An interview with Jim Purcell (Technical Sergeant, 645th Tank Destroyer Division, 45th Infantry Division). Enlisted February 12, 1942, from Danbury, CT. First with CT State Guard guarding railroad bridges, airplane spotting, etc. Sent to Fort Devens and Camp Croft (SC) for training. A radio operator in an M-20 tank between command and the forward tanks. (530 days on the front line) Landed in Africa in April 1943 and then landed in Salerno. He was shifted to the Anzio beachhead in February 1944. Fought German Nordwind (the Bulge) offensive in January 1945 where his commander, Lt. Lindbergh, was killed. They were surrounded for 3 days - he and fellow soldiers drank a bottle of wine they had found near Anzio that had been saving for the end of the War. Purcell was awarded a bronze star.