I stayed in this camper in Froliche Nachtigal in Shermbeck Germany. This little camper park is between the Lippe Canal and the Lippe River to the north west of Dorsten Germany. I am not yet able go conform the exact location where the 75th Infantry Division crossed the Lippe Canal heading south east towards Dorsten.
The Lippe Canal ran right next to the camping site. Since the distance between the river and the canal is just about 500 feet, there would he a very good chance that my father and the C-Company men he was leading would have passed right through here 0n their way to The gap between the Lippe Fiver and the Lippe Canal at this site is just 50 yards. If the 75th Infantry was still clearing the gap between the waterways to this pint then They most certainly walked right through this site that is now set up with campers. I was camping right where they passed or perhaps set ip camp themselves. The Lippe Rover was to the right of thr camper I was staying in just a gew yeards away and there was a sign that let campers know that swimming was encouraged.
American engineer battalions we hard at work creating temporary bridges to make the canal crossing easier. 1st Lieutenant Arhtur Thorspecken was actually an engineer himself in civilian life. Arthur had attended NYU Engineering School but he dropped out af6er 2 years so he could join the army which needed boots on the ground.
Crossing the Lippe Canal left the troops exposed to enemy fire.