D 769.3 TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY DIVISION 26Th BRIEF DIARY, 8 Nov - 12 Dec 1944 .A 2 LORRAINE CAMPAIGN/ by Interviewe Du from 26Th Inf Div Et Al 1945 V/ I'

D 769.3 TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY DIVISION 26th BRIEF DIARY, 8 Nov - 12 Dec 1944 .A 2 LORRAINE CAMPAIGN/ by Interviewe dU from 26th Inf Div et al 1945 V/ I'

26TH IIFANTRY DIVISION BRIEF DIARYf C 9

8 Nov 1944: Captured MOXE'NVIC AI VIC sur SEILLE. The 328th Inf attacked 0700 followinga thirty(30) minute artiller7 preparation. clearbd BZANNGE le PETII.TE; and-,MONCOURT.

I SEZIZRL i.rBridge'- 9ov"1 194.4 : AV0900, hours Task Fore. A crossed at-LOYEjNVIC - And I, attacked in the direction of M ORVILLE nd !AMPONT. Cleared MOfVILLE under heavy artillery fire, advanced to the hgih g.round

northeast of H.'PO!,NT. 104th Inf cleared two-thirds of CHATEAU SALINS.

10 Nov 1944.: The' 101st and 104th Int Regts continued the attack against, medium- resistance.. CHATEAU%'SA.LINS was. captured,. 4thi,

Armore-d? Divipi oar pazsd: through.

11, Nov 194W4sk Gounterattack - by,*llthr Panz er! Divistin.. n2 t he 1st Bn 104 thi.- Inf at' RODAL bnoken by. ar tller~p and direct,j ir.e frf=,.. .attached AA Battalion. HALBOTJDANGE X;OOS, O3..ECK, and hiih ground east of HAMPONT secured.

3d Battalion 328th Infantry and 3d Battalion 101st infantry began clearing KOECKING WOODS.

lOlst Infantry, plus Task Force , plus 3d Battalion 328th Infantry •attached) protected division right flank and mopped. up vicinity of -i 10. '12 Nov 1944: 104th Infart'ry, with CC, advanced slowly to the north S east against heavy resistance. At 1500 hours, 3d Battalion 104th: Zntfantry received violent counterattack of infsntry supported by

tanks. 328th Infantry cleared KOECKING FOREST, mtrssac

vi BERANJE!= FARM.

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5-3 Surge*n 1-~> 5-3, Co~S 0, 16 3.0326 tJat.s -ntDivR e s- 'JR. 00, S-3 24 Z.d Bn 101st tnt plajt L4 , 00 0. -d Ba 101-stT Lhr tnt 23at 0. I 1.01ot 5-3., O-pa Sgt. 5 tat u. K 101st Im? G0 2a B lOtt.T tn 5113 13 Brd3. 04J-th 0, S 3 1? S-,39 Lx 0, 00 0. 0 t 5-4, 1st Ba 328t, 5-.4 Zad Ba 32,8t tL 3-..a Bua2th t-nf

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'S I :4 * A 19 NOV 1944: 328th Infantry attacked 0700 hours preceded by a re- thirty minute artillery preparation on D=TUZE Met heavy line. 10lst and 104t6, sistanoe SecuredV KERPRICH -GUESTROFF C

inta.t-.y, Regiment-s., conti4u.edattack against heavy resistance

but-filed to take.BOURGAIS ROFF; and BMEESTROFF!. and 761st Tank 20 " oI1944: 328th Infantry supported by 513t AIB * A opposition, Battalion, attacked D=VZE, seized the. town without 101st Tnfantry broke *'1 secured the high ground north of DJUZZ. through to TORCHVILIE and, L . 104th Infantry clsrdfS

TROFF: and MARIMONT:%and advanced. to K01TDIDJER. Z and. posjtions&ower- 21. Nov 1944..:,: 104t4 It,, seIi4 NTIQR" (motorizedj aomved, t o: lookit A RF . Thet328thtl:iatnt?75 Advance. of INBIGN0K f or", enr attack*on,.UNSTER> nOfHONSK1RCH. flooded condition of" 101st infanry on INSVILLER Wismpeded by

RODE River.. a 22 Nov 1944: 104th Infantry adtanCed slowly againsP- heavy res.st rfce The 101st Infantry secured high eround .southeast 0f' A2ESTR0F-F. WOODS north of SAAR Canal. 328th - beean clearance of FEIMTRANGE

Infantry renched MUNfER. progress in entire zone. 104th 23X1Nov 1944t Division makes slow

Inf!antry- clears ALBESTROFF and constructs bridges fvr' 24 Nov 1944: Division..readjusts, p ostlons

supply routes,. >1 ; 4.4 de BONIE.,FONTAIITE. Clears 25 Nov 2.44: 101st infantry clears BOIS Secures high ground VIBSRSVILL_- against heavy resistance. htgh ground vic I~. overlcoking ALWJ$L f. 328th Infantry secures elements of the 4 E0NSK .=CH. lO04th In! pinched out by 328th and Si 35th :nfantry Divis".i.,on. I I and fire from pillbox emplacements Was held abreast farm by attacked une weapons fire. The 101st Infantry , t heavy automatic Received heavy concentration successfully against ST 1IDARD. Cavalry moved from the southeast. 2d of direct artillery fire the 101st Infantry. up to RILL 310 and relieved slowing down. 13 Not 1944: Division attack counter- on north flank of division 3d Battalion, 104th Infantry, Infantry and armor attack. 328th attacked by heavy infantry in KOECKING WOODS. meeting heavy resistance 104th Inf attacked with little prozress. 14 NoV 1944: Division. 1ost infantry - L=RI=NG road. holdins the line on COITHIL abreast, attacking, three battalions in reserve. 328th infantry '.KOECIGWOODS. I making progress in the Infantry I holding positions. 328th 15 Nov 1944: 104th Infantry KOECKING along lateral roaa throush broke defensive positions cavalry, put with assistance of 2d FOREST. 101st Infantry,

HARAUCOURT. 52 patrols into WARSAL and Infantry ph holding positions. 328th 16 NOV 1944: 104th Infantry Cavalry occupied completed elearance of SOECKING WOODS.2d L , SLAKOEGLISE, HILL 257 opposition flVELIZE, IEZAY, 14' without

took pgsitiOns on 26th Infantry Division regrouped, r I 17 Nov 1944: r SENESTROFF line. The' tc attack the GUSSLING - i V MLR prepared and EMIT de leJ CROIX. cavalry cleared MUYLCEY preceeae Division attacked 0800 hourS 18I NOV 1944: 26th tnfantry I fire and tlhirty itnute artillery by thirty minute 0 ounte-battery stvsnced against 104th Infantry RegLents preparation. 101st and penetrated enemy MLR. zheavy resistance but - 2 - ! o 25 NoV 1944: positions reorganized for attack against permanent

extending across division zone entrench,ments and fortifications 101st Infantry patrollng south from HONSEIRCS to ALTWILER.

flank on SAR Canal. secured ALTEILL.TR. GCompany 328th 27 Nov 1944: 1013t Infantry Infantry broke defenses of HONSSRCH. without resiztalce. 104th Infantry 23 Nov 1944: ±Wivisioa advanced STEINBACH. occupied GCEBLA±IGE, VEIITZVILIZR, re- occupied BISSERT. 101st InfantrY 29 Nov 1944: 101st Infantry Koved to WOLFKIRCIEN in preparation lieved by 328th Infantry. with 4th Armored Division to to launching attack in conjunction defended - Infantry and 104th Infantry seize ,Stns-UTlION 128th

and patrolled. for attack on made plans and reconnaissance 30 Nov 1944 Division

SAARE-I07II ON.• h I Company attacking soutk of SAARE-U110K 1 Dec 1944: 101st Infantry Infantry for night security. 104th entered the town but withdrew 101st Infantr7. 328th Infantry moved to WOIrKIPCHEN to support

held its posltions. a battalion 101st Infantry, supported by 2 Dec 1944: 1st Battalion 101st and occupied SAARE-UNIOr. of the 104th Infantry cleared to the east. routes from SAARE-UIION infantry out the escape ION, paeceived Div outposting SAAR-L 3 Dec 1944: 26th Infantry counter attack at sAJiE*UNION. to O-PRMINSET behind the 451i 4 DeC 1944: 101st Infantry moved c2.vision Infantry' secured north flank of Arcred Division. 328th

above SAL,K-UI0 N.• Regiment s passedtOufth 5Dec 1944: 328th and 104th Infantry assault on ,,arinot forst the 1ost Infantry to positions for en at WITRING and ACHEN. . D ec fort,attack on Maglnot line 5 and 6" w 1944t. preparations and patrolling am- 7"De4' 1944'"r A.tj2.ry- preparation' air attack, ga0£.t- kggn ._frtts, .

rtrs-rat ACIMIT . 8 c X944f4 104th 'nfntt7n ,-seiz'ed f our "'g14o0 f taginot forts at r"ITT9W1G. 328th. Infantry unsuccessfully attacked Di- flank relieved by 12th Armored (4th Armored Division on right

-. vision). capture of WITThING fort-s.. 9 Dec 1944: 328th Infantry c=pleted and vipq of' 30ts 8RUGN. Divis ion, ad.vancedt to. GROSREDP InG BRUC=1V • 101st, ,rece.ved.c ounterattack from 3013'' 328th>,inf-antry ot the - 87th., Inf.tr Diyision-,, Infantry, relieved b o, ReImen.

bpean movement, to. CTZ-- a-ttacked4 to 104th and- 328th itantl Regimentz 'r O-l DeC 1944:. Infantry, 87th Infantry Division, . clear the 3OS BRUC1=N. 346th relieved 104th Infantr7 during eventing. . 346th Infantry for German 12Dec1944: 328t infantry attacking with

resistance but crossed lst Battalion 328th Inf met heavy border, Infantry that; evening. ~border. 347th Infantry relieved 3?Sth

begifn~movement tor METV. I[ -26th Infantry Division

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A :1 III U. S. CORPS -:4 sEAD;UARTERS AIT Y PO 303 U.S. -1 A 17 January 1945 .4 -'-I

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LOPRAINE CAMPAIGN 28th infantry Divi -ion 1944) (5 October 1944'to. 13 Decemoer

arrtved at wOSViLLE the 26th infantry Div The first elements of elements moved from VALOGS on 5 october 1944. ,main vicinity of 1{OVILE ) and arrived in the by way of FONTAINBLEAU ( officially took october, the Division (See map.) On 12 on 10 October. Div. by the 4th Armored whic was then held co.m.mana of the sector over the Divi- Regiments were with and 104th Infantry At that time, the 101st S Ii sion.a were r# warfare. Lines -- was spent in defensive The- month of October units of the 'A, were relieved by new ane units in the line &triZhtened from Regt waa relieved the 328th Infantry DivisV ion. on 15 October, to BEZANGE LA ?,A.NDS Infantry Div and moved attachment to the 80th 26th infantry DiV. under command of the ) where it was placed ( Divi- 20 October beyonQ the 42nd Cavalry sq on patrollifn by the

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I of 2000 resulted in local night Gains s.on's Main Ltne of Resistance south flank. yards' or t-he DiViilonl's J. and and l0l st 1rf'antry Regts attacked OnW 22. October_ the 1Q4'th There. '( ) an&"O1COtTT (1914) setzvd- hi>pund betweerrBEZANGE 24 October the 104th and 328th Res.ts on wVss a change of sectors between relocating troops was spent in relieving and The remainder of the month Line of Resistance. on the 'amn s ive with deefen November were occupied The first seven days of was carrted Of, October. AdaitiOrnal tra'ina action similar to that of - " ec mall Ywork width f amep thtrowerS. :e&Ld inV-the- I nclu4ine- sp - 2O-tkVI:antrt"Di- pattiPa ~ ~on-8 N1Lo~ember f at" 06P01the' lare A11iedof6ensive o be ufl i2 that mont- Rr.:ceed0O by'. d:r1t mIers.

104.th. I nfantrY Rgst corpus Artillery the- prpar, i6nW of Di'ision aM The 10.1st aw-tacked VIC SUIR SEILLE (V1120" 'V aavancea.rapialy toward. -r at 0720 ana cleared anQathe 328th jumped off toward MOYENVIC (vl320), (V1913). (V1715)-and !AONCOURT 3EZANE ALPETITE Division the right flank ot' the The 2nd cavalry op protected ana maintained TP .screened the left flank and the 25th ..econnaissance Div . contac.t with the a5thTnfantry I ac-tifs of. -onv4 of. the. outatiandl.C on the fjrst- day-of thetdrivey will 31O" the cBPtUrrof YNVIC and t campiign took [email protected] the l.Ols t lfnfn. n ., S-3, related thatr2id.. n ( ). Capt John0 . Dickerso i artillery prepar 080800 after a tremendous V try Reat Jumped off at in column, A, E, cround. The comsanies were and aavanced across open bolti }._WVIC. The estimated enemy F, anaH, headin north toward i s1 I~0 I. .. fire consisted of small the towfl was of battalion streflgt-t Enemy

arms, mortars, and six 75-"'. at first. C O cmoved airectlY into the towf Thefrom town the waSsouth, enveloPe. after wkch Co F moved around to the left (west) arid swafl the sEILLE River; Co E moved around the town to the rL+ht had not nts usi.n a foot bride which (east), wit some of the elefte crossi in the river. remainder of the company been blown and the CO S on the ritt an - was cleared (at 082130)'Co o 3 efOrO the town

otws hill wass the 5 ( ). ayThiS the wehirch i + riasesill which 310 was ela. leftof a a tlorItacked rtIaC Feztesimn oni 13-.rte an. termidr fte.01m~ t10 nthe but theenemy still taken at 090930, sOECKING TwDE 1nfantrYthewets into the F0.ET DE BRIDE continued extended thed 1lSt and 104th On. 10 November,n., of earingiaofwCthA.st durin tH-Ae medium resistance attack anQ met only on tnseO ten oUE CrON(

ST. ,!S.DP. InCfantry 3egt securec 5 12th the 101st Von the 10st. nfantry ..etotelf, 5 S~tIS~v9Z th e-_- +' V0 ) EE ey t n-i d ~~~ane n, o (v22Z2 ) 18th SLANCI{E-EGLISE ! v94 n the (vl 7 ) and LEYt (V20l8 ) were secure d Olth deueQ(225,-.. 3 taken. ~~~u gtdkMULCSYi~ ~ ppP (v22 )~ were ~~ ot l, 0R rormationi was: . e 19th the 328th ion- he 18th the + in reservelln thnt h e d ayh rtht, and the 328tht h 104th Son the9 2 5lO n tne

TO .CI-EVILLE Bn otthe 328th seized (22) 101st and the 3rd and G$rEssTSOFF Onthe 20th the GVIWNATROF F (\T2425), scrdIRIn(V3)

advanced on ,.7tSTh?(33 (Ve2$7 )end the 326th a h seized :,mV:TD!DIeR n teflOtl S 104th by a night attack. 4 81 prisoners * V5 and

~-3- from positiOn te nporerili, took,0up a defensive On the 26th the4DlYision S joist 7 ' and on,.the next day the 8 ALTttLERV (v443 ) EONSSiRCH (v43 ) tb' C/a of. tle' 328th:took the former. occ~upieQ~~ tfe lah et tow Wil8lC the 104th. took- occupi4Q' BOTS Lo: vE .ALD; 0A At*W 2St .- the ,1:0r-sta 9 ), AND KJBVfLLER (V443 ). On the GUE3LAGS ( ), DENT4ZVILLER ( the. final ). oOn the 3Oth of November, 29th the jOist took BISSERT the 101st were made. SARRE tTKON ( ) by plans for the attack on attacked northeast to 0900, the 26th infantry DiV On 1 December at fire were used. t'rfN. {eavy tanks, rtilo1ert and. mortar se.ze'.He . awr" tanks.. ow: p but we rr 3ra..B.' of 01st athe

oegun. ana WITTRING linetof forts was reached On 6 December, the MAGINTO The--01t was in the Vt- ), and KAIAtTSEN. C ) were.p.ente-redo ( ), ana the on the, 7t r the, Olo1sttookSTTN cinity of OERNIIEN. 328th took SCSLOSSWALD andMUEhAWA Mwoods, on the 8th ACHENI( ) after a thiry LIN'E were seized bY the 104th and fortS. in the 'XAGINOT ' by the 405th and 35.2nQ preparatton and strafing r nrultC artillery 5RMZ-50S phe 328th was then at LE ? ihter 3ombler GrouPS.

me do. 4'.1

); the 328th cleared BOIS moved to MSTZ ( on the 10th the 101st heav7 tank and infantry not cleared due to BRUCEEN ( ) was DE BLIES. 87th Infan-' by the 346th of the the 104th was relieved fire. On the l1th, of the 26th Div's zone. the 87th assumed command try Div. On the 13th, at 74O=1ViC, GUE:* '-4 smaller unitections were rote No 1. Outstanding principle crossings of the SARRE River. ING, SARPSE cON, and the river 101st, and 3ra Bn 104th. N 2nd Bn 101lst, 3rd Bn involved were the 101st.) units John 0. Dickerson, s-3, 2nd Bn 1~ (For t he MENVIC story see Capt the Division's action in of the 26th mnfantry Note,NO. 2. phases were: LORPJ .1ii CAMPAIGN and. training. 12 Oct - command.. chasnge to straLgnten lines.. With limiteC objective 22-23 Oct- -Attack1-aunched. and continued push. 8 Nov - Big attack been attached to Div units which had 15 Nov - 4th Armored at DIEt2(V 2524), k to their Division and, off behind, the 26th-., went the 26th Infantry Div. the-right flank of took,up a zone of attack. for the saRRE UNION 26-30 Nov preparation 1 Dec- Jump off for S AP.R UNION. day advance." 5 Dec - Greatest "single 3 Capt John 0 Dickers On,l C. pophsm, Ass t G- ; sources - Capt James IS Wifl. J3. Dunkerley. interviewer - 1st 11 January 1945. Dalete f interview - p r M.ap Reference -055461:O,0

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rADQARTE II U. S. CORPS S . AT' Y APO 303"1. 17 Tanuary 1945

qp,. 25:th;LOW,,AIIZCAMPAflN tnf nr$r: ;..,i -i.n.. 194) (5 octoberL- 944 to: 13, December I, at- OEV.ILLE n t s of the 26th .1nfantr.*Div arrived, t'14The- elemel f The,..r, ( e-lm~fantSaMoved,frr mIVA UOG1NbE cto er n. ain ( )on of HOEVILLE ) and arrived in the vicinity by way of FONTAINBLEAU took the Division offieiR1lY map.) on 12 OctOer, 10 October. (se@ DiV. I on -by the Ath Armored which was then held command of the sec tor overxt.,.,that time, tbe o1st and 104th iniantry nesimqents were with the Divi r. y L.... ed.fbl~iVOwrar. spenthi: n 4 October wasa- month ot" Th e new unL sW of the were re~ioeved b7 units in thoi"ilOn straishtene~d:..ane was relieved f rom 328th infantrY R est on 15 October,. the Division. LA G,3ANDE and moved to BrZANGE BOth infantry DiV attacbmeft to the

. where it was placed under conQ oA ( ) DiVi- October beyond the 42nd cavalry sq on 20 pAtrll4ln, by the

- I - id nigh t sabn of 2000 resulted in local of Re istance glon's Min Line s south flank., yards on the Divislon' attacked an r the, 14thsand 101st in!antry Rets on 22 October There ( ) and "OCZCOLRT (V193 eized high sroufld ,be tWOn BEZANGE 8 24 October.at 5 " 328th peg ts on between the 104th and was a chaSO of-sectors wat spent in relievingandr The remainder.of the month

on the *ain Line- of aesistancf " were occupied wtth defensive The first seven days of November traininri was carried on, of October. Additional action similar to that

Includine special, work With flame throwers. Div particiat-ed in the at. 0600 the. 26th infantrY on S Novezber preceeded by artillery lafG Allied~ offensive begunt in that month,.

104th in!antry .cegt and Corps Artillery, the preparations of. Division The 101st attacked SUR SEILI . (VIl20). toward -VC cleared advanced-rapialr off at 0720 and 328th jumped (V 1 320), and.- the- toward MOYEVIC B ANOE LAPETIT! (V1715) and.MONCOURT (V1913).

the ri&t lank o. the pivisiOn The 2nd, Cavalry OP protected left flank and maintained TP screened the and the 26th Reconnalssance try piv.- of the 35th inf an the out standing actions .-. contact w:ith tefrtdyothdrvoeof terieon 1 rs ao .!.CYEWN IC and EHi 310 onte This- was the- .c apture ot the-osmpaign took place. tnf an-I that 2nd Bn 101st on, S-3,, related Capt johni'0e Dickers . -( .). 4 preparationu a tremendous .arti11ery off- at oB0SOO after E,. try Regt jumped in coluZ-l, 0, The c ompanies were open 5 round. and advanced scross enemy h olcil ...-,_,-rt . he as tinsted

Fs, N"I"- 1 and B. headin n th toward Mul. 2- 40 - .Eemy.fire GcoSistedfsal Ee bctallctrett-- the town was of h.'.s are.;-.rs, and. $. 7T- 0airetlythe ~rs4 & 14.: at first. QO0 aov m%ove i ec5 enve0Pes 400uc o,,M phe twfn was fh r - left (west) ttv.• tow"y .- thet ee t,,after ttCh CO rmoVe.Q. arond to the h the r itt aroufla the towfln to 3iV0e $0 FO zov e ania swar. th~e Sr!LLE (east), s^, of the elementsLT usiledParo~r.c .44 a foot bridge -htch .thhad not

rtver..4 of the c-mpar72 ,0 croastin%, o inCn the.r :A be locw0 . on... d the remainder '%Aw sr e e t4e a ce e and Co t w eared t o2150) on the ri:ht F onhe. left attSated~ 3i1 310 ( ). Thi s hill was the sothweSt . a jji30,was t b o: w he) ther£rfl t t e GS t wh i e ax1fl.ri, ew " i t .e n o r e SiflA".xt.. 4 0h

' h '1t"O-f" cont..lUeQ the -fD2the,..3O, u,,tho anint " tfl104th begytmnf'anttY a ttaket%veoBETeDZ Onat; 10'(.39 !.,r.ovefhbr the jOlashtand tn w C...... _,- -- S.c"n it -I I I's - lear rf axt e-n.m 0 -4 r. edium resis-_ a -uritC attak and ret only Bet securea .t 5 the Icla0 4 nfantry SAL (V0921S ) on thee 12th du,r (V14) ,eon l 1.v -,

.. 4 :t CRON (. the 17th IAUT - were secured. on (V1817 ) and LEY (V2015) 5) were tas e.A left, ' r an. .212w)( 21 nfantr7 Resgt on the fbronatiofl was: 101st 1 onthe 18th the " 528~th. .. on the. , 9th the- e.t-,an52ota n re r. t $O h' nhe FY a'd.....OF - ° arAfl G SN'., 2 5 ),,:. dG BSFOF (V2526 sec.. . h- on ZBIC~e v2325), ("V24 * O V 5 : e T PCf l thxe 28th 58i~ d and thie 5rd sa of othe 20th the 101st the attack. On the .oloigday prase'e r by a nisht ' (V55o4) snd 81 nC7?(3~) 3 7 38havne (V32 ) and the * 104th se!.Zed trT!D.UR V -Se IA.

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UIIT: 2th infantry DiVisiOn

PERIOD: 8 NoV - 12 DCC 1944. ACTi0N.O LORFAINE ampign SOt'rCS: Major WvlLanm H, porter, Asst G-3 1945 PFSACHATICE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, 14 June lCE A DATE OF Ti rVi'EVH Sheet saarbrucken MAPS: i/i00,000, Uentral Europe, :--TE viVtR: Lt Monroe Ludden NL3--V made w th maps and records. of the Lorraine NOTE: Te DiVisiol After Actton Reports for the period brief and sketchy. Due to the time that was elapsed Campaign are very been in th since the action, it.was difficult to find people who had command problems .in,any detail, or remembered the. action orthe' The campaign in trying to pin down the action. and those-contacted became-confused: against ' volumi must be examined carefully Interviews followting in tY is the division records. during the cam paiga1 was closely action of the 26th Inf Div separate perlods SOTE: inThe with the 4th Armd Div.. The 4th AZmd Div had two tied presuzieQ -n- of, the 26th Inf DiV. It can be of commitment, through and ahead part of the between the two units was an important that coordination the coordination were not at this late date the details of w.hen they action, but infantry 'the 4th Armd Div eitheor in-the minds of the for each clear the two units had high respect were later contacted. Generally, made little reference to the otherun4t. other, but in the reports for CRATEAU SALINS the 4th During the september battles a heavy tank into this area as far as DISZE, after kArddo tank Div duelhad witthworked tt 1th pz Dlv, th.e 4th had withdrawn back toto theines REINS and extending to the southeast anchored in the BEZANGS woods victnity of LASGARDS (245105).• rmd -: canal in the over these lines from the 4th A The 25th mn-f pDtv took the Z th Div4 i first ba:t~le: commnitment for DiV on 5 October. This was the Dtiston5 in similar to the ones held by * and it took up positions assault on, . fl last pertod of th..e W',ar it made an * world w'ar t when during the r Line defending DIEUZEo . S the von gindenbera Div p'eridd before the attack the 25th , Durinlg the static

them in the defense all its units by rotating g-ze battle inoculation to the attacks were mace to iZprove lIne. A nuber of limtted objective SEILS River bsIn. lateau overlookimrg the positicns held long the /2- -l - crust as the initial defense 35th Inf Div as soon conz=and through the de- in the zone of advance, the;raS:ed terrain broken. Due to had, been on the each subordinate unit AgfwAs le-ft,.to*e solvedwbY tati11edtp,1lnn on small units working to be done in tezms of sppt.ot yanetuverfl&_was thei.eneralzones of action., a aiiV features wothtf sep ate terr albng and mine' field defenses on the 5-6th NoV, the wire The 104th division regrOuped. up. On the 7th the the yML were picked L (2209) and VtC*S R left flank facing St.LL0NNtS took positions on the :nf (the Sm of "five points." 101st Tnf was in the vicinity SEILI (1121). The a The 328th. tnf -SflVIC. nd SILL 310. (1212)) ,afAnS.i'O road junctionl at: . oft MONC OURT,(19 14)an&dEZANGS W03'.- on- the:rt ln Inthe7TV.icriMitY'

:tt4Zg4CFABn TDSf li FA, Bf 2tFkFBn, nflll to make a feint. plans lwere for the The inital the .. logical --- .- EZANGE I .TtTE-. Thilsl was at -lour minus 1 at MONCOURT adl there could be easily to DISUZE and and a feint and shortest distance was to seize effort. The 1ost Inf to look like the main camouflaged 310 in a MOYSNYIC and secure HILL of the SEILLE River at a crossing the SEILLE River The 104th tnf was to cross ravid marching fire attack. positions of CEATEAU SALIIS in m6ve utpon the right at VIC SUR EIL t and d e 104th Inf,,w ridgerttf r the' north.Th" to work on the K0SElG main ef'fort. the, assis thelO4.th , task forces were. cmposed.,to v*o arored 761st Tk Sn, one-half platoon composed of A and C 0os tnf. TB' "A" strike the 101st tnt were to TD SBn, and K Co of engineers, C Co 691st * 761st TF' "B" composed of one platoon *fromvo s S -mLE to !'op.VAL. platoon off engtneersweet 691st TD En and one-half . TV: Sn, B and D Cos

3, e&,

*.,,,- equipped The enGineers were maneuvering element. kept as a reserve th be of the SE:LLE Rtver. to make rapid crossings several ootbridges r. with of the 8th at 0800 on the morning folowedbyaprooe. The attack dumped off paraton followed by apprOx artillery preparation 27t preceded by one hour of Corps of the 3280th preparatton. Th feint of division artillery imately one hour casualties, and cost considerable met heavy resistance inat To4CU02 T The 101Stn t porter, threw th enemy offd t balance.e up f r he but accordinG to MaJor rd o th hi attackl .a On HIlL 310 but were se iz e o YE VICV C and tsedhe ,**nf Iquickly c eed for the next slope of the hil and tied up pinned do f on the reverse to the left. The around teghill attempt to maneuver two days in an at Jv.RSAL artillearbatteries opPOsition were, factors of the in the principal SUR SEtiLE early cros singsat ViC .4 The 104th, seized • and, iiARAUC t.- SALINS overlooking CHATEAU high ground positions and moved up to SEILLE from day road from ,IC SUR ommitted on the dark. TF WA"was 0 A 4etore badly chewed up maneuvering) were to faulty .------but (due surprise ORVILLE (l29249), been taken by The enemy-had advance. 2d and made a disappointing the south. 'he HILL 310 or to area but not on the CHATEAU SALINS in That evening it advance during the day. was unable to make any and cay OP continue the attack and the 104th would that the loist was decided - diiion up.f or committment on the the ,32th znf would be brought i were kept fo the diVi zone opened. No reserves center as soon as the . The sEILLE River at VieC ST'R SEttLE was iziproved for sion., uti Thebrdehdenblw, . concrete embaflkmets. gap in the bri.dse. naviation wtth only a 25 foot ! S- river there was sptte of the swollen action and w&S used S the first day's emplaced there duril S A bridge was Diviston-b route for the 26th as the :Sain cozmtunlicatiofl .Ft.

-4 L - C

*i U'ZT: 101st Irfnry Regin-t.t, 26th Infaatr Division

aR&=IOD: 8 .;ovezber to 12 December 1944 - f "

ACTI0N: LCRJJ;.CCAAZGN ."W

If 4' SOL"Z C. Pn.t a, 'r.. Xt. ms. ,yez.n, Regimental S-3 (Then Asst15-3) C- .

.Howle, & :1 -i Capt 7illiam Col de S..2 Ljor.- C..3rown; S3, 10110 "-F o:_ -of 101st-atsu,al I.zf t Re.t-

.4': .Z;z ;,rnID a or-IIT07V1, 7 i soM r ,, c OV.*1",17 Tuna 1945 :;Scl, 10,OOOastern France, Shects 35/14, 35/15.9 36/1lt /15, $7/13, and 37/140-

::.. w._.: 2d Lt Monroe Ludden

.O:.10j This interview ;,as first conducted with Captain Ryan and Captain .iawle at the

recimental C? with mapsz ..... and .joi~v the re imental ,terA f * ,.ction he eport,in! C- ,t&angave tie , rrujorityatofthe inf or..tion in a rather hesitant- xr-et a*deended Z;geatlyonthe

f tetAction=Aeort £ar'his, information. 14ajaorMc.ada v;--s later..conta ted. at the 2 a.dBn Cg without. records, ad from. him.. considerable; more-detail was torthcom.±ne 1,,y; a&ddittion;. *Bints>at;. ia dtionsespctCo:terra'lntearesand critical. elementSof-the .action-were'obtainedro-f-ajor-..rovm a .tthe.101stF. and sev eral ," " " theiaisdn--oftficers; actiOn.- end tforrd. observets' who" had- opera ted'.wit-the regiment- during

P The, commadr of'. the- regjment--durinG this.. operation:,

i. Colonel ;alter-Scdtt, CC (noW C/S of the divisiod) Lt Col Lawrence Yirk, 1st Bn Lt Col Bernard Lyons, 2d Bn (now atbDiv Hq) Lt Col, Tames $.Peale., Yr, 3d B

Only Col Peale could be contacted for material cr battalion action (see inter- I. " view, 3d Bn, inclosed in this volume).

In the action to be reviewed, the 101st tnt Regt was in its combat ooera-.6rst

tic=. On 9 Oct the iregimetb.adrelieved elements, of the-Ath., . Div in the: vicinity of ARRCOUT (1214). In this-area the.,4th Ard-Div hadwtoug4t the-severe ta.n

atpbattles of: the latter part of September.. • i: .;Taen the regiment went into the line, the front had been stabilized on a line : z~zmr~ from (104181) an the edge of the ?O.RXT . rZ_.flE. L 2& totesotes

" to, £Z 265 (170150) (see map). These position~s were Lenerally cz n ,. uzdP'at_ .

