26
Company I attacked TETTINGEN at dawn on the 25th following a heavy artillery barrage. Lt.
Rugh was wounded here and Lt. Marron took charge of the company.
Immediately after jumping off in the attack Company I was brought under machine gun fire from
town and from two pillboxes not previously discovered. The artillery FO promptly called for fire on the
town and in five minutes the 344 FA Battalion laid down a barrage that hit practically every building.
Then single guns fired on specific houses from which machine gun fire was coming. Following this, a
heavy smoke screen was laid down, completely covering the town. Company I then attacked again and
knocked out the two pillboxes and cleared the town within thirty minutes, taking many prisoners.
Chaplain Sidoti was wounded here while evacuating wounded.
One platoon of Company L with two tanks attached then took off and went clear through
BUTZDORF. They then withdrew to the Company K positions in rear of town, while the remainder of
Company L attacked up the ridge on the right flank parallel to the town, and took the high ground 400
yards to the right front of the town.
At the same time, a tank platoon, an Armored Infantry platoon and the Battalion AT platoon
moved into TETTINGEN and took up positions against a possible counterattack. These vehicles were
able to move into town only after Company I had taken it and the AT ditch was filled in by a tankdozer.
Just after dark, Capt. Spivey moved Company I up onto the high ground to the right of
TETTINGEN as Battalion reserve, while Company L with part of Company K in BUTZDORF covered
the town of TETTINGEN. Company L was reinforced by two tanks to prevent a repetition of Company
K’s experience. A total of 68 prisoners were taken on this day.
At dawn on the 26th, elements of the 10th Armored Division relieved the Battalion which then
moved back to RETTEL, France. During the “Tettingen Incident,” the Battalion suffered as casualties
seven officers and at least 148 men. The number taken prisoner was not known.
While at RETTEL, Captain Spivey was promoted to Major. On the 27th, the Battalion trucked
to a German barracks just outside of VECKRING, France. While here 150 men from the Battalion went
to a ceremony at METZ with Major Spivey as CO of the composite Battalion representing the 90th
Division, it was at this ceremony that Captain Bryan, Sgt. Shelton and Sgt. Juricak were awarded the
Croix de Guerre. All troops were issued combat boots and new clothes. Hot showers, movies and
clubmobiles were available for those who wanted them.
 |
 |
 |