General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

enemy attackers was turned back by the Indontitable courace of the battallon'a
maciaine-gun plrrrsoua, nhiri. rufferd rxrrrnae cauu.~illrs ir, t1.e litter LIgbti~g
Over 2:fi Ccrman dead am. left on lie l,.rtrldwl~l after the engapemenr. The
td Bollalion then admncnl and achlercd a prominent terrain fearure near E~shu'eiier,
(:ermuny, and on the following &ly, under rclenrle% morrar and nrtilleq
fire, continued the drive to Heistern, Germany. Despite heavy losses, the Ed
Battalion drove forward untll 25 Novembr, when it captured an importaJIt rail
line near Weisweiler. Qermanv. . its flnal obleetive in the drive. During - the 8-
day period of sustained attack, the Pd BattaUon attained its objectives by driving
overwhelming enemy forces from well-dug-in strong - points and strategic psi-
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tions, infiicting severe casualties and destroying or capturing valuable equipment
The offensive broke a general stalemate, forced the enemy to retreat along the
entlre line. and enabled friendly units to resume their drive to the Roer River.
The combat skill, Indomitable courage, and grim determination displayed by the
o5cers and men of the ad Battalion. 16th infantrv - Reoiment - during - this critical
pe15ad reflect the highest credit on tbemselves and the armed forces.
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3. The Sd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding performance
of duty in action from 16 to 26 November 1944, inclusive. Originally
assigned the mission of reinforcing the assaulting battalion on Hamich, Germany,
the Sd Battalion. 16th Znfantrv - Reoirnent. - was committed Drematurelv wheo the
attacking forces met stubborn resistance and suffered severe casualties. Moving
to forward positions, on 10 November 1944, under heavy mortar and artillery flre,
the Jd Battalion attacked the following day and'reached the southern sector of
Hamich. In fierce house-to-house fighting, the enemy was driven from Hamich
and subsequently from a strategic knoll to the north. Repuivng a savage
counterattack, the battalion called for artillery fire upon its own positions to
destroy a large - mncentratmn of enemy tanks. After renulsine - a second
counterattack on 19 November, the Sd Battalion advanced and occupied the ridge
line north of Hamich, which it held until 2.3 November. During this oeriod, se-
derous enemy fire, captured its objective and repulsed three full scale counterattacks.
In so doing, the Sd Battalion skillfully accomplished its mission, thers
by enabling friendly units, held back because of disndvantaeeaus terrain and
fanatical opposition, to resume the general offensive through the Hurtgen Forest
to the Raer River. The 6ghting spirit, courage, and outstanding devotion to duty
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displayed by the 05cers and men of the ~dkattalion, 16th infantry ~egimmi,
reflect the highest credit on themselves and the armed forces.
BY OKImE OF THE SECBmm OF WBB:
Oamma~ :
EDWARD F. WITSELL
Major General
The Adjutant General
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
Chief of Staff
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