-.-

.r-1- 46ft aml

the an.ene ' W at -- C...T 7FARL" 171l9 ). He also s,,owed dis

of flVI (201188) and i.XRA (17318). enenmy Corps Artillery in the vicinity of DI= . of en' troops in the woods souta He was able to -ive-th6 dispositions week before the its attack for approxiatelY a The 101st Inf had been planning coveniz. tie 1,ot'f- , plan for the artillery prepartio, junp~off . it laid on-a fire

crossin. of the atac%,,was a specdy przLe. consideration ' - tarets to its froct. The of ap- of bZF 310. This entailed a movement of the River and the seizure

its present front line positiors. proximately 6,000 yards from ground just west of n the ist Bn on the hih Tae regime t was disposed with ... flAfand the 3d the edpe of the FOR=TID Z4rZ3 ZIiU2lT (1517), the 2d 3B on the kd n to mase The plan of attack called for in retired ositions a (1216). 310. BU =OYfl.C'4 to1 the ain effort throu3h visited the CP GenEddy, the Corps Co=ander, The day before the jump off, depended on the L, that the entire Corps action Inf Rest and emphasized of the 101st eav- the northeast on this positionl, Corps was to pivot to seizure of cU31.0. The be occupied after a flanking region south of DIINU2 to in7 the low ground and lake on the north. maneuver The artillery prepaation for the H-EoLr for the attac was set at 0600 8 Nov.

and Corps artillery, .iring all units of the division ].t- attack started at 0400,. with approached, the fires for one hour. As H-Hour counnterbatdery an destructive the close-in targets. own control, worked on divtsion artillery, under its the woods until it out from its positions in D±rinS the night the 2d inched The batalion was covered road junction south of 10Y=rC. %s 1,030 yards from the the and 1" Co on its left at in the ST PALUlh woods, by its own H Co on the right - (in direct sup.-ort) laid lust before dawn the 101st FA edge of the BZ-d woods. 0 h ear; concentrations on -T 310 and rolled a barraue back throu.zhI L.,Z to the

by the Zd - off the 3d- --- until it was lifted tcward 0 stions

t.. wooded area ali zen pushed the climb, but once in the co Y before be:i-ig orCanizotion. i.ost of the comp-Y foz ;ad as fast as they coul 'wi outrecard for offAcers became casua.ties: on the hill. one of the platoon serseants fro:. S Ca, "¢th

that •position he could, see afL a , reached the~house-or topofpor HI 310. his position for three down. the, ridge. He maintained the-efnerq positions-further by an, eneV- =atrol which came fire but wastthen captured hours in spite of- intensei ;ositionZ on the was evacuated throuo., ener*' or his risht rear. The serseant un ma e shortl afjtea.a able.to.esonpe, to "2SUCOURT, but east sle a:4the ridse t he had seen. lines, and report w hi"lI a bo'-0u"'lb0 his ".;ay ba%:^ to friendly ... .wsc=itted on the 0 ,wascom 0 Ca, vaich had remained in not. reliVe tiI the. town.. Ca could 'OridGe Just otsidO of The CC w-as, tit on tuNe. 6Os. n , th rearof n . reraifn6din-psitio to . situati o e df F Cosand forcfr' a s s n arzored± ;as; had beef 5 Jed&tod ;f" Le-3d n ( CO whicb bor he j- h55))hdi,1mov eda ZYfl to, ALORV .l wchtLwas d:' go'?tbrowA. into bd..RmOVed don the road Woods. At1200 8.NOv the off.tothe.B=-T,, .. conc&,ltfl oi ' ,U d piece-meal to relieve, the L t wOYasthen colmitted Co F . on the left rear o of the hill and took positions I Co :: oved up to the left attenptcu to rove on its =aneuverabilit-. L Co I Co c-.e under fire but maintained dow',n as 310O'T but was =ediatelv ired L Co'to the riGht of the ri-ht rear of -- O- " soon as it saowed on the lip of =round m ns L4 C T Durin& ths day, the 1st ' " Th~e plan pad was :zoved to ;.OY- rflC CtTbyte2 a -. a e"fd& o Th0e.. i. ;tl2iov:oL:.: . : i west side of Hill a: to cor gt on uie •: . o the re&5fti a t izeZn three de s the problem of t - For the nest I This :ii iOdei~td~ line behind EILL 3N. onto the ridze --.:77 -- r- _a.euVeri .inrie"frcr n-... 0-- by fire and obsevraf. io--le . DIC -he n.: ' ire ; - .. . : . ...- _

- ' : = i ven:dv[ed ay :o'ov=n l ono he for ; rd or east~Zn szope o...... - -. a into the F eatiz ted, s&CC ::tilloY rouOZa Odit--z.. . -tC~Oi - :.ZjOr'~.c,,ZI

do1 ent of d&rinl the day. zove-y The Ist made no advances positicrs at SALIYAL. the battalion ir.teiatelY drew srall ans fire and heaW and accurate ccnceflrationS of mo- ta r fire fro. the forward slope of L 31-e0. of the 10th was &irected at the tip The attack to take place the afternon the first attempt that"n of the high groud dominating the ridge line at (158232). battalion drew back and a second coor morning the 1st bad little success. The C Co in a marching fire attack dinted attack planned for 101610..s This tire

secured this tip of high ound. A following closely behind the arillery barage and began to work on the wooded and B Cos swunG to the le~t during this attack area. IediatelY after C Co captured the hill position at (235145) on the west

mortars and artillery the eney counterattacked with slope ofL the ridge (101715), beat off the counterattack by apprOxiflrately a companY of infantry. C Co withfollowed smll ans tire but was badly mauled. The company dug in for the night on the

ridge while-under tremendous enemy artillery fire. the enemY positionl of high ground it was possible to observe eas from,of the this ridge tip to D2J- Artillery obserters working from this position were

able to lay accurate fire-on MLRSAL, WJAUCOURT, and ST.IDRD. Infantry wapons were fire. The seizure of this set up to cover the crest of the ridge to the north by of the 101st tnt in the of the initial action C Co is the critical point position by °d

L03? ".LO.RL.a campaigfl. = , defended enemy dug-tn positions clearea On the 1l1th A and B Cos in spite 6f wel K 0o, moved up the agau,roadinst from west of, the ridGe and the.d n, recovering the woods were heavilY fought ast northeast. These moppi8-uP actions SAIVAL to the r pocketed enet resistance but they remained exclusively 0 op i 2UP actions after the ridge line succeeded in dim~nihiflSs reatly the enem fire from the east flan

the'-rodj-t~l~ (SZ)a of tanks, finlly reached The Zd -, with the suppat the Zd mzizn&neC tt line. Duin3 this tine, doubled back alom the ridge i.

crest of the ridge, ist En took up positions on the ositions on fl- 310, ad the 2d was in the during this action, but the battalions had lost heavily AlL. tohree.condit iOne wors 4

to the woods had moved upon the right flank in& this action the 104th tnt " - i n , at the beg C aded 12th the 328th tnt, which 4 nrtheaS;t of, IORV the*lt& Int was relieved-there- the right flank oft'the 101S0 of the ope.ation had been on 328th the 101th lna Rects. The in between the 101st and by the 2d Cav Gp and moved of clearil4 the K0.1CjZKo (12824 with the mission wasc t te ,adIrorn;Rv!L. c attached to begun thi ni5iO7,was 101st Inf, which had already forest. The eBn, (see road throu-3 K0BOF2 woods on-the north side of the -*-e 32&h .,n t used nZththe-ltht h + . Ts K b e1s+teir ettck intheZ3teW,3d.Bft..1 01 5 t ttitc BudEI ls% Inf. d, thtotCahtttSOQSt&LtOi 0. As'th:. 8th nftran*t flank o±athe sOte t . dat to. rd. the, southern 15tji eiteld8.... to.. (1.72252) on. from the point of woods at. Co atterpted to attack woods . On the-Zth, C dte f th~e,;Ood5- it drew,-a' trenendous the comp showefd on the e --XyUOt%3- but. as - w ca inZnd contii for three imu1s the southeast. The fire volley of artilleCT from P in position the attack and remaincd copaplY. C Co gave up Mazyc. casualties to the

nthe edge of the voods. I behind the lines of tnf CP was set up at ,V12Si (250385) *bt 121620, the 101st * .7bilO at ;,-UIZA the regizent reverted to its control. the 328th tnt, and the 3&EBn tac artillery Uire. There • m rel atiyely, free. from ena_.'Y &ot in houses.- The t owntfl5 (759 Z-and 16 of- ft end absorbed reinforcenents re~zntrhabiitaed its troops to the eastemn edser6f.K9ECKi:"' the 328th tnzf putshe d..oUt ficers). Darins this time OCA, 4th A.- d DIT, and the and r de slow progress. wocds, but net heavy op;~sition the llh ?z Div. north by heavy oppositicfl Cro.-. '04th in-- had been stopped on the

guardi. the assermblY area at U On the ight of the lth-14th, the 3d Bn which Vus ;VS'I-ZZ, had a sn~ail counterattack fron the rear by ener" unitswhich ;;era withara: ing fro the pocket on the northwest. This countetattac.was easily beate." -8- .1

the to the eastern edge of 17th the 101st InS moved on the morning of the held enerzy the ,328th tnt against the strongly soZUT , OZ:T to attack throuh of =-M=Ga and from DIJ in the vicinity guarding the escape route positions Co 101st tine- attachments, to the 101st were: T^ SO::O- (K0=: At this Bn.) TD B, and A Btry 390th AAA 3 Coc 761st T , D Co 602d Ir1, rapidly ground which fel! aoway EOZ01NG woods was on high The eastern edge of the on the near side. m -eat paralleliln3 the creek and a railroad e baL= to the D0.RIALCRt abreast of ME and high ground positions $1 opposite the creek was a series of. Div had ii Irf, CC of the 4th -.rnd to the attack of the 101st BOVRG:CITROFF, Prior from the had drawn in additional enemy troops made an attack in this area: which enoaCe this area after yhear? Div had been stopped in DWBU= area. The 4th Armd 4th Amd Div was withdrawn of the 11th Pz Div. The ment with tanks and artillery '6 his Positions. The the eneny two days to improve I on the 14-th and 15th, leaving which was still be- ~1 enemy escape routes from DI.Z positions themselves covered the I ing strcn=ly held-. A At 170800 the 101st tnt attacked, with the 3d Bn moving to the northeast for * I on the right of te main 24 on the right attackine I hLL 273 (272315), anathe was preceded by a heavy artillery preparation. road directly on GZ . The attack 4 and Lt3fli *1 on z3ThOF (285342) a coordinated attack The 104th tnt was mak.in l htteee~bdpr factor in the atO on the left. The principal (302326) piles &t. t L 372, the two slide the high ground positions, fect observation•fro= flanking X3I~ 2newsri the two high ground positions ... the quarry, ands 101st PABndrcthatck these positions by the t amned for six hours on ! m~tt heafly fire to the rira V the 3d attacked throg iC: the left . ... , . -.ftsr aditiozal ...

the atbCn . p. here was stopped by grazing A-ire alonG but Q0o was b'e to behind the .... was ld on the quarrY just Stiller$ z e 1.I- track north 0fteqar r=- ,.zTe::eedf ac rost h e ralod the qUarZ"0an a toehold in the ii: ii attack in contact with the 1Octh Inf. This edge off the $Th.OF woods where it wt-as battalion. S ee by the large number off resh e in he 2d++reinforcements 0frfrred 4 waSr 'llilroC in-crossiflS thethrarge ea-1i~tn sucCOSS the ra ecostsing 0nthe riht, the d .had greater of ftzJGm Co took the high ground' north andc-wdknt the DtALcrOet (0857). aheat Duetote,-eniw -Wtto the- south and. kept-mo.vifnlSwll and" o o_ h and, F d s gap between the- 24 a. 3d by the 3d B there wasWa velopizs move to the north well. the attack was going Up to this time of sTROFF Co had reached position saith 3 At 131025 it was learned that F and had been able to pass through (290302). F CO had found a gap in the eneMy lines without rceiv9l0 trontal fire. However,)o they were subjected to a cross-fire from

e AA ttch of "a oo0 s u '.£-Unb ,te.t. ed. -A.,dual,.pu;M.0 : ,ed au"O,.oic, weapo=, co gn ipth8, patch ~ - - was,r at. the- tie, co de 81z :) aa fr°oa4tht'4'Zeve7sers,°FC (2 r aM F Co_ went out off cpntact in his first- engagelment. by aJerplaCment oticer,, " " u...... frmt he,".,f o.osever al y wthng-s-hea rdfrot hours. (About noon*an artiller t air observer ._ 4 Americo4s being',arched back, bY'the'Gerans reported that. he saw appro7iat Y 300 by the cross-fire that F Co had been-pinued dovs' it was presuled, by ajor- ic:Oade, enemy in on their rear sine these three ene.MY tanks cuttig and then captured by time.) in the area at the same tanis were.seen 5d 3dnad at eted t o out- At 1100 hours the 1st Bn was comtaitted behind the wod.u eeso~db the edge off tae B,-£J-2-.. ;-12 a73. They reached UP lan~k aas~deCidea to hold ,. 4 4 . At this time~it tro-,. 88 tiedee -- d ta:en th ai.Zhn"rund -. the 104th tn&' iw& off the 101st tnt until .. amyjuhrther attacks ,niCtedYthd2 a ("t. around 3&t&TROF to the north ) nositiofla deffenses in tAO area•. plan showing complete tured an enenY" tire (at-ached units) c - e up ...... anda, tJ: ue t 1-40 hours the sa,e day, tank; a r s Cos 5w.;u off for the at-ack of'the 2± zn. to su...ort the conttzuatlon off of tu::.fl .AZ F :o. ati l? -rc.-aion I to resue, i nossible, I tors " - r-

N A G4

.1~'I arti1-Th, X laid on i o.2y$ut succeeded in r.isifC larcer -. ounts of eeL.Y knocked out b" the 4th flare- Three enemy tankcs (praviously ticularly from theleft ~1 -.Z.... of the road between JBU. and nnd Dit) had boeen duc. in at the bend :4, t a O d .irectly into (2782;). These tan5 were firinL automatic :.weapons down 4 1' ao -in '4 in" by unzT"int £ and . Cos succeeded in reach '1 (In ;his but could not &et into the town itself. tar %position5 ons he north, 4, aS woundd l::ov 1' CC of the Ld 3n, Lt C Lyons, attack the 1~ for the aorfl: of the , The division p1a d a coordinated attack .1 Ir in :he ccnter con- attaCkin3 for D the. llzt ".- .%f the 328th 3:f on the ri7ht ' In-C on t&ne north on 3.b & 1J WFr af' the 104th. tinuinc i~z attack on 1' *'he ettack of the 101st Inf • jumped off .ith the lzt Ba cn.t:e rich: tO %3;

tnt .t . 3d. Ba ;orking in conjunction with the !Qt- :t'Ou- the 6Zd and the put a T zoncentat"on on tvo In .. tck, the ist 2n. pulled back its Co to *1' ttack w.as uGble to -,ut _.- the D. eer. tar-:S coverinz the road at Fh rec iVi0. very scfee g-oto ,Ted but was stopped, at that point after

casualtieS. enc"• ha .;ith- contied. But during the aich the On the 20th, the attack ,nas ,1 t I serious en2m( oositi on £-roush dra :m. The ist B,•-ithout meatin-3any 4 tou A (502.(1. to L0W-L. The 3d B" passed (1T5350) tthre they OZp- nnrch reached TOac'viflLa '- - ° h waS appaellY YOe 4e E.E , ant edin a --forcedVOtel70 en night G troops. This bre t from the n had forced the fin withara factthat'n I ne escape routes to for from the nositions on-the towne. The eneY withdrew

S- O defense line jardZ&-3 ;tA~Cx '--d zz.e - tho j~t 3m to centime h the Elth, the ;lan for iT The nex~t day, 6 oconreO of the ZA t, " -. .... : : lfto oasz :nroujzA the 101St. The 1st ,Zg = LQE&-: _= IU.&,'L f-!col" :=-h attacZed from LCh but fou"u the creek between

- -u °V -1 -

but spotty defense which The 1st n led off ttrouh ±s woods, meeting a heavy the due to the floodingc of many of prepared but poorly defended had been elaborately of the woods from the lateral The 2d, clearedthe northern edge d 3 .inpositifonse woods to groud&northjof the Tbtdh skzStedthe.li open raid to the.northeas.e . Thef lst = odropped back ziasreserve. south, e d i n g thet regizent on the wnichtbyt tattimerwjs At.24t01S the 2d4Bn; 0 the chateau of BOi.'.. with the enemy defending the woods, made contact part of of interview). The result of this attack see 2d Bn For details pinched off and cap- (458345)0.(E: into the chateaQ but had a platoon the attack vs that Z Co got north of the chateau, and G Co working to the there by an enel counterattack It was ap- tured defeded ae, became disorganized. ttrou h tear? wooded and well .nd,aThe withdrew, - str.btGQOintof enemy resistanCC;- parent tat the, cbateauw'as the - , , 24. ; -ep. suppor' th at- to' reorganNZe t;hat' night and lCo was tached' to the'

+ '. tThe-.2d aS attack the net' fl rn 8 db3.ayd temporarilY while K Co came up - during the day the 2d B the enemy had pulled out and. to support positions, but wooded area. completed clearing the the JA.,A .iver at begun its sweep across the 4th A=ud Div had At t1iS time 3A -FM to a close-in defense of fordlng the enemy to withdraw r -:'. ;i; and were , the 22th, had met trouble on the north portion of the Tzol;. Pat of the 3d on 28th InfantrY, bogzed' do'€ until the , There, the~attack woods oppos ite ALT.,I- l o l ': ] e St n' Out lin '=zclnthe enemy byta~nSHiT .,succeeded

That' nc'ht a ' the night of tih8 ,zit&. job ias completed Ofl the .s- canal. ThiS T 'TZ, cap-4 an entrance to Z ," succeeded in gainiflS peJrol of SS troops co-_at nd sac- - outposti 3 the town a gun of the TD platoon tuared six men ad destroyed r . . . .. ,-* our, jj.L~-61w1 eeset-P The 2p,axer wa ceedepsett~& in te 1st~ de anyIs other drofe. c e e,'.,'4

- ! -y, a The 101st It reined in these positions from the Z7th the 30th, awi the 4th of teinforcemelts. ring this tire time they acain received a number TZ~O on the south. striking distance of &&Rt A d Div had fought theirway'within Div* in order to close-in ofl the city the 101st tnt was attached to the 4th Armd Plans to move by 300615 had moved to the vicinity of ?.BCH (542338) with Ard Div encircled of the SAtR River while the 4_th into the city along the right bank & ,.LS--- the 3d 2 took positions overlooking the city on the east. Initially, northeast. 3331 (535355) facing to the Bn took positions on LL and the 2d 2d Bn to reached positions on On the Jump ott the 1st n passed through the

the southern edge of the BAr OWLZWOOD where it was pinned dovm by machine gukn,

from.7the hill position 315 (555375) ,mortar, nd artillery fire which was directed commande r " The,3d to the northeast, In. this attack the 1st BU.lost its battalion

hours and found it patrols into SAR ,,R~ by 1014 Ba started- its. attack by gettins tracks. right of th railroad to move on the city just unoccupied, and continued toward the city, pressed out from the B1%L0LZ X00DS ,y 1015 on- the first, B Co, had n and AA fire from the bar- but 1,000 yards from the. town .ere stopped by machine.

the town but 2d. Ba Moved to follow up B Co into racks and hospital at, (526376). The Bns also was pinned down by that fire. At 1400 hours this attack of the Ist and d

down. the 37 grid line, 1000' had boged positions on approzimtely At this time I Co had taken was planned for a Cifnl the south. A coordinated attack yards short of the town on hours. The attack jumpwed began at apprTozizately 1500 closing in on the cxty which m.k.jing the rnain at 1521 hours, with a' and CCos of after an artillerY prepmaration : Cos had little success. I Co on the south. A and C effort Ofl the southeast and

end succeeded in mofv.ig " - I Co however got into the town by 1635 hours ton. . Co gollo;.ed Co into the Ytrough the to-AM to the eastern ed&e before dark. l14-1t ee ocn " on. groukd ositions on the northflwest and was sent aainst the hizh auton6,tic w6,=apons E Co was pinned dow.n by du%;-i undo:t he comr.and of a sorseant. - e . captured soMe 1e,4t rachi suns, one pNositizfl5. In the tow itself, I Co

piece, and onlY to prisoners. - , dar to pull th Since I Co was' inthe ,tovn aloneit was-decided jus't" before tot0 cl at the town -it- soit'C n ~ c iM i Y ntncet. nI l ttne ,n2w :A " The ist and ns ' r =4; positi l tothe~nOrthest. self. and: ec. e e# aiin escate route from to the northeast to cut the cha.ned the direction of attack

-.ZION."to DOISLL. w::ith the support of% a tam 3d 3m back into sA I The next day I Co led the east edie of the town. K Co a3ai cleared and TD platoon, and took positions on the Co. Late inwthe afternooni and L.Co. went- in to aid I the north -par.t of the, town=,. to of azd a corapcaY and one-half I Cowithl about- ten. tanks the eneny counterat.taced tb ktr.art..a...... a.o u This coun te r ta infeft Z7r Di ha4 brokent the, de, by: artillery- firem and-. dri venzout.. Dy thisttime t4e$4th.rnfd .: ! - - positions east. of a -withdrawal.f or the' defenset around- D0L=S31 ,and .forced; fenses the thre 4th ArMd in this actif03on jumped off at 020700 aided UIaION. The 1st and 2d Bns a6ainst dLinished resisZafce. SCL0SFS 2r12 (552390) left and moved up to the the southeast of the a-2and the 2d 3m pealed off to The Ist then went to 0zL re i.eJ t was there. In these positions, th-e to n =d secured the high round Inf Rests. . pinched out by the 104th and 328th

and 104th* - with the Z.ath to the northeast continued the attack The 26th I=f Div 3.of'thC 101st, In! Restdisaz l aced' foriard to- sunnort * I~' Res. On 8 Dec, the 1st of txhe 104th InC.- tenortheast on the Cleak- adto &.upoea to n ositln at - TLINs, NIzit Inf was relieved byp resirnent were cor:.atted, the teI'Oe a.n" eiezeflts of the - eW' ot. :o ' &re~5.V on the 10 Dec. The 101st .'.tf e2e:z- of' the 87th InS" DiV 15 - i- V 26th Infantry Division UNIT: 2d Battallon, 1OIst infantry Regiment, 1944 ?ERIOD: 8 Noverber- 12 December

ACTION: Lorraine Campaign A corander (curing campaign, SOURCES: Major A ., McWade, now Battalion Regimetal S-3) 1st. Lt S. D. Hunter, Battalion Adjutant (.turing campaign, left after the campaign) I communicationsl Officer) (only officer surgeon Captain D. 14. Anderson, Bat.talion I June 1945 ILNICE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, 20 PLACE M, D DATE OF INTERVIEW: 4 France, 35/i4; 35/15; 36/14; 37/13 MAPS: scale 1/50,000, Eastern

INTEVIEWVR: L Mionroe Ludden with maps but no records. Lajor I aT2E: This interview was conducted it from the regimen- of the 2d Battalilon as he knew tal adepicture t old theani hisstory story was supplemented by the two officers noted. In considerable detail of the theinterview. Major Mcwade added -he course of at the regiment itself. 'I ewhichcould not be obtained regi ctlpCtur action, Lt Col Bernara wounded.commander a~t Jat the be gin± o fthis- over by the TheA. Lons,,P.a.z. was ,Lyf,d JUTBLIl. The., was taken' A- -. s u to colonel Lyons has now returned officer, aJor-D. E.Stetson. he executive at Division Headquarters, but Division with an assignment: the 26th the importance of the 2d Battalion could not be' contacted. Considering- bebcon- on HILL 310, colonel Lyons should action in the initial assault tactec for, additional material.

-- HILL 310 the the 4th ArNored Division in when the los t Infantry relieved positions in the for- the 2d Battalion took up JUVnCOURT area 8 october around road with outposts concentrated ward edge of the BEZANGE woods on the lip of high ground S junction 272 (,five points"') and extending out positions did not change uain; the * pointing towards :,4OhNVI. These

* month 0± stationary activity. to make the main effort of the regi- .... The 2d Lattalion was designated BthIW 310 in the attack the morning of the " merit against LMOiNIC and HILL was completely familiar with the terai " . before the attack the 2d Battalion The battalion planned to attack * and the enemy positions to its front. to-pan-eU I

MOYSIWIC Wtr H and , Companies with a column of companies down the road to for attack flank of the road. The reason Piving fire support on e ither inI colun of cnpanies was to make the quickest possible run of the

.sz RiVer basin an3 attack HILL 310, 4,000 yards away, by surprise.

from the lip of tl- 4 Th" night before-the- a-ttack the batt'alion inched up

ttOA tking . -Of IOY0.IC itself.4 s t r ik . t- gfro.ud: oA din.stanaC (0630) th battalion After the, artiji.rl preparation asliteOgw £ and F attacked along the road with G company lead5fl off followed by opposition, machine gun emplace Companies.- G Company took on the first to by-pass merit at the road junction-206, while. z ompany fanned out in a double on the riiht and F Company on the left. F Company, !AOYENVICim - L ast o VC and attempt-

etime. a crossing by w ading snd swi the river. several. men were

one. man swft'and, swollen curr.ent; on!y swe pt down the r,iver: by: the#- et0 n acrvoss, E" opytke-n-. _-n ctnge& its plan of atack

i o he n ' and: moved a directlY'nd , for;the s.tf.lI intac bridge ac rof.. the' SEILLS nnors t th- posit of about 200 yards. from the east of MOYENVIC, a-distance , opposition. was reached without serious on the. river. The bridge held overcame the two guards Tfhe leadinG elements of the company seized and was se on the bridge, and the bridge stationed to set off the charges cured nCsct Durinf this manewer the company had dome casualties, mainly in. from the east; About and mortar fire coming from\ the' enemy artilleryT opened. up. on the rdo ix 75rwi howitzers th"ieScmpn ezdth . 4 0 HILL-$l . causingtecolaltdiere bridgesite from company at the had fanned to theletoMYSICadb I~nthe meantime F company the river. reached positions along teeg oftetw.had skrtn , s lrtn e-twr.heedgeof by wadtng. :: caA F The Company was unable to make a crossing OI; as had been previously planned and pre- engineer support with a footbridge, seized intact. G Company pared f= in case the oYVIC bridge was not the. southern edge of MO'YM11- by this time had easily overc-me resistance on enemy there by surprise, VIC and moved into the town, catching most of the The taking of -i before they could recover from the artillery barrage. bridging material without diffi-. MOYESVIC made it possible to bring up the Company before 0830. culty. The bridge was emplaced for G right and left rear of MMrN- There were still enemy positions on the be dealt with by the 3d Battalion which VIC. The battalion I*-ft these to launched its attack on HILL 310 was to follow. The battalion :_iediately g-round before the enemy could in an effort to seize this critical high off from the roaa. junction react in force.. About 0830 E Company took at double time in the marching northeast. of the town. The- company-moved toward the crest of HILL fire up. thehill. throu41 a. ligh.tly wooded area- the river by footbridge and 31,0. At the same. time F Company. crossed

attacked on the left. rearof E Company. equip- were stripped of clothing and For t.his attack both companies There were no heavy weapons men.t- for the- fastest possible. movement. became intermingl'ed, and both carried. in the, assault. E and p Companies

companies raced to, reach the hill crest. battery of 7Gm on top of the *i 'The enemy opposed the attack, with the , mortars h!,machine gun positions firing a cross fire on the slope

of M0YENIC, ara from tAJRSAL, and from behind HILL 310, from the, left rear

i with artillery from the east."I as the men soughtB s and F companies' attack slewed down in the woods companies Qi: reach the -'E cover from the enemy fire. A few groups of both platoon of the hill crest. One of the far edce of the woods just short r.

the over the open ground to with a BAR man, worked sergeants of r Copany, the ridge there in a,house overlooking hill crest and took up positions for approXimately- to msintain.this position to tkre northeast. He was.able hisi, right rear ana took p*.to.:lK.worked,. up? on t._teeLhqUr.@ be fpre an,,)enemy n i ez pinned down in the- 3th E and'-F ComP±a ' were,.completely him pris-oner. a short of: the. htll. crest wo~d a reak about 50O.,zards PrO after the Jump off. at 0900 Just two hours The, attack bogged down up iid which had remained in .oXENVIC, Lyons then ordered G Company, colonel bridge As. G Company crossed the -. ard F Companies. the hill to- support fire. The they received heavy artillery by the-road Junction g and moved under command of its execu- c0 a£.companl7 be~c9a .a. €asialt7!.. G C mpany.., ' - Oof.. cirebqi l n of SCpmpny(seemap to inetn wit h.rte:me- tive of fcerY movyed,up LO'n*1 dw. t4eotIn ir positio~i~ but were~alw nd taV"' (m e t, &,ntalPco,1d*(. dit" . " K. n*)bth gr touW a't&d-Ooon.;atta 3 ' no' , o n enemyl - The 3d,' Battatl ' cleare&- an, company) had amo-d nt'o MO,!ZWI0 afte- " i. west, of- MOYflVI C.oa*rly in the mortar position. out of the, woods committed the 3d Battalion the regimental counander, noon Colonel Scott,, and to work around either held. by the 2d Battallon to flank the positions the post on the right through L Comparn, attacking flank"tions of HILLs an 310.G Companies, got to the-lip of the ridge overlooking HARA-Tr ifire. Company on the4 down by frontal ann. flanking COURT, but was. pinned t frou: SALIAL 5 dr,ew,; he avy gmaWl a :s-kt!t left> moved .arourt rr 0Cmpay.but openfl.:groundWe st of HILL.. it * [email protected] on the art ST LIVIEfl as soon acs: 1 8.tkrof Nove-mber.r- of the maneuvering on. the 310. This ..was the extent

Dmuring the night i.tratined. mounte the 2d Battalion For the next. two days, while' the casualties time L Corn- the first day. Durinw this onto the positions gained held -4-

.,I - p

woods southwest of DIZUEM. in the vicinity of ST MEDARD and the batteries reorganized. it received DurLg this time the 2d Battalionwas

from ,4 The battalion surSeon stated that approxinmately 250 replacenents. a large number of trench foot the 12th to 14th thme battalion evacuated the period of exposure on HILL 310. and exposure, cases resulting from -Jackets 310 without galoshes or field (The battalion had attacked HILL which During the 3-day period during and carried only one dayts rations. on constant rain which turned to snow it was pinned down there had been

the 11th.) 101st Infantry, extended During this period, the Ist Battalion, NOTE: WOODS to cover the flank of the aong the south edge of the KOECKING. ST C company attempted an .attack on Jrantry". On division order, the- 328th on the. edge of the woods, above .EDARD butmet: heavy enemy artillery town.. re- commander of the 101st Infantry Colonel. Scott, the regimental this- that there was no need to make commended,to the, division commander 26th the4 flanking maneuver which the attack on ST !CDARD in light of the Divisions were then making through . Infantry and. the. 4th Armored and coaander then requested from Corps, S KOECKING WOODS. The division the 101st a change-of orders relieving corps from the. Army Commander, withdrawn. was outflanked and the enemy from this mission until. DIEUZE

This request was granted. Infantry on the 15th. The 2d Cavalry Group relieved the 101st was then the 1st Battalion of the 101st The 2d.Battalion along with- there until the WUISSE (205285) and. remained assembled in the vicinity of The edge of the KOECKING wOODS. I to the far 328th Infantry had cleared on of attacking through the 328thi 101st was then given the mission LI and 3ORALSTROFF In thIs attack the 2d Battalton was on the right flank of the regizuent. I F- was on high ground prior to the attack :e 2d BattaliOn position# the and the town of GUEBLING. 0 overlookin the DORDEL CREEK (255295) leading corkscrew.,road, in open terrain, left of th e battaliof waa a ..-Ar vision had attacked CCA ot th 4th, Zored down from th'ehi s round. f f lOls t,. Ihf ant'r7. Th0, - th* attzaC* the, tsarea two2da ypro " to es in the area in- he:avy enemy de fens attack was to. drawl e4,eOt of this fire pointeo so that they could high ve-locity guns rT enemy had placed which sd been knocked several enemy tanks, on t.he corkscrew road. tlank along the had been .stationed Division's attack, out by the 4th Arored stated that the pillboxes. iajor Cwade road at (278299) as armored one enemy t8 tat the' Jrft flank of khe fom~t~ur.d docl re:imelt of that. the right flank. of. wotocis at, (28129.0). and. u tt was In-the patt

another unit. was. in BOURGALSTR-OFF n ' an in- t io J zmped ofsf after; th l h -tbbatta i; t,6.-, On the;. mornt of tr, COmpany0n "- ,, le.ft;andtF .to with SC czpan1ytnth8 tenser artilleryr preparation, &t made well to the iiht The 2d. Battalion attack. was the riht. In a fire on the road. to avoid the direct corkscrew road in order embankment and the DORDEL crossed the railroad " rapid assault, F Company GOEBLING. F high ground just South of but were held up on the aCEXK, of this moved to the right led by a replacement officer) direction C opanY (being contact, pressed on in:the hig ground and, without maintai.niG was never learned* a.t happp.ned toF Company BORGALSTRF just wh ," of and.some SoutlV of BQURGALS.fOFF;architng enemy tzks were seen maneuverinG6 ico American troops. m Three observer saw about ttme later an aerial

rear urger guard, back to" the German on t inteeey'Peei to be the strof 3cL: -- 5TROFF proved o.n ,. .,. j . (277299) the dug-' At the bend in the rvaa at sea on the battalion front. volume of fire on AOEBLI.G.The in enemy tanks were laying a heavy been constructed by j. CREEK (a bridge which had bridge across the DORDIAL Engilneers-were n lln its attack) was destroyed. the 4th Amored DivisLo they came " losing several vehicles as up to replace the bridge, brought . was under constant enemy - but the bridge site down the-corkscrew road,. the bridge at fire, the Engineers completed fIre. working under this sent up to support and TD'S, and ammunition, were 1400 hours and tanks J wita the support E and G Companies attacked, E Company. At 1700 hours, what was left of F COM- to recover, if possible, of the tanks arm TD'S at the bend of the, out the three tar.ks dug-in pany. The TD'S knocked the. western edge- of BCURGALSTROF and E and G companies reached road, 2d Battalion made a perimeter defense soon after dusk. That night the occupied one.. of 50URGALSTPd'FF-' The battalion on the. western outskirts Germans in the other. end of the town with the, by the had been heavily hit, first In this attack the 2d Battalion During the day, Lt by enemy artillery fire. capture of F company and the main street covered in GUEBLING as he, crossed Col Lyons was wounded

by fire from the dug-in enemy tanks. 2d Battallon and .. came up behind the That night the 1st Battalion 4S 1st Battalion, the next day continued the attack to BOURGALSTROFF. The battle auring the4 Battalion, f ought a heavy with the support of the 2d by confusion was caused primarily day to clear the town. Considerable Towards dark the the right and left rear. the flaxkinl5 fire from both and there were A the 101st infantry began moving left side of the line of ana 2d i During the 2d night, the 1st signs of an enemy withdrawal. 6 the next morning there pasting of artillery ana Batttltons got an "awful

TV -- I

°4

when the enemy lne not an enemy in the place" said Major Moade. was to LOHR broke, the 1st Battalion stepped out in a column road march

off to the right- of BEDESTRCF and (365325)., andthe2d Battalion peeled

downr to DOM ON (33029.4-) * of, the 101st Infantry, working It During_ this- attack thie 3d Battalion the , 'the l04th :nfantry, had cleared . ;-f-t- an&? in c...h.,nuncti on' v th p0o o0% tha line, atMtARfMl,0NT. 0hen this last enemy positilo on, t4sdelqifl 4 (350348). 3d Battalion took off for TORCHEVILLE tion had been cleared, the the enemy lines. I,. breakthrough to a gap in major Mctade attributed this still meeting 35th infantry Divisionlm. The 104th' Infantry and the was in the gap. While the 2d Battalion heavy resistance North of this came TF "JAQUES- (4th Armored Division) vicinity of DOMNON, and BASSIlNG," Thist move- of- to- reach MTNSTER (390355+ .. throug BASSI f in an attempt. fw~ ~ 'te mader wi thout-.pr,,or -p~ ~ the;,4th Ar oed Dlws..o had beenL Dwsintin- / - n a r ance of the 4,th Amor ed- 2Sth i .1nt rDv rVsio The appe t veAcinty ofz GIUNZLING, a ri-. the- 26th this- area.:-caustd at traffic-. j am in ove uSouthot 6t the atea. Infantry Division ordered the TF to m

1st Battalion's to LOHR to support the The 2d Battalion moved up job there was to give anis- attack at INSVILLSR 'The batt alion's main , I between LOh1 and INS- A across the RODS CREEK A tance in building the bridge I Battalion S-4, the supervision of the 2d VILLER, which was done under lumber, furniture ana The br'idgey was improvised, froms rough= I -Lt CLAS" to pass on to suitable for the 1st Battalion other odds and ends, but was the tBOIS deO.. went beyond INSVIIR to clear ,INSVILLSR. The 1st Battalion" I 9 to pass through the 1st- the. plan was for the 2d Battalon KAM!1,ESBIEL, and wiete3 the woods to the SAAR CANAL, ~i sattalien to finish clearing S an and eliminated the artillery hc 5attalOfn moved on MUKSTER -9 -9- F:,, 4001b

the left flk of the 1st art 2d Battalions. passed through the ls-t Battalion The next morning the 2d Battalion woods along the lateral road. The but ran into heavy opposition in the FONTAINTE had been prepared with i entire wooded: area of-,the BOS de BONIZE bands trenches. Along the lateral road were dugain positions a-r zig-zag A with mines attached. !any of the of concertina wire every 100 yards out, :1 by wet weather which flooded ~1 enemy defenses bad been made ineffective did not have enough men to man toe the trenches. The enemy apparently I weapons in the area were 20t=i dual positions. The principal defensive purpose AA guns. Ofn the right, to clear the The 2d Battalion attacked, with E Company road to the North. Com- the SAAR CANAL. and the parellel area between 4 from the road to- the- Northern pany on the-leftt-, was- to. clear the woods non-existent, but. a few reinforce- edge. F Company was still practically '4 said that this was a hell of an area ments were, available. Major McWade I the crusted to clear with such a small number of men. After piercing started out throuGh the woods defenses along the road, the battalion 1 The advance continued steadily, and meeting small pocke-ts of resistance. Company neared the Chateau de BON by the second day (23 November) E. G at the road junction #264 (442338). FOYrAIIN, end G Company was in secur- I heaviest resistance, particularly Company had been meeting the I In passing .4 and had been considerably disorganized ing this road junction, I out of contact with the battalion. A throuch the woods.* ,Company was on the e. to E company in its attack The pictur of what happened enemy give. The Chateau was a nest of chateau, Major Moade could not resistance. Apparently s COmpany attacked with one platoon well in the into the Chateau, al.ong w ith the lead. Th.is platoon was able to get -10- I. Ii Li Asa 4" -4

the Chateau, could be established around Company CO. Before defenses off the platoon and counterattack which cut the enemy pulled a flanking in the Chateau of the company. The platoon the other elements I cut Into finally captured . with smallfarms but were tried to hold off theenemy Pennington was taken. of E Company, t C. P*. (about 30 men). The CO back- to the- ablo to-:esCape and. return pizsoner-but shartlY. after-*was battalion lines.• to help in was attached to the battalion At this time K Company to the south. G the East. G Company shifted clearlng the woods to on the iorthe. K Chateau de BONNE FONTAINIS Company was to flank the woods and given the the, Northern edge of the C~piaon7 was- assigned on 5) F Co-npan.y was. , iund,.28.2 (448356,) to' th-h, 9 -gO Miss:ion-of, cleaq.ri'&e

