building where first aid could be administered. All advances were met with very heavy mortar and
artillery fire. In a single day 1800 rounds were received in Fraulautern. Company A relieved Company
B in the bridgehead area, Company B going to Ittersdorf for maintenance and reorganization. Sgt. (then
private) Eugene Esposito, Company C, promptly took command of a destroyer when his gun
commander was killed by machine gun fire. He opened fire on the machine gun, silencing it and killing
its crew. He then moved his destroyer forward and annihilated a bazooka team, which was situated
behind a stone wall. Spotting a flame thrower creeping up beside the wall toward his destroyer, Sgt.
Esposito opened fire and knocked down the wall, killing the enemy. He then eliminated another
machine gun nest. For his heroic and positive action Sgt. Esposito was awarded the Silver Star. On
December 9th an enemy tank destroyed an M-36 of Company A as it crossed a railroad track in
Fraulautern.
Company C continued to fire on pillboxes, houses and OP’s that could be seen across the river
from the vicinity of Lisdorf. An artillery shell fragment hit a TD of Company C on December 13th,
causing it to burn. December 17th found Company C, which had replaced Company A in the
bridgehead, relieved by the 818th TD Battalion. Part of Company C, with the 1st Reconnaissance
Platoon attached, continued to support the 378th Infantry, firing at targets of opportunity in Ensdorf.
The Battalion CP moved to Merten.
On December 21st Company A and Company B relieved the elements of the 818th TD Battalion
and the Battalion moved back to Felsberg. Company C assembled at Berweiler going into indirect fire
positions. The Pioneer Platoon working with a reconnaissance platoon conducted 81mm mortar
training, firing into Ensdorf. A group of fifteen enemy was seen and fire was placed on them. One was
killed, four were wounded and the remainder dispersed.
 |
 |
 |