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The enemy resisted fiercely utilizing mortars, artillery, machine guns, and excellent defensive terrain.
By dark, Company L had the town secured and I and K were on the high ground on both sides of it.
We now held Hill 300 which afforded observation clear to THIONVILLE and the Moselle river.
General Weaver visited the hill and was so enthused with the observation available from that point that
he immediately decided to have 1st and 2nd Battalions attack to secure THIONVILLE while this
Battalion held its position around ALGRANGE.
By the 12th, 1st and 2nd Battalions had secured THIONVILLE and this Battalion moved up to
VEYMERANGE as Regimental Reserve. Company I was sent to outpost TERVILLE on the
Regimental right flank. Following an alert order, reconnaissance was made in THIONVILLE on the
13th in anticipation of a possible river crossing. This plan was canceled at 2100 and the Companies
remained in reserve position on the 14th when the Battalion went into Division reserve.
On the 15th, the Battalion, less Company I moved by motor 20 miles to the town of STE MARIE
AUX CHENES. Here the Battalion spent eleven days in Division reserve, during which time a schedule
of inspections, training in preparation for the taking of Fortress METZ, movies; GI shows, and hot chow
was maintained.
Company I outposted the Mozelle river [in the ] vicinity [of] HAGENDANGE until the 18th
when they were relieved and went to ST AIL.
On the 27th the Battalion moved out of STE MARIE on foot to the town of VIONVILLE. From
here, Company L moved up under cover of dark and relieved Company F, 359 Infantry in
GRAVELOTTE. They stayed there until the 30th when relieved by Company I. All during our stay
here, the enemy from concrete fortifications around METZ shelled GRAVELOTTE heavily, inflicting
some casualties.
The Battalion less one company remained in VIONVILLE until the 11th of October. One
Company was on line at GRAVELOTTE and was rotated every four days. While at VIONVILLE
intensive training in reduction of a fortified area was held. Movies, clubmobiles, and PX rations made
our stay here pleasant. A full scale demonstration of an attack on a fortified area was held October 7th
for Brigadier General Weaver. The demonstration included tanks, 40 mm guns and flame throwers.
Following an alert at 1400, the Battalion moved out by motor at 1630 to ST HUBERT. Here the
troops de-trucked and moved up to the line held by 3rd Battalion 357. Relief was completed by the
morning of the 12th, and the Battalion commenced an aggressive patrolling policy into the towns of
BRONVAUX, MARANGE, SILVANGE and TERNEL. It was while in this position that the first
Combat Infantryman’s Badges were presented to members of the Battalion.
Company I went to the Regimental Rest Center on the 19th while the rest of the Battalion moved
by foot to VIONVILLE occupying the same billets as we had done before. While here the first to go on
pass to PARIS left for 36 hours. Company K went to the Regtl. Rest Center on the 23rd.
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