' 'l of the'- Chateau andt. got int-o-- po tiOf Nbrtth Tbe tnext d'at.%G Company, K Company reached% to- re-afer. the- Chateau.. p and -:Companies were, able, ... . of- 38 but were Sr ,a..q 0 4 its ob4Jective on Hil 2$32. Company S i road from ALTWILtER. K by SP'S moving down the men supported range. 262 at about 50 yards enemy ?SPun on HILL had first run into the the counterattack hit, to knock them out when The company was maneuverin, made a fanatical hours. Enemy troops by artillery at 1600 preceedec and the fiEitin The enemy overran K Company attack with fixed bayonets. of about. 200 yaras'. tO- hand, cambat to a de.pth degenerated>ihnt'o-.a .hand of. K Company, was, a casualty.. Capt,1if.; MISING, the- CO4 During! this. attack casualS withapproxrat elYfifty back into the woods i Company waG driven n z ea K Company reorga l exploit the situation. but the enem7 did not ties, about half str erth. ntght at (440345) with that up to 101st Infantry, was brought 'At this time the 1st Battalion, -11- 1?.t I..: lm.-mmmt--

at 1500 yards distance. The RIVSDORtF road and overlooking SAARE-UNION wood was raked heavily by the enemy fire from three sides.

extent when Tr' CHLRCEKILL, The situation was relieved to a certain (554369) and threatened to press. A 4th Armored Division, got into RIMSDORF then came up to the Northwest edge 4 out to the North. K and L Companies for its attacK on SAARE-UNION- of the BANTNOLTZ WOODS in preparation (See later notes on SAARE-UNION Battle). to attack northeast with the The plan was for'-the lt Battalion swune objective while the 2d Battalion SCHLOSSEOFF FARM (551390) as its the attacked the SCHLOSSHOFF FARM from to the right around R.EESDCRF and to clear SAARE-UNION' southeast. The 3d Battalion was lst Battalion could make no progress When this attace Jumped off the in theISENBOL OODS (550376) due to strong enemy deensive positions its At this time TIP CHURCHHILL made and the ALTENBURG WOODS (545382). C outflanking the ISENBOHL WOODS, and attack to the North- of RIMSDORF,. out the wooCs4 CHURCHHILL was able to clear Company following up behind TF from the rear. were both the Lst ana 2d Battalions when this position was broken the WOODS and take positions.astride able to work through the-ALTENBERG advanced Shortly after the 2d Battalion SAARE-UNION - DO'ESSEL road. overlooking SAARE-UNION from the on to high ground positions at (543390) end held by. the 2d Battal,ion at the northeast. These-were the positions intb division battle. The 101st Infantry then went of the SAATEJNION thefA in the final division attack on reserve, and before it was co~nitted the regiment was withdrawn to rear Lasinot forts northeast of DOMFESSEL,

a~e 6,. areas.-Ct

ft 1: SAARE-UIIIQN Battle iajmor I,cadeCIs account of the Iniantry the right flank of the 101st :n the attack on SAARE-UNION critical objectives Armored-,DiVision and the was workins with the 4th met DivisiOflm T hei2d and+ 3&attalons wete-.takenh by the.ttd-Armored story of, SAARE- ta n e casua~tis,' but ithej big heayt r~es-i- and bad-med'6iUS the . A's-tfre lrlOst ihfant'r7J Jump-dofff, U1 i0.s wi th the>3d Battalio it from ' of a ridge line, which concealed 3d =attalion moved under cover was East and Northeast of SAARE-UNION, the principal enemy positions opposition. of SAAEE-TNtON without serious able to get to the outskirts of comptnies, with I, K, and n was advancing in a column The 3d Battalilo direct-. along the railroad leading d-,to. stay on the road. and , and. intende 4 e 'aas: n V snf t K Compatie adyanO the tofl1 .Accordi o: Mai McwaAe>. l tO ; . + . ay..ar~.d whi.+ om e+s oL Cu:f.r+c. pa-nr," orr.t.W4%w... -.... . planinet but.. nsome-.reasor bxr t-d fr9.e'mot5zzvId4W ion rt for~'6st poritiOns5 br.OUtL0 i tdr4ir d.dt' enemy carrt.'d it off to, th,+rizt-" and , s'uo. SA'ARErUNION- L, in,. the'ffact4 ar Sarr'cks. a6- (58376) , I Company, in the this. fire and pinned .down+. Company was hit heav!l-y by resistance and edge of the tovn without meeting meantime, had come to the town and to'I Company to go into the the Battalion S-3 gave permission COmpc y was practically deserted. I see wbat they could fUnd. The town enemy fire could and thirty-sLx enemy before captured four machine guns the town and then for security to bear. I Company went throush be brought e it wascf.Olt that the. to the southern out skirtsbeau ; 2.Dbcem companyreasons couldpulled notback hold down the town it'self. The nextrmOrniflE

b . n +'rr ute went into the' toW l usJifgthQ+se har, the entire' battalion enemy had managed a before. This time the Company had found the night against machine gun was some street fightiflS tentative defense and there + town barracks area south of the to rake the streets. The postinsset -'- bed" or rests- by this ttme and was a "hot had been completely alerted 3d Battalions to at the town and on the 2d an tance, throwing fire both Company se-a was cleared about noon. I the southeast. The town itself of town along a roac which was cured positions on the northeast side towards, orchards. L.Company was outpostinlc flanked by a few houses and was on the- was on the north. K Company the factory area and one element

northwest. enemy had be-' moved in the town, the Apparently, as the battalion in the orchard well cemouflagedpositions tween eight and ten tanks in enemy counterattacked after eastof the town. During the afternoon the the tanks drove into and artillery. pour of a preliminary fire of mortars followed by approxi- four from the, northeast, the town from the east and overran of infantry.. This counterattack mately a, company and one-half which were stationed battalion anti-tank suns and captured five of the drove into the town ___4 of the town. The tanks near the graveyard northeast laid grazing ftre at street intersections, itself and, taking positions was holding. *A.. in the area which I Company on the streets particularly the I Company cut off the building containing line of fire completely infantry moved this protective fire the enemy Command Group. utrier who, had defended them- engage the 2d Battalion troops "" through the town to very well counterattack was apparently selves in houses. The enemy seen The enemy tank comm.ander was handled and completely organized. hscmadtn urt the movement of the tanks from airecting cleartflg by succeeded in reoccupyir ,s or i The enemy counterattack The forward artillery ot- the northern part of the town. 4fire, most of succeeded in redtO- servor with I Company (Lt Clark, 101st FA Battalion) f. ;he mca gvtng ireC tiOfl tor tn bac4 word of the counterattack, ~-15- rFI ii

dab A

a four in ten minutes, using :1 replied with 380 rounds jOist A 3 5 ttalion six A and one batt8rZ7f own three batteries * orsanization (its battalion y e Lt CUARK, C btpqL under L1tS control) nfrom, the RePenta Canon ard co- fOr Cite or h±' own posit'sfl by enemy tank-s, calId. -I surtouxed ° i e ° s e weA he ha'dr teit OVe.r in thesb3e- tnued tq -g v fire-directi n ev fl 4 in, the t oefore the artillery f ire camC I met. of the bu.'l'd:fn. Just.- tank co-n der, end one of the C, companY Cozrnanda Group spotted the enemy berret. The artill- ~ d shot throuGh the tank coflancler's men ja a single .4 tanks to. withraw. Two broke the counterattack and cause4 the eof ry thef~re tanks were knocked out by artillerY fire. The tanks stayed in

- •g ioc t-I- gT fIr A of th Ion. .j a hr5il ie h a'ddni.Ud4t on tedgtotY, by-7 the : th:orshardS;: tf e tr-o it-lT as t r atened , oth -ad. t th o tt ' n attt499Z a 1of r DiVisoon and. the 2. an& . advance, of' the, 4th ArOred- makithPr T 2succe dd iv the Drod. escape!o t9to9thev c r t h e a s t ' 2 resent time there is practically no one lift in th.e 2d picture of who w.as in theSAARE0.ION battle. TO set a better ~tiaionAteon. w s cl should.eale oe reached and Lt Howard ! , clar, who action C As '• ttli+on.... . ti'sa. st:L.1wiLth the jois-01st. A R-

-16- ,01

%.isiOfl 101st Infantry Resimenlt, 26th intant'Y CZ m tT: 3d 3attaltonD pERIOD: F November- 12 December 19414

Lorraine Campaign CO ACTIO2t3SOURCE: Lt col Jos Nixon peals, Jr., 020684, Battaliof Capt john. Dennis, Battalion s3

PtACE AND DATEJo IhneRVLV; 19 JuDO 1945, ZELNAVA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA

Nos 35/14; 35/15; 36/14; MA-PS: scale, i/50,000, Eastern PRANCE,Pheets 37/15; 37/14 Luaden LNW- -RVIE 'tR: Lt Monroe ; n l wtoY s and tO a exactsketch TNE: T-is intervieLwar s cnd .withwithreference ot. A mapssure of the X E:* This intervilew_'was.-condUced . very clear concepeion of MEOWdjary kept by Colonel. Peal. ,e wa vey ler cncsetion-ofhi the action of his.but pattalion. appeared Colonelto have apeale called in sever of dats nd, tines, this (interviews-byrficeri and, NOOS I Howard).to give spotcolonel stories peale included is a youngwith west pointreport. officer wita"a very firm graspr of the importance of the battalion ac tion.

6 October l944 into the Lorraine area on The 3d Battalion first moved on Inarntry Battalion, 4th Armored Divisiol, it relieved the 53d Armored first combat (1460). This was the positions near JvaCOURT the- hi#hjground Battalion was The53d Armored nfantry comittment of the battallon. 53d ArmOrea natry enemy situation. The very carefullY on the as questioned that troop the woods ST PIAMONT .: Battallon recommended opsbe kept out of concen- position and giving it periodic enemya-jllery was :eroe& on that

Compantwwa tratiOf.• HILL 279 (148162); K took up positions on i~ I Compay=- .. oda; _and._L_ .m-nY-on.HILL, d-s- oft-te-ST p- l-&O' stationed Just south kept to the rear of JUVRECOURT- (142l 9 ). H Company was fire. got its first taste of enemy turing the relief the battalion shelled as it moved into position" -rjc co-mpanyp lrately wasacu at'-

NOTE: At that time there were still civilians in JUVRECOURT who were, A proveC, hoever. The - the enemy fire. Thil was never civilians---- airectingwere evacuated a few days later. .4 an E.P URT * batteries at JUVXELIZE 4 enemy fire was coming from to the enemy were on HILL 273, (l70225).The 0~thW line. the cloisest positions .4 forward slope ard outposts on btte d mortar posAtiOnsI where theenemy ha w~htlO V C~omp a 7 du&~ i.n: on thme nOV'erSei sloP& for t&e ex A Oief . .. I0 ot ir ao ( thelie ohnt mherS'fe8' a: constant' exchangei fewrad combat ~1 stable. Th e 3d attaliof a 4 month, but the lines remained ge to gater exposure. patrols cold weather a few cases of casualties and due to wet and did manage sUaceSS, but one patrol out, mostly without were sent in ZANY. Inforzation of enemy positions planning resimenlt began detailed pr it4 to. DaY (8 Novembero)the d Just l Bttalinp. .. .idePlp. its position&- The. for the. attack and. readJusteUtd d att±lwrs b to.thel, and..ridaaie .j., y c onnea t beti'nd-."Tive zoitets, t b&ck to reserV' poes-tt.ons tip.its night precedi &the., attacksa tt thewa 1 02dj nh oati=fl.ind' iok u p p~ dS j t .: .ns , on t he - (121179).)eh Thee r ' 4 -2 ( 1 2 3 . 7 9 3dat positions toward VtOYEIVIC and the to The plan called for the 2d Battalion -1 north edge of the BEZANGE woos° 4 -make-, tht initial assault towards HILL 310. The 3d Battalion was to give up on the 2d fire support with its V4 Company and be prepared to follow 4 Battalion as soon as needed. Company had a X at 0700., At thi& tie .M The 2d, BattaIion att,ack be Ii te c n at" (09181j) and, th-emorltars of P olaoon.of heaVy, machil . gunsil the heavy wealr ONT wo o 5 Duriwfl& the,,aSttack, behifdtbe STPIA stationed targets ,whi couICS; I ponts company fired on OYENVIC at long range on terrains t.

barely bi seen for the mist. A% the attack progressed, Company was I? comrder jn moving up, the company towards !AOYENVIC. it ordered to move up edge of the He moved from the con/usea on airections. of V Company bectme by enemy machine gun f ire in woods towards VIC-SUR-SEILL an, was anmbushed cleared. The X Company CO was i the area (120200) which had not yet been wounded. ikilled and a few- of his men commander callea for the 2d At. 1100 (approximately) the, regimental there re- of companies to MOXENVIC and Battalion. 3t moved in a column 2d Battalion which had been pinned aown ceived instructions.torelieve the of HILL 310. MOYEIVIC was under and disorganized on the reverse, slope and road junction northeast of the heavy artillery fire as was the bridge hill with the intent of flanking the town. L Company was first comtitted reserve positions on the h.ll just to the. east. I Company was to take above the NEUF FAPM (144216). mortared from.unknown enemy posi- DurLing this time, M OENVXC was being and said 2! Compiny came into MOSEVIC tions west of the town. One- man from 9- positions. Captain E. R. Radzwich, that he could lead the way to the enemy to search out the position. (The CO of I Company, gathered a few men all of I company would do the Job). Battalion Commander's intention- was that of MOYENVIC, met enemy fire The patrol moved to the woods west (130203) with the surrender of a platoon of enemy * which it returned and caused

* approximately ten 81= mortars. LCcmpanr had no success on HILL 310. It moved up on the right of

the skyile on the lip of the ridge at * Company but as soon as it showed on enemy fire from IjARAUCOURT ana K'ILL ; (156223) it.was subjected to intense moved to its positions on the hill 310. L Company drew back. I.Company weapons front SALIVAL (141232) i but were hit by a cross fire of automatic the principal damage was coming and HILL 310. colonel peale stated that

at (150228). 30th companies were from machine gun positions in a church thei&r positions f1or the night. ordered to hold 0 d -0

and concentration from EARAUCCURT About 1EO0 a 20-minute artillery of the 2d a-d 3d -attal- and the forward positions .R SAL ,:e 0,,0EVIC intense Artillery fire e +, s that this was the most ions. colonel peal . tated n ; the bat-talio bas* ever met.e. with TF "A" miUus K Compn7 (which was T4e 3dBattal-ion t houg available, on, enot apn ad,WaS th+e onl..... maneuveingorce o-en ot -& a p p e n a d .. , t h through with-L Company'to go attack was to be resumed The next morning the with the support of HILL 310..1 Company, SCompany directly to the crest Was to attack the the 761st Tank Battalion, of a platoon of tanks from the edge of the woods Farm. L Company got to enemy positions at SALIVAL at down by machine.run fire h.lL crest, but was pinned j ist short of the . flre' J ust to the rear - itseif'_ andt bqyo m ortar. c a t a i n. Zo Aio~ne, Ii o srge' fom= the hill* cres-t*e t+ 'tiigI l 11,the e l ... i ohhetc. of"" .m l + h urtt. t b'+4ttP4ZXYOlndd(fln oVf thethil.. After sever ordered hII odis- tuatiOn an&d C°lonetod peae repotedhis.Si r m ofL. Copany+ to SALIVALFa efnfga and f olw CamPany

n Eyi.,vn fire o jumped off vitt the.-tank,platOf T.Company's attack up as I Company tank outfit) would not move support. The tanks (a negro southeast fire assault from the I Company made, a marching 4 ttacked. 1 Company overran of a lip of HILL 310. keeping under the protection when the supporting tank but there was difficulty the opposition at SALIVAL it. after I Company reached lift its fire on the positionS platoon did not lust- stalled In the flooded-stream up the attack were The tanks, following fire on the flanks this attack.l companyreceived short of SALIVAL. In posi- m et grazing4ire from strong enemy from the woods on tti. rihitand (.ompany pushed the north (see map). I in..the edge of the vaodS tz ati succeeded in ,tions wooded area to the north onfo SAA, a ttacked this

getttr£ a foot+hold before dark. west TF "A" moved from 1 hNVIC along the road i0 Durting this attack units mentioning ths task force give the ~-?ALVAL toward 4ORVILS . All anything, but met heavy fire and impressL. t.hatr it did not accomplLsh must have had high casualties. it appears however that thts task force which assistedh company, and turned the le t flank of the 102 t Infantry, eyen4ually resulted in the takinG of. SILL 310. (see small unit interview, by Lt Howard). K Company, He of HILL 310 were well spotted. By this time the enemy defensea slope of the hil! posttion. on the trward had strong automatic weapons six) 7Sn infantry had two (some reports say and on the hill crest. He There its enttre length. crest itself comandin howitzers on the ridge tip of high ground at positions behind the were a number of mortar mortars were dug into 20-foot (158232). It was later found that tese The to the east ot the hill positions. pits. The enemy artillerl was all 3d Battaliol which was on the west of the ridge was aettins practically

arms intensive machine guf and small no artillery fire but were meeting wooded elopes. fire from infantry positions on the The plan was for the- was sent to SAUYAL. During the 9th, L Company on the right the Is ft and L Company with I Company on battalion to attack

up the ravine: to the northeast. resumed its attack on enemy On the morning ofL the 10th, I Compan first to send the to the north. it was intended p ositions in the woods the woods with flanking tanks up the ravine to the northeast to blanket " fre. The soo yards from northeast of SALIVAL there was a tank trap ex- wooded areas. at both sides in heavy ravine and anchored " tending across the at the . taiks oross-countrY directly then plalined to send the it was jumped off to follow. This attack the woods with the infnltry7 "- corner of the and got well ahea4 of moved out too quickly as planned but the tanks

exposea, . infantry. Then because they were ThS time one d"- etter coordinated. Akno .e attack was made ch was

M5-do~ •°

platoon sot into the woocs anc after [ platoon of I Company plus a weapons an area about 300 fight were able to clear engaging in a hand to hand and 200 yards wide. -yards, eep pa-trol to maintain At4 this time Coloneipeale 0 0 itted his battle

3d jttll n,9 contactwith units on the- le'ft ofthet, 'a patoi.corposed tbth0lo3tReiment 'each.batt li:onJh as.batte GraE:0t $e' officer an d ivel enlisted meW who- have.voluntered for commando Mtssipnt-.) !- Z "L woods A. Balm) worked up in the CE The 3d Battalion patrol (Lt Howard to make a group of fifty ermans maneuvering (2524) and encountered a a surprise ftre at The patrol took them under counterattack on SALIVAL' withdrew the enemy unit. The p.atrol 50 to 100 yards range and dispersed ° up afseocOfd engagement. b 500a7cka, yard epectn the er6to-e ~L&~ t&d.Ti''&tlSt6apd ,n" t tim.Mm te eed ashott wa's, driven- off pos nS Thep enemy ...group this, by tire' from-entrenched

for good. off to. t hele ft.. -. . 0,a-~rC P WAs. sent-, L p4nttfatofole ,.the .aftrnoofl qf the I0)h Da point of open of clearing the ravin.eto the of i company with the mission through the wooded moving up L "ompany circled ground at (158245). in s behind the (see map) and reached ,postion area on the left of the ravine (During this attack the point of open ground. tank trap Just short of fire in clearing a men the use of marching Captain Donahue taught his encountered hed the aboverposition it wooded.area.) .when L,Companyrea. ravine. Th.stirel to fire alrectlysown,,.the enemy, machine gus 4t.up. . d - htr -company. i swung around to the left in the wooCs By is tie I mnyhad Under Colonel peale's the point of the ravine. and began to push east on at th e A forward along enemy positions direction both companies pressed Sii - -- Wi

doo 4

enemy finally overcame the -4 it was L Company that point of open ground. for further move- I ani cleared the road positions. at this point machne gun S :1 road with of twos on the I then formed in a column eitThe two companies 4 with the road junction :1 out. to the Northeast Company leading and. moved L was an exchange Every 50 yards or so there (161255) as the objective. at time two or three men were of fire wtth snipers along the road. Each was too -4S this kind of movement ol peals decided tbrt A casualties. Lt defense -t positions with a perimeter 3-1 I Companies procured costly, and L and .4, line 25. A woods at grid .4 in the middle of the to describe the extreme that it was difficult Colonel peale said woods were extremely It. was raining; the of this day's action. .3 hardship often used for pine which t'e enemy by groves of heavy I heavy and. spotted $ f,or one battalion's -.--- was much too Large positions. The- area defense During the night * I left flanks. were exposed. and both right and operations (That day the 1st. to the battalion. p ssible-to get supplies it was 0 enemy patrols to the right.) Several work on the woods Battalion began to to with- to be enemy units tryinS I These were, suspeoted, werO encountered. j positions- draw from cut off positions Infantry had reached of the 10th the 104th " y the night n working with the 104th was T "AA which'RVILi had been northeast of the night, but Battalion duri ng reverted to the 3d dissolved. K Company itscP'o wt 50% strength durinS to approximately it had been reduced I with morntfnS of the 11th the attack on the planned to resume it was toward and left of. the road sbreast on the right two companies movtflS was made with- ... . T.As attSOL " the eneZy st ° ro point ,at the oaa . tireU ana colt preparation. The 3d Battalions out arttllery or mortar

m_jw__ - - -. o I I

woods. wtith a heavy volume of made a desperate attack to get out of the woods overcoming all opPOsitlOn-0The n fire, they succeeded in were overrun *1 automatic weapons posttion- and a, few enemy I,- werm cleared an enemy oattalion C? i b e'f r e n oo n At thi point attterajct o elYA 100 lJs. taVeLU wI;b, appyOX54+t been cao- wa& whach,.had ot.ef thee *1 NOT..DrinS eamyZ5±imrtaestn wor nes ae iel I edin theP rvroudy at etie and rain was by Judgin strongonly WB7 point to controlat the roadthis attackjunctio. in the dense jood .4 I the noise made by both friendly and enemy fire. practicallY allbandoleers) the (each man with at least four .-.1 teuntlOn the battalion carried during the atack.) '4 was used up its support junctiOlon and. sent .4 positions at the road The battalion secured the crest of the rinse '9 by a combat patrol down ing, tank, p~lijtoon guarded on I ha seizedPotions + ti&n Athe i4ti Battalion'. thea soItt.. B tkhs 1 ' talinono the weet and tho i then r.idse ftorn fitc;; arti lletryfire.e r . I Szcep t o n ++ uPe +.0,in of Nov embe The 104th The+ divi sj The..ero tt elrl2th' 328th was nIov# uptO H O1?T (..151269). The reachked positions near on the I had and the: 104th infantry hegiments. be+ coitted between the 101st the orders to push to A given * was io nh 101st IntqntZy, 12th the 3d Battal and the the road Junction while-the os northeast from its positiOns at A in their firh ofl HILL 1O which had been badly mauled 2d Battalions, On 4 . of the KOECIZ FoTorest. the southeirn4 edge were-, to extends-out along e+ [email protected]& up' t batta lion'"s.atw the morning of the 12th Colonel enemy positions to hia front. it make a reconnaissance of until he could li.atvt anksVI(7613t went out withthree the Battalion S-3, CaptainT ank aattalion) Dennis, and located an enemy strong point of macine suns ana AT junction.e in front of the road in the openl ground P weapons at (162258) by AT fire but he Ws DennisT tank wRs hit Dtxrinl tfl5isecor~faissance of the positions. to give his report • able to et back

II rI, -7 r

4ra- ,

with L Company on the left, About 1000 hours the battalion attacked as leading into the KOECKINS woods Company on the right, with the road- raking the attack was preceded by artiller7 the axis of te attack. This left. I Company point on open ground to the wooded area and the: strong .1 tanks were with tank support, but two pushed forward along- the. road at the road junction (probably two enemy tanks) knocked, outby AT fire '1 Company's weapons were overrun by . at (168295). The enemy anti-.tank the road at (173259). reached positions along -1 marchtng fire-and..I Company preceded by an artill- on the-stronc point L, Company made its attack which was lifted phosphorus id high explosive) ery.barrage. (firing white follow- the. strong point. The company by radio as the company approached. positions. before fire, overrunning the enemy ed izmedia.tely wi.th marching to Colonel Peals-, heads-up, an. according the Germans-could. get.. their their- foxholes.. . while, they were. still in bayoheted most of,, theenemy taken. There. were a. few p'W- coomanders were led by their company In this attack both companies could get. raced to see. how far they personally and both companies the up and interrogated on attack PWS were, picked Towards the end of the, indicated that the road ba-ttalion S-2. The Ws. spot b7y Lt Freeafan, the mined. It of the battalion was heavily " art wooded area" to the. front there was a reserve map taken with the Pws that was also learned from a Enemy howitzer posi- tip of woods at (179252). battalion of enemy on the the KOECKIW-forest along the main road through tions at certain points on thil.map. to the east were indicated fer the that it would have been possible battalionColonel to advancePeale stated frther that day but concern for a possible counter

aniQ of his right flank lace enemy battalion on attadk by the reserve

Sc positiols to hold uP at the left caused him of what was on his inoicated. Dtring the day the 3d Battalion 101st tnPlt ad beenw attach *" i A4C lool peale I28' decisiOFh to, 9 ld4 UP wa ean:atote h £ h ea c l n L added thx a cobr ,8 4 , Gt e, 328th. Pea3:6patne)r, a& g' r t OJ-b b. coronetaa C0 :, tter jixf sarn':ll antilI' thet enem .wo~ l . r~gVS thO batta ion dnotr hsiSwttih8 tOftQPjaeo tmanat: b. is: ti0.e thatzanY' sot a shel ling that night, but recelved e qruicklY.veryeri The battalion o" whICh were beaten only two smll counterattacks from a twent-man patrol

fire. " the 3d off b7Durn rifle the. night the 2d gattaliOnf 328th Infantry, relieved Dtin h alt t, o it- rit f knthe 3d BattaliOn 101St ... d:.. . S a~"i, nn t:of h.r~d ~og att ack on the. le f :nflftfl~pye~red oT cntitlueTthe: : ~ ~ the - OsElING- forest."noods ad CbmPntoft oia .. int,-.. eo of.t" WlonC tne K0ZKZ....,ffl '" to'! attack from the tip. of thewo...at be g fl4 AD..:.O..a.i An i.ST. C m : :++ rire rsii~ artllery positionat ihteWc o over on enem y tb three-ohu. cnauntry A' (17225?24) ws ubjected case heav okoeI itsmovc~om~fy an commader and natY aw kildh omp colonel jacobs ofte38t whc a ty this point its .positions.) '. cm .0 Co~panY and reOrSnized auporvisiln of northeast, g erally to the 3d BattaliOl, movinlg 0 The next day the At the serious opposition. i cWe'". of wooded harea without w iv. n 3001 ee yards S cleared 2000 --. edge of the woods was met at the some. opposition of the day's advance, ingtwhi hrein tS i end inousesthat nigh ur These were rest2 524an dr h4-rIy clote in: along a stream- bed.. thirty e nemrdgS at (1S1273) frof to'IISSZ battalion moved up assault- fire. Th.e overcome by .' I quicklY a i nwas able to 4i : - The batlnb t inj hert for het.loest e nis~t. (205285 )adur e hedei

of snow fell.n 4 ie o an-thi The next morning several of the men fires to itwarm their "V" i The s mokCof the ftre apparentlys rations in the wooas north of vXISSE. received from a rtwn I le several casualties were de - : e n f . r1Senemy atiller..fire* d the enemy short but heavy concentration.ein the interview Colone peale aescribedte nmZ. t O - -s -4A.- length of 15,O00 yards i his pointNO WoOhe . For the entire eAl t foxbolOs, zthg-ZS theewe5-In t e KOEred or anelaborate defensein withwerefront of the -roundmaIn un- trFoesth odswswrprmaeiaQ d pad.rT an n efsesdefensesw waere o n s ToeV most of these piti aref CtrnIL anduSoutod. a spotty but stubborn aefensOe ocpi. Themreonly e a snd l nts . few tanks were l the main road were wire, Min were the road. The main enemy defe t o OcOeeonteed bymalnlr a rigt flank maneuver- on the part of.the 2d Baion3 the volume))' 3 t t enclosed in ;nantrl(reference:s ntervi, on the morning of the 14th the 3d Battalion attacked to the lateral road northeast of VUISSE' tompany leadilS out with HILL 296 (215296)

been y the movement of as objective. Enemy units whjich had dislodged 3d CCA, 4.t Armored Division were still active on the north on the attl- ion front. one enemy unit set up machine gun positions along the edge

Erug, forward observer from the of the woods northeast of ,'IjUSSE Lt fire ofl this for- the preparatory artullery 263d FPA attalion, called square in the lay- enemy un position but a mistake was made of one grid

few ing which caused the fire to fall short on the 3d Battalion. A was no serioustdama. ne -u-s-en _casual ties.. ere++.caused but there d position with their machine guns a T Company opened on the enemy a few" fire f i1t accounted for "quite small arms and after a short Germansf dead or captured. L Company went along the edg6 of the wooCS to T Company was to be the maneuver- the objective wtth K company follcwifl. met organized enemy positions on ighhe fllk. L CompWy ing elementsonhergtfm. After A ' the 90 sition. fire attack captured the htll but in a marching where it en-a on continued east to the road hill was seized, L company the . 4o the _no °rth, the main m ad set to fire two 75~mm sP guns on -e - ° countered fire, small arm anx.ri knocked out by bazooka These sS -r2 were zan7 enemy dead. __ - ,. were a good grenadeS. ,u'tsy'were taken anu e- e { caozpanes received approxtaately thirty casualties u the5 -nsl1 attack. up postttons. I Company, working up to the road junction (237), took radio, it received a Just as the company had began operating their 284 The Com pany treienduouS artillery-lconcentrat on from the eghtflank. n . to the edge of the woods on mov:ed,.away..from tLAeroad: j ct o 200,' yards eomufe an#enemySFSuZn the n orthi<. but ," in doLng' thisa wAkd. art-e aiztl thei, ivrl.th machine gun ana parked in th.a wood's. . T c",0€ompy/'engaged s out to surrender but the rifle fire. Two of the Germans immediately came had no bazooka or rtfle rest of the crew decided to fight. I Company in front of the positions grenades. The Sp withdrew to the north passing O. 3. Cusic lobed a hand grenace of XandK L Companies. As It passed, pvt . ai muntLti6f6nd destroyed, in-the. top.- of the- spy ThegrenadAe sVet. off thie not, returned {i,re6 The: the SF.- Durifl& the- engagement. the: enemy sp,-Fhad by L.Company blocked, the, *th.e r,, tiO sp wejsporZ whiczh had: been: knocked out,

roadt. re- was:. cons.ider ": * while the battalion. remained ih thesepositions-, the area but it all fell able enemy artillery fire falling in the general when the resistance long or short of the position held by the bat% lion. Farm (223284) where they was broken L Company took up positions in ARLANGS the KOECKING woods. At this * fired in support of the 328th Infantry into the 3d Battalion reverted to the control of 4timethe 1st Infantry. firs~t the- dtay (I35 Novem ber) the battalion receiyedtV their in. subsequrit " Note : During 20Q). iQe-lVaX.... s&tatew+ re'aem3t (prxiaey turned' out. the .e• ,wo-We mainly ASTP and Reguil•r', am men• acton such. as I ck~ng in: certainv ne,.esSaXr. training ' S very. wel-l, bu~i-.tte.y1werte itkana the use oV the; extended .order _&ill and. hand. signals controllinz + '. - secondry. weapons&such as the R; mort-ar,,+etc. in the vicinity of "W-JISSE for +i The battalion remained in positions anda rebabilitating its troops, * several days, absorbing its replacements

edge of the durng which t ie the 328th Inaz~ry cleared to the eastern -12- II

KOECXIfl woods and CCA, 4th Armored Division, after its unsuccessful order. The 101,t Infantry was 4 ,k attack on GUEBU!l, was withdrawn on Corps line at GUEBLING. On the given the mission of cracking the enemy defense evenina of the- 7th-l~th ofNovember the 1st Battalion moved to positions

the attack. (Refer to above KUTZELI.fl Farm (255312) in preparation for Division). interview, 101st Infantry and CCA, 4th Armored on a railroad embankment The enemy had a strong front line position supported by high grouna along the DORDAL creek. This line position was mortar fire could be 500 yards to its rear from which artillery and defenses. At the directed. colonel peale gave some details of the enemy the railroad track and railroaa embankment, ties bad been taken from track itself. machtne uns dug in to fire airectly up aria down the through the embankment Another =achine gun position was in a, culvert- who directed the fire. aimed to fire blind, with the aid of sn observer in front of the. 3d Battalion was a granite The critical strong point the railroad em- quarry at (268320) with two large slag piles dominating

attack with two battalions bankment. The 101st .infahntry planned to 101st Lnfantry on the left. abreast, coerdinated with. the attack of the HILL 273. on the morning of the 16t±- The + objective of the 3d Battalion was preparation, the battalion urter cover of darkness before the artillery minimum loss of surprise. inched up to the railroad embankment, with the attempted to secure After the artillery preparation, I and K Companies enemy were cdmple tl alerted. +" the embankment itself. By this time the cane under intense flanking .+ Every man who tried to ...cros the, embankment the enemy posi- ~ 2 machilne gun flre grazing= the track and frontal fire from

a quarry (269320). - tions on HILL 273. and from two large slag piles at end L Company cn the left. In "this attack I Company was on the right -13- Vi~ of the battalion had its OP on the edge K Company was in reserve. The support with one and 1M (ompany gave fire woods above rU ZuZIG FarM its mortar platoon, edg-of the woods and Platooa of machine guntontMe

i 'the-*woods0- e b'!ci&o it imposs ibl a to get acros sthe embank B.ot • L;SJW.. I omP nis fQ.t

observer w i.h I gompanY. be'ce mentaS #PlWA4. T'S": r ar.artsl7Y support I UompanY could and the 'only artillery separated from his radio artillery a private, who directed the get was from the radio operator, the managed to cross About. 0700, L ompany fire well but not accu'atelY. HILL 273, There it received the reverse slope tracks and get up on tront sna the left flank. sun fire.from, they - voI'umo of machine otfice oft the cacupafli a heavy , was' kglOedr and? eveWrY ar C'st'atf" pDonahue c' PnC tht' in at that) time,. hr compllnt loa~t: al estit:te& wer e' casialtt!fls . T te ompany. took ... se ge an.t

- -- the track Atbudt 0815, wer.,e, K a4 few, men acrossin the quarry. compaflT got: positions o.. 0700,against I the enemy , _ .- unablesoon- to afteradvance ,de the quarry with the isaion f c leaning out COpanY was committed with

