General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

weawns were destroyed or captured. The casualties of the battalion totalled 56
killed and 92 wounded. The tenacity and gallantry disglayed by the men of the
Sd B;ltfalion, 1st Infantry Regiment in holding a nxrow beachhead under constant
and accurate enemy flre and storming strongly defended &Us against the
fannLic and welirntrenehed rncm1 were in the highest traditions of the Americnn
soldier and reflect great honor on the United States Army. (General Orders
245. Headanarters 8th Infalltry Division. 30 Dec~mber l'J?R.l
3. The 60th Troop Carrier Group is cited for outstanding perCarmance of duty
in action against the enemy in the Mediterranam Theater of Operations from
28 March to 15 S~ptember 1944. In March 1Q44, when Allied missions, atteuptins
to organize effective fighting forces in Yngoslitvia, Greece, and Albania, called
for an immediate, substantial, and steady flow of desperately needed supplies,
this vital task was assigned to the 60th Troop Carvier Group. Overcoming almost
insurmountable obstacles in necoro~liahing this important assignment, the Goth
Troop Cn9r.ier Group distinguished itself through an outstanding performance
of duty clearly exceptional in its nature, method, and degree of achievement. All
mission8 had to be flown at night in unarmed and unarmored W 7 type alrcraft
over unfamiliar enemy occupied areas, where hostile anliairernft fire and night
fighters were expected and frequently encountered. Guided night after night by
skillful navigators to drop zones pinpointed amidst towering mountairla and
ridges, alert and proficient crews, tiying at dangerously low altitudes, released
packages containing carefully apportioned wpplies of arms, food, and mediciue
Displaying unfailing courage arid superior flying shllity, group pilots landed
skillfully on and took off in hours of darkness, often by instruments, from small
haStily improvised limding Strips hidden in deep valleys and under constant
threat of enemy ground action. Making more thnn 600 such hazardous landings,
airplanes of the 60th Troop Carrier Group unloaded quantities of critically
needed supplies too hulky for i~araehuting, including jeeps and mules, e~aeunling
on the return trig many Allied airmen, mounded partisans, and civiliau refugees.
From 28 Mnrch to 15 September, this group, flying more thnn 15,000 honru and
completing nearly 3,000 missions, delivered more tlmn 7,000 tans of weapons,
ammunition, clothing, food, and medicine, dropped millions of news and grallagmlda
Icaflets, and evacuated tllousanrls of military and civilian personnel.
Despite weather, tewain, enemy nieht tighters, antiaircraft are, and hostile
ground action, which together exacted a toll of 10 aircraft destroyed and 34
combat crew members killed or misuing, the tot?& Troop Cawier Woup steadily
maintained its resuwlv -- . service throuehuut - this neriod. succrsvfull~ sustainirlz
highly effective resistance in the Balkan areas. The gallantry, self-sacrifice, and
outstandine -. nroficienc~ in combat di?olased .. hv . the nersonnel of the 60th Troon
Cnwier G~oz~p in these operation^ reflect great credit on themselves and the
military Service of the United States. (General Orders 233, Headquarters
Twelfth Air Force, 12 Nowmber 1944.)
4. The 14Sd Antiairwaft Artillery 0u.n Battalion is cited for extraordinary
heroism in armed conflict with the enemy from 18 tu 24 Ikeember 1914. During
this period, the battalion was charged with the defense of an important Allied
city at the bexinning of the Ardennes counterattack. When the enems threatened
to engulf Nlied installations, the Mierrs and men of the 143d Antiairwaft Artillery
Gun BattaMon assumed an antitank role, successfully stemming a determined
enemy armored attack after adjacent infantry and armored units had been forced
to withdraw. Despite the sererity of the sttxk, the members of the 1436 Antzairnaft
Artzllery Qun Battalion remained steadfastly to their posts wilh in-
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