General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

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Ordej 160, Headquarters 86th Infantry Division, 1 May 1945, as approved by
the Commanding General, 36th Infantry Division.)
3. The 1st Battlion, 142d Infantry Regiment, 86th Infmtru Division, is cited
for heroism, gallantry, and ontstanding achievement in combat on 12 December
3 1944 at Selestat, France. The 1st Battalion was thinly spread on a broad front
in defense of the important communications center, Selestat. Just before
dawn, a heavy artillery concentration preceded a largescale enemy attack
against the city. During the bitter fighting which ensued, hostile troops gained
control of a factory area on the north'flank, seized a half-mile stretch of houses
in the northeast corner of the city, and succeeded in isolating small groups of
the battalion, While the isolated units foueht - valiantly to rep1 the attackers,
other units of the battalion counterattacked. Only by blasting each house with
tank fire and assaulting the strong paints with small arms, grenades, and bayonets
were the battalion troops ibfe to dislodge the Germans. The fight for
Selestat raged furiously throughout the morning, but by midafternoon the hostile
tIWODS were beinz - forced out of the cih. At the battle's end, the 1st BattaNon
had killed more than 200 enemy soldiers, captured 333 prisoners, and, including
others known to be wounded, inflicted a tptal of a~~roximately 700 easualties on
the attacking force estimated at 1,WO combat effec&v. The courage, individual
aggressiveness, and distinguished heroism displayed by the ofacers. and men
of the 1st Battalion, led Infantry Reomat, 36th. Infantry Ddvisia, resulted in
the repulse of a strong enemy attack which, ii successful, would have severed the
Strasbourg-Selestat highway and opened the way for an attack against the
rear of the Seventh Army. (General Orders 160, Headquarters 86th Infantry
Division, 1 May 1945, as approved by the Commanding General, 36th Infantry
Division.)
4. The Bd Battaldon, 1418: Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism,
gallantry, and esprit de corps from 7 to 19 December 1844 in France. During
the 14 days of this action, the Bd Battalion held the most important single terrain
feature on the exposed right flank of the 36th Infantry Division. The enemy
hurled thousands of rounds of artillery and repeated infantry assaults against
the battalion positions and each attack was thrown hack with disastrous losses.
On 12 December, the Germans infiltrated approximately 'iOO men to a point 2
kilometers behind the front lines and attacked the rear installations. By desperate
fighting, the headquarters personnel of this battalion drove the enemy
back and inflicted severe casualties. For the next 4 days, units of the battalion,
cut off on three sides, withheld all enemy assaults and prevented the Germans
from overrunning their positions. On 11 December, despite having lost 40 p&cent
of its flghting strength, the battalion launched a tank-infantry attack against
the center of German resistance. With outstanding aggressiveness, they successively
stormed the three towns from which the enemy had mounted his entire
offensive. The success of this brilliant attack, coupled with the overwhelming
easualties inflicted on the enemy, deflnitely ended the wemy's offensive capabilities
in the area. More than 600 prisoners of war were taken by the Sd Battalion,
l4let Infantry Reflimeat. 150 of whom were wounded, and at the conclusion
of the operation, moie than @XI eenmy dead were found in the battalion's
area. (General Orders 176, Headquarters 36th Infantry Division, 16 May 1945,
as approved by the Commanding General, 36th Infantry Division.)
5. The Sd Battalion, 48d Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism,
gallantw, and outstanding achievement in combat from 24 November to 3 Deeem:
ber I044 inFrance. Ordered to seke the vital German supply base of St. Marig
AQO 89246