. managed to adjustto side- about 1030 i companyitself and began t Company'sof fire.time fireAt on the quarry *thea heavy help concentrationof

hequarry.,- uslip to.the lef.t of t of,. the the sleagppsitions;., piles withnorttt assault Iable? , cpompani.ylOt todriVeol' tQ toflanking, quarry,w37 KOZomwa'itingT until_Ytwas

e -~ e ne ieliminated,e wt.-ae : Company was Witho °fic thisrS strongan point nuberfire taking of enemy prisoner-'three killed. but d ina oing so of the woods to the north able to work along the edge

posi'lonu flanking fire from t.he enemy cane under direct and intense n spte of this Ire and on HILL 273. TheY pushed on' 'front of' L Company .- 14- map). CORDES (2 2321 - see ions in the BOIS de eA 9 "500it became possible to get artillery fire from the 180th FA

fire- aiminsihed the of- L Qompany. This on HILL 273 in front Battalion machine guns laying there still remained three enemy volume of fire, but and at%*on just at dark L Company decided ac rO&5fireonLa cTohillfwiehonssaCultanire cozpan7'03osti and attacked up thed hill w t assault fire a desperate'attack. t- worked Most of the enemy with bazookas and grenades' machine gun positions peale statea that the credit were killed; six pw' were taken. colonel

to T/SGt Sam A. Lonbottof, who was for this attack should go mainly actually leadik the company. L and K Companies then moved up to posL-

up a perimeter defense by I Company and during the night set tionsin the heldpositions noted. At this time Captain Gerald wilson took charge

of L QompYany. The coordinated attack of the, 104th and 101st on the 18th had broken the night BENESTROFF area. On ie in the- GUEBLING" the enemy defense its Executive th e 3d Battalion by wayOf of 18-19, orders came down to success at 0700 the next morning with Officer to continue the attack. the FOEET do MORLING and TORCHEVItL * objeCtiV8s, the 3015 DMARIMONT, in their next move as S (3535). The battalion bad no idea what to expect (3"3 ) Therotalion badpnosent from Its pren s limited reconnaissance, able to make only it had been moving both in vehicles were heard e t o e s t a b l i s h •o •. DurilgDu i g theh night enemy pa S0 pition. made MARIMONT. Attemptsbu twere i w s nuccessful. the 30B cOR and 801 dDESde .. cnth ontactwithP6~ the 2d Battalion on the south but this was uns the battallon At d~awn the next mriga attack jumped off, i morningasthede

* received heavy artillery fire on tz'e edge of the CORDES woods from posi Shenrti and K Companie mo off abreast with marchm

O -jer wi...ttrt 8 tO the 3015 de :,R ftre the eOO yards ' ing -15- ' I

entered the woods - AS the leading elements fire from the north flank. Captain Jackson on I.LL289 to the north. 6'L6veenemytanks werelocted and drove them concentration on these tanks gpjt-an effbctive artl~le Y -z a f orward, dhat. t hese, tanks wer\e carrying off-ttba-lh .tt wa3ssUpPMe -battalon : artillery fire on the artilleZ7 observer WaodirectedrthO A they received into the MAONT woods AS'I arid K Companies pressed fire which Colonel mortars and 150m artillery -U an intense fire of 120= against the fire that he had witnessed peale said was the most intensive 4 after tae enemy greatly diminished in accuracy battalion. This fre was fire had come from still, continued.. The enemT tanisc were, driven out-, but ZAPI. .ONT.+" ar't"ller1sequence ofkptof xr~@Tcal-coZone peale-- t wiathesure",.o'.d. be eseemed sureof the unt&YdisorgaNO~a4 h± atiflWt iZOn. . the two har4eSi days! irthr. He' fl-t1-...th :" -4 eve.,but n-ott of" positions.- the, 1 and. l9tk the .ng...rraineCA"mpaign . were- these, tattalot dui 4 t : coM e s : I auid K ve hared,and barrse had hit companl9 This art illery' The 2d pla- guns of both companies. out the ligt machine pletely wiped 4 strength was wiped out. The battalion toon of m Company was completely I reduced to about 200 effectives. L Company to cover Colonel Peale committed LI After this concentration I 104th At this time. the- 2d Battalion, the southern edge of the woods. the - e ,noM;contact between 14 on the, l, 4t but tpexr waz ln*antZry, was, moving up e , - e badl s n The 8 snm-Platooni ba..ttalions I i a-nd -K.c~a.ani handcarry bac-.c to-the' -wa s to evscuate thew ounded,..by of M company used I were assembled along the survivors of the barrage BOs CORDES, and ke to guard the The scout platoon was used road in the center of the woods. thts thie a rear of these elements along the edge of the woods. About prectically tze htti the woods and wipinz Out V second sheslltng came in, senttup. to the h& patrol-of volunteers was- entire scou= platoon. A -16- .i . air-.

anx look to reconnoiter that position ground in the center of the woods the patrl got well off, for t he 2d Battalion, 104th Infantry, before of the along the road in the center several enemy tanks were discovered mission ' of p-47,s came over on a requested woods. At this time a squadron anastr6/- - these tanks. They bombed attack mARILONT. The p-47's spotted to caused several casualties to the 3d. ed, drivin& out the enemy tanks, but

1100 in the morning. Battalion..it was still only personally in the action, Colonel ?eale About noon, during a pause ana out in the It was fored along the road reorganizea his battalion. in the woods had By this time most of the enemy woods to the southern tip. the only OIW. Colonel Peale decided that withdrew to positions in tIARIL southern edge of 'nA.Ri- the woods was to attack the way he could get beyond of the battalion MORLING woods. The strength 1O1T to clear a route- to the supporting good sized company with a few at that time was equal to one weapons; aeavy O high ground in the BOIS D'1A T0- L Company attacked to c.Lear the r where he met up the hill with asault fire Cap tain Wil71son- took the company did consiaerable Infantry (the 2d Battalion the 2d attalion of the 104th passed throujGh were shot up). L Company screami because- its positions the hill toward the Chateau (30232.) the 2d Batt&1ion, 104th, and went aown mortar fire from automatic weapons, rifle, and " at MARIw Oi recevi'ng som spotted the edge of thue town L CompCU7 the town as it moved in. Reaching of the main road and decided to a kVItnki th htauo h right The baa no bazookaa or ..AT srenades. ~withhuold its attack sizme the company

fire from the wooda: east of MARIMONT., co..pany7 bezan getting heavy tank of ficer succeeded in layin atillery4 (310326). The artillery liaison

the ftre. :he conpany then fire qn these tank positions arm diminished

-17-: of V.eaPon f the night. wi every klna secC++ ositions enewopened up

and -- lI- in.voJAue " but.-mostlY jaccurate ec= a. tht~hOh~rirwa t~mnd u 4 pnSm httreeeW&.u-ti It w&5 ° e and re- serious dama"'e ' e d ' 8 .the roegd t caused no Co'l~OneO pea~iroad( beef±ret'nr8Y£"mv~~.+"i DuriflS'th'e e:veni+ ana'e.... tata . mornin. he ietarne the attack ttnext F the orders to continue ALESTRO " Duin ceied goins through uEBLZIkG tO 104th Insntry was the = e ofe c m :i:i into the woosc+ of east moved acrossel the:. road Z ON T.the a 3d 3ofattalion (At that time eventng - "100 replacements 4 posSM received YA.INTY that

ts ,ac t e rest ot thet replacemene om ni,..Sv .metn and ofthse pn wer f b,,3 - v,+ in tcdmpanY. meniuifl L omg anyy there were: n~ne

. + + .... as ; th e + + -- + i c h w rene ke pt : 4 P a n es +,+w h oldt~Lt tenxt" !-RLIN o+ !&-andy t+ C+Om par a t : ? r lb ut ed t day i andK. COUP#es f+orce. ) The- next+ te woot was slow. R ehailh I worin t pyI te The+7f met + no reisita4, but aMA c c , pany... on,. t..e. le wcomenVoV 9' igh1? se wooth S . there was no way to at dusk end findin railroad at (327350) . for the nit. owever, ttalion a e to outpost there

b attalion con- insisted that the tal commander, ttrtio . Colonsel cott'Reimn c wh tnu the attack to. T0RCHE dr-iZZ'lifl& rari the dark arniQ in:,a tf that, e vetiiziS in inue + the-atctO4te behnd. a-lYeo Alv -- -- we t from the edge file, worked out roade. travelling in a chained abatist on thea The battalion, finding s everal the lead Ppo ltio but the edge of the town meetiriS no 0 T0RCEVIL"8 Near ... "woodS,of th woods .towards spot, nte e on the -_ m were

patrol picked up two aate "r'an - - men in TORCZtiL and appox-t.e r t.old there were eighteen Lt aunfOrQ, cc o' on ei,0Z si deyt tpe towi., =en on the&e hI grourd .2

:4 I

4%) 'I point out where the :3 - PW into the town, had them COmpany, took th e two any resis- prisoners wit.hout a m took the e igteen enemy were stationed, tance. hill and SEt: urphy moved to tne ~1 Uompafy led by St Longsbottom L out the enemy .4 too dark to search but decided it was south of the town, a 4 over the hill aid after Si liht L Company moved positions. At first ApproxinateIy I overran the enemy positions. fire fi-It completely the brie-f battalion had moved in there. The rest of the fifty yr;:s were taken 4 prisoners under 6ard They kept several wourned town durinS the night. in the town that night. The next morning an enemy tank sot into the town

in the basements to defend., themselves te n ort . The men prepared- o e The tank crew talked with of buildi.iSS, during-Which the Fs escaped. The turned ari withd'ew from the towl one o-f the wouded pw s and then moment, aa prepared counterattack to break any battalion expected a came off. the counterattack never hastily for it. For some reason -r OTE: T.he~ cerman lieutenant who had command of the position in TORCHE sdhad moved in late that afternoon expectihs to be 7,T by reinfOrcements. e had. had no time to organize his pos the followed information on mines placed in before dark. This officer also gave of this could be TORCEEVILE" Before word cannon road between GUINZELINO and parties from the regimental sot back to the rear, reconnaissanceand two peeps were blown. company moved on to the road but re- and mortar fire in TORcHEVIhE battalion got artillery was The infantry on the north At the time the 104th ceivea no counterattack. 101st moving and the 2d aa aflp9of the havtng trouble around ALEESTROFF TORC1mVILL The.st .attalion stayed in out from theLOHR to LKSVILLER-. io reserve. went to INSYILLER in regintat until the 21st ana then continued the attack of the 101st infantry The jst and d Battwtlions the I BOIS1n de DONNE-OKTAINS while the 3d Battalion was in reserve. On of the t-ue Uortherl edge given orders to sktrt .A the 3$d Battalion was LZd, the Ia gattalion In this attack Vim+RSVIL R (4235). wo~s to capt4re '

of woods .starting from the pont pass through the 2d BattaLion was to the L Company ctrc2led to Nrth down the ravine, (4133), I Company moved I Company. was held in reserve tehind of tae town and, K Company left the enemy. . ai f-ikt arxi found intO "thetW°wthQUt The 3d. Batt.alonS9.t4 withdrawn. had (423) on- to the higwh ground Cornpyconinued About. 1700 h.oSX'l u 20m AA fire 0f~ma hastilY town buit' met mac.ine n atrxi Northeast of the L - , before Lt CI .RK This fire caused six casualties improvised strongpOint. strolpoilnt under wntch get artiller7 on the the forward observor, could hil ground. That evening the reverse slope of the I Compaly w4 thdrew to 101st Infan- wit the 2d Battalion of the thp, 3d 3ata49lion ade contact LLE e (4 Z,) TTeb brig'&,,t VI3M try in ta'eltco." r ort hewo l&-at

t t 6o3esaBattalOn- pced, - and;.In order> par4 hdz be~efl secur.ed.-tact FA (41 in. t:e, v"Idi nity of ST- ELIZA 3TE LiOmpant north 6C/ the) bid~g Y.

3661. Chateau. de- r.. ran into trbouble; at,, the- The next day the 2d. Bat,talion to attack was attached to it gnd ordered BONNEFONTAiNE and K Company the ob- to the Northeast with BO1NEFON"AINE woods along the. edge of the y6 Company made its the road south of ALTIMlL9R jective, HILL 282 and its objective just before dark the afternoon and reached assault attack during edge of the woods by strolgPOilt on the after taking an enemy

it moved into. its objective after) KComparnytad Almos't jmmediately troops from tb§;nortv.- by a compjany of' fanattOal received, a counterattack fire. 20=m M fire ana mortar was supported by heavy The counterattack were firm. Its posaiOIra before its lines were rCompany was catuit

and tae remainder of the compe7 ov e n after a hand to hand battle, -20- that 50 to 60"' of yards. It was estimatea was driven back About 200 That or captured in this counterattack. the company were either killed the eAfective back to VIBERSVILLSR with night K Company was brought 2d Battalion, A platoon. (Refer to interview, strength of about one. good 101st infantrY). and jd Battalions was in reserve the 1st While the 3d .Battalion canal. The lO1SLt RegiS BO01hYEFONTAImT to the SAAR cleared out the BOIS de - 1st of Decem- division reserve. On the hold for several days In ment was the 4th SAAR River to support conmitted east of the ber the resiment was zattalion moved on SAARE-TJNIO1-. The 1st Armored Division's attack an element of and took up positions relieving through BURBACH (542336) and on the high grounQ, in the. GEISBUSCE WOODS the 4th Arnmored Division to the the 'SAAR River anm SAFE.EW,ERDEN 317 ad 323, overlooking. HiTLLS the 3d was on the. right of of the 101st Infantry West. The let Lattallon Battalion was to The mission of the-r3d Battalion in the. GRADBOIS. to seize Hill 254 (525392) road to SAAR-'UNION and attack along the river to go through the 1st and 2d Battalions were North of the city.-v The the Southeast. attack SAAReUNION from BANINHOLTZ WOODS and had. about fifty companies of the 3d Battalion At .this time' t-he line the southwest corner of the oXESBACH WOODSday, nd Kcol Company Peale tookcleared his tobattalion command (50) men each., During the also the attack. L Company establishx and OP for group to Hill 331 to to 1 position it was possible Kill 331. Fro this took up positions on and barracks area south especially thin. hospital observe SAAR-4TNION ax~i j sniping time had afl enemy tank OP at Hill 331 at this of the town. The yeN- ii ar was receiving high V 600 yards to the North, a* 4*. f_of about

be seen on vne from tanks whtch could ocit7 fire from the Northeast IOil main road Sazt fro SAAR-. L a21- a Companias moved up througt Dur4r s the day I ard K along the railroad em- outskirts of SAAR-UNIQN and continued to the 6 resisttnce banlent without meetilng the town DptO th, terrain, VComPanY reachedtbb outskirts of

in the afternoon, I they wore neart i .Late wit hout>.re41izin6ta order to explorethe e intb t-' it7;in. tjompabi ltwere* sbn tk.rough andK 1 Companly continued They mtl notr~ei?tanceso oppositti'ont thae. veered off to the wile K Company edge of the town, to the Eastern objecte whlch was the batt.allon foot hold on A11 254 left to seize a heavy machine sun out of the town they met iye. A3 r Company c e and caused VifI down the company fire pinned w c from hill 254. ThiS.WWhat' was left ot -K Company Into firen A71 Ithrw,,back s .k +i r t s tek,tL5the,-),oa C" wthdrtWbo After .dark%' G the town after dark.., + r+a'sdDs&t c ,or secuitY h South o t i.n. pitiOQtb t o SARPMJDER- was. ove across'countrs,t 1s, .-_- f Ur~t e r , d tai ' " " '".next+" . motrlgl... town with, " Company4"the. e ftHerdetal This is the accoult a'is'gin by C pebale' For NOTE: Lt Howard, and some of them conflicting, see interviews: K COmpany by interview 2d Bn, 101st lnf by Lt Ludden. the city in battalion reentered 2d December, the mornin of the The tna followed by L Company I Company leadif companies, with the battalion was oPr a column of of K Company., This time the- fifteen remalnS men of the tracks in the outskirts + guns alonl6 the railroad posed by machine + N station. The bta++taliCV guns in the- SAARUNO town and several anti-tnk which took+th e'Se enemy of tank destroyers supported by a platoon was the towrr. A.,t r T was placed. on., fire end an artillery,P posit.Olh' under using the rcilroacd in st ngle file battalion moved up 1000 hours the of the and the leauing elements . . ..

battaliunembaflteflt reachedas cover the t ;o[*a town withoutA 6610 casualties. Co"p ln7 again pus d

o22 - gun fire from the Northeast and tOrough the town receiving mac.hine It took up its former 3soe inaccurate mortar and ant i-tank fire. the town. positio ns on the eastern edge of with the clearance of the town so Colonel PEALEwas not satisfied and then to take up positions he used L Company to patrol the streets men 4 flank of I wowpany. The fifteen dovering both the right and left up a road block on the road leading from K Company were ordered to set from K '.ompany positions drew fire from the town to the Northwest. which caused several aadittontl machine guns and mortars from Hill 254 to to lay smoke on dill 254 in order casualties, and it was necessary During the afternoon, L Company withdraw K %ompany back into the town. South of the town. By attacking- made an attack on the barracks area succeeded in dislodging the the barracks from the rear, L company most of them prisoners. By evening - enemy defend:ngthere abd in taking river on the able to clear the area to the. of the 2d, L vompany was also which yards and a few enemy positions West which included the railroad with I Co evening the town was outposted were. still holding out. hat - of I Company, a platoon of on the Northeast, L Company to the left Battalion ground South of the town, and the tank destroyers on the high the 3d Battalion town. During the night AT platoon northeast of the came into the town to reinforce (K Company alone) of the 104th Infantry the outposts. of taking• dill 254• North of the The battalion still had the mission laid on the hill at an artillery barrage was town. -='te next morning on I "ompany reported-that the enemy 0930 hours. About the same time usilng the roa~d o the East the hill were forming for a counterattack, on the enemy concentration but the of Hilr" 254. Artiller'y was laid

tine had advanced to the edge of the ci.ty, overrunning theenemy a by thatrt-tank platoon of the 3d Battalion which was blocking tnis road. -23- I and 60 supported by about ten tanks The enemy counterattack was were the positions of : CozpL%' and infantrenc it infiltrated into ant i-tank eadquarters .d most of the able to capturie the I Company 1 a-f

the enemy' inantry moved from a, heavy crones-fire# on- the- streets wbe+ a-efenifnl+ifilhouses, tn small aute tohouse , taking oriz. thevmet whOJWere

group s. . of off primarily by the actton The enemy counterattack was beaten from the 101st FA n weith.I CompanY). Lt Clerk (the forward observer were surrounded on his own positions which He called for artillery fire • epnoug, to cause-the w thdrawval. was he,aVy', •, .q This. fi._rxe . ' I by. the, enemy tanks. an :1 + t b ci' e sr..z.....t.e of thre e ndmy inthanetr, and thqe f wXo e s ht the ef7*tfolmk.cQt&nk fo CP=mafrldtg Offticer' oft Ii, Cmpawny' j+ I + - Ot his>+commali; tank..B -7 evnifl', p'o'a+ed himself in, thete turret + U h d Pushed to its positio .and t C'cmP&nY Cbmpant was able. to push back + the of £ 'omapny. At thts' tIme up to- occupy the' road on the left, the of the 104th Infantry to cpnplete division ordered the 3d Battalion and gave the mission of taking clearance and. outpost in of SAJfR-U.ION the same of the 10,th infantry. At Hill 254 to another battalion Armored Division come Into SAA R- a company of tanks from the 4th tie in this, Ipn.(sntry*. The enemyt tanks, used b ION to reinforce the 104th Fl s and then' tro\ th-e&.• O7Ctar65 E'ast+ of the' tow~n cQunterattsck firsV withdrew• , ° ofg,. tot'her North' With uV being out waited u.it£1 d'ark and withdrew e n went in~to Regilmentalt es rve a ndrbetor' At ths time therlst Battal~iof back tc + infantry was relieved and moved it was coitted again, the 101st

rear reas

- 24 - I C-.. 000'

%?" CC" A 101 ISREOGT, 25 I11?DIV 'A 4 4 L PERIOD: 30 NOV -4DEC , .... ACTION: SAAR-UfION ~1 3D N, 101 I? REOT LT. wALTER A. YOUj PLW LDR, SOURCE: REGT CAPT. GABRIEL A. IVAN, CO M14CO, 101 IN? 4: SALNAU, CZECHOSLOVAKIA- 18 JUNE 1945 PLACE AND DATE OF LTRVrW" 23 IKTERVIrEoR: 2 2LT. CHARLES KING HOWARD r4 NO. 36-14, GSGS 4471 MP' 1/50,0005 SAAR-UON, SHEET

4 .4 101 I Lt your44 as a T/Sgt, 3d plat., gCo.I During this period the action and later was . awarded thel DI for his part in tnf Regt. He on 19 Jan 45. abatt2lfield coinission during the ARDENNES received I .1 Co., 101 Inf egt,. Ivan was a 1s.tLt, serVing as Ex 0, Capt ed 1 l Lt Young'1s. memory NIO-- notes were.ll rleferr t & liringl interview. beyond nor was he' informed regard ing unitsll was not-entirely reliable the inter- Capt Ivan was not present for entire his i =ediate concern. interview, amplir durtng- the time- in which it, was a combined vieWs but, furnished the information on the fied the information of Lt y oung and ist plat and w:pns plat' •ram,---m" " I in the vicinit7y of PISTORF on 1 December the 3d Bn, O0st. nf, was of the Bn, which was working its (5133). "1 Co was on the loft flank the R0IVER to at.tackSARFSUNION way north along the east sideI of SAAR 0 cars from a cavalry unit, I Co (5238). preceded by two M- armored ROAD to seize S.:RREI. RDEN moved north along the PISTORF - SAAR-UN101. than 2000 yards s outh of SAARE-UUXION. (5236), which is located less ~1 it heavily It out of SARVIERDEN ar were shelling -i The enemy had pulled at (521362) had been 0% moved through the town. The bridge when I Co I'N '-4 observed on the west side of the blown and mechanized cavalry units, re- the SAAR until the bridge was river, would not be able to cross 1:~I. 88 and 120 mortar ftre anaed plac.ed. :uring the afternoon enemy 1500 1 Co waS 500 yards consantlonthe ort stce of the town. 5y of the road and rail omossiln north of SAJFAREWERDEN in t~he vicinity

Ml - " 1 This house house was located. where a gatemkeeper's at (522366), . excellent observation observation ost, providing served as the Company the northeast across toward-*SAAR-U'1ON and,to overi the open gr\Ound HIGFN;AY or", o.. p latoons aiong_.thO : cattmpted' ttpushon I.sta€o1Umn1' lined creek adua'7-,down, to' a,tree' tR OA which sIodsr been bridge (526372) had the Bn front. The running southeast across on to join the stream the road continued blown at the creek. Across the I Co Or at point some ioo yards from HiGH;AY 61 at (527374), a into sAARE-b ION, a the RJ the HIGHWAY runs the switch-tO1Sse• From ° on the. east side of the - past aw fac-tory located, dtataric of 700 yards;, dr .7., a1so d sout-h.. . . a o.f,,, town' construetad8j.Just,:h....H. gh ,-..s er eg sT barracksr had,been I road, Germx.an 4 dr een oft' b road, The'ihwAr .,' b SOn' the,' east side Uy ...... 4' 0o41, 'd,+ o bservet r!.a Iot c u . o. . d3 wathcod ..an d> ckea @s , The - _-. ,.--r+_ I's nd K ompin ...... +"t:acrost the- highway, sideof. thet 3A1WH0tTZ.VWODS• 0 4 K' Co, on the--, northwesY. *1 r heavy axtiller7 ahefd of the woods recetivifng *1 and in the open sround as ttey moved forward,. fire, Lire but (526372) I Co drew artilleY I moving toward the creek In a tank I south side of town, ana enemy troops on the was able to observe comingn from Artillery was alsothe, , ~~ a from the factory (526376). Ivalthou-owh I. fLrtg~~ aloht CmPnYhad across, th SAAR RiyEg V. LLE!tW (5137) . in friendly hands. The: Company was then been told that this town was _ ofthe C?, as thee 34 back, probably to the victnity i ordered to pull into defiladeaona'tri. of wjt~drawing the mission plat was given . , 61 to forma14 from SpJRZ TERDEN to Hjigbhway running almost due east advance a~ ~ on thPe, contact with K Co, and of skti.shers, establish K r 3d plat to contact six ten were sent from the attack. About 1GQQ I 'e. m I; I AA 4

-5

its right. keepinS the main hi0.way on CO Snd the8 pat ad4vanced, OP (522366), artillery fire checked I A5 the plat. drew up opposite the ground. :5 advance across the open its fUrther resume thatthe Company would I was then informed The 3d platoon St that his plat ould press tt would be dark, and -A attack at 1900, wbean the RJ it DEN ROAD toward the- the axis of the SAHR.r the attack along was the liV'1Way. L Co the west side of *11 enter toin, on -4 (527374) and In this and did not participate dug in around SAPFRE:SR"DEi ~1 in reserve, order to to contact K Co in A was again to be made, action. An attempt patrol was sent across At 1900 another contact coordinate the attack. squads of about K ,o, leaving' two ta-e east to c ontact :4 the.-HiGhwa7 to Plat the ssme time the WVeapons d plat attack. At 7-8 men to press-the the from the OP north along Ivan, were to advance and 4..t plat, under Lt SAA.R RIVE. and enter that parallels the ~II, the railroad. west side of sup- The W PlatPpns was to across the railroad tracks. frI to by Lt Ivan according and would be positioned port the i. Co attack

the siLtuation. .ithout * I ordered his ur:its to attack At 1900 the I ;o "ommander was already in from the Bn that £ Co as he had received work delay, were enemy of the ct that there in -l Co were aware town. The men facin' that K Co must be and therefore believed tanks in SAA.RE-UN1IN the plat 3d plat moved out with within the town. The p stiff fight K a followed While the Co Londr the two reduced squads, Sgt leading was dark by now with an SCR 300. It an Forward observer * behind with the across the creek on V up. &he plat scrambled only partly btt hemoor had come debris w-htch was (520372) over the of th e blown bridge left to fourfe feet wOd ana three he creek was about six outfi was suuraerCC. T lgt ank: cava2lry of the moonlit a ~deep. ,Ith t~e aid ~7.r - - -. ~1j* o*,V

the nov ris0on open The plat advanced over seen acros- the river. an Of the R.3 of the-SARWEDSt, ROAD ground guiding left (west) flank. since ;=p9if K cO on its right still watchin for (527374), n o bee no small quiet and t ere hadL. ther ni ht ad? been, extremely being careful to off adyatC-eO& about- 500 yards ars.fi heard,- Thetfl~at

'enstiitr whe~Vee , -wag fazt~oripT (526516. t gue' t e W-tat-3:the. a hedgerow wa& penetra ed and W~eliOY.'d to. b'et I octt',e. > Ati tk4s p-at; er e foxholes. two Ger s completely surprsed, w captured from their l on Afl enemy AT posittof was then spotted directly ahead. The post plat was not observed but the advance of the was occupied bi Germans imediately of the enemy. The Germans it was within 3-4 yards until captured. AV gun and, a. !sGwere toward ta and te took of, to the. rear at, onco tWo_ heaV , a.14G. s.ect±on-,, forz al:ost The, fleeiln& troops: alerted, 4'f r;ot t up: about 75#9.9-0s9Aad ands rfreA op ened d s, now_ be- - frmK:v:tC& arid the i, Co., sq4a No work, hadl been raecei ed course",witjout,!Z support.°- out ,onCandt were of le.ved themselve,s to' bep. in the v on the slt"pe &e' sout Artillery began to land the At sprang up from beh.fnd one German suddenly creek. 't this time him down. The BAR man, who quickly knocked postion- and ran over the necessary locations and it was giving away the Plat German began to shout to take sjmary action. About this time the CO and FO went to the rear, was meet-: womndt th at the 3d Pfst, was out, t6 tell the Sn as the%4'nAdiO S Co. * no contact .had been .-ade wtth ing stiff, resistance and-that and t he'c5p-' on theSd:Pl~t Psitions ~~The Germafl5 now began to'advalce t ii tak h itoLed to help counte th i tcare d ,g was readied them in what sh adowy figures come toward Uire, watching the Germans'

n 3.s', .. 12d -an, 101 InC (Dn s3 *ComarCintervi4ews d activiti'es of K andLJ 003 co CtQtef t ertationa the -4z au inlr~

4,p? aided the defend ,- for the moonlight, Which was now a dark night except with was be- fire was suddenly returned ers. At O yards the enemy for some The' fire fight then continued iLeved to be decisive effect. was any ground. A thermite grenade time...-wit out the 3dPlat giving- and also wor sent forward by the Co Comdr, received, which .had been, T/Sgt (now Lt) back and break off the fight. that the plat was to pull with the grenade. while he. blew the AT gun. young had his men fall back of artillery fire drew an increased volumne The resulting explosion of the 3d plat. to fall well to the rear but it fortunately continued having lost any men during its withdrawal without The: plat now completed , the entire. tie . s Ivan, had. also unit& of 3 Co, under Lt in the\ meantime the- other and 1st plat had Jumped enemy. At. 1900 the Wpns, made contact witt: the of the the embankment on the west side off as planned, moving- along, men observed two route + into SA. R-UNIPN the railroad tracks. n this on the east south, along a road which runs German guard details. walking and the patrol Germans did not see tha side of the tracks. The the canter of tcwn the two platoon- throught continued. Lt Ivan let - being observed, when suddenly heavyOwithout firtng broke+ to their jediately took cover, 'but then it was realized j rear. ll the men

caning from south directed at them but was that the + fire was not being 'i1 of town. defensi route had byopassed an enemy Lt Ivan assumed that his

have run into. position phich the 3d plat must to thxe edge and then went northwest The squads were reorganized shot. of a Cp and was qutckly officer stepped out of tfwn. A German who let tM men was challenged by two guards after the patrol soon quIe tlyr + them. The two guards were come up. close before halting U ms 4 and in German taken prisoner. A Sgt, Henry H goffnan, spoke German t t& withdathif theydid not reveal the loc.ati on

ottp tintidtdGemans oT then letd the two e ma n s were col cted All of s tje- Suardwhous.e- , whee- 16G e excepot on nman. The S aof the et meinwere saieep in a& theo times German guard, who was among t h captiveS was very insolent and toJA his captors that they would be his prisoners before they ever left tomn.

Hcsaid that there were 2 .ns in town and an AA flak regt was on tHe hills north of town. Lt IV l ,a men moved back into town with theiLl et hertheD t.wa I e an hour to make mo.ntar7

Ingta' patrol

t w4 V ttcntc:thiZ&1-~t U p... ' ont1ty we: eit' to..Wh the;. 0--: - atthOP4 ZS IIVX . Tkie f6r&e un4&rs uppp d t o bE iatow an& K o wa.hi w hile'.other" " & ittm e nt i.... V'nitxUP .o..d... w ass rriuctant .to- p l b5Ck t he' t'owl NO contact wa5 made- with other' friendlyfbrces might units. stTll Finally be in it was decided to. pull back, and the force

A a n AcrOSSI 44 v a moreef t prisoners.h i.en returned across the tracks, collecting two van left hi men, and with the tracks, still in the town areas, Zt along the west side of the railroad twoguards tool the 20 FW back his fo0rce should be! ernbankeHnt e was anxiou3 to determine whether ,n : .10,, i• remain in' t'on. trthe.ea withdrawn from townr or whethe'r itwas.-to . me t th.ebn omrwh probabll in the vicinl7 ot'he' tca-OV-he. ran tenhad his mendrawn a ..bO It approved' his wit drawins. Lt south of town .aalmost 400 yards to the railroad station (524376) The platoons dug in due west fror the factory (526376) on i-way 51. cane up and the statton end L Co also for.th night in an arc around

dug in. as a fact by the it was by now the-conviction of z. Co, stated SKCohad been 5 seriously hit by artillery interviewedtthatiK offPicers many sasualties that it reafternon and had received so ftrn-6ad a fire-durings the K Co, according to thes@ unable to advance into SAAREUNION. hadsources, been haless than one platoon left "as a result of the shelling

during theearl, afternoon"- 1000 on following morning, so at co was ordered to attack the tracks, follow- north along the railroad 2 December the Company moved Co before by Lt ivants platoo.ns route taken the nLght the bef-rutetae ahbYl ing machinge them to neutraliZe an 'enemy set up positions which enabled was also to attack factory at R3 (527374)v L Co gun nest near the Highs L Co moved north along may be presumed that SR.AA-UNOI, and it- L CO only held the (to this interview) that way 61,. for I Co reports the" n54t of 2-3 December. I CO German barracks south of towf during railroad positions along the town from deployed planned to attack. the to and just east of the town. .- 4 track oncrtheC reached a.point opposite on the east side of town parallel aighway 61 runs tbrouh SM0E-UNION The attack west of the tracks. and about 100 yards to' the railroad with the lot-and to the northeast through the town would thus be made whose personnel numbered altogether about one platoon, o• .2d platoons, clear the north with the z~issiol to as the 1st platoon betng combined reponsible 7 at the same time be The 3d platoonl would half of the town. ' th haj li of t town..A a Qerman f o the sou plat drew rire fmm the tracks the 1st IRoVflbc.os men in the town. Three a German tank. back gun and could see mschifl8 main street corner ...... 4'9 t of the

- e in v ... -' were ki.lled in this platoon -au also along t.e ht.way but we 2 0.By time tre3dplat was (28? Bt 3d 161

could not get across the road. being subjected to small arms fire and .zt~w abCu 1200 anothe Bn Oomdrj, seeIng that- the mn, were getting were drawinj&'.,steppedi e w a s c outor-n onto' the pakt~fler~th fitfe~whichP, theyk'0'7 w rt sgnJ a7, n &. .r. u~hclhi ,a ct'-Otlip, f 4i Cat :b tead&id the:-e and tshortl4 suspec~ted U efbm7e, p- positIon.0- This o acti • s 1 the road, using WP grenades. the 1st plat, got across after i squad from torn which went the north sector of the squad set about clearins This - of small arms fights. The the afternoon in a series on throughout afternoon the road and during the late 3d plat also finally got across apparent frcm much trouble.- It was becoming, ,i-e'red- its, aTg wI-thout nsiu thfl.o ? sstbrot decaasederesistcP et 3/j pL' t cXeSyr t~e tlilS *towr24 T/SstY@Wflntad t

v cmncfSta~ 'ns$r'li t f ound~ iAseIt at tc&tP o s room! by room -azdtalso ha d;bed s'dded tbAepi t he~rePlaeembnts. which

in town .fi'tifG-" In movtlg4 this was their first experience men left of the plat moved to-the of town, the lat through theLr sector map" (the town was not indicated on the. which forms a "block church located and missed a German tank the basis of a map study) devided on - near the church. 4 . tWO: arc-like on, ±0 ±nner ott. the the; Company reorganiZOd, Atjnist in the- process they' came eastern' side oftwn streets~whi!.h are on the between . each other in ree is.tablshin&contact v ery~closeO to-firing on hote~l, in tV i I Cowas set up ifr a~biS platoons. The C? for the two the enemy tank - Sgt Henry Hoffriian discovered . .... the evening

t OWf e jJ.,ki4Ul* %PO& - - . -0 jumped by two observing the tankrhe was in the churcy,-aidw hile of them and wounding the other, Ger lS. He succeeded in killing one

I', I.

