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were no vehicles across. Intense enemy artillery fire inflicted numerous casualties on the troops and
prevented the construction of a bridge almost as much as did the raging river.
At 0920 12 November a 4-ton Engineer truck loaded with rations, ammunition and water arrived
at Battalion CP. This helped greatly in relieving a threatening water shortage. Following re-supply, I
and L Companies jumped off at 1030 against stubborn resistance. By 1315 a patrol had reached
ELZANGE and reported it clear. However, when a ration party entered the town at 2100 they took 13
prisoners. A jeep crossed early in the day and was immediately put to work to carry supplies forward.
By noon of the 13th the Battalion had taken hill 262 after advancing across muddy plowed fields
and through heavily wooded areas in face of determined opposition. No sooner had I and L companies
secured the hill than the Germans began throwing in everything they had in the line of artillery and
mortar fire. Here the companies maintained their position in spite of everything the Germans could do.
It was on this day that [the] first snow of the season fell and the companies received their mail in five
days. Lt. Vann, Battalion S-4, had both legs broken when a duck he was in hit a mine just off the west
bank of the river.
On the 14th a platoon of Company I was sent to INGLANGE to secure the town. However, the
platoon got its directions crossed and went to DISTROFF instead. They occupied the town about 20
hours before 2nd Battalion attacked to secure it.
At 630 Nov. 15 Company K jumped off to take INGLANGE with the aid of one platoon of
tanks. However, the Krauts counterattacked at the same time and Company K was consequently too
busy holding its own to even attempt taking the town. Extremely heavy SP, artillery and machine gun
fire kept I and L Companies pinned down for most of the day. Lt. Parrish assumed command of I
Company following Captain Guta’s evacuation. By dark Company K had secured a toehold on
INGLANGE and was meeting stiff opposition.
After regrouping of tanks and TD’s, the Kraut Killers attacked INGLANGE at 0930 and had the
town secured by 1100 after taking 30 prisoners, one AT gun and three pillboxes. I and L Companies
remained in the same general area helping to outpost the high ground south of town.
On the 17th the Battalion went into Regimental reserve and mopped up behind 1st and 2nd
Battalions in the area between INGLANGE and METZERVISSE.
In preparation for an attack at 0800, the companies set out at 0630 to a line of departure position
just south of METZERESCHE. The troops jumped off on time against no opposition and the town of
LUTTANGE was cleared by 1100. Here the Regiment went into Division reserve and the entire
Battalion was billeted in town. The afternoon was spent watching everything from Corps artillery to
recon cars move by.
The Battalion spent three restful days here recovering from its first assault river crossing. A
number of men and officers were sent back to Division rest camp at CATTERNOM for 48 hour periods.
At 1230 on the 21st day of November the Battalion en-trucked and moved to the town of
RETTEL where the troops bedded down for the night. The Regiment was now attached to CCA of the
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