General Orders 1946 - Fort Benning

causing extenslve damage and destruction, starting 6 large and 3 small fires in
the basin area. Two bombs struck submarine sheds, and one string of bombs
hit a quay along the edge of the bssln. Fires were sisihlc for half an hour after
the Liberators had left the tnrget.area. The superb courage and daring of the
air crews in fighting their way thruufih hcavy eneuly oppaitiou to complete thls
extremely long and hazardous mission, and the esccptional skill and tireless
devotion to duty of the memhrrs of the ground echelon who carried out the pre
mission exwriments alld rendird the bombers for the strikc are in keeping with
the highest traditions of the United Slates Army Air Forces. (Gerwal Order8
2186, Headquarters Far East Air Forces, 10 Xormthev 1945, a8 approved by
the Commander in Chief, United States Army Forces, Pacific.)
22. Company 0, 8% Chemical Mot'ta,' Baltdion, is cited for outstanding performanrc
& dots il, action against the enemy from 10 to 27 Srpten~ber 1913, near
Chluuzi PBSS, Itniy. This company landed at Jlauri, Italy, with the Ranger
Force on the night of September 8 and 9, 1913. with the mission of seizing the
high ground coutrollillg Chilinzi Pass and of securing the lcft flank of the Fifth
Army. The holding of this position was vital for flank security, for obserrntioo
on the plains of Naylcs, and for observation on Germar~ supply routes and eommunication
lines to the Salerno battlefront. During this period, Cm%pnll.y C
exhibited unusunl gallantry arid determination in manhnndling mortars and sup
plies to mountain tops. The men morked continuously, night and day, kceping
the unit supplied. Mortar crews were cut down to one and two men per gun,
and the remaining men fought wiih the Rangers and went on combat patrols.
Subjected to almost continuous mortar and artillery flre, and rcpatedly attacked
by a determined, numerically superior enemy, Compmfl C maintained
extremely heavy fire and filled in all gaps in the Ranger line. Compew 0 men
fought side by side with the Rangers, using their automatic weapons and
grenades lrith devastating effect. Compo:~y C motsr fire was of llecessity
brought to within 50 yards of friendly unit:s as seven major counterattacks were
repelled during the period, and numcrous enenly patrols mere sl.opped, often in
bitter, close-in fighling. Compan,g 0's mortars kept the German Army mpply
route under continuous effectire fire, although the suppiy route mas 2,000 yards
beyond the authorized range. The men aud offi:!ers of Cmpm~y C, 8Sd Chemical
Xortar Battuiiom, displayed extraordinary delermination in supplying their
mortars, which werc nL the top of the mountain, with ammunition nlld spare
mortar parts. Despite limited fond and water supplies, and the continuous
nature of enemy fire and activity, this company maintained its courage aud
determination thruugbout an exteudctl orlslaught by an enemy determined to
wipe out its pmitima and made possible the silccessful accomplishment uf a vttal
mission. (General Orders 647, Headquarters Seventh Army, Western Military
District, 16 Kovember 1945, a8 approved by the Commanding General, United
States Armv Forccs. Eurouean Tilearn. lMain1.1
23. Company L, 180th Infantry Regiment, is cited far outstanding performance
of duty in action against . the enemy on 19 and 20.4~ril1945 in Nurnbere. -. Germany.
After two infantry eompauies, ottac1:ing a well-fortified castle guarding the npproaches
to the walled "Iuner~City" of R'urubcrg, had beeu stoplled by fanatical
enemy resistance, Company L was conlmitted in nu attempt to clear the enemy
from the castle. When two frontal assaults were repulsed, Compa?zy L maueurered
around the lcft flank of the area in an effort to gain entrance to the castle.
Infiltrating into the walled city, Com%pmy L met a deadly hail of fire emanating
from a museum to its rear. One platoon sent to clear this resistance was twice
AGO 2989B