My father was a up from the ranks Major in Patton’s 3rd.
It was common in Europe in WWII for advancing American units to tell the mayor to tell them where the snipers and rear guard and traps were. That if any were encountered, they’d shell the village flat. After a a while it was common to encounter village representatives miles before, or the day before who came to us before possible entry.
That was a real war..and your father a warrior.