134th Infantry Regiment"All Hell Can't Stop Us" |
DECLASSIFIED
Authority
735017
By IM NARA,
Date 4/1/06
Auth: CG 35th Inf Div
Initials RGC
Date 11 Nov 44
HEADQUARTERS 320TH INFANTRY
APO 35 U S ARMY
2 November 1944
SUBJECT: Action
Against Enemy, Report After.
TO : The
Adjutant General, Washington, D. C. (Thru Channels)
1. Following
report covers the period 1 October 1944 to 31 October 1944 inclusive.
At the
beginning of the period the 320th Infantry was in position in the vicinity of
Foret de Gremecey, the 3rd Battalion on a line
extending from 050262 to 057265, the 1st Battalion at a point from 053255 to
053250, and the 2nd Battalion was in the vicinity of 040240. On
1 October 1944,
pursuant to Division order, the Regiment attacked to secure the eastern edge of
that forest. The action was coordinated with the 6th Armored Division which
attacked the enemy positions on both sides and to the front of the Regiment.
Coordination with the 137th Infantry was also effected to secure the edge of the
forest in its area. Restrictions on use of artillery were lifted and for this
action the artillery had unlimited use of ammunition to support the action.
Company B, 86th Chemical Battalion, attached to the 216th Field Artillery
Battalion, was also in support. The attack jumped off as planned and after sharp
fighting the area was cleared of enemy troops, with the northern and eastern
edges of the forest taken and secured. Our troops continued to hold these
positions until
4 October 1944. On that date, the regiment in addition to its
assigned area, took over the defensive sector occupied by the 2nd Battalion of
the 137th Infantry; the 2nd Battalion of the 320th completing the relief of the
unit at 1835. At 2400 on
4 October 1944 the defensive positions for the 3rd
Battalion were from 043263 to 056256, with the 2nd Battalion from 056256 to
058233, and the 1st Battalion in reserve in the vicinity of 025254. On the night
of
5 October 1944, the regiment assumed responsibility for the sector previously
occupied by the 1st Battalion, 137th Infantry, extending from 058233 to
approximately 053196. The 1st Battalion, 320th Infantry, occupied this area,
completing the relief during the morning of
6 October 1944. The regiment
continued to occupy and improve these defensive positions. On
11 October 1944
the regiment assumed responsibility for guarding and securing all bridges in the
area of Pettoncourt. The Regimental CP was located at Bioncourt from
1 October
1944 to 15 October 1944 when it displaced to Attilloncourt, a distance of 1.7
miles. There was no change in the disposition of the troops. On
16 October 1944
coordination was made with the 328th Infantry, 26th Division, on the right
including wire communications and mutual patrolling between that unit and the
1st Battalion of our regiment. On
17 October 1944 the 2nd Battalion completed
readjustment of its lines with Company F and Company G occupying the entire
front of the Battalion sector and Company E in reserve at 053247. The 3rd
Battalion was on the line with one platoon of I Company in reserve, and the 1st
Battalion had all companies on the line. The regiment continued to hold
defensive positions established on the first day of the period with patrols to
the front and to the flanks during the hours of darkness on each day. On
24
October 1944, the regiment was relieved in the defensive positions in the Foret
de Gremecey by the 134th Infantry and moved back to positions in reserve. The
2nd Battalion and the 3rd Battalion moved to forest areas west of Brin sur
Seille. The 1st Battalion moved to a position in the vicinity of Gremecey and
remained as a reserve for the 134th Infantry. The Regimental CP displaced from
Attilloncourt to Brin sur Seille, a distance of 2.5 miles. Upon moving into
reserve, however, the regiment assumed responsibility for securing and guarding
the bridges in the area of Brin sur Seille. All bridges had been prepared for
demolition. The regiment continued to occupy these positions to the close of
period. During this time activities included range firing, checking of all
clothing and equipment, ordnance inspections of vehicles and resupply.
2. Mission:
Mission of the 320th Infantry throughout the period was to secure and defend the
Foret de Gremecey.
3. Information
of the Enemy: At the beginning of the period the enemy expended a considerable
amount of artillery and mortar used with effect against our troops in the Foret
de Gremecey. Aside from the use of the ordinary type artillery, the firing of
large caliber artillery shells was noted, together with 120 mm mortar. The enemy
during the period had set up stabilized defense lines to our front. The
efficiency and morale of the enemy troops were very good.
