appendix awards and decorations - The George C. Marshall ...

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS 193
to attempt a crossing immediately. At 2200 hours during a heavy rainstorm
a small patrol from Company F started across to see if the village
of Kochendorf was occupied, but the group was forced back by intense
small-arms fire. The bank was subjected to a four-hour artillery and
mortar barrage and again at 0200 hours the patrol started across. The
barrage had completely disorganized the enemy and the group reached
the far shore without meeting any opposition. The remaining elements
of the company quickly followed and occupied Offenau before the
Germans could reorganize and offer opposition. 'The next morning
both the 2d and 3d Battalions jumped off in the attack and after joining
at Neckarsulm continued on unchecked. After nine days of the
bitterest type of fighting, the heroism and courage displayed by every
member of the combat team resulted in the breaking of the enemy's
last organized defense line and the beginning of the onslaught which
culminated in the capture of Austria and the Alps.
3. a. Nature of the terrain: The terrain was rolling and open, ideally
suited for defense.
b. Enemy morale: Excellent
c. Morale of our troops: Excellent
d. Weather: Warm and clear during most of the action.
e. Time of action: 3-11 April 1945.
4. Casualties:
MIA-4 officers, 66 enlisted men.
KIA-4 officers, 50 enlisted men.
WIA-3 officers, 134 enlisted men.
5. Strength of enemy: One full division in the Heilbronn area.
6. a. Character of enemy fire: The enemy used 105 and 155mm
artillery pieces; 210mm rockets; heavy and light mortars; 20 and 40mm
flak wagons plus numerous machine guns and anti-tank guns. They
occupied high ground ahead of our forces and had excellent observation
over the area.
b. Apparent enemy intentions: This was the Germans' last organized
defense line and they intended to hold it at all costs.
c. Losses suffered by the enemy: 1,669 killed and wounded.
W. A. BURRESS,
Major General, U. S. Army,
Commanding