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On 82 ebruary, ti ttloa tpav! bsigm a 'oreah that ve to take them
112 miles to oaisin, Belgtua, and theon to Diwgne, closig& into the latter on
23 February at 124. From the 24th tz 27th of February, 40 now sets of tracks
were received and installed. Five IAA tanks were turned in and the now J
45eton Perhings wore received for the lt plibon of OA. These new tanks
were picked up as the outfit moved through Aachen on tin 28th, on the way to
cross the Roe River to tin vicinity of Seller.
Immediately upon arrival at Soller, Germa, at 17 houre, the compaqr
commanders were cailed together and a combat ordear was issued. Three task
Throes mere formed for the purpose of capturing the towns of Xuddersheim,
Disternich, and Severnioh, all located on the offel River. The cumposition of
the task forces (known as A, I, and 0) vas:
IAN,_____AiTAMK FOROVIS TALF..QRQEQ'0
fmpany A, 14th Tank ompaq 3,#14thaT In Compaq 0, 14th Zank In
Oompany A, 27th A.I.B. Compary B, 27h ABe. Oompa 0 , 27th A.I.3.
Flat. Jo B, s9th a n flat 0o 3, 9%th Sra IR Plat 0o , 9th im In
Qoumpaq D of the 14th was given the mission of soreening the attack by
taking up position on the right flank A reonmsn nee unit of 00 B had
previously reported the town of froitzheim to be clear of emw troops, s Oo
3 moved out ahead of the attack to take up their position. As the ospazy
approached the town (Froitbeim) and when the lead tank wae within 200 yards
of the first building, four ene4y AT gu s .uddenly opened fire on the eolum.
The order to withdraw was gliven, but before it could be acomplis3hed"one tat
was struck and the entire rev lost. A seoand tank beou wmired in the mud and
the crew brought under semll arms fire as tiny attempted to evacuate. A third
tank was hit by AT fire, bringirn the total casualties to seven killed and
two wounded.
j The position of the AT guns was given to the mortar pitoon leader, Lt.
Gtq ft. Oopeland, and he immediately laid down fire in an attempt to help the
wounded men return to our lins. Two men did return and were evacuated.
At this time, sTdI t e a and I were re-routod to go t hre Veittweie,
and from there to proeed on their mssion.
The hree task forces enouvtered heavy tt~fis but no opposition as they
moved to their objectives, At 230, ?ask Force 0 had reached their objective,
and was outpodting it in preparation of building a bridge across the Neffel
River. Task Ford* A had been halted at 2005 by order from 00 ' 3
At this tima few ditfioulties were nocoumuewet. The engineer officer
with Threae 0 rerte d he did not have the man or equipment to rlde the rime.
But by 074,, on I Matrob, th. town of )tdesheim was cleared of enemy and the
bridge building began. After addtiousl mterital was retyed, it was completed
At 02%0 hours, Compaq 8 encountered booby traps while moving through
Sievernaich. Th itantry dismounted and moved through the town, locating one
CT gte. Several ememy prisowers were captured, and patrols searched for a
bridge site. *k 091, the eampaz had crossed the heffel and held the exist ing
bridge.•
In the meantime, Oomparq A had received orders to continue on their mission
and at 0130 reached their objective end .ent infantry patrols into the town of
Disternich. Afw £ minutes later, ena artillery began to fall on their
positions, and the eompaq returned it uing the 70 with ComWaq O. just at
dawn, a mall amount of AT tire was reeived, but wt sone silenced. At 0m
the compaq attaehedJstwuich in force. _