AT ENncGGA - "optRTYOF THE VSARMY .4

Th e Officers of ,1 befoC leavin to report the location of the tank. i

Co knew that the remnants of K Co had moved thXOU the northwest an hold" iaide of town durifl te day had been pir.ned down.Lat theL nighto was Of 2"3.' ,, ftwn.t. • A

ing the enemy barracks Just south of the town. Lateothe nitlo fto104th or T.-- De ze b er L Co t, Tnf, came into thrat townfl nk and took up positions '3

A tat flnr for t C on the north side of town, coverinod A good house for te The morninS of 3 December started quietly.( C? had been located just east of town on the road to DOMSSEL (5739) slChtlY beyond the line of riflemen which no' had Positions on the

th!s ee- -eoeast. Otn w f a 0' n s- A TD was located-- Justs tolncoverirng the left of the e (53'46 and .severalAT guns were also. in p o-in 0 hL 3 -t Cr T(52 Pk?' her fre moved out to the newly chosen location(5 the road, ina-clearin south of te road. aea) and C elas ... his tiLMe.8anat t&a Ps ozscand,+ irec-tl-y across

e airdurinf t i e e Atwere least alert. one le was in the AbOUt 0900 the opas reported that 5 enemy taflk were w al ros moving out of cover and carefullYn forwardcamouflaged a ' attacking from the eatM

'I positions in which tey ~had been located- T heirnmvepead A,-1 y the OPS 4 W - or the liason planes.iso- -notbeen detected either by jnfantrY. The C? was soon NA counter-attack was supported *1 This to check offieer who happened to be go ing by lated,h cutting off one C"ng lv ans, wlas In latd, ut Of On0,floLt 4 1 the 0?S when the tal ce in sight. The 0 0LE I I in the C? the town athehe time with ne3n Comdr. The CO of CO was to the staff,tets go, wre the tanks were seen comeil He shuted

follow e " at ran out firinS a weapon atrd•l the foroncominl the Supplytanks. SG ,t follo M n s - Apparently they failed to react to his order, t2 C? - G r ns entered the c t re w en t e 5 and two runners1PIM4captured6 were ter± the Gehe l lst Sgt ermns the cellar and when the Gilpin, went down into cnesg,waiter d the first floor,hefrdoer I entCr the cellar from . atte~pted to -VL was not bothered of a German's hands. e knockir-Z a -fburp-Un" out ds7. fur.ther and was ,liberated" the following n f . ~ during the day and T :e: enemy.tl tant7 nti~ilrated, Intothe-town keep actions as they atte d to to T IiCO,-it was a day or individual rome . tAe~a iade. oft t ow.. posi~tifl iwe"lX- forwarTr&On their' them". c lark; andt JhisradiO oper&tor--installed the 101 FA -n, Lt-gbward selves in a house on the eastern edge of the town arx adjusted close which were hand This deterred the enemy tanks in IQ5mt fire all day. extreme advantage &' defilade led with exOellenlt defensive skills taking and obstacll.e so t ab.O k a fire on them was almost impossible. The us g amrz, ,p ri g e y 4n,tanks, we.re. 'Zo.rtunat"e'Y, wen ' e ' a nSg ,.tarted- o con-- ner-. t an s : . :.d Y us pieaifkts",S w Q

verg'et-be.hin: the. O li nesi,.so the' CompaniY wit-rew to. the center o4

g r 4 Lt c ,k +r fl1Bifle in h-- the town around the ohurCbYaZd

&CoWpositions- on te recently abondoned post and adjusted artillery on his own but :n aut-rios was believed at.Bl that he was firing It dutflS th day at once on order had been established K ority to get fire haa Just left. Fire the small area which I Co awa nd280tbn rounds lifted fellend onthe infantry moved back to thetr former position did not attack been broken. The GeCrm..fn fimdtng that resstanqerhad to be crecited Lt Clark was chiefly nit ad Lo felt that agaitht Durfl t0i holdflE the toWflr' the Conptnl was still, for the facV that: for and antitaek support attempted to set tank day the Sn comdr had of town. on the southwest side from units located Co tnto the town

enem7 Tetp~e resence would have helpedof.t- deter the 7 " le! r[ knowr. to the enr4, but this .K-o-,-1..loww4&o:• th e -11-S vto ~os~tti-m.i.ive-shot of the cay was, f.fledsb' :'zZ't" ~I

-~ . V £lo ; n • -" by an enemy machinc-Gunner on fro= an unexpected quarter kill me"' that son of a bitch tried to wheeled,remarking, "I think round. and ki.ed the gurnet withone town again 104th Inf ECgt moved into On 4 December a unit ofthe tnfiltrSted into a number of Germans who hod mopPifl-6w up and, finding tarks were observed pullir the countereattack. Five enemy town during running west of the GRAICD BOIS out to the noth along the hghway the nicht of did not enga~e them. During (5440) but frendly tanks could not be located. were constantly heard but 3-4 December enemy tceks of the were covering the evacuation Twas later beleved thatthey 4th z Co was artillery barrage. on the dead and wounded from. the and w!thdrew from-the town. relieved by the 104th inf

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this area. This mission was carried out r, and Hill 253 and outpost I t-.. with not too much difficulty." 2d Cavalry and the 328th Regiment was- relieved by the I on II November into ViC-sur-SEILLE wattrdck@-into ARRACOURT. (1151745) an movedd by f ot Iine(he a1Mg rona proack i, (fl52o0 ) ,. Tk i 5 oattjlion m y edp nt'i Te'5aegfl0fmnll, C? W a'st up at terew 'edger-of, the YK0ECflft%4,F0REST to 3 3 101st Regiment, which was attached SALIVP.L(1422 ). The 3d Battalion I along the (189261) line. the 328th for this operation, was deployed a dawn attajok started with the On the morning of the 12th of November left. The 2d Battalion, 32th Rei- 3d Battalion, 101st Regiment, on the . 1st Battalion hel right, tad.the .- i • ,r 3d ' -attarionto. the merit; was. abreast.serve of the- was n,. TM B 34Pt al bn= orof. the 32&8th. I was heli in erTesi3the ae emn.4'&rabo6VC6 tgng' thls 7p e od7 and i*aq scr: 4 attacheA&to- thd rp1ls-t- R-gim -. I fire".nd: from: , 0 ). A Cstbe. attA c j ump d.det o ." t enem y op MaE lC (.1372 The; sma l aztms arid.04 I three di recti o on-. t e,t*& attaing batt 1 5.

ti ll er 7 w as y w as in te se ndd .obb se rv ed ar au to ma ttO f ir e f ro the en m still attacking through 13th, the two battalions were coming in. On the t the 13th, the Regi - period from the 11th through the forest During the .1 into ai the battalions were formed merit had very little flank protection, -S over perimeter defenses for self prOtOctione Lt Col JAMES C. MOTT took 'I the 13th of Novembe ni * .1~ coand, of the Regiment on a - -3 d e sttt-Ba io n, apa s s e d th r o ug h t h e o n th e m r n in of t ..h e 14 th , th I'. lion,reverted. at 'tiqkrtim the-r d BatP Battalion of the lO st Regiment, I s28tkiCROsiment I control. The 3d Batta-lion of'the to the 101st Regiment's to the vicinity of V ,ISSE (204287) in Regimentalfrom the 101st and moved was then relieved reserve. I4 wThen the 2d Battalion started its attack cn the 14th, by it was checked intense machine. un fire. A Here, acc ording t o .4.4 the interviewee, a very '4

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Ag.

- DE taking over the posi e into the L GRANI FOREST 104th Regiment then moved AL This action resulted . 328th and 101st Engineers. tton of the Ist aattalion This action was completed 104th and the 328th. a swap of areas by the in co itted to clear the the,3d Battalion was 26 tctober. On 27 October on enemy opposa- but then they encountered stiff woods at MONCOURT (193138), to preventUn- withdraw-O- t their old positions tion they were forced to to 7 November was spent The period from 27 October necessary casualties. big attack on 8 and preparation for the In a little last minute trainil of time in reserve where spent a given amount November. Each battalion Issued. a.nd clean clothes were the men took showers started the 2d Battalion was At 0700 on 8 November when the Jump-off was held the left and the z3d Battalion the lst battalion on on the right, was supported. by one battery (Charlie in reserve (see sketch). The attck .4 own cannon compcy . and the regiment's of the 2653d FA Battalion Battery) withhe. regiLment. Battalion was to attack to ak~e BENES- Compsiy C ,.of the- 761st Tank which was to was a division objective The only- objective sLven take BEZANGE a PETITE The 328th Regiment was to first TRC'F (2S5343). ° for the act as a spring board hold so as to con- (175152) and gONCOURTvnad screening the right flank, and to 2d, Cavalry to take LS ant IZEY,

of seventh nniy. tact elements was I ari the fighting direct into MONCOURT, The 2d Battalion attacked as the enemy had the .attalirn were hi casualties for * very difficult, The approach to VOttOURT. Aof fire covering the well fortified positifl I on a. small scale; and automatic weapons was enemy's use of small arms during the advane of sniper fire was encountered however, a great deal capture and occupa- were taken durifl the A i&ONCOURT. sixty-seven pFWS K into of taking BEZANGE le lnt Battalioni had the mission tion of gOtICOURT. The - ~-2 I Vii U *- toy$4led Not Is/-/I

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. *,#j. ,. ,, -- 9...... 'ct - 4- 1 . . ' -- 26th infantry Ajivision "yp -Ta: 7IntntZY 7 n28th Mgiment, December 1944 .ERLOD± jU0vcbe'ra12 ACTION: LORRAII4E CAMPAIGN 0 ' sOURCE?POACE- .D UajorDATE PAUL' TTEfVEW? S. CARRER, VLOcHOV 5- -BEZ, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, 16 June- 45

O , 5 10 t N O Y s/1 h eee 1/0 0 59 0 y 0 ..S L'D S AAeet No.N 35/14.S h e e PARROY Skwto 35/15. 0 SA RE-UNION sheet NO. 3614. SARREBO jr MAPS: / O ,,NY~heVtNA.4-PS14. N sheet ( 1/100,000No.0 36/15.,SAARBRUC W ELVINGTON• sheet INWER'nXT'E, * 2d Lt CARL for Nates 5/. History was used Apersonal unit and the 328th D-DaY for the "YD" Divisio, heLCRRAIE CAMPAIGN was S Resgiment first got the feel of the line-on the 8th of october when they * relieve 4 the 319th nantry Regimet of the 80rt InfantrY Division fle sdt Battll tIS deploye4 in line along&.afront in the vicinitY of PORT sur-SEILLZ (547351); the Sd Batta.ion wa deployed slofg a line in the

(8633 ). The 3d Battalion, less. COPstieS vicinity of BENICOURT~ 53 5 W*4 held in rese rve *- holde m fl held in reserve. This action by the 328th Regiment was just a NY (9 InC ant?67' to flank arourd to 'OME inl action to alm th 319th durinS this.holdin a TheiTs enemy andeparols. was not encounteredCopef Isuffered the first casualtyatOlOO on the 328th was relieved by the 317th Reg octntober rY uLv iS ion joine d the 26th Infant imiv isi on and re mon t of the 80t infantrY Sth took up positfalo at which time they the 14th of october, in this area on The regiment remained le of the LA GBRAUPE FOREST. n I North sid rlee h dBtainls The 101st Engineers until 24 October. i the 3d Battal' aattalion and also .. _ ,, The Sd the 1st Battalion Silltt3L t-.O of t o, (,which was pulled out of reserve), moved to within the vtcinitl The rszCC R.T (153139) rellevin' the 104th Resint, 26thDivision.

- - - _ 04

Tho3d. ~B-returned o, on 8 fov, and frbm tkere

above which a series I.artd at,.acke dL AC4,1 mavedInto ETTIW4 Companies the battalion, 76!st T (Co,; wB,,Waattached,(to orf f tweprem*or .;,ds then,mOved ,,in with on.thee P*pillbox s •The inrantrl

and took the bozes. * whlte phosphorous grenades to attack thu On.9 the battalion received orders was made in a colum of ACBEn. This attack woods and high ground north woods. But was encountered in the off Compan-ies, an some resistance the, battallon pushed, : ahead, of the advance, and. et-i:llelS ,r:e was moving, tetlOrr4l Tl*k 328thW~' ws" movifl ng north. edjge- of> the w4oac.d t to the ttokthtA lit V trying' take, th WSLR h ih~ ud lf tt~td~lt k * zn4 had com@9 up,,.onmt4kW ibedia'ei t -a,Q,n 0 ++i+il nothest northeast; eofAClN.TLe --ectofw led f~o:m AC1EN, to ddwn the math road thawt )Iachifle sun fire tS oomtn area.* A activitl all throush the there was intene-enemy SINGLING, and hills to the east. be seen moving over the at many e.nemy. tanks were_to strikes, using NSPOfl support With their air pow47 s were givzing effective- the woods . weather.he fraOnt-tio--bombs in bombs on pillboxOs, ant Di receeThe.4th-Armdu arespite tanks. ofiiNemberig.t5 wee a taki.Pl thet 3dl En I SIGLNGandTher"ad.turne d f and-re, asinges n 7th Dasv rt fesh12th thendsutrteAhdnDird' tive. around346h SINGLING- d nfofEn and.,BINIGand te copletlY t was- whenthe Dovin itidth nover Urc, ande tM eeien2t ,, units, wasvery. * relteved ehemyon ttttionon theinfltrY torelieVe. th th Armred.A o - 1 1 -o nmth..l...3t etaccombat strength -ofl35, hea.sThe 3d Bnwas dow n e n rse shapemng-dw -them s~ehn-rlike 100atm:en mavailable to . +I

was out f O-LHSA rad ort h. Te,stwe~t s RRe .,"SHE~IMa Lmorat n thtt led nort- sez " . ': C enl , the roadi ~~~ ~~ I In the"o + C~mpanies L s ze, D H panan E S ' an t he t_ , VE:D jM;24j who f o\lnd Gr patrols Lntc( the Woods- east of ~ , positions east and notestofte oos. nanefor t gt Pundthycmecto ground# woc a n i e s attacked down the slopingO, +3 ownandpro rttha he"wasin he,atilyan mesagE o Cs stopebto snt ol ell evysalar, the woods were completely sar sin. otkeVE ES ,i ne s mrtr ire. cov,in*, frovm the town. aeV on. '7 NOV orders C =e t a a..,opped agsinotv I o. tteked and was,. "ful.b~ata.lon, te. L h n du e , n o r t h t 0. , , f uo l - a t l ' Go, ~ e ue West- ,000 yards- to 11=1 ordere to mo touGh UTN, orderedtodmov t shelling while rceiZ .. ]ZS+. ~ S.copayme E H-at thisr c tdei e * a road. Junction o UZ wea ctu4it . and a.3 jt reached- rad nth batof nU - he . twe~ on t he le ft ths e. thetat roa ed- ~~nvIgu orh. theavy =art ar f ire. The 328th was movigtngto from. the norere cd Mtnto ,Niter I Co froma the southp nor L CO AU S , ee toc e still In KULV V1- wasor e town. , COO whiCh was t. Eyo C ae across an. i to the + ownsi creek bank f e0l 0"1-In the town, Capt LeBoeuf, A tr-d ,h into the- niorte notes fe ast ,crse te fel ,

in was at zni . of those the defer~cS of the VAGINOT LjE. Little actual use was made as terrain features tOf a defernes however, the Gerans using them more fortifications. And the eas# penetration of them camc

curprise to the battallon. .4 Enemy MO. attacks-didn't get anywhere. artillery was zeroed in and theof a- of SARREIM.ON, and from a distance we're emplaced0fon a hill north , amin cross streets 2 wr fredown the PPOX 4 tt"eyC2,oozae but it was necessw cleared at 041315 December, of the-town*. The tCwn was .stze iet,, s in0e occastonal snipers. ar,f totjke-ep; patto18 r~oVafg& thoug1thO

still held out. the 3d an to take on 5 December the order came fdr and 2d Bns were kAt. the same ti e the 1s t i"SKASTEL to the northwest. wns ordered not .,16ie on the. road the 3d Bn attacking towards OERMjNrEN The shortest route ge.t to OERITINGEN ins tead. to go; into ICESASTE L but, to known:whether, BOIN$M .rPWE$ but, it was, not t....OZYM1 LG wa8athrOU-C1thet

wa di.....&.to u'. t: r~st tO .the woo&. The march w a>s"lowi and ,

c.autious b ut the- bsettial waiket rght to. the-.. outskirts, of OERMINGEN

to. capttzre There th, mis.mion.wasrr ee.v without meeting an- troubl:. Two companies started towards the high ground northwest of OERZINGEN. dark., when another order round about one hour before this commanding been ivef, and. to instead swing cme to abandon the last order that had

of the town, 2d Bn had gone throuGh the south east into OERMINGEN. The take. the high. the remainder, had gone. on to and without stopin to clean portion of ' swtng~t and. cleaned the north gr-oufld. to tht eas'". The, 3d 8Bn. A 1 SGEI dut~in the night' ot 5):Dfcaberi. in aj c-oluml$ ofC' ...... •- ....on S Decembel' ...rhbt~in:oe as the • leading (l platoon), and K Coin7 S companies with a heavy patrol along Heavy artillery fire was5 received lead company, towards KULHAUSEN. was was taken by noon, and more artille.y the route of march. KULHAUSEN was secured, sswas road lesang west to ?UTT2. received in the tow.o The the the 3d Bn, 101 Inf had gotten into I an attack on. SARRE-UNION, and balance of.the The Germans still held the northeast edge of the town. The mission of the 3d Bn, 104t.h town and were holed up in buildilngs. in securing the, town, by coming Tnf was to,. assist the other battalion L Companies combat patrols from- Iend up into it from the south.*heavy OnO leading northwest out of SAFUE- * were first sent to secure two roads, a counter- northeast. This was to prevent * u uor, the other leading htgh ground north * attack by the enemy. Once. SARIE-UNION was secured, the

battsliOf for the Co r was attached to the of the town was to be taken. SARREIO-U., and there into the west portion of operation. The 3d.Bn got anks.attacaed TDs mde-with infantry and t 4 met. an enem' cowiter- attack every' time they might fired at, the' German tanks were', in SAREVKUNION,. and,

stick their nose past a. building. made to clean the town fon 4 December the decisiof waS' still held two thirds of the-buildings building for building: thet Germans the eastern with the 3d Bn, 101 In on and contact had not been established to put two tanks streets, and it was decided edge. There were five main work through up each street, and have them 1 "and-a platoon of infantry . no enemy remained in SARRE-tNION. each building until it was certain in this clesnimg sob. of L, did most of the work Companies. E, K, and part

Coowas blocking the road leading northwest, and the remaining portion (Co A, 37th ran northeast. A tank company of, L Co was on the road that Tk Sn) from the 4th Amd Div was used to asist the infantry. he tanks six and cover the infantry, four to would advance one house at a time, and in turn. Each room. and the cellar men, as Ehey entered each house no-enemy remained in the house. attic were searched to make sure down Ze roads, but the A counter-attack did materialize 0 ~1

comandin ridge in the area, MONnIIDTER and after attacking up the most 35th were trying to I sot into the town at noon. Elements of the Division l the objective was take7R NG ar4zmeeting oppositiol.- On 22.Nbvember ALBESTROFF arA HILL 2 7 5, the high ground which commanded it. The plan tr,lsrBn, by was. totas t-a'hshb g-:round wtthx_- tae 3d. Bn, and to have east. B- taking this high pass. ALBSTROFF and get the high' ground'to the fall. ground It was felt that the town itself wduld enemy had to The 3d Bn ran into every type of fire the and perhaps the off&r, including a first experience with nebelwerfers, were again moving out beyond main reason, for this was the, fact the troops e 3t5e5th. Div isioa and were the egtinrenemyf stconcentnt dC ire- The LitBn~ ez~ .d tt, b STftbVF~aTh bt&6&a 7 w:w& Sd4At51 e i-ntoz ALBESTROFF acounter-attfaked-an&driven0 back. More. menwer r thrown 1St 3n. 'during, the,. ni.t, and at that, point-coinunicationzs from te cpased. T'The ;d-B6nWAs! no t on th e.opjpetjive bynihl. 1s t (23 Nov) Capt Leon D Gladdng, CO of the 1 .. By morning out of ALBESTROFF. The next day the Bn had succeeded in getting his men Inf came up and 2d Bn came through and took the objective. The 328th began cleaning the ALBESTROFF WOODS. and remained in . The 104th znf consolidated their positions wast motor~ized; at thet Aei EtSTROF-F area, until! 1 Dee, when the regimet, s outhLof SARRE-UN ION. VmoyVed~to the vjcinity of WOLFKIRCN , Dell-brt was: i ." . UP to this paint during the interyiew-Lt aol- (NOTE: thant €oncentr ti'ng" on ttt... i ~~giving a regimental picture, ratet 24th aol Dellert (then major). tgok command of , 53d Bn. On Nov From : i the 3d Sn, when Lt aol Hu~h a Donaldson"Was wounded. this point on his story concerns the 3d Bn.) H

The 3d, Bno on 2 Dec moved through the woods east of v Thae lOst :nf was engaged in .WOFS! RCIN to the woods east of PISDORF. 7 .f !

vith the 3d Bn in BY 18 November the lines had advanced, of RODALBE, and the 2d Bn around the vicinity of ST SUZANNE Farm southeast - along the woods BOIS DE BEESTROFF ' DORDAL Farm and patrolling agressively of the aggresssles5 of the These advances had occurred mainly because any opportunity to seize troops, who could not be held back, art took more- Ground. 18 November were to take The orders given to the rigiment on was necessary to take the woods the road art rail hub of BENESTROFF. It booby trops, teller mines, first. These woods were filled with s-Mines, were only two approaches- art hand grenades strapped to trees. There and the unimproved road that along the railroad leading into BENESTROFF, way In which to get tanks. and ve- ran through DORLAL Farm. 'here was- no defending the line with an extimated hicles into BENESTROFF. The. enemy was ten companies. by this time, The 3d ,n,which had received replacements capturing the town at 191710 got into BENESTROFF with comparative, ease, an extremely tough fight before gaining Ncvemuber, but the 2d Bn ran into 2d Bn action is detailed in the high ground south. of the town. (The the armor were having a hard another Interview.) The 101st Infantry and November the 3d Bn got the high fight in GUEBLING on the ri ht. On 20 the main road that led north from ground north of BENESTROFF And out early, although serial photos DZUZE. The physical resistance had broken hold. Railroad bridges all of the area had indicated the etemy would mines were encountered. This were blown, tiough, and many road blocks with the 24 Sn succee-dedl tn same day the 3d Bn took VAHEL zs BENESTRO FF, and

capturing YV.Rfl.0rT. take an 21 November, Companies I and L were sent to i -6- a) C)

get back the enemy encirclement and A had been able to infiltrate through An eyet tok,up.PPitionl in cellans. to COllTHtL., whille.th, rema!dhder, n s up to the- escapet saw-Civtiia come witnesfA,oft heatlon, who4rlater- - t '"th ridi annat O'O uPIe. The' tsd: ide; em t tbuldtg.WhI *1 t h llarvr of. the--buL.dingg', tankrv ther Z'ited! an od but a; Many of the Americans were captured, causing very heavy casualtieS. it and town while the Germans occupied some managed to hide out in the the town many days later. These the 104th drove back into .3 were found when -t evade who proved resourceful enough to very few, some ten or fifteen, were 4 1 4 t f& s f ar b jaCk# .s •I -1 Tie, aror*&t blctb thd,'thetd's I .4 thlt rain made' suc& a morasS: of mud A teenm$les., The almost continuous theyswere'f 1 Ahoughn ot We.r 46a nabe tomaur brored-the DiV tanks I, A I them iked and itwas:nptfthesort-of very a'ggres.e+v e4 the' weather had -4 ri0 21 he tanks could be used to advantagee action or terrain in which t tanks did prove valuable was one small action in which the I beauti- I (Q2 3811). Here the 2d Bn coordinated A in the taking of HILL330 (Lt battalion to seize the hi cround fully with the armored infantry AtB, but was not Sn might have been the'-53d Col Dellert thought this 4; certaine) 4 few aLy> stagnant forr-?the n ex.t, The s ituation. remai hed- f v in. * I theleft. 'he*. t-er'were- ha the 35th Tnf Div cae up on days while * I The 32Sth nf (26th ;nf Dv)was a fight at !ORANGE to the northwest. I II in the woods o, the right. getting all kinds of hell this ohase: the much, Zhe disposition of the 104th mf durirz and RODAUSE, the 2d Sn in the cut Un 3d Bn in the woods between CoUTEIL theUISV3 n n r eserVe*'o, vicinity of UIDRIZIrS on the hWrOUnld,,

e;5'a .+ 7" 7 .- )

6tigol ~trresistance th ere. The 2d Bn-met much Into GOy'.HnL,into , O, getting only cS t was received at the +il their attack. A report ' hetyter resistance against -'1+. gotten Into of the 12th that the 3d Bn had Sreizefltal O? the afternoon RODAL-. TheO character of the figtin g up to this point had been such

it was true, was fightinG to belleve. The enem7, that the report was hard ., Sdelaying action, but the resistance had been very stiff with each It was feared that the 3d 4 fecture utilized to its sximun advantaGe. the rizht, and with the 2d Bn far behtlnd on Bn had zone out on a limb, elements of the 5th. Dtvisiol on the left also behind. patrolsent xi

the 3d Bn in the town, into RODALSE that night confirmed the presence of enemy had begun his back, but by that time the The battalion was ordered with began, about 1600, 12 November, counterattack. The, countereattack infantry and tanks+ coverginS onthe town from all sides. Some of thce in a field rather near to 4thArmdded Divisiofl's tanks were coiled .., relie to set moving and offer some but were too 1ogzed down RODALSE, , L, and flCompanies were in RODALBE, and I Co was sent to . 'I . by this time the enemy had the * rei force then, but could not get in, since town surrounded with tanks. at I- - radio contact with the artillerycounter The d Bn was qutc ulof o advance because'direct the artillery could not - i this point, and reseived at that time. battery ftre was being about whether or not the (NOTE : Tere appeared to be some question some help, and this wasare. put._true .. . artilleryalsot coulded 0- have offered battAlicn also of the tanks in th-e vicinity. Reasons .. given... .. for fail-.. " , ., ~ ~~~ureto came to the ald fth e b +. .. -. for what they are worth.....) came into the town wdth tanks. Durint the nijit the Germans !iT and other re- sjghted in the streets, said three tanks were t some reports the ..e. of th.d~ By this tine some of dave the number as seven. , ports Vr wtThe next morning (9 Nov) the 3d Bn took M.ORVILLE LES VC, Wthe rl~'4t, Bnvada-nei ng4.on .therittwad the 2d Sn on the left. The

2B ntoo k CHATUSALZNS, and thejlstV Bh ..met some trouble going throug th wood.steas 'tlof!tORVtLE SVI, The front, line, the netxt.,morning, was. oln'.th"e ede of th e /ooda 1,000 yarda.s soutrOhII-of10. on 10 November the 3d B attacked for HR,PONT. In the vicinit-y now was rask Force. Hunter of the 4th Armored Division. Th task force was unable to get moving because of the extremely muddy roads, and

was held up particularly by a large shell crater in the road running

0GEINE.!,

• K't Co, took; KM°P?'O1T drhng-the dt . I.. b hbbkthe-ill on

thei. left tlarc.k A vezr heav7 s-hefling was: recetved. in" lAMPo7JA , which " ncruded ealibres up to 150 mm; 300 and 400 rounds were- counted. in each concen-'raton., ,,^,.P0LOtA was, a -supply centersforthe eneny 'and contained"a_ . large ammunition dump. This ammunition dump wao exploded by the enemy

fire and more casualties were caused among men of the 3d Bn by exploding

amunition than by the shell fire. A counter-attack was recetvedthe morning off 11 November by infantry elements of the llth panzer Division * in ometh fg like-company strength. The cannon Co was, cet up. on a forward

S s~ope. s-nd was&..able.i to .lay,, accutate bl~,vd~~,e~n the a taackers , practr,

ically4 slaughterinG them ... -

pushed on into the woods north of OBRECK. The plan at this tine was forf

the 3d Bn to take COIVEIL and P.ODALBE, and for t he 2d Sn-to take CTkWU -

V3L . The '.st Bn was hald in the woods. on 12 hovenber the 3d Sn advanced rapid!y wlth K an: L Cos t*1 K)

vICe Ist and 2d Bns-were across AbO't half the troops of. the and artillery in with t.eir mortars Sthee bean to zero the co.,-t-and- e r tewhentheattackT begl.a held Stherl ween k ef ter part of. 4-It~, -s it cos~og n• tO

o Vr, ta neutralized wito insg.round, but it was feltc..rtaif h r tar positions had been picked uP end n r et artller7 This proved to be the case when the first infantry elements

defes Lt crossC, but the enemy was soon able to reorganize his campaif . major, and regimental col soward a DO~IZe t (at the time of the

brtng fire to bear on S-3) felt th%.at the reason the enemy was able-to the early morning hours was the croOStfnS site durin. the darknes, cf beoSuse te' enemy Forward observer .ad not been gotten. t was necessary for the troops to traverse tree thousan& yards of open ground. The terrat eloped graduallY down to the. river, and then rose up again to

to the l. was the scene of 4y casualties i the next This flt ground te

i regimentflftrte two hours after the other The 34 Bn, which was comitted two battalIons, was hthard. HILL 300, which proviced some'Of the best swa-mel were placed o wals and smoke sh S obsCvation for the enemy, was out of zone,

the left of The 3t inf Dv was on W 155 upon it Te f o to the left of CHAT.VJ SALIS the regiment and was gofl t I nf t'us rnfoly fromrm the Western edge of the FORET ! alYStyOf the 104 SALINS. The initial DE AN-E iS GRANDE throug~ ~CABR and CHATEAU during the first d&7s objective oZ !,RvtZE i5 VtC was not obtained advance by the 3d Bn. did set up on the high ground just southwest o. .dth the farthest ptnt of advanCe th.e 1 road that ran P of d.,.ar- vt , e t to . aoutheSt fr c:theAU.SAL'S

e a 2 - .mommosomcmamm

a,(J QI~

Ij . . ..

UN~t 3d~ll IOttxZ 2th-"If DivU)

ACTItON,,&,The - LORRlj.t_.AaiT PERiODt 8 Nov - 10 Dec 1945 rt, CO, 3d Bn SOURCEef Lt col Howard C Delle IU Czechoslovakia,p1 June 1945 PLACE ATD DATE OF INT-RVIEW MAU, LNTEjRVjht7R& Lt 'Hollis Alpert- r.. ,sheet.- Eastern 1,France.: 5 14A P S - .AJ..ntr4SUC~~.. .""' :' ~tc " 1OO,:100,.000... .. ,-sarbrucke-nf C4ate . saliha., om'ny, * L:50a,0O00 &arrO&x.n, arree-uniol,

. Nancy, ParrAby., m Coos: -4 roe ordt T.hitt ibterview" witht somcta±4: trot~unte -I • IN!E r ,, c, c'ondiCted -. I5 nott give a ful. account of the 'd34Bn action'- Col De-llett' was- 5 "3 oft thee lOt: IIW drinaPP n ateT l l t thre. csmpaif,- .4 intervie, gi oreto., -Or and,, thecar eir portion-oot the. &nce, over sin ths regm'ent 4l-thon a, ba ali ,l ctilrue.., :1 t t of ' initervitV.P- certaino On and-A the.titie.skitchy -A use of records --- haddet-ai"will elapsaed betweerl*thve.acabe' ±tin6 olbtvasu e and' of these details. will probably fill in some I from the FOET DE The 104th inf (26th inf Div) attacked ~1 hour long artillery pre- I at 0600, 8 Nov 1944, after an BEZANGE LA G.RA.NDE *1~ wt&h the main effort I of the attack was northeast, paration. The direction .,~1 104th :nft,.and the.objective set of the 26thDiVisiOn beingmac@ by the prior to the jump-off a platoon as the-road and rail hub of BENESTROFF. 4 crossings had been. blownr A was, aent to the SEILL River, over .which all I A ra il-: -i a footbridge put, in while it wasstill-dark by the enemy, and i-A 8 but it was possible te-walk-?troops Er-~ road bridge at (U09321 ) was blown the the operation had the 2d Bn crossing across. The initial stage of K northwest of VIC U SELLS, S IL? to take O ,A!BS and the high ground of VC cUR 1st Bn was to cross the rtver west - ad on its' right, the " ":as o 12 - C.r'. '..iiv h grou--.e- nort.floLC-fli and take the inital cbO-iecttve oQ / trough the other tw.o batttlions I,

t 0to-1- I t A U 4 (~2

.1:

out Tndand attacked t At 1030 Z G Oorpal05 moved not coa u ,tilan hour Later. The eneny had used the by 1300 wth surprisins ease Achen (Northeast); it was captured Ft the rench artillery mounts. s, and badade no use of fort to =Place h n Singling (West) was taen at 1500. The forts had.beenI manned only by skeleton crews,

t in8 . a n f@W casualties were incurred by thr 2d.Battalion in capturing 4

were taken. th=. About 100 pl'"S east and north-0ound orders to gai the hih On 9 Deceb.er the battalion received e colt. of the 12th on the left, and 1st BattaliOn was Rederch . The east of Gros imediate rtght Troop screening the with the 26th Recon Division on the right, CA Aoredfed. At 1800 after heaVY tank resistance the Sd Battalion was on the approaches to

01ose for the night. the town, and was ordered to The 1st with F ConPan following. 0800 the next morwn, E. Company moved out at fire, but with the support-of TD's the -Sd BattatlionmovinG up on the-left, mat tank the town. and found no resistance in Battalion got into Gras- Rederchfs on 2d Battalion was to be relieved word was received that the AtQWZO, 1.1 DeOCember The relief 346th InfantrY (87th Infantry Division). line at 0400 by the Sd Battalio, '1 * 21 the s2d Battalion was nt slowly and it was not until the daylight hours had come that * A to move to Letz for a Late that night the order came able to pmill back into Achen. later to be izterrupted by the - a period that was period of rest and rehabilitation

battle of the Ardenles.

