"The sole purpose of their raid was to get prisoners, and I was one of the unfortunate ones. Three Germans, all with their bayonets pointed at me, forced me out of my trench and, at a fast pace, moved me towards the Germans lines.
As we got closer, I hesitated; but a light bayonet thrust on my neck convinced me to not argue with them. As the warm blood ran down my back, I had decided to not spend the rest of the war in a German prison camp. This was it!
I deliberately fell into a shallow hole, hoping that it would look real enough to my captors. In their haste, they had initially neglected to search me and didn't find the trench knife tucked in my blouse. About this time, artillery shells began to rain down and the 3 Germans fell on the ground for cover. Before they rose to their their feet, I took my knife and struck one in the throat. Unable to pull it out, I clubbed the second with his rifle but the third managed to thrust his bayonet on my shoulder; hitting my spine, nerves and muscles. I couldn't breath or move. As he poised to finish me, fragments of an artillery shell killed him.
As I woke up, I had no idea how long I laid in front of the German trench. I must have passed out from the trauma. I wasn't concerned about the bleeding, but I knew that I was beyond the aid of my troops who were hundreds of yards behind me. I prayed to God, I even tried bargaining with Him. I then realized that if He would help me, it would be because He had further use of me. It was up to me if I was to survive." - Cpl. Quiren Groessl, F. Co.,5th Wisconsin Reg, 28th Inf., AEF, France 1918. #reality #ww1