At 0250 on 14 March the 343rd along with the rest of the XII Corps Artillery started firing the
greatest preparation that had ever been furnished the 90th Division. There was artillery fire on every
known enemy strong point and on the road net that the enemy would use to bring up reinforcements.
Before dawn the infantry went across the Moselle river in assault boats and started pushing out against
scattered resistance. This was the second time the 90th had forced the Moselle. We had to move up
next to the river to give necessary artillery support. Shortly after noon the engineers had a bridge across
the river on the 90th and 5th Division boundary and the necessary armor and supplies began to pour
across.
Late in the evening of the same day we crossed the river and went into Alken, within 50 yards of
the river. The high hills made it necessary for us to use the lowest possible charge with high elevations
to clear the mask.
About the time of departure from our old position, Charlie Battery received a light shelling
resulting in one casualty. The march to and across the river was quiet and well executed. Actually the
night was as black as tar but artificial moonlight, manufactured by a search light unit, was a great help
and did much to speed up the march. As the new position was approached good march discipline was
stressed and the battalion was warned to be doubly alert as our positions were on the exposed left flank
of the division. Many rounds of WP were exploding on the hill in front of our position, they were being
fired by an attached 4. 2 Chemical Mortar outfit.
Early in the morning of March 15 the enemy counter-attacked the 357th using flak guns and 88s.
Urban and its supporting units poured thousands of rounds into these enemy positions. SS Troops
attacked with fanatical fury, practically all were either killed or captured. Few escaped the fast moving
90th. Coordination of infantry, artillery and tanks made possible the reduction of these strong points.
Within 36 hours after the leading elements of Union Red crossed the Moselle. They were on the banks
of the Rhine! Partial score for this CT was 300 SS Troops dead, seven 88s and 19 flak guns knocked out,
in addition to countless Wehrmacht dead and vehicles kaputed, even boats and barges destroyed on the
Rhine. The Union men sat on the banks of the Rhine at Boppard, seven miles below Koblenz, shooting
at the Krauts on the other side and pouting because they were not permitted to cross. Army orders did
not call for a crossing.
As the 90th and 5th broke through, the 4th Armored came thru to make a record dash in the
direction of the U.S. 7th Army in an effort to trap Germans in this pocket. We moved along the Rhine
as fast as additional troops could be brought up to hold our rear. The 90th moved on Mainz and
captured it after a fierce battle. It was a slam-bang affair, slam on the brakes, pull off the road and bang,
fire a few rounds and on the road again. We were harassed by enemy jet-propelled planes. It was
interesting to watch the ack-ack boys, who to date had done a wonderful job, try to track these jet jobs.
The jets were the fastest thing we had seen. When they came in low it was too late to start for cover
because brother they were gone. The afternoon of 22 March we arrived at Marienborn, in position to
support the attack on Mainz. Expecting to be there a few days, plans were made for showers and
laundry and a chance to clean equipment, but a change of plans, they always came up, had us on the
road about noon the next day. Shortly before dawn on the 23rd, the 5th Division had slipped across the
Rhine in the vicinity of Oppenheim and their Division Commander had requested that the 357th CT be
rushed up to help them expand their bridgehead.
At 1650 hours, Baker was reported ready to fire. We remained in position at Oppenheim until
1940 when we moved through town toward the bridge. The 5th Division Artillery was scheduled to
cross before us but a short breach between convoys appeared and permission was asked to cross.
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