's and OP's were manned -- Charlie Company had hit combat despite all words to the contrary that had been uttered since the days at Camp Shelby.  The First Platoon was holding down the hot spot of the Battalion front with enemy machine gun and sniper fire constantly staring them in the face.  Mortar and Artillery fire was intense in the entire area.  Certain streets were covered by sniper fire and we all learned just where they were as a matter of self-preservation.  Nightly ration 'runs' were a necessity and for the first few nights the pot and pan factory was a real obstacle.  We had our first man killed in action on our first day of combat when a mortar shell dropped in front of Bob Lawson, while he was on guard at the First Platoon's hottest spot -- Red OP 5."
Extract "We Are Proud: History of Co. 'C' 260th Infantry" https://www.lonesentry.com/ccompany/index.html