In the night of Jan. 11/12 Tommie had to join a patrol against the strongly fortified German lines. Suddenly they were fired at by German Tommy guns. One of his comrades, Pte. Jacob Breitman, was killed, Tommie himself badly wounded.

We'll let him tell his own story:
While I was lying out there in front of the German lines, I wouldn't have given a d.... for my life. It was bitterly cold. At first my comrades had tried to take me along, but I had such pains that they had to give it up. By myself I couldn't move from the spot, as I was wounded on both legs and the arm.
It was dreadful to think that I was to perish like a helpless beast. Within a few hours I would either bleed or freeze to death. I was thinking of our cornfarm in sunny Florida, of my folks and of Eileen, mi sweetheart, whom I had planned to marry. I cried for help as loud as I could. But there was no response. Wasn't it madness that I should die here! Why, after all, was I in this d...... place called Italy? Back home in the good old U.S. mine had been a peaceful life and I had been happy. it was a hellish thing to send us American boys into this European war to make us suffer and die--for what good?
After I had given up all hope, I heard all of a sudden voices which came nearer and nearer. German soldiers? What would they do to me? We had always been told that the Germans ill-treated their prisoners and I had believed it. but it was all different. When they realized that to carry me was too painful, they brought a stretcher and carried me to a house nearby. There was a German officer who spoke English. he gave me a glass of hot wine. It seemed to me the best drink I ever had. Then he gave me first aid. German soldiers put the stretcher near the fire place, gave me their blankets and offered me cigarettes and food. A few hours later an ambulance brought me to a military hospital where I was operated on. Here I am under the best of care and the medics tell me that I'll be all right again.
My folks have been notified that I am wounded and a P.O.W. I think of what I have gone through in that night, I'll say that I couldn't be better off. My first uneasy feelings regarding being taken prisoner have entirely vanished and I am glad to be out of the war.
I have just finished breakfast: coffee with white bread and butter and on top of it pancakes with apricot jam. It was a treat.
Tommie J. Peterson
P.F.C.
Serial Nr. 34793000