KASSERINE PASS BATTLES Readings - US Army Center Of Military ...

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Feb . 18, '43 . Koeltz to Allen; "This is a warning, General Anderson^ s just issued a directive
to Colonel Fechets' Regiment (the 16th Infantry Regiment) to go to Fredenall as soon as possible ."
(Referring to Gen . Fredenall . C .O . o f American II Coups) .
It was then urgently requested by Gen . Allen that this reinforcement to the II Corps, be provided
on a divisional basis . Instead of sending the 16th Infantry Regiment down (merely as another Task Force
component) .
Gen . Koeltz was requested by Gen . Allen to arrange for the movement of_ all available combat _elements
, of the 1st Infantry Division, to go as a unit , under 1st Division Command, to support the Ameri-
can II Corps, in Southern TUNISIA . Shortly thereafter, it happened that all available combat units of
the 1st Infantry Division were ordered to move without delay, (under _1st Division control , to support the
American II Corps . The 2nd Battalion of the 26th Infantry Regiment and the 5th Field Artillery Batta-
lion were left behind as a nucleus for the incoming French units, detailed to take over the OUSSELTIA
VALLEY Sector, which was to be vacated by the 1st Infantry Division . The OUSSELTIA VALLEY sector
was 80 miles NW of THALA .
An advance detail from the 1st Infantry Division, to include the Division Commander, the Division
G-2 (Lt . Col . R . W . Porter), the Assistant Division G-4 (Major Donald Curbs), and Assistant DivLzfon
G-3, and several liaison officers, left the OUSSELTIA VALLEY at dusk, on 18 Feb . , to contact the
Headquarters of the II Corps, in the HAIDRA-TEBESSA area, in Southern TUNISIA .
While enroute by motor to TEBESSA, early on 19 Feb ., '43, the Advance Command Group, of the
1st Division, met Gen . Fredenall (C .G . of the American II Corps) with his aides, on the road in motors,
near HAIDRA (24 miles northeast of TEBESSA) . Gen . Fredenall was cheerful and optimistic . He out
lined the latest developments at the KASSERINE PASS ; and stated that the 1st Division must be prepared
to counter-attack where needed . He directed that the 1st Division make early contacts with Gen . Welvert
(C .G . of the French Constantine Division, then located south of TEBESSA), and have him coordinate
his efforts with the 1st Division .
The 1st Division Artillery Commander, Gen . Clift Andrus . completed the turn-over of the 1st
Division Sector, in the OUSSELTIA VALLEY, to the incoming French units, on 19 Feb . ; and then
followed immediately thereafter with the designated combat units of the Division, to an assembly area,
southeast of TEBESSA, in Southern TUNISIA .
12 . Combat preparations initiated by the 1st Infantry Division .
Assembly areas were indicated for the incoming 1st Division Units, near BOU CHEBKA, west of the
KASSERINE PASS VALLEY .
That evening, on 19 Feb ., the C .G . of the 1st Infantry Division contacted the rear CP of the 33rd
Field Artillery Battalion, then In direct support of the American units, defending the KASSERINE PASS .
This CP was operated by Capt . Theodore Crocker . S-3 of the 33rd Field Artillery Battalion . Crocker
was not particularly worried, now that the remaining 1st Division units were on the way . He was a
unique type of combat soldier, and quite a "rustler' . He even produced Gen . Welvert (C .G . of the
French Constantine Division), at 22-00 AM, on the morning of 20 Feb .
Gen Welvert was a gallant old soldier . But, having had 10-15 years service, as a Major General,
in the French Army, he was very jealous of his prerogatives . He was not too sure but that he might be
"Having his leg pulled" . But he finally offered to have the French Constantine Division cooperate "full
out", with the 1st Division .
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