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in Oppenheim and Nierstein. The first of these attacks occurred at 0600 hours when 12 German fighters
appeared to climax an hour-long enemy SP shelling of Oppenheim Crossing site, while troops on the 3rd
Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, were attempting to load into assault boats and paddle across the river.
Enemy aircrafts dropped bombs along the river and attempted to machine gun troops and installations,
while they themselves were under constant automatic weapons and anti-aircraft fire. One bomb struck
the 3rd Battalion rear CP in Nierstein wounding Lt Bishop, Battalion Commanding Officer, and
wireman Pfc Burrell, both of whom were laying wire."
"Across the river and inland B Company was meeting with intense small arms and bazooka fire
as it drew to within 300 yards of Geinsheim. A Company, committed to take the right flank of the town,
met with lighter resistance. The German arm-band Volksturm joined the Wehrmacht troops in
defending the town, but these only afforded token resistance and either slipped away or gave up as
prisoners or hid in cellars until captured. S/Sgt Charlie L Houston, acting 3rd Platoon sergeant of B
Company together with Lt Laurel Venters, coordinated a successful attack on the enemy who was in
position on the Geinsheim canal. Aptly termed "Walking Death," marching assault fire was vigorously
employed by riflemen of the platoon and enemy troops along the canal were split into disorganization by
the relentless advance. S/Sgt Thomas C McCrystal, D Company section leader, repaired a jammed
machine gun while under heavy fire. He then moved up to where the riflemen of B Company were dug
in, and personally opened with continuing and devastating fire, which eventually provided assault
troops with an opening through which one entry into Geinsheim was affected. S/Sgt Dexter
Cunningham, whose D Company heavy machine-gun section was attached to A Company, also
performed nobly. He previously had suffered three separate wounds from an exploding Panzerfaust. He
refused evacuation and insisted on participating in the Geinsheim attack, during which he personally
positioned and directed invaluable covering machine-gun fire, immeasurably contributing to the attack.
He was evacuated only when the town was completely clear. Lt Venters cut down a German with
tommy-gun fire while dodging a potato-masher. Pfc Frank Benedict, a BAR man, killed an enemy
machine gunner with a burst and took the balance of the crew prisoners with another burst. The entry
into town was gradual, but by 0900 hours all enemy resistance collapsed. A and B Companies outposted
forward and ferreted prisoners from houses, basements and public buildings. By 0945 23rd March 45
the Battalion had taken Division Objective No 1, Geinsheim, together with more than 150 prisoners, B
Company taking approximately 100, and A Company capturing 50. At this moment, supporting armor
of Company A, 737th Tank Battalion, was being ferried across the river – on their way to Geinsheim to
assist the 1st Battalion in an attack on Wallerstadten. ..."
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