General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

UEN~AL OBDW Wi4B DEPARTMENT
No. 1(Ki } WA~HIRO~A 25 D. C., 13 September 1918
Sectlon
SIGNAL COIWS PHOTOORAPHIC LIBRARX AND LABORATORY-Established
1 I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I
BATTLE HONORS-Citation of unit ........................................
I1
I..SIGNAL CORPS PHOTOGRAPHIC LIBRARY AND LABORATORY,-1.
Erective a6 of 1 GeDtember 1946, the Signal Cow9 Photographic Library and
Laboratory is established as a class I1 activity under juriadiedon of the Chief
Signal Officcr, in The Pentagon, Washington 25, D. C.
2. The Chief Slgunl Oftieer will transfer the necessary personnel, military and
civilian, from dellartmental to field status for duty in this activity.
[AG 020 (30 Aug48)l
II..IUTTLE HONORS.--4s authorized by Executive Order 9398 (see. I, WD
Bul. 22, 1948). suyerseding Executive Order mi5 (see. 111, WD Bul. 11, 1942).
citation of the following unit in the general orders indicated is confirmed under
the provisions of section IV, WD Circular 333, 1943, in the name of the President
of tile United States as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction. The
eitatian'Ceada as follows:
w e 1st Battalion, 890th Infantry Regiment, is cited for autstaoding Pevfonnnhce
in combat during the period 16 November 1944 to 17 November 1944, near
Ram L'Etnpe, France. Overlooking the important Muerthe River City of Roon
L'Etape, in the thickly forested foothills of the Vosges Mountains, is a hill-mass
known as Tete Des Reelos. This high ground, affording perfect enemy ohservation.
bnrred an assault uwn the vital eommunicatians city. On the rainy morning
cf 16 November. the 1s; Battalion launched an attack io clear the enemy from
tllese Gtrongly fortifled hill positions. Righting through the dense, pine forest
under intense enemy artillery, mortar, machine-gun and automatic-weapons fire,
the 1st Battalion, after 3 hours of effort, drove acrhss a trail circling the base of
the hiil-mass. A withering, 45 minute artillery preparation at this paint proved
ineffective against the deep, conerete- and log-covered enemy bunkers built into
rhe side of the hills, and It soon became evident that basic infantry assault was
the only feasible method for drivim the enemy from their pasitlona In a fierce,
close-in, small-arms fire fight, which increased in iury as they climbed the prc
cipitous slopes, the 1st Battalion wormed its way toward the top of Hill 462.8.
key to rhe enemy's defenses. Battling against fanatical enemy reslstanee, it
flnails reached the crest. Bitter, hand-to-hand tlghting developed as the enemy
hurled repeated counter-attacks against the inspired illfantrymen. Once the
1st Battalion was driven from the hilltop, hut rapidly regrouping, it regained its
positioos. At dark, the enemy finally withdrew. leaving the 18t Battalion in POW
session of high ground. Throughout, supplies had to be hand carried up the
Steep slopes under continuous enemy flre. Only the teamwork, coordination, and
determinatlon of all elements in the heroic 1st Battalion. made the success of thls
attack IMssible, opening the gateway through the Vosges Mountains to the Alaatlan
Plnins beyond. (General Orders 206. Headquarters, 100th Infantry Dlvislon,
OFarr11L : DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
H. B. LEWIS Chief of Staff
Brigadier General
Acting The AdjptQnt Genera
AGO 694-Sept. 705568'46
., 8 LOYIRYII#T IIIXIIm OIIICli 3-41