arms and artillery fire. Disregarding his own safety, 2nd Lt. Grant W. Claymore dashed through the
mortar, artillery and machine gun fire to the burning destroyer, climbed inside and rescued his gunner.
Returning again to the destroyer which was now aflame with burning ammunition he rescued another
man. For his courageous action and extraordinary heroism Lt. Claymore was awarded the Distinguished
Service Cross. The support lent by the TD’s enabled the infantry to take the town with very few
casualties.
Company C, with the 345th Infantry, moved through Crawinkel, Plaue, Reinsfeld and
Neiderwillingen. The 346th Infantry relieved the 345th, Company C passing to the 346th. By evening
the Task Force and the Regiments held a line generally from just outside Stadtilm southwest to
Angstadt, a distance of seven miles.
On April 12 the 1st Company attacked Stadtilm from the north and the 2nd Company attacked
from the west. The 346th Infantry with the 1st and 2nd Battalions abreast (not part of the Task Force)
attacked south of Stadtilm to seize and hold the high ground southeast thereof. All bridges across the Ilm
River were known to have been blown with the exception of the main highway bridge, which was not to
be blown until the Americans approached. The attack developed with such speed that the bridge was
captured intact together with the entire company left behind to defend it. The 3rd Battalion of the 346th
Infantry followed the 2nd Company into the town and occupied it.
The 1st and 2nd Companies moved across the bridge and proceeded to the high ground to the
east and beyond, passing through Großliebringen and Kleinliebringen. Advancing through Solsdorf,
Thalendorf, Kerlau. and Eichfeld toward Rudolstadt, the Task Force met some resistance. Dive
bombing by P-47’s was used on enemy in Ehrenstein with good results. The 2nd Company encountered
abatis on the southwest approaches to Rudolstadt, but reduced these with the help of the Engineer
bulldozers. There they encountered heavy small arms and bazooka fire, which destroyed one M-8 but by
nightfall had taken the southwest part of the town. The 1st Company moved to Schaala and attacked
Rudolstadt from the west in conjunction with the 2nd Company’s move to attack, but encountered a
defended roadblock and lost a tank to bazooka fire. The 3rd Company moved up to the left of the 2nd
Company in Rudolstadt. During the afternoon the air support strafed the high ground to the east and the
enemy in the town.
Company A, supporting the 347th Infantry, advanced south of the route taken by the Task Force
to Bad Blankenburg meeting little opposition.
Company C, with the 346th Infantry, aided in the capture of Stadtilm and then advanced on the
left and echeloned to the rear of the Task Force. They stormed Remda, overcoming small arms and
artillery fire, and entered Eichfeld, three miles west of Rudolstadt. The 2nd Platoon, supporting the 2nd
Battalion 346th Infantry, closed on the Task Force’s CP.
The following day the Task Force continued their attacks on Rudolstadt in conjunction with the
2nd Battalion 346th Infantry, trying in vain to capture an intact bridge across the Saale River. Reaching
the river after overcoming small arms, bazooka and sniper fire, they found the bridges had all been
blown, as had all the other bridges in the division sector. The Task Force assembled 3000 yards
northwest of Saalfeld prepared for immediate movement to take the high ground in the vicinity of
Possneck, twelve miles to the east.
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