its hold on the east bank while an attack launched by the1st Platoon of Company B closely followed by
infantry cleared the west bank down to the bridge. On December 3rd Lt. Calvin R Stone moved his
platoon across the bridge to protect the bridgehead. This early crossing made at great risk before the
bridge was completely cleared of demolition, and through a curtain of fire, was to prevent the enemy
from counterattacking in an attempt to regain the bridge. Before daylight on the 4th, Lt. Robert L.
Arrison moved his platoon across to support the Infantry moving east. When the Germans attacked
from the north, he placed his guns to aid Lt. Stone in the defense of the bridgehead. The enemy attacked
with tanks and infantry supported by heavy artillery fire. The skillful employment of the M-36’s and the
50 caliber machine guns, coordinated with the infantry, repulsed the attacks time after time. A midnight
attack, that had as its mission the destruction of the bridge across the Saar, was also repulsed. Four
tanks were destroyed with a loss of one TD. For their superb leadership and gallantry the two officers
were awarded Silver Stars.
In the initial attack five tanks approached the bridge. The leading one was hit and burned up.
Cpl. Eugene L. LaFontain, Company B gunner of another TD blanked out due to smoke, pulled out past
the burning tank. His destroyer was hit by an overwatching tank knocking off the track. Undaunted,
Cpl. LaFontaine destroyed the nearest tank. Another round went through his destroyer cutting off Cpl.
LaFontaine’s leg. In spite of his serious wound, Cpl. LaFontaine continued to fire until his ammunition
was exhausted. For his supreme devotion to duty Cpl. LaFontaine was awarded the Distinguished
Service Cross.
Company C, supporting the 378th in their attack on the southern part of Saarlautern and Lisdorf,
sent the 2nd Platoon to reduce a road block in one of the streets. One section proceeded to do the job
and as the two destroyers moved down the street a window shutter was opened and a German bazooka
crew fired on the lead destroyer, hitting it on the turret. A bed roll and the lifting ring set the bazooka
round off, preventing it from damaging the destroyer. The covering destroyer fired on several houses in
the vicinity causing 35 Germans to run to the street to surrender. On December 5th Company C
supported the successful crossing of the Saar River at Lisdorf by the 378th Infantry, neutralizing several
pillboxes, the 3rd Platoon knocking out “Teters Pillbox” (containing a 75mm AT gun) while under
heavy enemy artillery fire. This bridgehead was doomed never to be enlarged very much. On the same
day the Battalion CP, plus Reconnaissance Company, minus three platoons, moved to Felsberg from
Ittersdorf.
Upon reaching the main belt of the Siegfried Line the attacking forces were slowed down. To
aid in the expansion of the bridgehead Lt. Richard A. Reynolds, Company B, moved his platoon across
the bridge and supported the infantry, attacking north. He repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire
while directing his platoon. On one occasion, while heavily engaged with stubbornly resisting forces, he
halted his destroyer in an exposed position and personally rescued members of another crew who were
trapped in a burning tank destroyer. During subsequent action, while directing fire against enemy
pillboxes, Lt. Reynolds was killed. For supreme devotion to duty and conspicuous heroism Lt.
Reynolds was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
The bridgehead continued to expand and the fighting moved slowly into Saarlautern-Roden and
Fraulautern, the attackers conducting a systematic destruction of pillboxes and houses being used for
strong points. Sgt. Joseph F. Costa, Company A, was awarded the Silver Star Medal for moving his
destroyer across a causeway in Fraulautern in the face of mortar and direct artillery fire in order to
replenish badly needed rations and gasoline. In another action on this same date, Sgt. James Sheeran,
Company A, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. Disregarding his own life, he left his
place of safety to carry a wounded comrade from a street which was under heavy mortar fire to a
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