the “flood bound dog faces” prayer. With this added explosive each company continued the destruction
in their particular zones.
61
Company A had managed to blast its way into some of the bunkers superstructure and tunnels.
Entrance could not be made further underground, due to the rubble, and complete blackness existing
within the tunnels. A plan of the underground structure was not in the possession of the troops, so it
would have been very foolish to try to mop up below, when so much good was being done above. This
offered protection, however.
62
During the late evening of the second day the Germans initiated a counterattack, from the
northeast corner of the fort, which they still occupied, with a force of approximately 50 men. This
assault was repulsed, without loss of ground, with the small arms of the 1st Battalion personnel. The
enemy suffered about 28 killed in this costly little escapade. The remainder withdrew back into the
supposed safety of the fort. At the end of the second day, 10 November, the two rifle companies were
displaced on the top of the fort has shown.
63 (Map E)
The situation within the division was very critical. The Moselle still denied a bridge at either the
Cattenom or Gravisse-Malling crossing sites. The river had increased to a width of 1½ miles at various
sectors. The supply of the battalion had to be accomplished by the same means as the previous night.
All available personnel, not actually involved in holding position on the fort, was put into play, in
carrying rations, ammunition, explosives and medical supplies from the river’s edge, to the positions on
the fort. The same supply personnel were doing a herculean job of getting them across by boat. Some
of the wounded had gotten to such a condition that evacuation was necessary, or else they would die.
Those that had to be evacuated were tied to litters transported by boat across the still treacherous
Moselle. The others continued to await the completion of a bridge.
64
On the third day, 11 November, Company C was moved from Basse Ham to the fort. It took up
the position occupied by Company B on the first day of the assault.
The Mortar Platoon of Company D and the personnel of Battalion Headquarters Company were
given the mission of taking over the responsibility of Company C in the town.
The fort area was divided into three zones.
(Map E)
After all companies were in position the final
all out assault on the fort was to begin. The assault was spearheaded by Company A. The various
bunkers, casemates and strong points were reduced by the same expedient as employed the previous two
days. Large quantities of gasoline, followed by a thermite or white phosphorus grenade were used.
Large quantities of “C2" were also put into play.
65
Around noon in this day a message was received from Division Headquarters, with the order to
withdraw from the fort, since it was such a costly objective in both men and matériel. The answer was
returned by Lt. Neil. “This fort is ours! I could not ask my men to leave here now. They are more
determined than I to finish the job.” With this the assault was pushed with fresh vigor. The Germans
were squeezed and blown into an ever constricting smaller portion of a fort.
66
At 1600 remnants of the force holding the fort attempted a mass exit through one of the outlying
shelter points in the northeast corner of the fort. They ran smack into a force from Company G that had
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