General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

proved by the Commnnding General. Third United States Army and Eastern
Military District.)
8. The 3d Battaliorb, 137th infantrv Regiment, is cited for outstanding prformance
of duty in action againat the enemy in France from 18 to 21 November
1934. On the morning of IS November 1944, the Sd Battdion, 137th InfantvU
Regiment, launcheil an attack toward high . - ground nnrth~easr of Harprich. as
Dart of tile 35th Infanrry Division offensive designed to break the winter offerrrive
line established by the Germans on the axis uf Nancy. Sarreguemines, and
Mannheim. The iirst objective was seized nt 0916 tamns, aftcr the hattaliun
had forded an icy stream and had driven through barbed Kire entanglements
at tile muddy upproaches to thc town of Beiling. Pausing momentarily, the
troops pmsed 011 11ndcr increNSingly accurate shellfire, across open terrain, nud
entered the towrl of Bistrofl. Bitter houw-tn-llunse fighting ensued, until 1230
bourn when possession of the town was sri-urnd. Marshy ter~~in in tbat vicinity
defied all efforts to move either track or wheeled vehicles. In anticipation of
an attempt to retake Bistroff, antitank mines were hand carried under eovcr
of darkness and plamrl astride the two roads lending into the towo. At NO0
19 November, Company K launched an attack on Hiil 315, thc outstanding terrain
feature in this arca, studdea with gun emplacements which denied the use of
nearby roads to our forces. Pimultnneuusly the G~rmaus cuuntcrattaeked che
town of Bistroff in compnny strength, suiworted by two Mark Y Panther tanka.
Roth tauks were dimbled by the well-plated antitank mines, and the 9d Battalion
riflemen, witil artillery support, placed withering fire among the enemy rnnks,
stalled the enemy attack, gradually turuerl it, and forced lhr Germans back with
heavy casuaU.ies. In the meantime, Company K achicveil a tactical surprise
and, SUpportCd by a heavy nlachiue gun plntoon, stormed the dug-in positions on
nil1 315. The capture of this hill pierced the errerriy defense line, and enabled
armor and other units on the right to advance and seizc Gros-Tenquin. At WDO
20 Kuvemher, the Sd Battaliox uiored toward the enemy stronghold of Areybouse,
across soggy terrain and under artillery and mortar fire, seized several
intervenirrg fortifi2d positions, and that afteruoon laulrched an attack which
carried into the outskirts of Freybouse. The enemy reacted t;trongly wltb well
organized counterattacks. By nightfall, one platoon of Conlpany K was established
in s group of houses in the town. Other units of the Sd Battalion, sup
ported by two tank destroyers, attacked at (MOO the following morning, advanced
rel~ltlessly across an open field swcpt by machine-gun fire, joined tbe platoon
already in the town, and, without respite, proceeded to drive the bitterly resistirrg
Germans from Preyhouse, thereby eliminating the last major ohatacle before
Sarresuemines. Tlie extraordinary heroism, exemplary endurance, and teamwork
displayed by the members of the 3d Battalion,, 137th Infantry Reyiment,
fighting undcr adverw circumstances against a determined and resourceful
enemy, are in accordance with the hizhmt traditions of the military service.
(Gene@ Orders 56, Headquarters 35th Infanrry Division. Camp Breckinridge,
~en&x$, G November 1945, as a ~~rored by the Commanding General, United
Stortes Army Forces, European Theater (Main) .)
:'9. The dd Battalion, 330th Infantry Eegimwtt, is ciled for outstanding per-
. formance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy. On the. morning of the 10th
December 1944, from an assembly area near Grosshan, Germany, the battalion
attacked with the mission of capturing aud securing tbe town of Stmss, Germany,
and lhus permitting the 5th Armored Division a ~ilace of debouchment
from the lfurtgen Forest in its drive to the Roer River. Taking advantage of
hrlmess, the battalion entered the town of Slrass, completely surprising the
AGO 2S89B