General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

close-in fighting continued, with the battalion's automatic weapons taking heavy
toll of the nnmcrically superior enemy. In the light of dawn, ihe antitank guns
destroyed the remaining enemy vehicles and a counterattack by Company I3
destroyed or drove out the remaining enemy in the battalion defensive area. At
nDproximately 0000, two platoons of tanks returned to assist in mopping up. Upan
their reaching the road block, enemy mortars and artillery opened up with
renewed energy, intiieting heavy cnsunlties on troops and immobilizing two
tauks, one of which burned completely. Upon order of tho acting battalion
commander, tlle tanks withdrew and an urgent call was sent for ambulances
nud mcdics. These were dispatched, but could not reach the battalion road
lhck because of intense artillery and mortar fire. The battalion remained in
position under this continued pounding and repulsed sewral small counterattacks
throughout the morning. At 1230 hours, the order to withdraw was received
and, still under heavy fire, the battalion effected an orderly withdrawal, taking
their wounded with them. During this comgiete engagement, the battalion cap
tnred anrl destroyed large stores of food and ammunition in 3 dumns between
Bobonan and Sison, destroyed 8 al.tiilery pieces \I-ith caissons, 2 tracked prime
movers, 1 staff car, 1 armored car, and 12 horses and carts. Cncmy casualties
were over GOO dead and an undetermined numhcr wounded. The battalion casual-
ties were 3 officers and 25 enlisted men killed, 2 otlicers and 109 enlisted men
wounded. 3 enlisted men missinc, and 2 enlisted men injmcd. Battalion strength.
been in continual contact with thc enemy since 9 January 1845, and had suffered
heavy previous losses. The cold courage and fighting spirit exhiljited by the
Bd Battalion, 169th infantry Regiment, ~~nder the mast hazardous of conditions,
won the admiration of all those to whom they set their inspiring example of
alla an try and was in keeginr - - with the hishest traditinns of the military service.
(Gcncral Orders 408, Headquarters 4% Infautry Division, 1 July 1045, as approved
by the Commander in Chief, United States Army Forces, Pacific.)
4. The 530th Bom8ardrnent Group (VH) is cited for outstanding performance
of duty in armed conflict with the enemy. Alerted to prepare a maximum number
of B-29 aircraft for a daylight precision attack against the high priority and
heavily defended Nnkjima~Musashiuu aircraft plant, located an the outskirts of
Tokso, the determined ground ercws worked tirelessly day and night to bring
the bomhers to peak mechanical condition. On 8 August lM5, 30 ~uperfortresses.
heavily loaded with high cxplosives, took off on the hnznrdous 1,CiOO-mile flight
to the Japanese mainland. Through dangerous tropical weather, the intrepid
air Crews flclv over the long stretch of open sea between their base on Gnnm and
the enemy homeland to reach thc assembly point. Forming into battle position
rnpidly, they approached the target at medium altitude through clrnr weather,
which favored the antiaircraft defenses clustered along the route. -4 blanket
of intense, accurate flak spread over the objective, increasing continually
throughout ibe bomb run. Fink fragments tore through every airplane iu the lead
squadron, 21s well as many aircraft in the following squadrons. The lead and
deputy lead aircraft suffered major battlc damage. Undeterred by this flerce
opposition, the courageous crewmen of the 330th Bom~ardment Group (VII)
pressed on determinedly to brave the withering onslaught and released their
bombs squarely on the fnctory. Seventy-six percent of the bomb load was pinpointed
within 1,000 feet of tlle designated aiming point, causing great destroction
to the vitally important objective. After bombs away, the group fought
AGO 3512B