-Il- USAI WYA ~~T0WT1;msC

and cellars .or biletil the 1rgest and best big fight "W" for 0e-rmIleW, and the

CP purposes..• -".w were re- Ared Divisiofl elemet of the 4th of thi day (5 Decezber) About,. 1520 u s e of Oerz- en, and reports ofth10 ported in alha n, three. kilometers nor heast

showed then to be. wtdttl confusedlY from the weight of the attack. in 0ssiragen. Civli had.moved east of day) Pand G CompInes By the end of the infantry had ith- eight ene= tanks accompanied by the tofl brought infor-.tiOn that

Achen. small drafl towerds advanced, but Met 6 December. The battalion cotinued at 07300, The attack Lean-:8 to clear the town. It took =til noon fire from elbasen.. a~s.and artill erY thOe L BattsliOl and Etting, while fightin in snti Arnored DiVision was the 4th Le,. G M Bois. A niiber of turret type wa fighting in the woods above Kabuse,

woodS*. observed in these 1400 - forts had been 4 into £ttin6, but at the 4th AS=e Division Battalio, was to follow The 2d to attack fOr by-pass Etting and battalion ordered to as. chaA9ed, and the this order outside rrttig receivilng end G cmpaies were und ot.er-6look Achen.. At the-high on Hill 336 (585502). of the-Uaginot Line fire from a fort dirSect 8 artillery and succeeded in patting a stop to the a flight of p-47's came in on this hill 1600 .S The attack contin the townl of ttinge. itself , for the Zd B&ttaliOD to wre.tortame fire.f ordefl thenthantowV cane the tO ie G CompaY was to take the town began at 0600, 7 Decembe. to-takeCopCY was to take the hih u-d to the east and northeast, and F Company was to in Achen. ' patrol was to be sent sme positionsi. A combat behind I ComptA to the 'i i- move - - ' " be insuPP rt Bttain wereto ° of the 761st Tan -Y were in i Tank elements of H C~Pt. and at 1100 Ct and of? as scheduled attack went sent to Ft Achen ~~The AChezi. Fatrolas were wtthdrSWln into Ahet be seen en" := Thne enenY-could ,.,. ,.a seatr~c iscverd - Etting. •

snpZ (~sI (Nrtheast)adF i due to the cloudy weath-r-V to ht Ache= at 0900, but Air support had been scheOduled " -10- Kl '.3

town. The 4th A.ored : was now being directed towa.ds tht Un, = "' the main effort xt was for antthe alert of the 104th Lf had ae a lmied t breaktbOtsoh, DI tsion 01 nSC~~l th adp4mWato& aei ji u4Sllt ho 'aler . ; at 1200 the 26th On'.I Decebe1 the' ad Battlin wasplaced-ona hAf. ~econ 1ssnOe oP reie dVe ba-tt&'lion pnther.in, adth9 c .pan es. moved bkT- foot

t the, woods easVof Wclf." e"assemb1Yaea; in entrucked and moved to to Ining and there ekirch-en.

for sae-UniOne attack the mornig of a December te tha t night the orders Came to the 2d Battalion closed in norh and northeast The 3d 3tell 1.4 in thts attack, and 3d Battalion, and ele-w Batt&li0?n vs~still behind the of2?~dO.O~3 egeO the'.3d ° + : 4 . oppooS t O f' h&Sr.e, 1 40-Zatwe /te heaV7Y ts ects of1e : -ts ir who thtoathfl:Atedge inosrU"Iofl to, Xd itl '.tpl:ti5da-oi'Od town by- vc sarrew@?def and were east-. of,"the. -hod to . the,, Of" d M.oxmp. :he.l.. aMh-edtoi te; .gul lplato°nf' H CompanY were,, :aCompa f the) Machint 1530. At 2140, ., h-.e* .. orth ...... OS..e , t ' . T_, _s7on4Pf 3d Battelion for aoppiflAUP off, town* combat Patrol of platoon cont"If2.d notheast. A The neXt orning the attack take a series of The generl msion was to stregth led, with Comp--.nY F follovi the map) wlth Oermngen as the finl t Limited cbjectitOs (defined simply as goose egas on onoJ.f theb series.V .Battalon attackif&O s t ; h e.Is t ;ws' n.the. lft..t By 0815 the° c firstd"+s~ onta series*, l re&with - e l o i d ottye occu eratta4dbaha ofV4at oowdhob4kbe I objective onthVdedge . . wa& still O8 + tatt AlOn eat Q' AtnQ'.n'theta V The contacvfls the. 1st Bettli Of. I r oa ! nLt * r-Aewe , n d andtiit rened.'. ia the mods south- of 0aerr4 te roads as lead i.fa nt7'. e.ements, cieain. followed close beh.d the and engineers waS any artille-7 fire mat the adflnce proceeded. There was no resistance, nor At 1500 regmnee ordered the battalion to consoldte on t -eeastern e%;e of the 1' 1 have coo er~e4 on e &i S±0 seced to in 0er- e. The entir woO~s az to send parcls i 1' ~-'- r

west of Albestroff. on the edge of the woods into AlbestOl"f" d The 1st Battalion had gotten his was sv Day. had been on the left of the 2d Battalton. had been pushed back out. The Ist hattalion with the n .e.2d.atta-lion was: told to hold on the edge of the -woods and to makee' contact

quiet. tt uirts on their left and right, was comoztiVeJ a defiladed spot a squid at a- tie and sent to ben were relieved from the line, cans (insulated food hot ukey dinners inUarnite 503 yerds or so to the rear where practically to the The kitchen had'been brouGht up containers) were served to then. V

line for the occasion. C Co V sheda in, was ordered to take Albestroff. The nesxt day the 24 Battalion, Two of. the tanf attached but met no other resistance. ran into rines and booby traps, and exists 0 CGLPaftr secured the entrances disabled bymines. to the batteiOfl were A in it. The troops were billetted r other com ±as out posted to AlbeS t Of, while the The the 25th and 26th of November. relatively quiet during Albestroft and thingS were" 9 1st Batttliof on the left and men rested, trained, and contact was maintainS with the the 328th Infatry on the right. Civilians, who had been• hiding in,the cellars of the

town, coe out and, wae1kd the. streets once more. A Red Cross wagon cane up and fed the

men the usual dOaiuhts and coffee., .4 positions (35th In tantry Division) bad of 27 November the 320th Infantry By. evenil. pro- elements of the battalion anld azembourg. Advance in the vicinitY of Cueblange Battalion, 320th InfantrY. On initiate a relief of the 1st ceeded to Eapp@eXinger to i: and Schweix, but ade over the positions at Gueblange 28 Novembet .the battaion took withdr=fl across the ar River. 4;1 no contact with the enwmY. The GermanS had next two days receivin quiet 7ne for the I remained in this compxaativelY battalion was alerted to move to On 30 NoveMber the 2d Battalion only sasnodic artillery fire. area, but no movement took place that day. an undisclosed assembly below Lc.e- rurther to the south, River had been rorced CrosiS or the Saar -8- Spiegel- i.mntry. The high ground was obtained by the storming of the objective by Lt a slow, steady r. bexg's platoon, in which attack many casualties were covered, It was well.t sl~ing@ m tch Up the hill, and casualtieslwere heavy on the enecy as of E Company , bad some. hard, Fa4

Battalion, threw in a number of and ere= a:ter the ground was captured by the 2d the Negro tank battalion counter-attacks of platoon and company size. Tanks from which cae in the afternoon. The supported the infantry against these attacks, all of While there, a lot of activity night was spent by the battalion on the high ground. a4d ' - obserred. The enen was withdrawing, intthe"to of Nebing, to the northeast., was- was. tbrown into- them, ,and had, many vehicles, concentrated in the, town,.. Heav.y artillery

someg o.. thePvehiclosrSe stroyed- and,' canalties- werp; obseitve.d town of.,Mariont,againstl The*.orning ot-20 Noveber. the, 2d? Bkttalion moued into-,ther and. inti-personnel modertbV6,resisteancet. ,sniper,, tire;.ant ..some88=,; tire;- Roadblocks~ wuastken, ad the Sattalicn te ines were encountered, duiring th4s"dvance. Tie ton Marinont-, nd E and G Companies. mained in it throughout the day. F Company occupied of Nobing, with G Company .moved northeast towards Nbinmg, digging in in-woods woutheast night patrols attempted to de- on the right and E Company on the left. Throughout the so the "* ter-mine whether or not Nebing was held by the enemy. None were encountered, town empty of Gerzan S followir.g norning at 0700 3 and G Continued into Noting, tound the *topand went on to occupy~the high, northeast of. the town..

rernaiin&5:in ' Te battalion went int&*regimental reserve tor" the next two days,.

j the vicinity of Noting. Conpanies moved On ZZ November the mission cane to go into Albestrotf. S and G further because of hear" S to the. edge of the town and found the.nselves unable to advance

The two conpanies consolidated positiO ta e tamdret 8&_ andfie, snzll anus are.-"- rapidly and their flanS becC eX- j e h ce i had moved of the Just beyond the tck bce pin don at therailroad, includiln the assault po s e d . Th eI "wh o l e , t t a k b e c a = e 0 2 ,d , .,~' = t-e e i g t

- cright. . Leat the 38th Io.n 'on the in so 1s% BatttliOflon the across the railroad, and assault, attempted to storm p CormanY, in a brav, 0comaY agSe Mss ,ineSS-Ofn squ d Of that doirbro fereds heavilY. FinallY,°veGathe it was of the machinegune e to decide the issue, This squad atored the enemy line. that.did m=ch gnS aned in silencil the d succeeded penetnyti. i their advance, and F omny e equal number taken prisoner. the ene' were killed, and an Twenty-flveof- woods On the eastern side. the railroad into the brec. -"Ou aecthisr cossed e.,&whole batt i g=got th rotsh this break, and as a result, the enemy on the1left .=d

also. The the adjacent elemens to advance withdrew to new positions, enabling right F and Coopegie (forest) that .nigh, with remained in the Bois. do BenestrOfl battalionon the line-and S Comp 200 Yads.to their reat,, in supplort. The rain poured down seadily during the night, and tboughOut the night mortar + - . -e andartinptre came in. ltrols operated actitelY, and reported having seen or-heard S i b e a, b c a a 7 n f ia t i = I 8e

was negligible again because Help from rrfe d Y armor at least three German taks.

of the m ddY morass.mvF y and G at 0700. Com~aq moved through On 19 November the attack continued

Comw(nies , while the latter maintained their L.nS 5mpeAies many miles. SHill 34 was the ground that comanded the terrain for what seered lle That knob provided obserfltiOn over the entire division front, and it was the key of the d.G and F Comm e aate u= a was to take+I this ground. division objective. E ComPeY h on iehtteadpne orders. machinegnfiehthmadpndteCO. , thor advanced far when S OoinSZ had not was receiving by 1st IS Spiegelberg, E Com2az, comanded own A patoon of ptY t~e uz±8r- do IarZOnt-. it waS woodS. to the southeast -Bois autmatic tire from by the ZZ tZ hear? to have been cle&e± that these woods were st.Z-i o? the Zd 3ataliOfls . =i n. -. .

-& ~1

-1

off when it shot out an I 3d Battalion had been all bat cut fightijg men in the." r*e 'S received successtfl couzter-attack and the strong and A to Rocalbe on 12 Novber, a li=b road The initialEWobjective, pte the bat alO backttO°COfthil" 4 fozced therrt !atof t it w axmost ingshibt 4 still rmined to-be taken, but end rail hub of IBenestroff

A alfewldoY, t e.edstill is d -,erort0 % s ut Thertd' 3ata iOnrrfl~d~on~r '*1 Not only tanks, but all other vehicles and the roads still dLssolved in =ad rained, or tracks. to mzve anythifn8 on wheels it as all bat impossible I were ired don in mL . Lost frequently it away at the batteliol positions. Germns were active, pouding The hated I were suffered. The men was received, and more casualties was aortar fire that "mtdforwar& .it.seeced moefditornh As'WCs4te .1 t ~fi heyhpthey that th eidZ t he. crust. of resisance. i"b bycrakif t.t the: attacZ ha.t s r The, first=, r ace nts since c~ esa (if--pt gettij4 sao at. lessened. two-thirds i the batt Ol.Q to abozt. ° w fter came in',- They brougt their lives. !tl~ d r two.Of"thtr ...nine~c e d m n lrOst wihinerd d fresh,. Many of these '1 stated, "I think we were this," Captain Carnevele A at- thse line. "All through 'A arrival all the way. -1 fought a delaying action, tha the lerries. They taking a worse beating And when withdraw to their next defense line. hen things got too touhthey could

they pounded us." we. sat for-awhile, the objective of Benes- S InfantrY renewed its attack for On 18 Novcber the 104th 4oI=ad ldinD& arizOnt-les-Benes- y~i d to incl4ude9th02ht8hgoun tgQOft', and this sOwZPLx A troff? whichbecame anobf dr .the 2d Battalion. An hour-lon&artillery,prepara at- 0800, vicinity of.- DordSa.l I u= e.d'ofjfroa, the at 0700. F Com e s " tion began S:pan G, Comp&; 1,000 yards anY; railroad :ine abeut toward the north-sOuth eastwaxd eban;=ut of he railrmd not develop until the Resistance did railroad began folWfed in colun-. enpZted all alon& the vi gus at that potnt machie was approached, and (C&rriere de Ccpse) a very large ;ue --7 gun~s were cplSaced at firn" Other nachilS I.t i

- Ii casualties had been suffered while e teriflg the villaeeafor.ziAdmedicals nd medc] personf! were sent sentwin A peweres sent ptrolandical ridi wth the. sentW . Peep was about 1900, a security tansfiredon thez, and they were unable On the outskirts, as they a;proached. machine to getin to. adnjlzster aid that night. and Throughout theC night theenemy tried to infiltrate into the American positions the followu morni six dead Gfle werePdisCered at one door step with genades

still in theirn. bthe Germans had withdraWn to the edge of the

in Chateau Voue, and the batalion reaie village. The battalion CP was moved into

the village during the day for a nnmber of reasons: the enemy streth in the area s the woods on the supposed to be- clearing the 528th InfantrY was a battalion or more; supposed of the 4th Arored Division were right- but ad not come up yet; and,dmentSr' e=1 fire was comin- in from that day Machine gun and to pass through the 24 BattaliOn behind the 2d BattaliOn was battalioftwhich' had cote-up the woods,yad-an artillery of the enem positions. able to lay direct fire on some'+ - got up to Lidrecuin about this day (12 November) and The ar r,did come through in contact with Col Voue. The battalion staff came 54tlometers northeast of Chateau (either the. arored outfit which passed through I reighton Abrems, who was coandfln '1 .3 found him fully .4

contaifing from eiW%to :& % had strggled upuP iin eveneve wrsewor shape, with companies -440 I the men's clothinG. the cold increased, the rain froze on snow as 4Phe night wore o. As tank. support and G attacked fron the woods with The next mzrnif, at 0900, F of capturing Chateau - Nego)with the objective (Il pa"oOn, 761st T&M BattalioL gen by a nu=berof: well emplaced machine 4 5l±ZSI, GKC =l" led Aanud was soon stopped ne s.,, Tcen worke& up-and cked out4 some- o Vthe gnwwith grenades, and the tanks.

Salins, with, t,Comtpany. following,. 1530 G.CoiMPanY was inzClteaU silenced-others. About: eam- fireTfrom machine gs% fire, and drawitg automatic and was meetin; heavy sniper taken and seventy-fiTe prisoners The machine gus were neutralized placed in buildings. The secured the southern outskirts. moved into the town and out o" houses. S Compay= in Chateau Salins. night was spent by the battalion Zd 3attal- hold the town and the recow.trOOP came, in to in the. morning.;the. division southwest'. of HapOnt, five s5thea9iledi up-it$' a'swoodW- ion, wasT T?';ie4Z compa d xnibh~e4A".Tb a 4tflflint& asseblVf bth ki~maernor-eatotcht 4 mSionl htt kr hsi&~iS'~ t the~j batta ou~tirud.t out aoreast mor4n&otli>,.Novcber p: nd Companies moved, i a t •,10 - re-.ZOO Obreck about noon,. Intantr to the east and' got into about 0700, by-passed Hapont was thrown in to the but mortar and 8k fire did not mataerialize in Obreck, sistance thinned the, battalion were appreciably suffered. The ranks of town, ao d casualties were were showing a Geat deal had been received. The men by this time, and no replacements accurate fire they received and the cold, at areSSiveness, in spite of the heavy, : so gC weather.

,I follow, andG COma in re- 2 missiowi with F tCompeZto and S Corcfl was givenl t 43 edge of the v illag)t buttae.POsi'.. tire was encountered on~the' seflO. Heavy machine gu theI By the time the center of village entered about 1500. tions were ;verCZ8e and the dark byJ defended. it was getin Voue was found to be well ,±flage was go to, Chateau

-3- their al o te - ez 'was:td decided(, for and F companies to hold V -- r

-b

which had fousht . they were wMrt of the - e Division large scale assault. They kew take plaqe over ground their first big battle was to well 4U world War 3, and oddly, earlier division in 1918. that had been fought over by that - ' were to by-pass SaIlonn@s and, capture Oom~zi65es- and G~wefl on thS lifl, end they the-wo4ded highCPM-Znd to the. northeast. At 06oo the infantry begn to sli. across th&e

for the lead. There was no opposition at first, bridge, the men of E ComPt in the

the defensive line racing them. But evjdently artillery concentration had disorflfized the crossing. waS able to obserVe remainad at his post and enemy forward observer an and S= artiller shells For while men were still csroin the foot bridge, mortar

went the bridge. S Com-Y sffered casualties, began to fall in the j ediate& arGea of. where nachin guns nd...d dark=ess, and went into- SaloOlDs, too far to the left in the by-pa5sed enemy er Y had passed-by, some them. Aft the', Co mortars. opened p on which had folowed. opened up, isolatl& CompanY from } CompaY machine guns of the other two companies, at a point to the right F. GOmp was. then crossed F Comrnwas. theetrydnaj"adbig 1nfantrY was the destroyed railroad bridge (the other crossing poiAt used by the 104th to by-pass 6allon- across) and was able were still able to get over which foot elements The Co of ComPCY E nes and get to the, high pound against very little resistance.

of his plight,'and wS told to Battalion CO by radio and intonted him contactedwithdraw, fromthe 3dthe towU after dark had fallefl. But S CmpanY was involved in a fire to get medical aid 2 the day, and it was not possible right in the village all through eI! - .• te~ During the course of th e day t'hze machinL e gus barring the way. Sto them because of carr-ying thircsul the- gus and withdrew aft et dark, .compan succeeded in silencing I4 ordered to and the two companies were• Compafl was also withdrfl, !ties with them. 0

fl... ,u ; swing around to the right and' come up with F Compan Of-te was placed In support. ii F CompanY on the line, and E Company plisshed, % Co=MnY Joined efIoet ,-un±m to he was spent on this high TAe first night after the jimp-off tufled &Mzo suffered extreme discafortv from the rain which L sallones, and the troops •a 6

oI I .P AD .Li" 4- i \\,~ :4- 7 Divisi on. InfU.ttz,2hInfantrY flflT:~3dBtCO ~ tli 104th i 10 -'NS. 0 Th~tbtra nktC4 -4A.4 ACTIOwq -4 r e -, dI-,A" '4 .W.ot0nOpefius..:SV" 43 S/Sit4~t~f krzkd A renze, CzechOalOYakit, 17 Zune 1945; PLCE 'AN DATEOfn.Inr *-*1

w:.-,V"tt s1C. Alpert .3 Chateau Saulna, Sarreue±D8s Bitche, SSare-Union, .APS Eastern France: 1/50,000 Paxroy sheets.

td %&ii rIcdS. Thebi' latter phases NOT h .I.te.ie nA o"....d4hrth . of-$V"=-the. O- hea refv'z6d - to' th MjouxrathekpP " - Wffi-A: covered bt

.7 4 the 2d, Division cane.- on'oYO -. . '9 Whhn'Wzterjain of frortthe,,26th- t.=ntty' S Of 6odsBiiget La -GranidO wijt-h- the' 1s t attalion Battahioi ,.UiOtBIt4~iisi . of, the 35th I.nfantry- Division Onlthe- le, the,- same regiment on, its-right, and- elementa and an srtillery preparation was to The time of the attack: was, scheduled for 0600, eonti=Ge as a rolling barrage for onw-halt start one-half hour before that time, end. to Battalion assault. Captain Harry IL. Carnevale, hour after the start of thle infantry a foot bridge was platoon down to the Seille River, and SI, at 0400 took an engineer ~1 was.,put in to the west, of 'a dcolishedrail- constr ated..oYer the river. This bridge • south of the villgO 'Of Salol.nBS% road bridge-over the am rsver.-jQst ,. And it.was, ran and td th t The attack was ) e in datness anrai and L g n ' fougt tbrouh,- td T@ :2dI carCterized the whol&- Lorraine Canpai for the'men who the large scale the vicinity for a full month before Battalion had been engaged in bad as their objective the straightenilng all scale forays which I:ft attack began, =aking of the line and the obtaining of hig terr ain featur-es which would ond the round their bojtt!e of battalion had already experiezced to the front. a of the men the k un ' t t ttheY =:ade their firstr izct rttO , but it was asa-relagelY.ulred I -1 V I, "-I I:t

I.". i I I and the CO I .sts and the EX 0 as casualtiew, the fLgtflnSs three plat early in th operatitfn. Codr . ad been killed I the tundoa the The infantry now moved out of toWI ton occupy them, tonetr wi 4th,,plats. of KaCo joined north, where the 1st and. both the infantry s d with this groUp. aowever the tanks which had been dtd, out- town, which they 4 ordered to pull back into the tanks were the units spent a quiet night in the town for the night. te postinstowfl aind the f.ollOWifl morning I Co rejoined the 3d Bn, 101st tInf in I a

vicinity of (158245)0* BOS do CZLINIE in the

(1 e e - t * t is the intorvi w r's belief that the principal utility of the aboVe account lies in thr-in formatio regardin the Tnft plats in MORVILIe duriln 9 December. That the town was not cleared until the but further detanls regarding afternoon is established, plan for the middle of the armor are desirable and both arethe openprojected to question. thelstald attached cn platl and theLr actual opns 73 * -iA

4 ill

5 * I VA

-5-0 I I I

the leading tank down the main at the town while the rest followed town 1:4 Of the way through the little road throuh the town. Tw-thirds north side of the town with ob S abazooka, located somewhere on the thet lead I , ¥'firedba,- round, knockia out sovtVio ertht.road saadadeny - 'I machine gun- opened up frort the same t~ank-v At-:the same time an enemy A blocked sgt. ThQ'damaged tank- effectively directi.on, woundeinga plat to attempt to drag the tank it was c onsidered impractical the road an 3 It was the enemy AT weapon had been neutralized. out of the roaduntil '1 from the victnity of the impossible to locate the MG or the "bazooka" the area around the tank. damaged tank as the enemy MG controlled side of town to detect the MG A patrol was sent' to, teeajtern .1 wt but: me smlarffl5s fffr eY. TLo s were then., d ispa-tched to' th aS te reat4h~t Ispct'~tI'1S'o&O s'idtoot thmer owmn to fir ,4into,. the; + , + c r s tank, enaSging;a the enemy's ,,IG,-t +Te;arTt P0 i rossi- the" d&alged the gun otaer patrol maneuvered, to locate automat ic weapon, whilethO n e Loader-located the ;Whi gumn.. A' rLfle -4 and destroy it. The, Squad grenade Zen accounted for two Germans manning the position and two pinned surrendered. Snipers were by this time being more imedLately 4 ~-.1'4 themselves up and four more men soon gave down-by the patrol's fire out into the main street where SA additional four Germans were driven the i located along the street.. During they were picked°off by riflemen . - art, the AT weapon. wereneutralized Sour, e- o. thxis' aottZblt& th-e s MG' e off' the' road, andcantinue Sand ittwas nowrposibl ' pu4uithe. t nW I I' through town. 2wr .3 were captured during' I "he town was cleared a bout 1500. 24 German8

the dayab-'ut_9. in Uhepta*oK%the tow so that the totald stIveinwnber of prisonersd n taken dfwas ii

the the road over which of MORVILLS and of oti ORVTL- Observation north from the HAUTE de CHAONT6 movil&g7as excellent colj.'l was now the Co K had noticed north of 1AYsNVIC, LA MORVIL in moving west of T T (1121)and of VIC-SURS AI left in the vicinity 2.04th :nf on their the riAt of across country on the 101st Dnf moviln had seen units of COTE ST JMAN (1522). in the region of the their route the right to had already peeled off to The 1st and ;pns plats into partial and the tanks went designated areas move torard their The of CR 273 as planned. road in the vicinity defitdC along the and of 500-600 yards on. the buildings tanks opened fire from a rane The tanks then ioved across the south sidte of IARVILZE. hadgerows on support. The dismounted in close with the inf antry the,-- open sround they small arms fire which begun to return the infantrT had already by Long, was killed Co Condr, Capt. At the CR the C were receiving. with the he was conferring landed nearb" as of a shaell which fragments protected by his not hit, as he was tenk officer was Co comdre The -along the Tk open ground and moved across the I attacking force tarn. The arms Ilre. The mortar and small Drawing artillery, into MORVILLE covered ard here the road the hedgerow tere quickly 400 yards from the LD to resistance. Th'etanks who offered no picked up 15 Germans infantry throuSa a read Co, blasting a way of the men of K had now moved ahead, As e attack movedinto on the road at (127246). block encountered due to the pre- could notL be shortened artils ry range townsence theof Germanenemy troops holding the town. Ittherefore now fell behind hela by that the town was beinlg was later estt Sted the attackers. it ocka, with one roG, and a baz side about 60. infantrmen up a2.ong the west infantry now moved part of the attacking I°

- "co, 4111cIONMI O O= PHMTFQAAs urterstood by Lt Tierney, the mieston of the (1224) by an task force was to seize or neutralize ,:ORVILE-Les-VIC to aid in the reduct- attack,,from'the south ari t'hentO .wing, northwest- , " was to be made * of: CHATEIU-SALINS (0925) ; 'h6-advance on- M'ORVILIE Ion which was, t'o be taken by, ftom the southwes.t throu3 ,OhM IC (1Z20'),

the ,SEIET RIVER. the. -tinfantry- b efbr-e the- tas t, 'Cforc:- moved acros's them as far forward as Co K was to ride the tanks, sticking with support. The platoons of K Co possible, in order to. supply direct tanks moved up the MYO.YENVIC were to be utilized in this manner: As the wpns Plat, wtth tank CHATEAU-SALINS ROAD, the 1st plat and the suppor wold, &of!th,r.he - BOIS- de La GZnS (156247) So0 ntoth. a o.f tht west4rnn e~s? of" the- The mortars.t wenr-e- to- be- to ooupy the high,-ground. east: o 'MRVILIS.,

se3t up", t.r p tfqeCt'ion. agains. a,,cote-ttaqk atd wertto itr on- a ba-sle ofire - the nortd'e,4tt side of the t own', vis f rce'wou1fr and would serve to help isozLte during the advance of the other un-its the 1ORVIjL.Zw-:MPCNT ROAD MORRVILLE from the northeast by interdicting continue on with the majority of by ftre. The 2d and 3d Plats would of CR 273 (124241), the tanks, who were to deploy along both sides usng the w~in highway as at LD for a direct assaultc on the town of

M' VILLE from..t hes outhwes t. " MOIG VIC fell on 8 November-ari.; a~sizeable.:,:.ATTACK.0N btidage-' i. 1tRVIL.: RIVER during the cay.. At 0700 . head' was..established acros's the SEILIR T j114) n.aogtedret. i on 9 November the Tf moved through ARACOIt tndident. About route !YNVC, crossing the SEIZLE RIVE- without and was on the road moving ! 1030 the T: had passed t~rough MOflN-VIC

on the thi4gh ;round In north toward M'ORVILLE. As the column drew up in from t.e north 234)0artillery started, coming the viciilty of (130234,,. ~a.- 3~r

) li- 3 J

f 4

UNIT: Co K, 101st irfantrY Regiment - T? "A" '

PnRIOD: 810 November 1944. ACTION: LORMRAIh CAMPAIGN Leader, 3d platoon, Company K, S0.JCE Lt Edund.T Tierney, platoon ioistnfeantry esiment. Jure, 1945. PIACZ AMTqD DAT 0? zNTEV2WV,': SALNAU, CZECHOSLOVAKIA- 18 Howard 2d Lt Charles Kilg rAPS?iN"P.-VI* 616E TITE .,BER! GSGS NO 1:50,000 TTI i CHATEAUSAL NS 4471z5-14 4471 C PAmOy 35-15

This interview was made without reference to any notes or formal records of. the perioC. It was made to determine. the actions of T? A an esecillyw ofs K, 101st lf,moe a unit of. the TF, in the

its Lttment. ,ORVILLE (1224) area durins 00 tMt it was to Co ..was informed F7WATIN 6TA: on 6 November a part of TF A o Lhe '1 be de tached from the 101st Inf Re8t aid made :1 -1 F on5. it was 4 time commanded by Capt. harle5 Company was at this I e-(1316) -0 8 from23 o .. t ofa JUVRSCOURTbLv.. be ng h ld i°S reserve- in the vicinity A bein5 held in Sn '43 I 'I the rear to a bivouac area (098123)O wich it moved on this day to '4 ON. HereItt was joned by other the west side of the BOIS du BENA was to be composod of the following units of. the task farce, which Bn (Nesro) nIts fm Cos ALi d- 0761 Tk 1 Co, 602 rVn 2 Sqds Enars Co K, 101 Inf Rest units were under strength as It is likely that the above armored Tierrey recalled that there were about 21 tanks in the coltLn, inat "e of-TD5 tank. made no separate'ment1Or' cludo68 a maintenance I that they are trcoCed n any t e, so it may be presumed I • part 2 r ;t Lte fi~ure1of T."supplied by -3 as C ft;.mposition were brought up to dislodge when Tank Destroyers heroic action took place of the gun emplacefeta on the morning and destroy th enemy Machine moved through the 2d Battalion and .15th of Novef:lmber, -the. 1st. Battalion ari.,terea remainder of the woods and outpoatilng conti-nuesd.-Lts, advan0,e. -cle the Southeast- The 2d Battalion took up them alonl& the edge to the East and (255242). Then .3d T Battal-he outpost poskiolL~ j o S= tot o thet e3 south overlooki"ng DISUZEp" 2 s e C t i o , North and outposted in that + to+ncpsflrd~ thde woos to the- three battaiOnl remained in this sector holding and sending out patrols

fthe net for day.n teit the 3d Battalion pulled out and + £br thenext f our- days.On h gh ( 24.z257?) fb - ,f t aking IUENESTPO attacked South wi~th DUZE as their objactive, S and GtEtESTROfl (254283) n the first day's- fighting, and- on the- 20th of

* um e'the 5 63) intt M 5tainattal othe 4th Armored Division : Noee~b,,r:the,513t ArmOr.ed, Im n'atr

3d: Battalion in its assault against DIELZE. wsa attached to. attack wi.th theb

.. The 25th CavalZT was also used

-4 *C,)

force hit the objec- .inthe at~ack~comin in from the west. :the at tack in full

m e n out and a -verY . th$I the t in8 mY force had pulledl tive#otA DI , -tv=waS discovered very easly; remained to -defenfl"DJDt they -wereovercae small group- of the. ene=Y cniie'i n e d iAD U S whilewh~e tthe8. j3d3 d '-h-,,,o u t " an& ,the ..25th Oav r~mainad T e 5lt Arl1 ta Em itsattck rorawad int& V 'VZL ;(Z?2269')u, andby-n ightf&12&ended their advance .

opposition all along, in BZDS5F OFl (305252). This attack encountered very li4t light opposition was due to entering ESSO-'. This and no opposition at all in and the enemy was far out front on the left flank, the act that the jo1st Regiment of the 21st of 3d Bn,. 328th tnf. On the norning ns, withdrftWi,.S in_ front of the .dra, l was...w t nOLIIN-(233.Te EnB t ntckq 4 : oe 2d , Noteatber, theilst-anid at r-"n ntti24Eh. eutc.d toup os VhcinlisY ta.W (355) En mzoved. into poditiOn. in,,.the. later in the ' The d Bw, which: entncked tions in the at1 aof-TORC V (352348).. went into re.- movedt.. intor - (3463i5) ad norning on the 21st. of November, At 1000 a prS.of- ateio reeliem the,,lOlUt Regt. mental, resez~e. Ths-operatiOfl was. into LtW3 R (392355). 2d Bn attacked through the woods hours on the 22d of Nov1 the arm was occasionally encountered* ney oppositiof was light in the woods as, only small

and once the Sd En left However, all the bridses.had been blown approachin LNT, which caused the advance and artillery was encountered thewoods, automatic weapons - . .The battalionw e cozrnader,n _t o k o v e r c o m to be more-difficultt t o ande , resultedo r e d i fin' i cmany l casualties., Y o4r- b ..an Or r24), Lsedbowen t , ovs ,,e o ICQ 3?Ors,o s was wounded... .stin;,th~m 1A~9t.. tv &i~OI%, . ' .... . "icfh w a Sa, r mand,.of the battalio. The wa a a whichi f beca u s A *herec-sd S iortant place at this time o l division area Strangely as it may seem, tosbe blown but the ene bed withdrawn the dams were all prepared with demolitions of the fact to have been so because This action was believed S leail. 'them unprotected. ob load eq u±Pmelt as nteae number off troops and the enemy" had a barge bride5 bot ote The 1st .-bbelYed~the which had not-been withdrawn. • , 'USM$' L% RXRY FT BENW->lilG GA ROpTYOF _F.T Tfl 6

as prevent the enemY from cutting them off, illed back into LOSI during the night to in case the where support would be very difficult the battalion was stuck out front leaving one company- pulled out of LNSTLR on 23 Nov, enemy were to attack. The 2d Bn around through the forest, and attacked in the town, and two companies pulled area around GZNZZI$, TORCMVfILL, IUflS', GTVRYCOURT (402Z62) from-the west. The were blown, and booby traps. All the bridges wasloaded with mines, roadblocks, action for one day and costlY. On the 24th, a holding and this made the advance slow in LU1T came into . prepared and the company left took place while bridges were opposition on 25 VT RSBURG (407394)without any GIVrZYCO'T. The 3 moved into i*t Nov. One-Company (B Co) of the st,.Lmade an attack on HON*ZRCH (429382) which was H0kRCR ditches were in the valley between a very well fortified town. Anti-taZk covered all approaches. covered with. automatic fire, and VntTF.lS7RG, and minef telds 761st .Ti Bn, but the was supported by 11 tanks from the 'iMen the attack star.ted,. B Co Enemy direct fire caused the taaks to lead tank hit a mine and was )Qocked out. severe the attack clone. After buffering become disorganized and B Co continued On the 26th, tbe forced to withdraw under darkness. casualties, the company was fire from RCH again from the west, assisted by 1st En was ordered to attackEOI the town but were pinned Bn advanced to the edge .of the 2d BE and 3d Bn. The 1st battalion to that smoke was used to allow the down so effectively by enemy fire into reserve at TORCH&VILJ2. their withdraual, they went withdraw again. After meetingan a patrol into EO0kZRC without the 27th, Co G of the 2d Sn sent - On G of VIf'&S33R ,en forward into the forest northwest ,opposition. The 3d En moved I o eev hog On 28 Nov the 1st En moved out ;Icountering very light-resistance. rctcll l and 1W rl (4595 it ' the 2d En and took I RVIL f (448396) a TORC: VILL hr h e then went into reserve at * ~opposition. The Zd En Te of rehabilitation.chlterdoguttcSceup * showers arnd a period En rezZailed in V ZTZA Rs for their rehabilitation -s t..e line :as very .

do 6 -W (49 137) on the The 2d B moved into LS-1RCZN then moved into BISR (478384). somewhc& On ne alonG all three battalions iere y the ist of December, Lgth. the 3d n at "RI 5rI ,and at 1MSI 2I, the 2d River, with the ist SAR.C l and 104th 3 a; 3 .. The 328th Rest-helds atons this line whi e the ~lstRet

an attackl oN (527581) T1he d Bn-foae Iegt att ced San U ' (49887) on- 4 D~c,,while the 104tht_ attacY& EIThaoN Thew t remnaedr ini reserve for the' O4th Regt-'whwlethetle SCIZZ07 (5386l) to act as, in SA:1=710O" to allow moved through a saall passe position. On S Dec, the 24 fn Co E went into RiT T anSPend _A9 (493414) and it to pass through S -,-,,,ere ;uiled out and attached butwdd also started into SA.tt3.& (435448). The ist En had i. ton assist inte A Div to o ? T to the 4th nor.h to withifr } itoOe r .aL went the- 2Zt into. .- "r-5.D , .dC- S ,ere to move to *I ( 254 )hsc 0n,•t 6 &t te 2&a i"_ ,U- (57"-n1 :~~ ~~ 6 the=• £-TROmIOF r .(5444 59 ) and,as ble The. lO4th. Re-t bad taken it dL, n cl-. f- m&A. a--tdtr the 6th. on.7- Deo, the •. NTl0NG (594482) on of the ttu'=Ai.dig h t e t tohetrri o,.h 8th Of Dec, - d tc:d 3d.dwhite M eovd into C.01"WO9DS...... n .... (5594889) On the8 so they received ene=y fire from oat. The Let En returned to the %Sth En advanced on .',j.T.E and drove the enemy t At 0320 9 Dec, Co A, went tnto regimental reserve. "Rest from the th Armd Div and ;-TTW.lG forts (536508). They learned I 5d En 328th tnt Rebt, nade an attaCk on the back so they withdrew and moved by the use of demo2itions., it could only be taken the ena. was' eaddbthSF.Here; w e,. P:. after upp aga nnL wi-,h 0 b otfd~ t

