One man was killed and three slightly wounded when the reconnaissance company of the 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion was ambushed by German troops, who were ignorant of the "cease fire" order, just 10 minutes prior to the effective time of the surrender terms on May 7, outside Volary. This has been established as the final clash with enemy troops in the 5th Infantry Division zone.

The reconnaissance company, headed by Lieutenant Donald T Warren, were assigned the mission of screening the right flank of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment and were leading a spearhead ahead of the town around 0820 hours when the Germans opened up from concealed positions in the woods along the road.

Four rounds of panzerfausts were directed at the lead vehicle, an M-8 armored car, but no hits were registered. In evading the fire, the armored car got mired in the ditch and the personnel were forced to evacuate the vehicle.

Machine gun and small arms fire killed one man in the second vehicle, a jeep, and wounded Lieutenant Warren and Pfc Anthony Talik and T/5 Leonard Skoje in the hands and face. The TD reconnaissance men returned the fire on the estimated 30-man German force until orders were received to withdraw back into town where it was learned that "cease fire" orders were in effect at 0830, some ten minutes before.

Taken captive later, the German officer, who led the ambush, said he knew nothing of the cessation of hostilities until 30 minutes after their effective time and apologized for the incident.

Diamond Dust
5th Infantry Division
Wednesday 9 May 45