bridge. One squad of engineers with mine detectors would search out the path to be followed by the tanks. Major Hamilton
contacted Lieutenant Lombardi of Company C, 712th Tank Battalion and then Lieutenant Stevens from Company B. The
preparation would be fired between 1750 and 1800 hours, with the first elements crossing at 1800. The preparation was
begun and very shortly succeeded in hitting an 88 ammunition caisson on the street leading from the bridge. The resulting
explosion and pall of smoke blanketed a portion of the street. This was an unexpected piece of luck and Major Hamilton
immediately realized the possibilities created by the partial smoke screen. Deciding to cancel the balance of the preparation
and send Company B into the assault, he Immediately gave orders to Lieutenant Stevens to attack, and waited for the
coordination to have it's effect. (17)
The leading tank was in position and prepared to wheel onto the bridge. Lieutenant Stevens led the assault with one
of the squads from the left platoon. Upon leaving the corner and looking back, he discovered that the squad had failed to
follow him. Only a short time was required to go back and get the squad moving behind him. The assault was being
supported by small arms fire from the 1st platoon, minus one squad on the left, and the 2d Platoon on the right. They were
firing from windows or any other point that might afford them vantage. Captain Gibson of Company D was now supporting
the assault with his machine guns emplaced in and on buildings from where they could fire across the river. As the engineers
and tanks headed for the bridge, two men were hit with what appeared to be a rifle grenade, later determined to be a 20 mm
shell. One man was killed and the other's leg blown off. Lieutenant Steven's squad, accompanied by one tank, assaulted the
bridge in a hail of machine gun and rifle fire and lost no time in getting across. The fire was so intense that once they had
started, the men were anxious to get across, and apparently the tank crew had no intentions of becoming casualties while they
were on the bridge. Once across the bridge, the squad was deployed around the end of the bridge and Lieutenant Stevens
went back to get his 2d Platoon, as it had apparently failed to move out as scheduled. While making his second trip,
Lieutenant Stevens cut the wire to the eight airplane bombs that had been placed to blow the bridge. Meanwhile, Lieutenant
Smith from Company D had crossed the street and was assisting in pushing the men out of an alleyway. Lieutenant Stevens
quickly gained control and once more led elements of his company across the bridge. Major Hamilton had joined the
company and was assisting in getting other elements ready to cross. Sergeant Chisholm moved down the other side of the
street and took his first platoon across. A bullet bounced off his helmet and a soldier beside him was killed. Meanwhile, the
tank that had first crossed the bridge advanced up the street in the direction of the 88's, and proceeded some three to four
hundred yards to a street which paralleled the river. Here the tank took position and with it's turret revolving, proceeded to
throw fire in any and all directions. It knocked out a German gun on one of the side Street's and forced others to move out
minus certain T/O & E equipment. (18)
Company B was across the bridge but now it was necessary to get the balance of the battalion across. Major Ben
Russow went after the 2d Platoon of tanks and brought them forward. Captain Redman, the S-3, went to get Company A so
that they could cross and reinforce Company B. This company was pushing on past the bridge, up the street that led to the
eastern section of town. The 2d Platoon of tanks at this time joined with Company B. One section turned left and the other
right from the direction of attack to protect the flanks and seek out any remunerative targets. The anti-tank guns were rushed
across to protect the north and south entrances to the city, Company A was now across the bridge, one platoon was sent south
and the balance to the left of Company B, covering the northern section of the city. Company C remained on the western
side of the river as battalion reserve and to guard approaches into the city from the rear. (19)
By 2030 hours the town, with the bridge, was in complete possession of the 1st Battalion. The other two battalions
had crossed the river south of town and were now ready to link up on the outskirts east of the city. Company A was attached
to the 3d Battalion and Company B was put in an assembly area in the southern section. The 3d Battalion was to cover the
northeastern section of the bridgehead and the 2d Battalion was guarding and clearing out the southeastern portion.
Company C remained on the western side of the river and covered the roads leading in from the northwest. (20)
At 2215 hours, two vehicles came rolling up to the forward Command Post of the 1st Battalion. Due to the normal
traffic, smoke, and limited visibility they went undetected. Three Germans got out but were immediately fired upon. One
was wounded and they quickly surrendered. Then the Americans were fired on from behind by two "kraut" officers who had
remained hidden, hoping they would not be discovered. During the firing a jeep with a .50 caliber machine gun mounted,
swung around the corner and proceeded to riddle one of the vehicles at point blank range. Captain Sheehan and Captain
Ingram ran to the side of the vehicles and "dumped" their tommy guns into the "krauts", killing one and wounding the other.
The late officer was beyond the salvage point and took on all of the appearances of a sieve. (21)
General Weaver had ordered a halt for the night and all of the trains had moved up, mostly to the eastern side of the
river. The Regimental Command Post was set up in a cafe on the north side of town, east of the river. As the captured
German truck, used to transport the CP, was being unloaded, another German truck drove up and stopped. About fifteen
Germans dismounted and prepared to spend the night at the cafe. They were a very bewildered group when they discovered
that the Americans liked the location and in all probability would remain there. All through the night scenes similar to this
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