Luxembourg - Ardennes
With regret we pulled back over the hard won Saar River. With Major More and Captain
Williams riding the last vehicle to recross, on the 22nd of December. Due to the mounting German
offensive and break through in the Ardennes Sector, it became necessary that additional troops be
withdrawn, to stern the surge of Von Runstedt's crack Panzer Armies. And initially we settled and
prepared defensive positions its the Saar-Moselle Triangle. But the alert for movement came about noon
on a cold-cloudy sixth of January, and the Battalion moved out making a hazardous day and the
Battalion moved out making a hazardous day and night march over iced roads to Saeul, Luxembourg.
Throughout the next month, the 773rd was to encounter its bitterest weather in the mountainous snow-
blasted country of the little Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Mid-Winter with its heavy snow falls, knee
deep drifts, and biting winds that cut at men’s faces made the already difficult job of fighting much
tougher.
On the 9th of January the Battalion launched its attack against the terrain protected south flank of
the Enemy Bulge. Probably the hardest and most nerve wracking fighting in the Battalion's impressive
history was to follow. Counting as gains, the passing of snow drifts, the reduction of the bulge continued
despite the bitter weather. On the morning of the 12th, the 2nd Platoon of A Company, lead by Lt.
Richard D. Hagar, took the town of Doncols, and moved on to Sonlez there to contact the 357th Infantry
in that town. These towns were astride an important East-West road that the enemy planned to use as an
escape route. With the taking of 120 Prisoners, this action was successfully completed without Infantry
support late the same day. C Company was in position on the right flank, along the road leading
southeast into Wiltz when an enemy armored column began to withdraw along this route. In the ensuing
firefight that lasted all day, the enemy was cut to shreds by the accurate gunnery of the destroyers.
Three days later on the 15th, while helping to take the fiercely held town of Bras, Lt. John T.
McMahon, B Company’s 3rd Platoon leader, found himself in charge of Company E of the 358th
Infantry after all officers had been either killed or wounded.
Such was the opposition we met. On the 17th the decisive stand at Oberwampach took place. As
the Battalion pushed ahead the enemy tried desperately to dislodge our troops from this town. Savage
counter attacks by the elite 1st SS Panzer Troops aimed at the 90th Division positions in Oberwampach,
were repulsed time and again by the accurate 3 inch gunnery. Enemy tanks destroyed in these actions
brought the Battalion total to 102 marking the 773rd as the first American TD Battalion in any theater to
exceed the century mark.
After failing at an 0400 hour attack and having his four “tank probes” dispersed by B Company
guns, Jerry attacked in force with 10 to 12 tanks and supporting Infantry preceded by an intense artillery
barrage. Lt. Leon M. Wood commanding the 2nd Platoon of B Company, advanced on foot through the
artillery, mortar and automatic weapons fire to lead one destroyer into position. Directing fire from his
lone destroyer he kayoed 3 tanks. Two more tanks became smoking torches before the action subsided
and the determined enemy tried again. This time he made a flanking movement at 1330 hours, sneaking
3 Mk V’s and a battalion of Infantry in from the South. Having already directed our Infantry where to
deploy in order to meet the attack, Lt. Wood together with S/Sgt. Pitcher, crawled up to a bank of the
road and spotted the enemy tank positions. They then crept back to lead a TD into position. Two tanks
were destroyed and the third knocked out. The TD then circled to enter the town from the southwest.
The wounded were helped back to another destroyer next to a building. The enemy tank continued to
fire at this TD and set the building on fire. Unable to reach the remaining tank and surrounded on three
 |
 |
 |