General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

enemy in thriv fos holes and trenchcs and knocked out mnebine guns and flak
towers io dose combnt milh small arms, knives, and grerisdes, Lhereby permitting
the Su~cessiul crossiug of the succeeding waves. after this gallant assault, the
battalion swung in a wide arc to the northeasr against stmng opposilion and
COmpietely contained the defending enemy fol'ers nt the northern approaches
to the bridge. By IS40 hours, the r;rilroad bridge was taken, and 2 hours Inter,
all enemy resistance in the bridgehead was eliminated and the highway bridge
was captured before it could be destroyed. The armor of the British Second
AI.UIY was thns elmbled to cross the Waal River and continue to the relief of the
British airborne at Amhem. In this ma,nnificcnt accomplishment, the men of
the Sd Baltaliofl, 504fh Pnmchute lnfanlry Regiment, 89d Airhorm Dicision,
conducted thcmsclces with hcroism, gallantry, and daring in keeping vith the
highest traditions of the United States armed forces.
3. The 47th Infantry Eegiment with the following artached units:
84th Field Artillery Battalion:
Compnny B, 9th Medieab Battalion;
Company B, 15th Engineer Battalion;
Company A, 746tl8 Tank Battalion;
Con~oanu . - 0. 898th Tomli Deatvouer Batlalion.
These units distinguished themselves by extraordinary heroism and outstnnding
werformanee Of duty -. in ~iillantlg holdinp and extendillgthe imrrortant Kemagen
bridgehead over the Rhinc River in Germany from 8 to 19 March 1945. The
47th Infantrl, Regiment, and attached units, were ordered on 7 JIarcb 1945 to
cross the Lndendorf Bridge aver the Rhine, which bad been spized intact by
elements of the 9th Armored Division. The 2d Rnttnlion, 47tR I*lfanfrg Regiment,
arrived at Remagen early on 8 %larch and immcdinteig crosscd the river.
Conlmitted to acLion at once, it pxssed through Ovsberg and nltaeked toward
B~.uchhaUSen, where nli resisrance was ovetmxnr. The remainder of rile reziment
moved swift? across the river during the day. Thc 1st I3attalion seized Scheuren
and the 3d B:rltalion took Ohlenbcrg, where some of the stiffest resislcnce in the
bridgehead was drreloped bg tanks, self-~iropellcd guns, and well-organized
enemy infantry. All bnltnlions wcre immediately eounteri~ttackcd, bur these
snwge thrusrs by the enemy mere amaslied after bitter fighting. Committed in
thc center of the bridgehead, the 47th Infrrnlr~ Rcpirne?zt Kaa the first eom~,lete infantry
regiment to cross the Riiine. It mas to maintain its foothold and attack
to the east. northeast. and southeast to deemn the vital bridrchead - and nrotect
the catremel~ importnm I,~~clendori crossing. The infuriated enemy, who by this
time had recorered from lhe initial surlxise oi the crossing, rcactcd savagely ro
the thrust of Germans. On 9 >larch, the regiment eontinucd the atrack mstward
against the pioiclit resistance of a determined eneluy, ampig sopport& by
artillery, tanks, and sclf~propclle~l guns. nach gain was sobicct to numerous
~ounternLLacks. Irrtiigrated exmy unils, iriCludillg thc 11th PBLIL~~. Division,
were thrown at Lhc Bridgeilend, and tllcy coneenrrated much of lhcir Imaer in
Ihe center against the 47th Infantq! Rcyiment. Althou~i, constant enemy
eaunterattncks made icst iiuijosriblc, thc rcgiment slowly but sureiy cut its way
forward over the hilly, wooded termin. Infnutrymcn dcstrngi-d tanks, captured
guns, overran antiaircr;~lt ~uus, and b~ 16 &fare!,, had forced the enemy out of
Piotseheid, after bloody uousc-to-housc fighiiug. Alluwiilg the Gcrroans nu time
ior rcst, the regilllent continued artnckmg '~ud Look Vcttieschass, building by
building, and pri.ssf.8 eouri:geonsly iorwurd against wer increasing resistance
to seize Hrrhnei. Wiuuilj-, tlie nntobnlin was reached aud tile initial bridgehead