OduciPnZ ;products for the: jet. driven out was, discovered .an undprb fld.factor? trougIACA-9 tu -The*t2 n pulled enemy was usini-a-i propelled planes the Res-t had taken on the 8t of Dec, and attackeda ; c (58494), which the 1oth its advance into , A7. T (5eL508), while the 3d En continued ' who Just took 2ZZND (562535). assisted by the 35th Div , 'S-Vl.2- (584537) was I still in regimental res erve. The 1st Bataliofl now moved into ,,T t, e 7' the Gentfn border, as with the objective to cross On i0 Dec the attack stexted and they wanted to to be pulled o1 t of the Line S theregiment neWl they. were 6 oing on the left. The 2d B .was on the right and the 3d Bn I get. into Gerany first.The D, left, and3the 346th Inf1egt, tnf 320th I=f-Regt, 35th nfi a"v, was-On the day's the 2d 3Bn After a hard 26th In..Dir, was right of which was attached to the the attack got as far as up very stiff resistance, fihting with the enemy putting 3dBOn the lft the road at the westughth edge.Ot * the edge of the MC= Forest of a ,A through the 3d on the Left, attack stazted off again with the 1st Bm moving the enemy was two battalions@ Agai to attack between the the 3dBn sent Co I from going into Germany but with all its might to prevent the Americans t fighting being the drove into Germany, this by LtClark E. Reynolds, Co A, let En, co ndd in Gen enY. The next morning at 0950, the Sfirst com~.flY of the 26th Div to set foot Div. and were . 547th In Regt, 87th was relieved by the 12th-of* Dec, the regiment they entrucked for HUTTING (554474) where. into the vicinitY of marched by the woods

0 -

08* to R. 1

p~y, , , .. . ~~UT: 1st. Bn, 328th tn Rest, 28th tnt In. C ci-.. *":,0D't 8>EOv.- 12 pe ,194 I ,A -jM I.a *M ° ' , -C... . ,. "v ,m

sibertNoL36 4. ap

36/15; 1I/100,000 saarbruckiaL . A .ssrre-,Uii~on NO 38/14;I Strr~b~oi's.ana.. s5/4i;NO parroy NO 35/5; KAoPS: scalso,1/50,000 cuhateau

NOI .U , aS, r prepared y Lta wih maps an y special record ,,ERVIEWvOn wa# conducteddL l, t, 4,:'i -A

oT he- d.taor : .a.twritteneach4, t~o,&tt..k.ordr.t.wn, vert, the..ar ei, .I- -ao m:.paigni.. 4 r 4.is T.h0..@compan ti n h ma ners' werne -- , 1&4. oma.'cm ed' in.LV-cpk wet ir ei &e p~arol. ad., hco enemy positlion, and gun-emplacements.- r, were to attack. and knew of the

= fro. forward. foxoles.. vhe batta- 1- of the enemy¢ positions had been made

and H= 253 C179145). l o v e GE Lk'?.Ttf (175152) gE AER odslectte l w t se

byr capt. b r. ' .. .a on. tho...i..t wish..th. * .. B ..0.,. can ,ded .- . oCO, washd'i4. .r0.....O v misinf ecrtgan hldn&HIL8 . the. .cannon Co had been firing on HLL • - -jefoic the attack, was launched, s directed on the. known gun emplacement . 253,.and mortar fire. had been

U, [6

'4. -I I fSAiISLIBRARY FATENNNG GA ti W; ~AiM'Y C .,) masaed their fire. until the Amerian forces durin the night and up Cast and on through to the out- d Co mthe irntoz AG IA PETIT! very

skirts of the vilage. A pltoon of C Co was cmi ted here -to clear

the wthdflWs Co passed thrOugh, rapidly pursuling out.. the, town as A to ng enet7. Co 3 encounterd stiff oppositioln its, approach . and the objective taken. were quickly overcome HIL 253,_but the enem moved back into ARBACOURT was relieved and That nig the Ist Bn over their positions* (115145) and ~he 2d cay-ook Ithe 14th, until the mornin of the period from the 9th During into poai- the line on foot working was moving-beh i the- battalion the batta- of 14 Nov, which fqund attack on the morning tion for the j.u=ped I..[ FOiESTo When the attack the,-wes t edge-of- the rfWOE lion o In this attack the C C on the left. on the right and offB CO was' root. cold, and Trench three enemies - err7, I battalion was -fighting during this period. a great many" casualties, Trench foot, was caus1mg with visibility poor. was cold and rainy The weather as far as clearing the woods I misslon of battalion had the The overlook I to the south fri outpostins the woods HL 32* (241288) and their attack through two companies began DEZE ( 253243) ,-s h opposition from the enemy sthey encountered verystiff the, forest, gun fire at the artillery, 888, and machine who was throwing observed FKE (19 reached the vicinity of BERANOZ Americans,. A the battalion gun fire. This was the I by machine I it was stopped completely fiskIt o 268) and also with had had with 88s, experiencewoods. the battalion f:irating in up, with TD attched, the 15th, 0o A was. ordered on the morninSu of r The attack continued machine gun emplacement. to knock out the enc7. it I. ,--1

su.pport. very C-b p and C Co in direct from here with A snd B Cog, leading light enemy pU .ition was encountered during the remainder of the S

° oleari th~tth~~$2 4 ' where the battalion outpoited to the south $i SASSING (315304) and hel until it was pulled out and entrucked for on 22 Of, to .LOHRre -- 7? SASS ING, it moved by foot into (365325), et h s 3n 101st in Regti Co A was sentbr d intoe pINSVILLER r a in (35-"t e li eve -the 1s .B 1 1 t f s t;.th

approachini the had blown al the bridges azt found the enemy 5 324)village, and had attached demo ition to several das which, If

blow n, would have flooded the entire division area.aread7 O t enBt there. But i to augent the force already sent. forward into INSYILIER , n the night because the engineers both K a~~nd,C CLO were recaled dnr it was -feared bridges to their rear', and were unable to prepare the they may get cut; offa. into5regimental reserve and on the 23d the battliOn:cv9e2 S (392355) and started movinG toward aONSflRC (429382) throu+gh xUNIS( stTTeSSOvg (40739)* The battalion was in the woods west of I ,V iSTER on the'4 25th o xov and had their belated Tha gksgiving dinner Tk Bn, t.... ,761st p ;anu3 - ... Orr the 26th, COB assisted by eleven was beginn=n 'CH- just as the attack its attack on HONSt started for the attack- 2 gave orders 0 the- regimental' 0 oandor to move along, because ar- their old positioUs and pull back into- ing force to atop many ZKONSKThCH Thiscaused into the toil of was being fired tillert called to as- artillery had been of the fact the to wonder, becaus on the artillery ceased its fire sist In the attack. After this time the to start again. By the attack was ordered were read to meet p o and cut of their dug,-n enemy had gotten along the road from were attacking the attack. The tanks °I

of approach; a marsh was VITESEOURG, as this was their only avenue the tanks from leaving it. onnl.,ach side-o f the road which, prevented. A~t~etheatackhad pov~esedO 7 a. short distance, the lead tank

At, this:se tijne the' s3truckI a. mine and. was disabled completelY. ' the tankt, enent._ opene& fite Wit:h antit in gnand,-knpcked out. w.oat le*-omove in the rear of the colUfl £5 the However, this did not keep they were abandoned by their Crews. on forward. BV nightfa£11 they were doughboy of Co B from pushing as far forward as the outskirts of the ciT where the enem7 had row the rA,of,. dbabT 4ro wir ... unable to get. any support. from, thve r, ot. di S- that rear, Qo v was forGed-,. to wthdraw under I 0'h;b~tUflucO oUZ 7' NO.V at07OO0,",ho ar I ant~orni.04 - and from tbe wes* dh .'6- an te riht another attack on HONSIRCH and mortar the night of the 26th, artillerY A on th& left. Daring - Co and a very inc upon the- defenses of HONSCRCH I fire+ had been directed as te two companies attacked. tense artillery barrage was being fired was not Ho artillery and mortar on the enem-y ofh Koweverthe outskirts to houslsof guns,i and *e1f,-propelled, gur~stta~ytadvancedd 1 : so~eftbctive that: it vasT necesfl the" city; The enemt fire became, lit B,.S two attacking companies8 o f:the to call f or smoke to' allo w the. oe relieve by te2 nadte to w.thdrav. The 1st En Was then rest. rehabilitation and a few days into TORCCZEVLE (352348) for Issued. and clean clothes were Here the men took showers, I:I outposting 4 The 1st Bn moved back into the line on 3 Dec and were HINSINGE (455395), a holding action with some patrol activity. c~asualties were caused during the patrolling action. This- outposting.... . n. until 6 Dec when they were ! and patrolling continued for the 1st 9 5 4 5 2 ), attached to. the- 4th- Armd Div and trucked into SCS 1 IT7TV=f-fZ(5 V.4 where they were, ordered to .attack in front of the armor into BINING the battalion (647487). A company of light tanks were to accompany column of companies C, in its advance. The. battalion attacked in a was encountered in the B, and. A in that order. Very light opposition had got into the town, attack on BING. However-, after the battalion and artillery the enemy-opened up with a- terrific barrage- of mortar Ryan that the enemy fire. (:t was- believed bythe- S-3, capt Elbert L.. with them in their with- , had more-t amunition. than. they could. carry BINING.) drawal, so they fired, it, on. the Itt. Bn after they entered lat Bn rejoined This caused many casualties among the battalion.The FORT WITTRING their regiment on 8 Deo when they were trucked into reserve, on (569508) and moved to WOEILING (591541) as regimental was golng to be -the. 11th of DOG it waa'learned that the regiment in sight. when. pulled out of, this sector,, and the German border was the attack started the three battalionst were all in the line, and to man. Th.nm p . border was. the. desire of every "cross, the German

was relieved that night ! . *company to get on Germen. soil. The battalion mnf Div, and marched by the wooda" to i [,I in place by the 347th Rest, 87th il for UST, FRANCE. the vi cinity of HUTDING (554474) where they entrucked

a *I * *~e5

- .- -. - ..-- - - - . I ______*--- i T ''

t.o, i . , . .. ., .

lrislon.. r Rym fl, Zbtn IDintt MZIT: ?d Battalion, 328h tn antry

TtUOD: 8Noaembera 12,.DeOmbr 1944.to Cm ' ,,1,-. ACTION Lonai.fl+=e Cmpai+gn.+ al--, S4 3+ - 1.944.+ ,I tl , 00 .ajorPaulSo nl .Nov.bert 3d B.tt...d... 3 liz Maj r'LP. Gexdnzr GoldsxthV,+zz Et ptit Otfcq, OaS ov 58=0ssin4- conttG 0C~fT r SA E 01 l W : YA cH0ORZZI a r& , coOVAf, 1849 X9ne 1945. r NO GSGSo TIN. mom ItP:1/50,000S 471 Chateau-SLins 35-14 parroM3-1"471 4471 Se=rregul s 36-13 36-14 4471 Stare-Union. + peri.od) amd H.oward'. (second per:iod).+ rn'VZR: Lts Luddel- (firsV,

Majot N.-e br v' Si, and, a-. t ++ .,;= ., t.' 15,," '+ -'+ .... M_.- G,,,. C +. or .I.,.; * P-m Otheu+,,.+d B4sey~fl ttajj0W...... cauaitieS' variouS' tieaf Hes is appaaW litenaAw'vn ii coma~an bttaio. O~andort Jr*SldAA &oV-a8?g0 pniilJ ist offi'OSi L h.2.Bnainii ,,.,mps. a& h4g..isterg... report on the 2d4 Batta I oikaction---was gin-o Onl coWVrt~;than 854&tattfplro recoXAds. UPtt* h1 aotdt-7saP tOfSth to7br, 4T..herjs~ei~f ry, bt~did. h bSt to,, hcLeA the fa l pertojr r a1 sto theacinws-rnt ~ 4 tLidn 4 na:difd refltsession ii covered by Lt Howard.

Division south of the Seille River 12 WhaIthe 26th Divisionurleved the 4th.Armored and shifts in regimental sectors i"the middle of Otober, ~onsiderable adjustOent i _____ was renewed prior to November 8th- when the offensive oceu=ed within the 26th Division relieViD&. the ,328thta ttt tpokMA1R{ it+ti*, L positionti inLthisr area: On.-26AOctober 1 L n w the .04th IZnfantrY? on the right flank-of;the Division zone. The10 tI nf tr- as on i1

(168156Jj' azp .t sotr . of the 328th Infantry on a static.1ino eztendiftot t the left to -the Bezane woods.; The 38+th,'JIan- - +,'(1 800 yards northwest at Beae-Ptite (1715),

south alon. the 17th grid tr7 line ran from northeast of Betase-la-Petit6 generally where it turned of the woods west of honcourt (1913) line until it reached the vicinity south about 1,000 hal of the woods. Then it a-ain ra. 7-I easa to include the western G0Group, on the right fla of co=act vas establiknd-with the 2d Cavralry yards where -

. SQ

on the left flank of Seventh Army the Third Ary. The 44th Infantry Division was the Cavalry group maintained contact between south atthe Sar-Rhine Canal and the 2d 26-tbh and 44th Infantry Divisions. (192139) around a V The, positions of the 3d Battalion were southwest ofr'oncourt side and the enemy held the other. nMal patch of woods of which F Compan held one positions against enecW- fire from G"Cpnwas to the north ofF Company in defilade Compfl$n. The-ist Battalion was- on Zill 253 and S Company was to the right' rear of F was in reserve. the left of G Compan, and the 3d Battalion with battalion traded small arms fire In the period prior to the jump off the the woods considerable eney artillery fell in the ene= outposts to their front and by the 2d Battalion of the 328th Infantry in southest of Moncourt The positions held fire forced heaviest concentrations of artillery. This the ioncourt woods. received the woods several times. the 21 Battalion. to. draw back. out of the. Infantry to 8 November called for the 328th The division. plan for the, attack on. Infantry I& Petite and Moncourt, while the 101st, n ke- a feint before H-Hour on ,Bezange. understood that after the feint the 328th lmade the min effort on Hill 310. It was- would be Cavalry Group, and the 328th Infantry Infanty would be relieved by the 2d

* cotted in the Cateau. Salins area. of the 328th, A= Cosusader visited the positions " Shortly before the. ump off the key to the Sar River basin. "t-emphasized that Chateau Salins was the dug-in a Limited objective attack against The day before the attack, F compan made loncourt as the line of half of the woods southwest of =7 infantry positions to clea;r

departure for the feint attack at H-hour. the for the main effort was to be four hours long. For - The ar:llery preparation that the feint attack jumpe d H-hoa minus 1 was 0700. This wouldbe meanlj hours startin at H-hour mins 3. £7etr fitattack the artillery Preparation was to 761st T aBattalion, -. wasm& fofT as. it.was F-WIG light). One platoon C company,

-2

...... 2 p.

I C) .-9

The tans were late in stating to oin the support te 2d Battmlion 328th InfantrY.

328th Infantry erA never.got into Position for the attack. They lid fire on the 1st '. that. duing the day, when C area near Rec:o=t. (It- was stated ° Battalion assembly own u.2t.. v co cattions and tradead-fire eog~itfs C 76 t t r.C='o±tt846diitlo10.8 tk at this time. (See in- 2 I Ti, 00e=2 .Wwas reported to- have shot up on.e of its own

tervew76*awith 1st &,t-&iL ,o ' 2Sth"%!Iaf ltrY)) Hill , The en' had a spot defUGnse Wtti strong points (dug.-n tank) at Hill 79,

attack jumped off with G Comp y on and the high S=ound to the eIMt of oncou=t. The' to the left to clear Hil 279 and enter oncourt o F Co=pa: on the right was clear the reinderof the woods southeast of Moncourt then pass through G CompWg? and seize * i. I the hig, pound. ea. of the town. C. oa$; th~cr.ose 4et e 75P- Z'$and~ ~ " i ota= andtmac f.... firef foia.H ,,.. . C~nt Hik~ta~d~tia&untn~it~utltrs...taacesiid

fl"...... lCO .. h..L".d Id to €o luasof pl o M ourt wreH m oonL.Monoua. The 0eneW-- wasp support with a heavr bl anet of fre gave overhead, fiOre ,, au q w ,. X ions.C9 CGOZm " n tfoundh o nu. tui h dui a .oun weap posi it point to enter with assault fire. At this I deployed short of. the tow and at-tepted rtly the 3d Platoon of G Copany lost1 Major Carrier's .story bece unlear,. AppL under the fire of. eny post- swung around the town, and came directions on the left, ,could be withdrawn there were only three tiwns south of the towm. Before the platoon L[ casualties but mY were captured. The men of the pltoon left., It probabl' had heav

the on alon9; were overr'-n ai.to eigtMenndapt=d*-- G.cautuWentnto F Cony . ,had been delayed in cle r e AouV!he. oo positions in the dense woods. He was )oncout by a tenacious enyn defense of his of to the northeast. At this tim a plaoon I finally dislodged about 1000 and wit.hdrew S Compan was co_ tted with F CompC3y.

4 s

'p. i "

at 1_100 and together the FYCopa joined with G ComPaz at the ege of g-oncourt opposition was about fifteen enemy companies pushed through the town. The princiPal of the town (it was supposed that this with autom tie weapon in.the orchare south secured' the platoon of G Company) The town was. enzm goup, had, caused the capture of men left in G Compan, and F CopC7. about, 1130 and at the tine there were twenty-eight low in strength. The enemy laid heavy due to their losses in clearing the woods, was on the 88 fire raked the town from positions concentrations of artillery on Noncourt. Compauies tried to the east. During the afternoon, F and G . reverse slope of the ridge slopes of Zvelopnt Was prevented because the to maneuver against these positiona. + automatic fire from the north and south the ridge were bare and covered by eniy tire as but the men. were exposed to withering flas. A. direct assault. was attempted hampered ridge. Co*m=Ications to the rear were soon as they reached- the- crest at the

- by enewy harassing fire. to the to withdraw from the town and. returned At 1600 the 2d Battalion got orders of the Major Carrier stated that thirt7 men edge of the woods to the southeast. relieved by the 2d Cavalry Group. battaIon stayed in the town util they were Major flank by the. 44th Inantry Division, Asked about the support on the right 8 November with the 44th. Dvision was to Jump off on Carrier said that he understood that until three However, the 44th Division did not attack . ' the 26th Infan=t Division. fire to the front the 44"th Division Artillery threw dayas later, but during the 8-9th,

of the. 328th infantry, (120145) closing was withdrantruhCicor oArctr 29*The. 24'Bhttalion battalion moved to Vic-sur of the 9th. The morning of the 10th the there the morning 4th Armred Division. At 1.600' held up there by the traffic of the C- Seille, but was and marched the edge of vic-sur-Seille where it detrucked I the battalion began moving to the batt aon received reinforcefltfls. by +oct to !Lriie (12824). At LLrvil.le

orders to move out the next morning ~At 1700 on the 10th the bal±toA received woods 101st Infantry, to aid in clearing- the on the left reagr of the 3Battalion,3 from (1526), However, the en y had.uithdray (Bbisade-.la Geln) south of Hupont ' u t S thisart b et'Ore'the+ bft ion'moOo&O nd the 2d Battalion was, diedted on'wthe'IlthI. • min-road heat south oft.-he, .IPA t/.. . .1P140 inohq . , tjo 3• 1 e ± of4 thlOlSt was t Botside*KQkeXSb.tu.h Tbea3dtaottalinO Joist main road. The3d Battalion, the woods north of the of clearing the part of

* nfantry, was attached to the 328th Infantry for control illness co.ander, was evacuated for night Lt Col. Bayers, the 2do Battalioncortook oe the battali=n '.That Exoutle over Senatus, EectiinOffice?,t . and Major Robert yars to the. northeast. a ridgelin 3enl10,0000l Tha BoL; do,,oeck:S. wavered, Thvvoi 1 j.f54eawyV rapidr othh' crest Oft-4t _'I".1..o..4.., , The wodi,.arnm largsly bOc whitcShti-h a Io *iherZ5±d*o'._ denso fir4n.; ithPklf!OS.of, warfl Tstill The- forest .had-b'een: prepared r t ± o- woods * o...O+-h4 A us ioztb~ uh

actionatW'S th o1 t o with trenches for w successiv dela abreast Of the 3d Battalion 12th thes2d Battalion moved out kThe =oing o. the E Company in re on left, 0 C pny on the right and 101st Infantry, with F Company the men- 3d Battalion 1ost Inantr7 for the attack. (The .6St5, making & *Tr forsation of woods at of ene= in the tip of approtfltaLT a battalion tioned a concentration . -l n r . The of by the.24 Battalion 328th1 tnt a I?. (180252)4 which the? said ws taken cae ay ay Ao at thi pO-.t.) 328thInftrY' did not mention 'I wtth 1iutle diffic4aty ' u,1they-r&Qhed Th6,,24 Battalion advenced appalntl7l s - sub4Je 8o (205265). Attthis poin they-wede the clearing in the. woods at the battalion, which caused a number of casualties to acobs, the endkilled heavty 1jor bas (Suat~), of mortar actinBfattalion fire cozander, and wounded Colonel

5-3, took over' the battaliofl. Captain freda, Battalion ireC.msftal corsnande'. made Bata.lon S-3. iCaptain C .rri-e? was then ' i• . -5- .0 )

position and made a perimeter de- T-e battalion moved another 500 yards from this with regiment and with the 3d Battal- fense for the night. By this time comzncations on the right rear) were difficult. The ion, 101st Irantry, (which had been held up own control. battalion -waftlargely operating under -its a trick * in the Koecking woods the enmy made use of (NOn: IDurizg the delying action were left, Observers concealed in the patches of fir encountered in Normandy fighting. This account- their artillery and mortar batteries. behind with wire comxnications to end artillery fire which was laid ed for the sudden and accurate barrage of mortar 2d Battalion caught on to the tr ck and made on the 2d Battalion, 328th Infantry. The a special search to cut the wires..) positions were harassed by enemy artill- Daring the night of 12-13th the battalion no blankets. About three inches of snow ery f.rom the south and east. The men had up to Ledboufl, CO of the 3d Battalion, came fell. About 0600 the next morning Major replacements. take comend. The battalion.received some antrr had contact with the 1st Battalion At this time the 3d Battalion 328th in? outpost the south flank of the-woods. .01st Infantry, which bad cots up to of the woods , area, F Companyzmaed to the edge flue the 2d BattaionWas in this. edge of at St Medard from (178251). .tthe to make an attack, on the enezy positions fire from the southeast. The copnY the woods F Coa cane under heavy-artilery company officers. From that time the enemy f had heavy casual-ties, including all the prac- woods and made positions there edge*, of the Koecking artillery raked the southern

tically untenable. short continued its advance reaching a position just 1' • . On the 13th the 2d Battalion enemy delaying posi- There it came on well prepared of the road Junction at (213269). the lateral road dug outs, AT & AX fire) guarding tions (crescent shaped trenches, turn the flank of the left of the line attempted to throug the goods. F Company, on the is referred to above was concentrated at the position. The strong point of which heavy losses but was unsuccessfu.l.. junction itself. In the attack F Company took road the 101st cane up on the north flank. flue to ! In the meantime the 3d Battalion of the

"-6- and 2d Battalion . a gap between the 3d Battalion 101st broadening of the woods there was 3Vth, was brought in to-fill the gap;-° L 38th.- Diangthe afternoon the-1st.Battalio,

h POsitioflS t.~ U. t e i h i ''-thoenmeYdelaying8t o y , o f i + +. o h ih short ,ot The,24 BattaLion'secured. postoi * The 14th, oftNor e ber$was- an:' pp.. at4 daY i. that historT oft thr 2dBt liofl ; *battaif..'w csnbaceos to. take'-OYer' c mmad. of. tb * Zarl-iy t tihe!rni &COOfl .3Aetor off with 0 Compafl. Captain Freedman was made executive offcer. The attack jumped andin8) on the right. left and 3 CoMPW (Lt Swift, co passing tx=gh F Compan On the the left of the road (Chemin des The 1st Battalion was to make a coordinated attack on it of the 2d Battalionv, and see that G0 Cers).Comny was to be the guLdin comany

road-P kept it's flant on the+ main, mod. o,, aati.l weap~.=" opp.ed.+.up-on:: t e4 t..... wi. ' As.. the,. battiOf. . . 94+... . +, ._ -. . As,.. Past9f ou~e%0C6.y'st~ttAta hi4 $/ t Thpatftcwefl e road uncj9:eion Cd6maY0lost , ' .....-teZ .... + fld \theattlOIoncoMm1 m t 'tb!A southeast.u The'a dactcoie * ~~ until it reached the roat jution at inthis ~~rection, still, reciving..flk3.." fire, Colonel Bayors with the coand (217268) which indicated the loss of directionl position was pinned dow .by aU automatic weapeon group came up to rectify .the matter .but and a half. at close rane for approuifely an hour the attack. southeast across the road Dning.this time the battalion continued position. . whichi ntersects at road junqtio. (217268) where they met eother eneiy .. asre wat.a sharp fire fight during which 0 Compan r eceived consideable casualties

of.2Z Copany ,n4. beforerthe position was kcked out; At this time.Capaiift Capt&±Carrier were conmnanding the'.movemjnt of the,, battaXionand sent out reconna i? rain road. . back to positions on the right of the sseance to see how they could get flank r ove~C% which brought . ' It was decided to give the battalin a comlete left a pock et of enam 22 ±d line (see map). This made 'iit back to the mai road at the to get was not non. A r-xnner was sent back behin the battalton. At first this

e7e , + .. , S

-)+ V i him. A second .4 oup but no word was received from contact with the battaliol corand saying that there were Ger.ana in the was sent out and returned jmediatelY runner .1 word was passed to H was forned to work backwards and woods to the rear. A patrol en ene" batte.l- the pocket. After a short fire fight CompanY to.work up'on the rear of, uzing the fire * men, were captured from this pocket. ion staff, totalin forty-seven ten casualties. fight in the pocket the battalion received the enemq position been pinned down by fire from The battalion.."coand group had cleared by the Ist (21=269) which had not yet been to the left of the road junction CompanY on its, the 1st Battalion attacked with C Bttalion. Major Carrier said that A CompanY was direction and by-passed this position. right but C ComnY had lost after Captain Royce, position but was unsuccessful brought up to assault this enemy cozand group was . killed. Eventually the 2d battalion the A Compny coander, was of tanks from the 761st Byors went bade to get a platoon able to wIthdraw and Colonel out the enemy position, at up along the road, and knocked Tank. Battalion, brought them. * - out of contact with com=pnies battalion coinand group was the road Junction,. Still the of the battalion. road to the left, abreast Battalion came up along the During the a.fternoon the 1st the objective of the day at and 2d Battalion advanced to of the 2d, and together the I: was completed at 1700. across the lateral road through the woods. Action. and was told back to the battalion coand group Captain Carrier made his way for the night. of the troops of the battalion by Colonel Byors to take cozd were es- . held up in its positions*.Cmications On the 15th thes2d Battalion evacuated. At of the battle of the 14th were to the rear and the wounded tablished 4' since this tq of trench foot and exposure turned up this see time. a large number of cases movement since the Jump off. 7 continuous attacking and was the first letdown in days The bttalion had abo t500 nobattle casualties which were evacuated at this time and entire new officer At this time F Compa received an replcements were brout- V "4 Ip-I K4 o4

the attack t clear the w staff. On the 15th..the 1st Battalion 328th Inary continaed outfits ?61st4Tak BattaiOfl ood inrig the. day. thovnVo taat r est of t t6*kS6 where laid fir6 on the positions tuned south, and in doing so came up the lateral road, = was . O=Ited .with theL d o The. 3dBatta4iOnot the 328tht 0 the. Bata1onlas assemble until,the woods. Thtts+ action.,cotinZed through the rest of the lst Battalion to work southeast of the 2d Bat..t Battalion sng back tb positions 18th and on the 19th the 3d Infant.ri Battalion, 4th A.nored along with the 51st Armored ion assembly area to attack assisted this attack by fire The 2d Battalon from its positions Division, to Dieuze. ozb03miltt94. buta5;Dqt hthw&1s thaw I 32ti~l$~rl(2524) oPlovec SZ&-20 :t04.liU The*zdlfBattaltonttb *1 dtoiso M hB.,ttao nai.taii8 t. d b thq r .....Woods toward> Torchetifl (3534) I ktt etk

had been. cleared by the 101 s e lt. The, intervenin. area m.l t to -the 3no thf . .. -+.&c, /,r-f l -- 8ea1 a.i.l 10stet.at + . ToLchettl and.104th =~anzto Regients. T-Th:3 3d, Bat O

part of a battalion-bY-battalion Infantfl relieved it as where the 3d Battalton 328th at The .lst Battalio moved intO Position of the- 101st Inantr by the 328th. relief, Of the regi- wi was located in the vicinity in regimental reserve, Lohr (363). The-3d, (39353),located + for 33 November was 'Muaster . The. objec tve for+ thetPd Battaliof ! " -, +-95ts r+ I °Forest. The otbpr3 side+,ot thQ< inLto ez &M I a;bout 2 in.les- to th~e ea' on the; ; pert of' the woodat east+and sout'h k°fbrche* order requir~ed clearing onlyT that +i attac ' LanS:ter. A plkt~oon 1 0f tank"s ,.on would move directly on v ile, after which the bali

Torcheirille m inster roaa, was to support the attack, woing along the off at 0900 with G Copafyon almost due east throu~h the forest. The attack juped on the right and F CompainY moving in reserve. The Sthe left of the road, I Cp !I adva=ce to the the rifle comae. The initial weapons Cpan:z was =elled out to as col d; defil1a4e TheW 9Zil of files, keepiln woods was made in a colu

4k .0.

on e .- ths woods without incident end reorgaflzed an cist.'o The men proceeded through their The tazks continued along the road and f Srsiee for the movement on Miunster. were dispersed churdh steeple in town. The platoons firing secured a direct hit on the it was pinned dovn by before S Company got into town, i:La,&.Inze,-of skiishers. Zust soonhad a squad in Munster that. s%=±tfire from about twenty-men, but G Company town was F Company followed G CompanY azd the. quick ly rounded up the civilians. now moved into the town. the pressure-on Compazq G which cleared. This action removed from the woods to the- being-fired directly into town -a. and 80 shells were now Girrecourt (4036). to the northtst in the area around north and from. the higher ground set up, the batte. coming in, A perimeter defense was , ao nsiderable fire: also. started the rest of the day 3 battalion remained. here for ion. cP established in town, and- the: from a partial. opposition. to G Compaw bad come nd.the night of 2,-3 -Novemberi The of Wister, aid on break- across. a stream which runs north flank position on.their- left, the town. Both smail ars retired to the woods north of ing of f the- fire the eneW had The bridges- around the iatensitY during the afternoon. and artilJerT fire increased. in to Givrecourt (403.6), which. the main. r ute from ater towM had been blown, cttin a=s fire coming from the for the next dazy. The. Sman the battalion's. obj.ective; that the enemy ran down just north of town indicated tip of the Albestroff, fotrest which use in a movemenOt part of the woods to prevent its might elect to make a stand in this S.northeast to Givecourt.- repairin the bridge fire ngiasers went to work Under mortar and artiller7 n o 71(?) to pen the road to Givreciton the daylight road toward Albestroff (3537) before moved back along the northwest to enter the northern I Cowpanies across the bridge at (373365) i and followed the. 3d Battalion 3d Battal±on to clear the Forest. The plan was for the • settion of the Albestrff took ca~re of the section woods while the Zd Battalion rthern half of this. part of the froin was then to move down on GivreoU~t of L.as.ter. The Zd Bttalion $ iw dlattlY north ~-10- . . I

the northwest. Rocket fire was received as the battalion moved across the Rose Creek F - but the woods in the 2d Battalion zone was cleared- at the cost of few casualtieso

Comey then moved out of..the forest to outpost the high gound. northwest of Givrecotl't it u , wle, 0< Co en t h6je- town .f infeAtry resistancecontim ed slight. The along the Thi neers' had gotten their bridge in and 3 Company came up during the day road-fro=-utfer-t erGitrlottfoSo..,

(4238), whilch I At 1900a- patrolwas sent from G Compy to reconnoiter Honstirch 4 I was on high round to the northeast on the far side of a stream . The patrol reached heavy .4~6 the vicinity of the town about 2100 and discovered thiat the town, was protected by German wire enplacements. These were 1aid in box sections rzunnng back several deep. li of entrenciments, outposts- were,,aseen- alhoutesc ntinuous "4

.wasrobstdrn.....arouithe.to 4fth C. . i s wa~e~g~ttn~thldthe.,,patrolceasOdwattS'P-itowpezLetratO1tthe5 box,:bparertt&Ptd.,

Arrtizrad. ,Tb±in prmation iiSOreportO -.about?,,2400 and. -passqe dtn to higherheadquarter.E -~ Th&-124thvvwa-s spent. coni64i±n4p6itio idMp 4tf tO t , atti i One

through the- 2d '"'' kdrch. During, the,-day; it. was learned that the- 1st Battalion; was to- move Battalion to make the attack on Honskirch,. while the 3d Battalion would move against attacking Vittersbourg (4039), northwest of Honskerch. The 25th found the 1st Battalion location resulted in heavy HMnkirch where the defenses of the town and its cwnanding bgeanwhile the d cas alties to the battalion without its being able to enter the town. day the lst-.Battal- Battalion had entered, Vittersbourg without- =ch opposition. The. nes 2d ionxresudl & t&attACkaP '. f reaatfcO.. trfitebwa5 supported-ibythbb nefialds. Battalion, was .,din .. ttckr-. but eofrePrOtectdh.t. I I the afternoon of the 26th (this date repeated as morning 27. November in 328th Infantryf V

Regiment's interviev) the 3d Battalion replaced the 1st Battalion and a platoon from G ompn mov ed into Hozskirch, which was found by then to be unoccupied. C Com.pan" I .. l I I and outposted the town. and, a platoon fron Company then entered back Battalion on 28 November and moved The 24 Battalion was relieved by the 1st by now and west of the Saar River bad collapsed to' Torchevill.e (3534). The- resistance (4937). At moved east to occupy Harskirchen on the folowing day the 2d Battalion 1st Battalion was its left at Bissert (4738) and the this time the 3d Battalion was on Infan t y attack were maintained during the 101st at Einsingen (4539). These positions Prior to the attack in the first days of December. on Saare-Union which took place, from Villeneuve 2d Battalion guarded the approach on Satre-Union a force from the

(5137) to Herskirchen. at Sa rewerden moved south to cross the $aar At 0100 December 5th the 2d Battalion Sare-- where G Compaf$ cut the Schopperton- (536), then north through Sare-Union, tracks and entered F Gompany moved along the railroad Union road.. In the daylight G Companies then moved up. on its left fn. P& Schopperton (4938) while G Company ompamy was in Keskasteal above the town and by 1500 G moved north through. the woods been moving north battalion. The lst Battalion had (4941) followed by the rest of the on to Sarrable (4844) this time and 3 Company went on the west side of the .SaA during also in the area. to find part of the 1st Battalion the vicinity of moved with the regiment to The following day the 2d Battalion was moving ahead the Zichal River. The 104th Infantry Oerminzen (5544) and crossed the Grand Bats (5948) and was in the vicinit7 of cle-ring reihausen (5747), Etting toward dark and on the 7th moved west Battalion reached alhausen by (5748). The 2d. moved then to take Weidesheim- Tttigg (5547).55 7 £ Coa the Zichel River to clearcl ar Ba ti

