04/15/2024
April 9. The 10th Armored Infantry Battalion welcomed back Captain Baum (pictured right, with Lt. Colonel Delk Oden), who had been liberated by other American forces when they retook OFLAG XIII-B. Baum was eager to rejoin his unit, having recovered sufficiently from his wounds to do so.
That same day, Patton visited the hospital bedside of his son-in-law, who was continuing to recover from the serious wound he suffered during the attack by Task Force Baum. Patton presented him with the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Silver Star (an award that had been approved during Lt. Colonel Waters' time in captivity).
Captain Baum would soon be promoted to the rank of major and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his role in the task force.
More men from the 704th TD Battalion were shuttled to Ohrdruf to view the camp. What they experienced was indelibly recorded in the journal of C/704 (see page 248 of 'Final Battles").
