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From our dear Friend, Bob Murrell, Secretary/Editor of the 80th Infantry Division (Thank you Bob!) comes the following narrative of the combat action for April 2, 1945 in which Corporal Lawrence Shea was killed:

On 2 April 1945, the 1st Bn 318th Infantry, near OBERZWEHREN started to advance north at 0400 and at 0430 it was at NIEDER ZWEHREN. At 0455. Leading elements were entering the southern limits of KASSEL. At this time, the enemy launched a counterattack of infantry supported by twelve tanks. The attack was moving south in the area between the towns of NORDSHAUSEN and OBERZWEHREN, near the railroad station. It did not break into the Battalion lines but advanced to the south through the gap between the Battalion left flank and the right flank of the 2d Bn 318th Infantry on the left. Communications were disturbed and the Battalion advance was held up. Stiff resistance was encountered and heavy damage to the supporting tank destroyers was sustained. The enemy counterattack moved south to the town of ALTENBAUNA and to the vicinity of KIRCHBAUNA. This attack was broken up by elements of the 318th and 317th Infantries. At 1540, another enemy counterattack driving southwest to NIEDER ZWEHREN was launched in the vicinity of WAHLERSHAUSEN. The attack was softened by our artillery and the 1st Bn 318th Infantry was able to break it up in the vicinity of NIEDER ZWEHREN, Resistance was extremely sever and heavy small arms, anti-tank and tank fire were encountered. By evening the 1st Bn 318th Infantry was able to fight its way into the southern outskirts of KASSEL, but was still meeting heavy opposition.

The 2d Bn 318th Infantry on 2 April 1945 moved forward to attack in the early morning from its positions north of GROSSENRITE. The attack was directed toward ALTENRITTE, which had been taken and cleared. The advance was continued northwest to the high ground and BRASSELSBERG. Strong resistance was encountered at this point from tanks and 20mm Flak guns. This resistance was overcome and the town taken at 2010. The Battalion then took the high ground west of KASSEL and at the close of the day was reorganizing on the outskirts of the city to assault from the east.

The 3d Bn 318th Infantry, In Regimental reserve and following the 1st Bn, moved north at 0400, 2 April, 1945, to an area south of OBERZWEHREN when the enemy tank and infantry countered developed from the north. This Battalion, committed to aid in breaking up the counterattack, engaged in heavy fighting throughout the entire morning. Advancing in the gap between the 1st and 2d Bns 318th Infantry, it proceeded to advance north from OBERZWEHREN along the rail line to the outskirts of KASSEL. Fierce resistance was encountered, but at the close of the day it had entered the railroad yards on the south side of KASSEL and was still pressing north.

The 318th Infantry, during 2 April 1945, destroyed six enemy tanks, numerous smaller vehicles and four 88mm guns. It had encountered heavy resistance from small arms, tanks and anti-aircraft fire and had repulsed two enemy counterattacks. At the close of the period, it was in the outskirts of KASSEL on the west, southwest and south of the city.