General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

Antltmc Compan?~. 330th Infantrll Regimat; and Mine Platom, Antitank
ComPanU, 380th Illlnntrv Re,qim.ent, are eited for outstanding performance of
duty iu armed conflict with the enemy from 9 Jalluary 1845 to 11 January
194.3. With its weary ranlrs depleted after a week of constant exposure to
severe cold, including 4 days of bitter fighting, the lat Battalion, together with
its supporting forces, was nssignedthe mission to seize and hold the town of
BihRin, Relgium, and protect the right flnnk of the 8% Infantry Division in
conjunction with the division's mission of cslablishing a bridgehead over the
Langlir Ronce River. Despite the handicap of deep snow and extremely low
temperatures, the assault companies of the battalion adranced over 000 yards
across flat, exposed termin. In the face of intense artillery, mortar, and
automatie-weapons fire, this battalion succeeded in driving the enemy from his
outpost positions east of Bihdn. after a night characterized by heavy enemy
~hellillg of the bitterly won position, the bnttalion resunled its attack on Bihain
at MSO hours, 10 Jmuary. Defending the town stubbornly, the enemy employed
tank, morl:ar, artillery, and auturnatic-weapons fire and fanatically held
their positions until either killed or overpowered by unrelenting pressure. Bemuse
of the exposed terrain, each house was an enemy fortificntion. Although
the enemy fire caused heavy cnsunltrs among the attackers, it resulted only in
an incrensed rtetermination within the ranlrs to secure the objective. Eracuation
of the wounded was extremely dimcult because of the inclement weather
cqnditinns, tlle nature of the terrain, and the fact that the enemy artillery cur7wed
every apirronch to the town with henry firc, On the morning of 11
Janua~y, the enemy curngietely blanketed the town with a 'h-hour artillery
barrage of great intcusity aiirl. at 09OO hours, an estimated force of 200 enemy
infantrymen supported hy fire tanks attacked the toan from the woods to the
south. Once again the let Battnlion displayed its indornitnblr tightiug spirit
and, ~lthoilgll outllumbel~ed, rose to r?ew heights in compl~t~iy halting the
cnemy attnck, The final asaault was crushed deriuively, the cncmy annihilated.
and the fivc tanks r:?strnyPd. In these 3 days of action the 1st Bnttelwrr sustained
130 ciisualtiei. agnir~st an estimated 525 for the enemy. Thus, :IS a result
of the uuswerving nggressivcness and outstanding courage of the men of the
1st HattoZion, 330th Infantru Rryim~zrt; Company C, 77611~ Tan?+ Battalion;
lrl l'latoon, Compuay B, WJth Tan!,: !:rsirourr Battnlio?i; 1st Platom,, Anti-
:en.k Compa~ry, YSO!ir Infrintry Regimeul; and Xine Platoon, drrtilw~k Compan.!/,
830th InfantYv Regiment, from 9 tllrough 11 January 1945, a fanatical
enemy vas dislofiged from the town of Bihain, Belgium, and the right flank
of the division was secured. The aggwssiveness and wperb cierotion to duty
disulased -. bs eacll m:ln of the 1st Ileltalion. 330th Illfantry Re.qiment, and its
~111)~ortilg forces :we in keeping with the finest traditions of the armed forces.
(D&erni Orders 22% H~wdquarters 836 Infantry Diuision, 3 So~mnher 1945, as
qlp~ored by rhe (!uukmmlding General, United States Army Forces, Nuroyran
Tilleater (Main) .I
4. The 1st Bettoliril~, M4th Zll?lfmlt,.y Regiment, and su~portir@ personnel of
the 3PGhh I'ieZrl Il-tilleru Battalion rind. Cmnon Company, 334th Infant?# Regimen&
are eited for extraordinary helmism and determined action against the
enemy in the drire from the Roer River to the Rhine River, 23 February4 March
1945. The 1st Buttalton, at 230330 February 1945, against positions well prepared
over an extensivc period uf time, launched the Ninth Army offensive by
crossing the roe^ in assault boats. Heavy enemy artillery fire resulted in direct
hits on the two boat.;. the loss of the hattalion commander, and the Ions of mans
engineer guides nud host perranilel; how-ever, the battalion completed the cross-
AGO 2888B