pushed on to Leugenfeld, four miles northeast of Treuen, where four light tanks were destroyed by a
75mm Jerry tank destroyer. The panzerjaeger was destroyed by Sgt.Chriske’s gun, Cpl. J. T. Wilson
gunner, and the Battalion took up a defensive position around the town.
On April 18th and 19th Task Force Sundt remained in place patrolling to the east. Enemy patrols
entered each of the company's areas, destroying one M-20 but sharpshooting by Sgt. Stella accounted for
the German leader. On April 20th the Task Force, less the Infantry Company, assembled in the vicinity
of Neuensalz. [Figure 8-7]
The dash made by this 2nd Task Force Sundt netted 109 miles and 1344 prisoners in nine days.
Once the break was made through the Jerry’s lines, the scene became a mad rush, fighting through or
bypassing defenses – speed was the watchword. To stop was to be pinned down; to continue was to
crush Jerry’s frugal attempts to delay and leave a string of dead Jerries and burning German vehicles
behind. The Germans had pitted the 11th Panzer Division, the so called “Ghost Division” in the 87th
Division zone to “stem the tide”, but to no avail. [Figure 8-8] The speed with which the Task Force
operated was too great to permit a defensive position to be properly set up. 2 tanks, 11 trucks, 4 half-
tracks, 3 armored cars, 6 wagons, 3 tractors, 3 motorcycles, 3-75mm guns, and 1-105mm gun were
destroyed in comparison with our losses of 1 tank, 2-M8’s, 1-M20, and 1 half-track.
During the two week period April 23-May 6, elements of the Battalion remained in defensive
positions, conducting maintenance of equipment. Very few changes of locations were made. On May
6th Task Force Sundt was dissolved; its mission completed. The battalion elements remained in
assembly positions near Neuensalz.
The most terrible war of all time was drawing to a close. Junctions between the Americans and
Russians were imminent all along the front. To prevent unnecessary casualties limiting lines were
established beyond which no one could advance. For the 87th Division it was the Mulde River. On May
6th the 347th and the 346th Infantry Regiments, with Companies A and C in support, advanced about
twelve miles east against slight resistance. On this drive Sgt. Charles P. Patnude, Company C,
encountered a very effective roadblock at the railway underpass in the vicinity of Falkenstein. Two box
cars had been removed from the railroad, placed across the road and covered by artillery, mortar and
machine gun cross-fire. Sgt. Patnude, taking his destroyer into the underpass, pushed the boxcars apart
so he could fire at the hostile machine guns. After knocking out the machine guns Sgt. Patnude and two
crew members, while still under heavy mortar and artillery fire, dismounted and hooked a cable from the
destroyer to the railroad cars and pulled them to the side of the road, enabling friendly troops to advance.
For his courage and leadership he was awarded the Silver Star. After reaching their objectives, patrols
were sent to the Mulde River taking hundreds of prisoners. On May 7th the Battalion CP,
Reconnaissance Company and Company B moved to Fredrucksgrun, four miles southeast of
Falkenstein. On the 8th and 9th Companies A and C assembled with the Battalion at Fredrucksgrun.
Peace had been signed. [Figure 8-9] A brilliant record was closed. The greatest of all wars was finished
and the lights went on again all over Europe.
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