AGAINST THE SIEGFRIED AGAIN
On January 27th the 95th Division was relieved by the 26th Infantry Division and was ordered to
assemble in Belgium north of Bastogne. The Battalion, on the coldest day of the winter, marched 150
miles to the vicinity of Houffalize, Belgium via Boulay, Uckange, Longwy, Arlon and Neufchateau,
with the Battalion CP and Reconnaissance Company going into of Taverneux.
During January the Battalion destroyed 7 MK V tanks, 3 MK IV tanks and 9 pillboxes; fired
2510 rounds in indirect fire. Two M-36’s and one jeep were lost to enemy action,
On February 2nd, 1945 the Battalion was relieved from attachment to the 95th Infantry Division
and attached to the 87th Infantry Division. This Division was closing on the enemy as he withdrew from
the Ardennes bulge. Passing through St. Vith, Belgium, Company A, with the 2nd Reconnaissance
Platoon attached, moved northeast 30 miles to join the 347th Infantry Regiment in their area near the
Belgian-German border. The platoons were employed near Berterath and Losheim with the Company
CP in Manderfeld. On February 4th, Company C, with the 1st Reconnaissance Platoon attached, joined
the 346th Infantry Regiment and supported them in the towns of Auw, Rothand and Wecherath. On
February 5th the Battalion CP moved to Laudesfeld, Germany from Schonberg, Belgium.
For the third time the Battalion was facing the Siegfried Line. Complicated by mud, which made
cross country movement impossible, the attack began. Roads became so bad that stretches had to be
corduroyed. to carry traffic.
Company B supporting the 345th Infantry, advanced into the pillbox area [See Fig.1] along the
Schnee Eifel Ridge and took one pillbox with 50 caliber machine gun fire. The 1st Platoon advanced
until all destroyers were stuck in the mud. Two were pulled out and continued on the attack. On
February 7th, near Roth, Lt. Calvin Stone led his platoon on foot through heavily mined areas, keeping
abreast of the advancing rifle elements. Encountering a well-fortified enemy position Lt. Stone
voluntarily advanced alone and threw a grenade into the structure. Following the explosion he charged
inside firing his carbine, killing two and capturing six of the enemy. During the ensuing action, Lt. Stone
continuously exposed himself to enemy fire while directing his tank destroyers in locating other enemy
installations. For his devotion to duty and courage he was awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster to the Silver
Star. The same day Company B destroyed four more pillboxes and during the next couple of days
whittled their way through pillboxes to take Olzheim and Neuendorf. [Figure 5-1] On February 11th
Company C extended its front and relieved Company B, which moved into Division reserve at Wascheid
(one mile west of Auw).
Due to the terrible condition of the roads little advance was made and no relief of the forward
elements could be accomplished. Company A fired indirect, Company C continued to support the 345th
Regiment, and Company B continued maintenance of equipment and supplied men to help construct and
maintain roads. The Pioneer Platoon worked on roads and prepared alternate positions for destroyers.
The attack began again on February 26th, but moved very slowly because of the mud and mines.
During February the Battalion destroyed 1 half-track, 2 horse-drawn artillery pieces, 8 machine
guns, 5 pillboxes, fired 1605 rounds of 90mm in indirect fire.
On March 1st the 1st Platoon, Company A, with one platoon of tanks, formed two armored
groups consisting of two medium tanks and two tank destroyers. One group was led by the tank platoon
leader and one was led by the tank destroyer platoon leader. These two groups moved in support of the
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