Grand Sois. On on its right flan clearing the (5C49) while the 3d Battalion worked December 8th, while the 104th I ntry was t g Ahen (5949), the 2d Battalion cleared AcheC, wieviler Battalion moved by foot through Weideshein. December 9th the 3d

(5=753 ) to Woelfir (5954). Blies-Brucken F-ores Battalton attacked northeast into the '. Decenber 10th the 24 j3 Ci

ran into hear! oppositionl its left. Here both Battalions with the 3d Battlion on woo 4 s all day fire. The fiShtiln wnt on in the netig both en ' tank and infautr7 pl back southwest at the 2 BattaliOn was fored to but late in the afteroon the pashing back into the resumed the attack, noon, Z F CoP-flWaS forest. The' nexzt day,at

I wweaOli t ok . OrS r~ kdb~ d t ey1i peare ant,fi±h&~hrconWjf hw~ s# Lw battle, especiallY as they appeare spot to initiate the 87th uto it was an unfortunate 2 Battallon bazookaS, and BAR3. The equipenwt, jncluding radios, to be short essential a, sector. The ttalion0 and withdrewL re the an SCR 300 And soe bazoom gave then o the 328th Ian- the 87th Division was not rec ed, but ths was rtf t the relief n by 12 .December." try bt'they 37th Ttantry, 87t,: D flio , which,was€coMpleted t-

I r

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.43e lo

-lfT: 3D a,, 328 Mw R=+T, 26 T ,. -. ,_

r . P=OD: 8 f - 12. December 1944 i

- AC'flON Loa1zC1AGN Aa -' A._, ZflDON w fl, B7CHOLQVAK 3 - LY 701E 1945 7LLEsoUR: MW CAT.DAS=F I w: WE,U 4;

t IN~~V~fl 3d LT CHAZZ lGHOADI NO GS GS Las: :50,000 ZMTA +A3AU4ALE 35-14 4471 sAHMcY 3613 4471 38-14 441 SAAZ.42fONB3 37-13 4471 He appeared to Capt wne was with the 3d B for the period of this cemPaigo the inter- the B's action and referred to a uit history during b have a good 'asp of. appeaC * and the general situa-etion as it Observations regardiM adjacent units t h. ir, D=--ing view. is believedof they are of value, have been.fu1Y, set forth as it do ed to Capt Swayne the picture of the 2 44 taken with other interviews,, in clarifying when in reserve. this campign the 3d Bm was. frequentl' l3th fro= 3d' B, 328th Int Re.,moved on -October PlIO D PRIOR TO 8 NOV.. - The of' ARRACOURT (7735) area by otor to the. vicinitY * its positions in the POflA-MOUSSON day in the r Ct LA the 188 CvBC the following * (1114). The. Em was to relieve fro along the eastefl edge of the forest Forest, occupying a sector rminzg (090191). The 3 Bn moved into its positions the SIIZZ n southeast tohe e road at

those which they had the to be an iprovement over the 15th of October and found relief of the 4th Armd Div bj the 26th recently left. This shift was a part of the

had started October 5th around PODT-A-4OUSSON, " The En's initial combat er.eriODAO the Div. Here it held static positions while where the Regt was attached to the 80th This period was without a 80th Div attacked 'to exan its MO:ErLZ RItVfl bridgehead. to endt., ':" continuouS rains, which the En was part.icular incident, except for the ereth fire was received and the first casualtti +•the oming tw mnths. Atillery

D.&outs scraped out by "bulldozers" pro- result of a direct hit on an mG eamplacemont. to locate their own very dark and =n got lost trying rided Sheltr.i v~de The•- n-ihtssheler. were 1- i//c 0 j

. poe:itions. B'NA Forest the men 09uld move n the new positions on the edge of the tiofl from across -the h =,v freely withouti, fear of enry ,.obser fairly patrols crossed. the Grm nS were e r at (112.r) and enat •wet., ,:,14.,pl , ~~A lat' opeb VZ.&d- F ~~~ ~tt#tefrSLTbtfatittgh~~i iVV6Ub35ZtOe t- r daz. Thq En - evented anytmoven dAiz in6 the betwent tuer-Or esttand th riyt'per was relieved WZAG'ODS-until October 20th, when it remained in position in the

by the 2d Bn, 328th InC. 104th reserve and alerted to assist the The 3d n was. now placed,in division was not used (1715) and ONCOMRT (1913) TheEn Ia- n attaciuc ZZe-I-PSUS and relieved the,, i' wasp atachedt to" the 104th tn-- for, thisepurpose and, on- October- 24th were h&Yt itt oMNO " TeTe--positons, lt B 1-th,, in. eir ps.tioW4Z, thea WoodsC(1813)t we ofrtlievtown'n r., 'locat th Ouw.rnwas ~a ocatedt4 inw; so1tha * -)t'as htic ptnet at4 ( 2513) t hef .- • otthe, oods.-tet-the nose ofT.r"fbrestw Thi nf .at..s.ti...OOd inta1,O. . , the2rod (1.134).to _tese.h two cdmdez±O-n an .ezp;reE& " n ned Safl that positions were tenable for' ondy ca was kept in way through the woods. A hird front which thus ran about hal in a "pothole" at the forest. The En OP was located reserve i=ediately southwest of feet long. The CP about 20 feet across and 40 (172132) which was 15 feet deep, were dug into the depression and the comzd installations " • tent was placed in this. goo d concealenut. but, thet3d .2moved in, the woods. offered . side of-.the bank When, even the-trees exposing-:the locati-onstthe-eney the .1eaves,started fallig from the highest ground, in the vcinity intre as,-far back as, the ,CP. The eneW controllbd of this woodsaGeWz==,0h.#. h a OL de-la C=ML (1)). Pr a corner (211124) i ns observation. efl atil.eri was: located during this period east of the 3015 de

in case 34 En positions systematicaellY except la OEO but was not used to shell%the An entr arts fell in the area fairly regularly. of unusutl activity. tortear fire a~rea was later showed how corpletelY the En ilery obser'ver's map which was captured acvered fr= the OP .in the =O woods. Several paths were dug at least 5 feet deep ~V.C and 20 to 30 feet long fron the CP in. order to maLk the entrace of personnel. I'

The 3d. B z=1nedna in the MOCOU WOOfDlSft October 24th to November 5th.,

Dring this tine more, than one man steriousJ disappeared without leav n ay clue front- lines, one. as to- his fate.- An, I Co Sgt named Seesb7 nsv sumned to the

erening to the OP a half hour before dark., E started back through the woods and was

never seen again.* T following day the woods were scoured carefully without success.

Another Sgt disappeared aftor visiting a contact point in rach the same fashion. they Zt was barely possible. that the Genana were slipping throug the lines but that could return thru this congested area with pr-isoners seemed unlkely*. The woods and

high round in.the area was tunnelled to a considerable degree. Several of these

openings were closed up by the infantry after inspection.

In the line on. platoon ftm the, right flank: company maintained positions on the and right side. of the.-road,which cuts through the.woods at, (185134). Visual contact

fire controlled the open area south of the woods d uring the day. At night patrols

maintained contact with the- 2d Cavp on thet right flank of the Division. half of the woods Zt was soo realized that the .Gema positions in the eastern and earth-covered were heavily fortified. Trmendous dug-outs. of heavy log construction located strong-points were noted. Two of these' straddled thq 23 at (187135), being and a fourth was Just,west of the. PT& Another was located south of the W3 in the woods had been driven out of in the corner (211124) of the CROIX woods. Until the Gez=n of the 104th Znf about the. western half of the -M01U=U Woods by the limited attack and it was evident that October 22d, they had controlled the entire patch of woods was believed they ew, every inch of-the tund andall thef*alls throug the area. It that their positions were inproved World War I locations., Most of the 3d positions right flank Co OP was in an old dorld i, were between two lines, of fortifications. The Wat concrete and log pllbo:. Generally the men dug two-tan ro-holes and covered the

tops with logs an ear-th to gur against tree-bursts. The better ones had two opin o0 of which was utilized as a f±'rine apertUre. One of the of

holes was covered with the turret of a wrecked tank, which may have caused the.

I Germansscmecxiety., The enw positions worst located in many places as ,close as

V 756#lOQ -yar tfr& tcdo EnBat t±'hles.6 Due to the imity of the e and- their-mowledge -of th tsrr±n; it was.

nIOceart to cutnot'-traj8L fo6r.suppiyad o :;mtatin-oav6id4 the, m=rt.rtr which fll on thi established routes. r the entire time. that the 3d En was i

these woods, they expected to attack in an attempt to clear the remainder of the

forest, but were never ordered to do so. At night the Gerans would sneak up to the

. infautr7 positions and throw grenades and do a great deal of al a= fi4r/in ,

* ao.t~hea"i systei'y: of rna± ,,gqiuiet:and sitting at night was abandoned. faor a, system

ofrtitna tanA" singh ,fWito- dtoourigeetGe4es Dpte, &igs4wattractod zm~ttarztfL,during the daylthdi ditz;,AtflBmzd~fPwdtriu!,thi sr*t itfl LaW 1S,,the perfod ia &tiout-of" heavwii G Ams ts4t,UP .eith'rar6-hQ ods Place "interdictor't fire- on- the .+ toww o'MOOWl,' -whic t6wet termed " strictly' a- .

probl,. . for observation,. was-. out of thor questione, It muj- beginnIfing- to be; suapected. -

that the enm were ocCUpying theirpojSitoA lightly during the day and were only F manning them in.force at night, when they would do their best to annoy the 3d En. 2ney patrol scares at the Be CP ocCued practically ever7 night. * as an November 5th the 3dd En was relieved by the 2d &n, 328th 1n' and withdrawn

Division reserve, to the- vicinity of (15122). It did no participate La theoinitial.

e A='the sitgation $ The. details reguardin gt5dh f's occupation' of the9MONCOUe WOODS wich it'enoou.nted theretasa been- set forth'tA explain .the difficltieswhichtsuo-s , cestre bns met,::Lin hese woods forea period of almnogt -a~mon~h. The losses4 which the' , Sd En n fe "d;here-ar-. perha ps the explti.3+r on f~r the+ fa~ct that tho..-. O"was+paced1 i n reserve duringu a considerable part of the offensive which started 8 N vsber. The+ tactitcal importance of the Tan Co which flu tbo assst in breakn the stalemate in tis sector on 8 Nov is also pointed up, it is believed, and the falure of the tanks * to get iLn position on 8 Nov may account for the confused and inconclusive results which * were'obtained that day. 4I i

I C) I 0 I ~ ~& A 328thTr.nhad the ob- V 1st and 2dBs of the 8th but. OeW that the attack of November obJectiveS were taken and M0=M (1913). The .ofBZZ -PA-l (1715) jectives was never . of the latter objective. The 2d Car Gp with heavy caslties in the case

the0 ehicles were "sittingduck" targets "sr'4"asthegrciudwa"tu soga land r to LZr670- (1817) no the initial objectives two roads which ed when -.,.along.the in front of BEZNs1a 4 Cavalry therefore held up and screened , and LET (2015) * The

flaflk resulted in the right developiDS Diui~iOUsituation On NovrbeC 9th the due to the north- S becoming very extended held by the 101st I.t, of the Divisin. U~w 328thWIlnBs of November 8th the 101st. On the evenizg to east progress of the the 3dBMas tbr~f0"moved up ws therefore • Cp. On the 9th the-3d Ba had bee relieved ty the 2d Car DiviOn- The front line 101st and screen the right flak of the relieve" a Bm of the 1 southeast front froma MO" (1320) B,. along a 5000y-ard at this timeran,M for the, the yOSS and SALOY stre8 along the tra~l extending from the RI,at (143197) across the same general direction conti=9W .Uin he fom here the-line d e wit h t to the RX at (153181)4 a c wa s m a Ut h where cotc0 wsmd0wt toward BEZAW4A~P=E About east of SANEST (149171) during this time,. * just at JV rCoUT (1316) The-3d an CP Wasestablished S 2d Car Gp. turned over th the.calJZ, (139199) south was settor from RZ 206 November 12th the I reserve north Of was assembled in Division thin' and the 3d Ba spreadins them "very of (315227). S- TJT (11213.) in the viciUity 6 4 -. tAA MNT(152 ) to the vicinity of. in reserve, moved 4 the 3d Ba, still November 14th always dug alit trenchp9 located. Daning this time the men wh&re the-Division c was * A by in the event that 15 trucks were-standing TA move on short notice. -I and were ready to I Ba. decided to c t the it was 325th nf. De to a confusi~n Ba was returned to the The following day the 3d section positions. in the center expcted the 3d En to take in orders the Regiment h were t raiepat~l but the Division orders of the r oS 'CW oods +.4

0 j)

throush the northern :prepartoT to attackAS northeast of WIS. z=l 15th request ror artillery z .,WODS El i he or N(o ov pqe.S pt(Oftth*- oftb* 4 ,t%.ODS' a sapppriti z F-TiK demaded -ov ...... was eadeThe eas i p.repation: or te.noods-easV off UI S

i ° , PPort1t f mod V O arti for two dayso T121 not ogiie aA tht ' oops'4tW "- hegse oods Thi'W&St-it "u been sitins in of the 4th A= Div had an Co through the aM by the end of the day had walked moved into0 the woods-t 0900 of the forest. secorftteewodsoresa3- h do to the eastern liwit sector of the woods flown as the BOS 3d h line around theT G (255312). The One copa took up positions : as thre main> road which, comes- ? . it46. ,S bd-e Mthe. fbrest as farsouth x.wOt.- oft the 328th ,were . ti3 A 00).e The- l t-ant 24 B U Out of the focrest,at (253 ot hY pd posttiOV .uinths sonthef.rn4VA those " t tb0cc* a rote southS5t A OPo dO d combat ptroIw The-e E to eW - the souh regieta objectiin- S (to, 26'). NooPptd8 m t e - tS. * o new on a line ettendi fr=- I 1st kt at 22T (245291). and thU 3d B, meL.t the I" was encOtered thiS. day

i i ne i p e ar t o 3.7ththe 101st InC passed tbrP= te 3dpothe 34 B was relieved MnNovember =: ' and =Lmn (2729) and n AR4LT f. (2830) frfor at0attac in m t itwas t take a sit .a w as. as At this tmmS+he order by 1600. :Z52)o ,,day: erfrected until the f0Z:Zowing A post onanitwas ortheast prt of thewoods.,

al t .. e.&,of h . ThepLiO devised ca e. for a damn attak fr&an LI) t 30"5 ~do(~ISR~l(227)..The6initi4lob3ectiVe for K wa5.. T : (226 fa the ridge rnnzifl fro r eparation was laid on c- (2425). Axtiler7 I+ Co took its plannd that af ter K Co t owar It was hVLt (2727) southeaSt * . south the strOef which runs riLdge, after crossinG that it' would cll, b the +, objective the slopiflS ridge down C" the east frolO~WL end assault DIZ fro .. of i't,'TROY7, ..6 j fl

attached , - the lst and mortars frc the 2d B were to the to.= t. Mortars adr MW of for suptrh

I The,, atcsU companies moved out' at dawn on the 19th, crossing-the open pround

tco entered Z S F 7.tthotlt initial objectives without difficulty. to their t,.o discovered any difflcult either, but soon firing,a shot. Co did not encounter into blown.*I Co also moved south of the-town, had been that th bridge-at (256260), towus were just southwest of ST#O. These tiO.HIes-'Z (2325), a town the ridge hold up while C Co scaled 1 Co was now ordered to under control by 0800. on DI . make a coordinated attack the tw com=anies would to the south and then wide but shallow streef I S fl to cross the Co started moving out of K opened up depressed 37 -.fl32guns time machine ,uns and of the toV. At this 2 M south west of VSRGA to positions just the house at (260257), along the' ridge -from which was the-intersection cIDSfrcm theRT at (260257), iculary intoee fire was. Z. part of a froz vn GlE4t to D with the- one' running of. the ESOlRoad time, but since the bridge was with K Co at this of theVlst (Negro) Platoon it move p P to support the attack should 0!?IETLS they would be unable was out below the takaers to maintain was encountered in gettin, across the stream., DifficultY Soke was cilled for row from that source was abandoned. positions and support their trouble or t because of cainication the ridge but either frm the artillOZ7 to cover K Co was meanhile suffering protection was not forthcomins. its u aba± bility this stream. Heavy mortar fire succeedi in crossing the a nunber,, of casualties wihout went out, pttg the com- K.Co radio and the 0t" radio was coming in and both the was extreely soft and. The ground in this area burden on foot msssengers. =ntication due to area had been flooded several stream in the The land is low and the muddy. made the walking even more fields outside the town contuouS rains. ~ploug)ed K Oh the enemy were able to pin down candin g:round the difficult. From their 0 at by mortars which tracked the, messen ers were sniped throI.CO'4t the day. tEn i' gr-ou.. them across the muddy a • e 'rz~

Amd In received word that the 51st About 1600 the' Or, Lt Col Tillson, on DIUZ that was prepered to support the attack " was attached to the 3d aend .i" the vicinity of that the 51st was with its vehicles day. It. was also learned up to -attack da4i;:;beforett.oY coujd-&movTe EI.'b wichenlVthatt, itkwouXsbe this the attack the following day with positions. It was then planned to resume it desirable to o;.S enteredv-,thr piceturw oomking additiona suppt. Anthdo factv, The little stream south of GOZ5117'AS postpone frther attack for the day. by a daning It appeared that it was betng backed getting wider throughout the day. impossible to cross the ME u,tns maing it almost operation in the vicinity of planned. stree as K Co bad originalylY It te followingday. The tanks * ~plaA wrp made frattaqckins al,,ong. tbe voPnt lOfl tt* ,RIhW.,5ZD and2J0OWweretit4 tmve*2south~btbL*a t b sroad& FoudPjT.east4 ti 'toe .s.tUk. ng t r coit

the factozrr sectio ot" was to wort directly toward; whi as.sch put. i reserfe, and-, tbhS. ridge first. town, without at"Sc to scale 1013 on. the- northeast ide, of fire was m. by a weapons. uterdictory Tire power was to be used to a was laid down the artillery and a heavy preparation, j placed on the town all night by the 20th with tanks and in- All units started off. on just prior to the Jnp-qff. entered without fire demonstration. The town was .V * f..antry engaging in a marching during the znght. as the German! had- evacuated it - din icduY O.g'4th, .. ,

= " along. the ' D -.w4 4th;ArmdDiTVmoVementnortheastt s + road plreprtor to leading the- miwbr4g@5 problfl soon. developed as all .tbN, nZT'ESEEfM Road. A majoritrafic which bad not 3d h discovered a bridge at. (254244) ( had been blown in DIUZ. The the aro to move toward VflGAILL- Although been blown and which freed the intact uthe 3d n discovered another bridge brdei h cne ftwnwr chargesweerovd Ta set for demolition and the at (258Z43 This bridge was I C r -4 .4 -I day but the main elements o=e out of D UJ during the '4 The th Car Sq was able to th the town Itowrd ut il of the"Ath ;and Div did not move through

follo0wing. day. detne b A l d eened the 4 of the 20th the 3dd witdreW fr'o D 3rlY in: the afterlnof L Vt (2526), W' r7T" (2727), by occu~yintthe tons 'of STRF7 dltiston's flanks5 .4 • towns without opposition, nd 1Sl (2930) . t Co took the' last two named 'I further indicated that the rount up.a half-ozl stragers in each tofn This I

- DU LineTV had been broken and ene='s stand on the Th=G (2929) - distif- that the enemy was probabl7 withd TWi& to the -SALRiver. the 20th was tished by the- fact. that no rain fell dur, most of the day, although in the late

Lfte=o n a,heavy downpou= begen.- a few 3d B as now about 130--md5 men. with The average c'.pa strenth, in, the received inbet of replacements had been r tco±up-about this- time.. A e 4 r U each Co had.lost about 30 men for the 1oss5 sustains in the ON O0WOOS • where and severl otice@s . One particuLT roundW in the.NCOU Wodds had accounted for

a flat Ldr, an 0, an n officer and a Het AT Co officer. One officer's -grave I of the woods held by the Gero(4s.) later discovered in the-section 'It was foot to . (3451), the 3d B moved by motor and 4 At 0800 O November 21st It was planned that the n28thfI would where the C for the 101st tnt was located. mote through the 101st tnf and occuPY the towns of TORCS-fI (3534) and W (5632),

The net " . 2. . 3d n was to be-in Re6tl resere. already taken by the 101st tn. The t:oopS took up its C was established while the 3d Bn oed to TOR 7 'ef I in the southwester pert oP thr ALZTROfForest. positions in the CZLAL which was clearing the P movea north with the mission of November the 3d FFBn onnorthtn the 234 half of of the AS' orest -le S.'A " while the 2d Btook cre-e of the sector of the forest south of a Line northeast from Irunning(57467).r and C of the blovm brid -e lii IS-:rL Road west wod using the AXHSTOF - 003 moved into the - 1 was systematical ? were net in the woods wich at (55"- 65) as an1LD. 1;o 0e.± At this tin the, 26th flT boundC7d*was close to the left flank of the 5 h

a.th.tiethe 2thatb±DP:5Lbhgpit, oatLb7r the Not much +W&5.+9 of the

it was the bn54 but from the B'a-standpOint S eV situatiOn anorth° end west of (559f nd IN (5740),,o DrPD~ t tae~CNG 6 rmove'+ + necs5fl~t&~OWw~thr~th9the Sthf 5 5east thr & theb were . ttth Z th piff -+aed r

NCOand dispathed on a twns and ct ,L thesews=&oth east.* A 10 Hez L Vade was mLdisac this mission.futherrea Re made the difficult trip to locate a unit of the 55th Div and cone tacted a Retm CO with whom he erchansed "bi; pictures" and effected a coordinatiOL betea the no enOts. ot= u:ts'. ae,!deIL wa.S madedoeI.- kSp9a S/ Sgt.

a - - d;. b b t e U th ,. .+ .. _thea• o I R~RJ4Z :+ ...+:-zo ,,, wo o, s 34rg -1+Vie++ 310;t' orwtcoteWV~l,+++ +e+ . , . +

Thejv P X l i~ drcl o &also thew th o~twos aigrashsen +:s I 4 Wwasclear t AC b V h t th g wsbynwtOUthberce, of this forest. ic II~± unSwith L Co a1=9 h the761'~tnkSfr' n ad 5 ssalt -tro g sendS tta' or h as=a ro s country Ro d hie 1 6. c and Cos' w3 ul

24tse.d b B tt w e t the spit of woods o0 oftw frc daylightoth The opertiOfl started after ~V2Gin.tihtlYcoodifled peration.. orn htteGnl into'VI 13G~ &tbot03 24tfrandthe ttackefl moved thou-.4retor) w-hdratmsaO!&$QEf(558) bad evacuated thVto~ttch T~'a radtblockt Of l'"1t0a9raePlolinf~ft' Cm ~heOU~t~irsot'flT~S~. Th En s- cameouplat this time with ascontrtou of it hel uptheta~now then wth antete toterubilon wtnhe oit. wththe: 't of the wincr the roin bocks + ofad -the- roadccupyinG -was oene.the to erloianS~cEo tef twoiday ate Dtu+€rin s-ell cne± unti aotisIZtCimel eeitl pth a*ThisBn oz o fhe watrP, t plc ar s dufmte d int siou th aloe nh the roadw th onarte ith the7 6L

Fort "W:T"l and Tort GRA BO1, qinst which th3 3d & :,z to rove on Dec Sth while K Co moved northeast tbhough the woods, on the ming of the 8th, I and L woods running northwest toward the town of Co swung to the west to eater the neck of BOI is situated on a piece of sharply w'TTRZ0 (5757) and the SAtRPZ River. The.aI well up into the forest rising ground with the forest forinlng a "V" pintins northeast. 3OIS was located, while Fort on the right, or northeast side of +this "V",BFort GRA1 either in on lower ground and may have been located C 7ZIKG was in the left triangie 57$Q)*. the forest or in the open ground in the vicinity of fire woods scattered opposition and some1MG As the coipanies moved ttoug the as the. forces T .o wa pulled back inmserve of.'atdelaying- nature was encountered. with X Co coving against Fort "uImn split , to move separately, toward the forts, Germans Fort- GA- BOIS. Quite a nnmber of a.dL CoContiri± on up the hill toward Actually fewer Germans were were killed during this advance and a few were, captured. the previous day's this period than had been met by were being encouhtred during. its objectiv5, a large fort facing east pat-ols. Before noon L Co was able to see was moving, rising some 35 feet above with its rear wall,# against which the attack G could be seen on the top of the fort. the- gound. o -reyolving cupolas for *At Least 6 iring slits and a large steel door big enough for a truck to drive through Ten complete al surrounded with an smazing tangle of wire. ci were observed. The Fort was and residue wire arpeared to have- wire entanlaents ran around the Fort doublS~aF.On o no road to be seen leading Up the apr#1barriels. There was , been 4dumped in between tACT- startle&and somewhat scared when to the' buiding. The men at L Cweeboth

at this building and its protection. looked ¢ was not available for this Part of the jnt t±@W. SThe SAR.' UZSEap (1:50000) that the 2 For l " r ' . V t so acc -rate locations cannot be given. It was established would be valuable in piLnpointiWhh . ll u rti-ns. Aleense Overprint I"- Col Tillson, 3d Bn 0 '"u was made from menor? by Lt .aoibed atov. A sketo4 Fort 2LbCapt Sway" indetail the action of E Co aigaint described action and o I- teCob attac.king.FortG .ANDand -IS described their tails rfurnished by the t Comr. [ 12.- al 4..

the wire. attemptinG to find a way through D trifg the afternoon L Co set about would be. without mch efJ.ect. The ftre &sl rs fire was laid on the apertures The woods had a slackei was noted by the enezy. returned just as soon as any y ards of the ai. to get within 200 heavyunderpowth in.,thi0/arpa h prhibitivei as' close atnsas*t practicall Fort without crawl i-G MovCnt hif ezd put+ th! rd t A T t'a s~keduP'the theW eW cover=e b M e fiti.W

intota, frinspostiOn, about 500tyardslfrO the Io=t%1 TheS6 AP shell5. bounced. without doing any d e other, which the guer could see, off the fort and cupola, and waited for darak. than chipping the buildi. The attacking force, then plled back wie. to cut a path tbhrough the the night was spent tryin After a recon-naissance, the work bad been not available and it was light before . Bangalore torpedoes were i ii -0 to L b d +r' ie conploted, so4- i was MeOSSSX jdfbr9th. Of 4 pi4nes -with, oil also been busy. A. orning air' strike *K Co had nenawhile dnstathand(.+,d hrnit~ pcm ...... ar sa~ f ~d ba4,misped, bqth frtt b7 bombs! aiir*stfjl*in the'. fongst owad~rrt dlTTRZT., 8t a pn probing tb~rousj;the_ apr tlY empoyedinan factory town where workers were woods the mn0came upon a be- the hIll It was dug into the side of which was discovered In.the early after- underground factor? fluid for. jetpropeled planes. t lieved that the factorY produced which were not defended by the enemY. noon the troops moved throug these buildinrs of tha . More with.German troops Seep inside several outpost pilboXOS were taken e s gardl.D& theser . of th~e Crnan soldi r5 operS.°n' the poor+qua ltY"; of.tetot themnoncedurIn ts + ,,baliet in the+.lPreSabilitY Their app rent was .remarked. installations By 1500 tAC O was i outside the forts was unneceSSSar'. made them feel that security be a large for, surOuledtonl+ wl lIG, which wasi+seen to ! : position to observe Fort on a hugh mound about 20 dwelin ,. The fort was located three sidez by the factory

feet high and was typicallY constructed with revolving cupoleA and tiring szz. -3

- r

7'i 53 .bt ' I "'* '4ttt

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"-.-. Fart flAZ BOIS was now utilized ha d been .sent up the hill against " The TD which urflG. f- to fire directly on Fort high ground to the east ro- its position on+the . , Fort but served no other fromz a: 2 gtu in=the vjiT.LG This produced.COutr fire around the fort whle r~al. this gu. p~atrols worked usefu pur-pose, except to engage enemy'~s attention. Daring+ + of the. Fort to engage the arsfire,was laid on the apertures to within up on the mound of the fort man_, Sgt Uker, climbed the-afternoon: an- enlisted turret and. . between a corner steel firing la~rge door, which was located two feet of a , the door. He threw the to burl, a grenade agailnst the flak gun position, ndattempted Co was located in the by MO fire. Most of the then was seen to flAl,, hit grenade sac . Fort. The P0 with K about 125 yards from the buildins, some of which were factory fort- . 155tm shells, dropped on the during the afternoon and called, for. atfllery fire' Co rounds up and fired. 10 point-blan etfect. Another TD was brought if ication: without . in chippiflS the. ball turf~r. .. the turrets, which only .succeeded at a M0 position in one-of fire but finally determied on •. patrols duringR thet afternoon dew constant MG and flak after this report had been and blow the building. lust the lkelest place to approach order was received to present with S Go, a Division made to the En Comdr,-who was _ bow the. ort.. the assault effort, was made up for of-S Co men frgs an another A squad, of who had'alretdy beenV night. S/Sst Anthony F Pisano, was to be made du~ring the which patt in one mentioned above, was day, including the final three patrols during the on to the the assault group moved up At 0130 on December ,9th chsere of th6 opetilOn. " from,.a nearby bridge. •This .4 dynmte which had been taken fort with 400 lbs of Ger-man the door. The only,k and exploded without blowin against the door of the Fort was plcod returned. . Fort. At 0400 the patrol .fire from the Grand Bois result was to draw vigerous ) I wasLhre carried back to the fort. ompcos ition of.2 and eue but20ls secure about200whic ls

DaLring this second attcpt the patrol was not subjected to fire of a: nna, w +i' +.,c- attempt would not be made is the eneny figured that a second whether this was because giV~fl i. was heard. No orders were 0~30 a terrific explosiOn not l:zow,.n-c Shr'tl after

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the ipositiO had been neuttrlized-e r ' i z . - ' Fort for it was evident that r't ,wo r ,. i n S, t he s e o P a v thent h e tot ot9u enter to theh e a pizBJ2Slate? received the Silver a hwestiensv i S/St - it sotlS' teA r-dc +e onflo ette? the nigh'S work ta t the success. of the uder taktD s AaO6de tot thretfalWOrk ofth@ waus fomce-h Td. tinin -, d of t i g

sha turned, out to_e of ok-men ied IPOsi iolC artillOvita afbrtif up, prior to keOp the position buttefled BAR and =all ams fire little valuet while the trick. reconnaissance,$ lcd then "ts end dynflta" had turned for the Mn in the. forts tb o pcketupaGemBifd a Ge U zessenermsse with orders AtroAt daylightsflZ0Ighz E or c to with to the ick Forest. e had appftlY already delivered his message

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eerl~~~thaImonG iwaesatdthat~ 1& , FORTfll , BI,30 ofatiity~laround, 0 0 t wa evcuated49 aboutQ fo .- +. .re O. j; +dd ot 03O 'Or e++ t. W"- - t te e 4.. t"L' 0 h~ farlL 0 w ds,being rd n'fra Bne theroad - ncrl9S fIM 9th tOheAA - n+he dayb he.. i j t iofD.-eoember. Poi_.. i n ._ - .te o :- were entred latey B2AOIS Forest. Both forts north of the ofthere St were found -Splattered aginst the

i ele asltsof the regimCn o t w heMOhurled the enade aginst the door of the .,+mlls" as - e l as s b, IC-0 S r'o

Fort the previous afternOOn. Tf 4 (5750) ttnae ang Thereh in the town of There ere no Gei=f -I a =atter durikg whirh they drew march-l..roadtowe3 eueteredwhrn six strS werwhereeWe of n ao ie stcnof o d into the = + " it of hav ebeen ipres in h picked,, up 4 one Italn who claimed:to. t h e in machng s~ t "e g - I~~ He assisted thegurdinmarchinGthe prisoners to the rearf and ctarced 4jscili e

suit him. With the whenever the mrchinG did not with a big stick which he applied Z L.1G (5954) waS also completed without assistance of the 3d I the occupatin o t. ie pt h 8 u o h S iaci~efl. less tha to-- Ground extends for of W r'LI open +North+east radrn 'hatron over this open The 3d In moved -U ,Forest.

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the forest two 10CM s opened up on the the eferzoOnf. 7ust before entering takse which were f:Lr g. At this time 4 TDs and 3 battalion and MCs also started with the 3d in, cane up end the eneM * supporting the Zd Bn, which was moving forward to shell both wZSVLLfl forest. The GreT--.S now began broke, off and withdrew into the had been displac- was believed that the Genfrm artillery _and WOfl G heavily, and it these towns. during the 328th tnt movement through ing aind getting into position outposting the two Bn and the 3d in took up positions ,At the end of the day the 3d for attack- leftoBoth Bns were maing preparations town-sI withthe 3d Bn on the orning. ing through the forest the following across the open off on the morning of the 10th The twoebattalion attack jumped mae the main effort tank. fire. The 2d in was to round which was subject to esy of. the road the forest fron .W LD just south as the high o=4extended into vicinty of the at. (604549). The terrain in-the run-ning to theedge of the,woodt 24 ,n got up. to the woods A,pert of. one. cmpaq of the woods dominted both towns. fire. However a tank not move-up- due to the easy but friendly tank support would end possibl zore, eemy.tant 1000 yazd engeand one, duel, developed at about. a the, edge of the forest at railioad station located in was destroyed. A house and track appeared to be These, buldingas. on the railroad (" (602552) were also riddled*. of the BL5SC Forest Lye lo successful penetration the. center ofGaac: activity. resumed.. but on the 11th the- attack was was made during the day to the of woodsin theis paledwready back out of the forest Thishigh patch gound The.Germ had on the Germa borders. which was located woods to the north, a C on round whic? rises yards west of OP (6257) " located less than a io00 of the £fZBRU- Forest. The little streal on the. northeast side 5seeply .r a withtheayi UCW and reestablished contact ,..: 2"d in moved through the LS- " an I Co patrol of 03R&ILA. In the. afternoOn their positions in the forest west Geztf soil for the enemy positions and penetrated worked its way up the hill towt

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the first time about 1515, thus, ging the 3dBa the privilege of clai=ing to have

led the Division into German. 3'Bs zz breast in an attempt to esz.-.. On.DeoenberolZ .th 328th4 W attacked with tabihh a - .o goundandandforst f rC west ot

" to-work-,and- so- ea'ch" O U T wtopu-ro4 o rftao barer ridge on the rightk fun~hdtA. frthetpu4be.It 0bkMin 6&&oZL&thek, platoon. tank firs and lost almost an entire of A Co, was caught by artiller and to claim an established position inside Meanwile A Co moved forward sufficiently for- of the evenfl the 3d ] sent littermbearers the border. Darin the early. hours -r dark.: were sent along for protection. After ward.to recover the wounded. -Riflemen ' the' su rW repordUC' Wtthat thie ittZtSatddof > &td here t ositie up, bn g asm About 2300 the. litterta tned that tthese.-en had been captured. ,into, surrndering., aiste0dby' thre&Gerumswha ,they had.talket of'thr.8Sh. -xtb9 3d,, frWWrelie'bd- bT eiobmenp. i- Bdftrh aft 46 . 1t Dir .-,and, "withd,rthe li.ee"

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