4. Decision on
Tactical Maneuver: In actions during the month tactical decisions were designed
to conform with directives of higher commanders, plan of execution being matters
of normal decisions.
5. Units Used:
During the period, the First Battalion was in command of Major Walton, then
Captain, Battalion Executive Officer, who assumed command of the unit when the
Battalion Commander, Major Gillis, was killed in action. He remained in command
until 5 October 1944 when Major Frank Waring, former Battalion Commander,
returned to duty and was reassigned to the command. The Second and Third
Battalions were commanded by Lt. Col. Warren T. Hannum and Lt. Col. Joseph
Alexander, respectively. Special Unit Commanders were Captain Edmund R. Casey,
Headquarters Company; Captain Paul H. Heil, Service Company; Captain A. D.
Wilson, Anti-Tank Company; First Lieutenant E. Cammack, Cannon Company, and
Major L. A. Smith, Regimental Medical Detachment. The regiment was commanded by
Colonel B. A. Byrne, Lt. Col. William F. Northam was Executive Officer. The
Regimental staff consisted of Major H. V. Hughes, Major T. P. McElroy Jr., Major
G. W. Jamieson, and 1st Lt. Milton Ginsburg, S-4, S-3, S-2, S-1, respectively.
6. Weapons
Used: Small arms, grenades, mortars, artillery, tanks and tank destroyers.. For
a short time the regiment also had the support of 4.2 chemical mortar company.
7. Artillery,
Tank and Air Support: The artillery support during the time ample ammunition was
available was excellent. For most of the period artillery support was hampered
by the restricted use of ammunition, with plainly adverse effect upon our
action. Tank support at the beginning of the period was excellent. Tanks were
available during the balance of the period, but were used on secondary fire
support missions, supplementing the limited artillery fires. Tank destroyers
were also used in a supporting role for firing missions ordinarily assigned to
artillery. The unit had periodic air cover throughout the period.
Fighter-bombers effectively attacked enemy rear and some forward installations
and also broke a dam which flooded a large part of the area during the latter
part of the month.
8. Effects of
Weather: With few exceptions all operations during the entire period were
hampered by rain and mud.
9. Supply:
During the period supply facilities were occupied with equipping the personnel
of the unit for wet and cold weather and resupplying lost or damaged equipment.
All vehicles were inspected and given necessary second, third and fourth echelon
maintenance. Ordnance teams were secured from two Ordnance Companies and all
weapons of the unit were inspected and necessary repairs or exchanges made.
Signal Corps teams were secured to inspect, check and repair all signal
equipment in the organization. A schedule was set up for showers and every
effort made to get the personnel cleaned, rested, and properly equipped.
10.
Communications: Almost all communications were by wire with radio used in a
supplementary role.
11. Honest
appraisal of troop morale and troop efficiency: Excellent throughout the
operations.
12. Casualties for this period:
Officers |
Enlisted Men |
Total |
|
Killed
in Action |
0 |
14 |
14 |
Wounded in Action |
3 |
115 |
118 |
Missing in Action |
1 |
54 |
55 |
13.
Decorations: The following decorations have been recommended for this period.
5 -
Distinguished Service Cross
11 - Croix de
Guerre
24 - Silver
Star
106 - Bronze
Star
14. Prisoners
Taken: 22 prisoners were taken during this period.
15. Complete
summary of accomplishments, Remarks concerning mistakes, Incidents: All
operations of the regiment during this period were performed in an efficient and
excellent manner. The ability of the Infantry and their attached units to endure
very unfavorable living conditions and keep up a high state of morale and
efficiency has been amply demonstrated during this period. Perhaps no more
unfavorable and uncomfortable living conditions or fighting positions could be
found than those they endured in the wet forest during the past period when rain
and mud was almost always the rule rather than the exception, and when every
round of artillery or mortar fire resulted in a tree burst equivalent to well
placed time fire. This later factor compelled construction of overhead cover as
an essential part of all defensive positions in woods and makes worthy of
comment the fact that operation of our forces in woods gave German artillery and
mortar fire an effectiveness out of proportion to its volume and far in excess
of that encountered in more open terrain.
B. A. BYRNE
Colonel, 320th Infantry
Commanding
Incl:
Unit J Unit
Journals with supporting document
Download a copy of this report in Microsoft Word format
Return to After Action Report Index