General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

the enemy's positions on another hill. This hill consisted of a series of steep
gullies and ridges approximately 800 yards long, running parallel to the trail
and south of it. Its commanding ground dominated over 1,000 yards of the trail
and, until secured, prevenied all forward movement. The Sd Battalion was
assigned the mission of capturing this hill and establishing a roadblock on the
trail from the south by this flanking movement. Again the battalion encountered
stiff enemy resistance in well-fortified and mutually supporting caves, machine-
gun . . illb boxes .and dur-in . sniuers. Accurate enemy indirect and point-blank
artillery subjected our troops to heavy fire. Once again the experienced assault
grouw burned, blasted, and fought their way through -. cacket after pocket of these
fortifed positions. Again demolitions, rocket launchers. flame throwers, pole
charges, close-iu fighting, and hand-to-hand combat wrested pasitions from the
tenacious enemy. In 4 days of ferocious nssaults, fortifications were rednced
and control of dominating hills established. When advanced elements af the
division found thelnselves isohled, because of cutting of their supply line, elements
of the Sd Battalion were rushed to that area, A new trail ms cut to tho
isolated elements and, in a series of bloody, savage attacks, they completely
annihilated the Japlnese blockading the old supply route. During this phase,
the enemy controlled a section of the Villa Verde Trail. A threc-way pincer
movement was initiated to eliminate this enemy group. Throughout this entire
phase, it was a case of engaging and destroying installations, caves, and pillboxes,
one by one. The fanatical enemy had to be killed to tne last man, each determined
to fight to the end. The onslaught of the American troops, closing from
511 sides, was so fierce that the spirit of the defenders of the Villa Verde Trail
was broken forever. During the above-mentioned period, the Sd Battalion killed
at least 741 Japanese, while countless others were smothered and buried in
caves. The indomitable courage of the Jd Battalim, 188th Infuntru Regiment,
and their aggressirenesa in battle against an enemy favored by both perfect
defensive tenain and oriental fanaticism were determining factors in the
conquest of the Villa VVele Trail. (General Orders 48, Headquarters 32d
Infantry Division, 28 February 1046.)
XVII-.MEDAL OF FREEDOM,-By direction of the President, under thc pro-
visions of Executive Order (1586, 6 July 1945 (see. 11, WD Bul. 12, 191.i), the
Medal Of Greedom for meritorious service which has aided the United States in
the prosecution of a war against an enemy during the period indicated was
awsrded by the War Department to the folioming-named individual:
Morris Berg, American civilian, rendered exceptionally meritorious services
Of high value to the war effort from April 1914 to Jnnuary 1%6. In a Position
of responsibility in the European Theater, he exhibited analytical abilities and
a keen planning mind. Mr. Bqg inscired both respect and constant high lerrel
of endeavor on the part of his subordinates, which enabled his section to pl.oduce
studies and analyses vital to the mounting of American operations.
XVIII..AIR MEDAL-So much of section V, WD General Orders 100, 1946, as
pertains to Captain Horace A. flteoenson, Air Corps, is rescinded.
BY OXDER OF THE SKCBETBBY OF WAR:
OwrordL : DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
EDWARD F. WITSELL Ohlef of islad
Xaiw (tenera2
The Adjutant Cfaneral