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On the 2nd of April, the battalion, still motorized, advanced 15 miles to the east reaching the
town of AUSBACH where the Battalion stopped for the night. Objective for the 3rd was the large town
of VACHA. This was assaulted by I and K Companies. Here the Battalion lost one of its best line non-
coms – T/Sgt. William W. Masters of Company K. A sniper shot him just as the battle was nearing an
end. Following a fierce fight, VACHA was secured by 1800. It was here that the 2nd platoon of
Company I shot up an enemy locomotive attempting to escape. From VACHA the Companies pushed
on to the Felda river where they held up for the night.
During this time Company L was also very busy. Earlier in the day German civilians had fired
on American troops in the small village of UNTERBREIZBACH. On orders from higher headquarters
Companies K and L moved in and proceeded to methodically burn down the town. From house to house
the soldiers moved, clearing out civilians and setting fire to each building. Hugh pillars of black smoke
blanketed the town as the place became a raging inferno of flames care was taken to inform civilians
exactly why this action was necessary. Since this was the first incident in our Corps in which an entire
town was leveled by burning the Germans were thus served notice what to expect if civilians continued
to oppose American troops.
The famed salt mine of MERKERS was cleared early on the 4th by Company I patrol, all that the
Battalion knew at the time, however, was that the mine contained some German equipment and money.
This much the troops learned from the slave laborers as they passed through. It was not until days later
the Division MP’s discovered the mine contained the largest treasure hoard ever found. Everyone in
Company I is still sorry that they did not have more time to spend in MERKERS. From here the
battalion pushed rapidly forward clearing the resort town of BAD SALZUNGEN and securing a
bridgehead over the Werra river before dark.
The picturesque hospital town of BAD LIEBENSTEIN surrendered early on the 5th complete
with over 1000 German soldier patients. The Companies had just cleared here when a Division order
halted us in place. We were relieved here on the 6th by the 345th Infantry , 87th Division.
The entire Battalion then went back to IMMELBORN. While here, Major Morris was
transferred to 2nd Battalion and Captain Clive P. Jaffray took over the position of Battalion Executive
Officer. The position of Battalion Adjutant was taken over by Lt. John W. Crotty.
Once again motorized, the Battalion moved out on the 8th to the small and very crowded town of
HEIDERSBACH, passing through ZELLA MEHLIS, famed for the manufacture of Walther and Suhl
pistols. From here K and L Companies moved up to STUTZERBACH to protect the Regimental left
flank. The rest of the Battalion moved up to STUTZERBACH to protect the Regimental right flank.
The rest of the Battalion moved up to STUTZERBACH on the 9th. This town is stretched out in a
valley for almost two miles with tree covered mountains on both sides. The Battalion went into Division
reserve here on the 10th and spent a fairly peaceful day.
Reverting back to Regiment on the 11th, we moved to MOHRENBACH where Company I
outposted the Regimental left near WILMERSDORF. By 1000 of the 12th the Battalion was committed
with the mission of taking GRAFENTHAL, a large road center 25 kilometers to the east. This was
successfully accomplished by dark with the armored assault elements encountering only one defended
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