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INTRODUCTION
Approximately 1000 yards east of the serene village of CATTENOM, in the Rhineland,
Company E, 358th Infantry, became engaged in an action, beginning 9 November 1944, that will long
be remembered by its personnel. The MOSELLE RIVER presented a formidable obstacle, which had to
be negotiated before the first phase of this action could be completely accomplished.
A brief discussion of major events, which led to this action, takes us back several months to that
memorable day, 6 June 1944, on the beach of Normandy.
Two battalions of the 90th Division, reinforcing the 4th Infantry Division, landed on the sands of
UTAH BEACH this date, with the Division minus, landing two days later.¹ With all elements of the
division now ashore, it was time to launch its own attack. On 10 June 1944, the division jumped off.
Their course led through the hedgerow country of Normandy, where a good day's gain was measured in
yards and more often in hedgerows. Usually, two hedgerows up and one back was the result of the day's
action. However, on the 22nd of July the 358th Infantry received the order to attack and seize the Island
of SEVES, situated in a SEVES River after many severe counterattacks and tremendous losses, the
358th Infantry was able to secure the island. The stage was now set for the historical First Army
breakthrough. The battle of SEVES marked the last major engagement, for the 358th Infantry, in the
Normandy hedgerow country. Now, the 90th was faced with the open, rolling terrain of Interior France.
On the 8th of August, the division, part of the XX Corps, which had moved so fast, seized LE MANS
and at this point was ordered to cut North toward ALENCON. In this operation the division was
following the 2nd Armored French Division and had the mission of blocking, to the west, any effort of
the German 7th Army to escape the closing FALAISE trap. At this time, the German 7th Army was
moving rapidly eastward, due to the pressure being exerted by the British and the Canadians on the north
and by the Americans on the South. Their line of retreat lay along a valley, of which both sides afforded
excellent observation for our forces. The Germans, realizing their plight, increased their determination
not to be trapped; however, their additional efforts were in vain. Our forces, overlooking the valley,
formed a bowl into which we poured the fires off eleven battalions of artillery, a tank battalion and a
tank destroyer battalion. It was here that one of the artillery liaison plane pilots, in support of the 358th
Infantry, uttered his classic remark. Becoming irritated at his unit's delay in getting his data on their
guns, he shouted excitedly over his radio, "Stop computin' and start shootin'".² In the four days that it
took to virtually annihilate the German 7th Army in the valley, the 90th Division was credited with more
than 13,000 prisoners and approximately 8000 dead or wounded enemy, and suffered less than 600
casualties itself. In addition, 300 enemy tanks, 250 self-propelled guns, 164 artillery pieces and 3270
enemy vehicles were captured or destroyed.³
Immediately following this action, the first signs of gasoline shortages began to appear. The
shortage plagued the entire Third Army all the way to the MOSELLE River. The advance continued;
however, with foot elements walking and riding in a series of shuttle movements. Resistance was
comparatively light, except for isolated enemy bands who lacked the strength and determination to
detain the forward elements of the advance guard for any appreciable length of time. The division
moved south of Paris, through FONTAINBLEAU, whose historical significance lies in the fact that it
contained the elaborate castle of Napoleon Bonaparte. Then the famous SEINE River was crossed.
They proceeded through the battlefields of the first world war, namely, the Marne, Château Thierry, the
Aisne and Reims. At Reims it was necessary to call a halt to this rapid advance, as essential supplies
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