General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

domitable courage and tenacity of purpose, fighting the enemy on the ground, in
the air, and shoulder to shoulder with the infantry during one of the most critical
jmctures in operations against the enemy in the Ardennes salient. The
heroisu~ and devotion to duty displayed by (he personnel of the entire 14.36 Antinirmzft
Artillery Gun Battalion was indicative of an esnrit de corm in keeping
with the highest traditions of thc armed forces of the United States. (General
Orders 206, Headquarters Sinth Air Force, 24 Sovember 1945.)
5. The 189th Rield Artillew Battalion is cited far outstanding performance of
duty in action against the enem1 on 13 Septemher 1913 at Saierno, Italy. During
the first bitter 4-day battle on 9-12 September 1943, for establishment of the
Salerno heachhehd, 8uccet;s of the rcnture had not as yet been assured. The
most critiral day of the entire operation came on 13 September 1943, when the
enemy launched its heaviest counterattacks. Success mas within the enemy's
. ernsv - when he annihilated infantrv elements holdine Ule vital Selc-Calore Rivers
corridor. The 189th Pihld A?tillery Battalion, in position near the junction of
the two rivers, stood alone between the stnmy enemy force and the hexci>es. -4s
the enemy moved to the attack, the 189th ~ ieM Artillerg Battalion formed a defensive
line manned by the antitank platoon, machine gunners, cooks, truck
driverr, ammunition handlers, drrlts, and spare cannoneers. The Germans
renchrd the river line and attavked in force with rifles, machine guns, mortars.
Lank firc, and artillery, but the lS!ltl~ Field Artillery Battalion held fast. From
1500 hours until dark (2200 hours), the enemy attacked contir~uously in an at-
Lempl to overrun the battalion's posilion, hut by grim delenninnlion and indomitable
fighting spirit, the battlrliou repulsed ail enemy assaults. The howitzer
crews delivered alnlast contin!aruS fire, mostly by direct lasing and at very close
range. By 2230 hours, the enemy admitted dei'ent and withdrew. The individual
courage, galbintry. and esprit de eorps dislliilyed by the officers and men of the
ISWL i"ie1.d Artilleru Bottal.trm exrm~lifg - the hiehest traditions of ti\e military
~
servire. Successful accomplishment of an infantry role by the battalion preveilled
a disastrous and eoluplctc break-thranph and made possible the ultimate
suercss of the Saienlo Campaign. (General Orders 812, Headquarters Seventh
Army, 16 October 1815.)
Br omen or TIIE SI:C~~~BY OF WAR:
O~FICI
LL: DWIGHT D EISEKIIOWER
CDWlRD H'. WITSELL Chzef of Bloff
Major Cfeaernl
The Adjutant aene+al