134th Infantry Regiment"All Hell Can't Stop Us" |
Auth: CG 35th
Inf Div
Initials: R G C
Date: 18 Mar
1945
HEADQUARTERS 320TH INFANTRY
APO 35 U S ARMY
4 March 1945
SUBJECT: Action
Against Enemy, Report After.
TO : The
Adjutant General, Washington, D. C. (thru channels)
1. In compliance with the provisions of
Par 10, C3, AR 345-105, submitted below is report after action against enemy for
the 320th Infantry covering the period 1-28 February 1945.
1 February
1945: The 320th Infantry Regiment was engaged in a movement by motor and rail
from the Vosges Mountain area to an assembly area in Holland and Belgium. During
the day the motor column closed into its assembly area in the vicinity of Mheer,
Holland, with the Third Battalion and Regimental Headquarters in that town. The
First Battalion, Second Battalion, Anti-Tank Company, Cannon Company and Service
Company assembled respectively in Norbeek, La Planck, Bergenhausen, Fouron St.
Martin and Hoogeruts. The remaining personnel of Headquarters Company, Service
Company, Anti-Tank Company and Cannon Company arrived by train at 1215 and moved
to their respective areas.
2 February
1945: The remaining personnel of the Regiment arrived by train and joined their
units. Field Order No. 33 was received from Division Headquarters and in
pursuance thereof, appropriate orders were issued by the Regimental Commander.
3 February
1945: At 0900 the Regimental Commander, accompanied by the S-3, Battalion and
special unit commanders, proceeded to the area occupied by the 157th Brigade
(British) in the vicinity of Dremmen, Germany, preparatory to effecting a relief
of the British unit on the following day. At 2200 the Commanding Officer issued
Field Order No. 32, Headquarters 320th Infantry.
4 February
1945: Pursuant to the order referred to in the preceding paragraph, the 320th
Infantry with attached units, had at the close of the day, relieved the British
unit, and was disposed in defensive positions. The Third Battalion with its
command post at Scheifenduhl, occupied positions of defense in the vicinity of
Schalhausen and Dansalen. The Second Battalion with its command post at
Uetterath, occupied positions in the vicinity of Krandorf and the First
Battalion with its command post at Stratten, maintained positions in Greuben and
at Dremmen. Regimental Headquarters, Anti-Tank Company and Company C 60th
Engineers were located at Birgden. Company C, 110th Medical Battalion was
situated at Gangelt. The 216th Field Artillery Battalion was at Trippsrath and
the 35th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mecz) was located at Horst, with the
exception of one platoon which was at Randreth. The Regimental Cannon Company
was located in the vicinity of Uetterath and Service Company was at Gilrath.
5 February
1945: The units improved and outposted their positions and engaged in active
patrolling.
6 February
1945: The dispositions and activities of the Regiment were unchanged.
7 February
1945: The dispositions and activities continued except that the 35th Cavalry
Reconnaissance Troop (Mecz.) was relieved from attachment to the Regiment at
1830 and moved to Gangelt where it went into Division reserve.
8 February
1945: Field Order No. 34, Headquarters 35th Division, was received by the
Regiment. The only change in the disposition of the units was the assumption of
the sector and area of Company A, 137th Infantry, by the Third Battalion, 320th
Infantry.
9 February
1945: Operations Memo No. 17, Headquarters 35th Division, with reference to
Field Order No. 34 was issued by Division Headquarters. The dispositions and
activities of the Regiment were unchanged except that the town of Unterbruch
became a part of the zone of the 8th Armored Division.
10 February
1945: At 1515 an American airplane crashed in front of the position of C Company
east of Dremmen. The pilot was rescued by an artillery liaison pilot. The
disposition and activities of the Regiment continued.
11 February
1945: The airplane referred to in the previous paragraph had been identified as
a B-26. The pilot had given information about three other members of the crew,
who had parachuted in the vicinity of our positions. The Third Battalion found
and rescued one of that crew. The only change in the dispositions of the units
was in the relief of L Company by K Company of its defensive position.
12 February
1945: With the exception of a slight change of the I Company and K Company
positions, the lines remained the same. The units, however, continued to improve
their positions and engaged in active patrolling.
13 February
1945: There was no change of disposition except in the relief of C Company by A
Company.
14 February
1945: Operations Memo No. 18, 35th Infantry Division, was received. The Regiment
continued to hold and improve its defensive positions and engaged in
assault-boat training.
15 February
1945: Maintenance of defensive positions continued. Additional assault-boat
training was given.
16 February
1945: Further assault-boat training and aircraft-recognition instruction was
given to the First and Second Battalions. All units continued active patrolling.
17 February
1945: No change in positions or activities.
18 February
1945: No change in positions or activities.
19 February
1945: No change in positions. Elements of the Second Battalion were given
training in assault of fortified positions.
20 February
1945: Operations Memo No. 19, Headquarters 35th Division was delivered to the
Commanding Officer. Training continued.
21 February
1945: Activities continued.
22 February
1945: The regiment received plans of the 35th Division for the crossing of the
Roer River. The dispositions and activities continued for that day.
23 February
1945: In accordance with the plan referred to in the foregoing paragraph and
appropriate directives, the Third Battalion had by 0340 advanced and seized its
objective which included positions on the west bank of the Roer River. The First
and Second Battalions attacked in their respective zones at 0330. The Second
Battalion, opposed by small-arms, mortar and artillery fire from across the
river, and impeded by extensive mine fields, did not reach its objective until
about 1800. The First Battalion, with less strenuous opposition, had occupied
its objective at 1400. At the end of the day the First Battalion, with command
post at Gebber, occupied and outposted Oberbruck, Kranzes, Bleckden. The Second
Battalion occupied and outposted Shanz, with Companies E and G in reserve at
Uetterath. Its command post was at Dremmen. The Third Battalion, with its
command post at Schalhausen, occupied and outposted Kuppen and a line extending
from 880766 to 884760.
24 February
1945: The Regimental Command post at 1000 hours displaced from Birgden to
Hulhoven, a distance of 8.3 miles. Changes in the disposition of the troops
during the day resulted in the First Battalion Headquarters and Company A being
situated at Grebben, Company C at Dremmen, Company F at Shanz and Company E at
Kranzes. Third Battalion Headquarters and Company L were located at Shalhausen
and Company I at Kuppen. Company K occupied a line extending from 880766 to
884760. Patrols were sent out by I Company during the day and night. Road
Junctions in the area were subjected to interdictory enemy shell-fire.
25 February
1945: Operations Memo No. 20 Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, was delivered
to the Regiment at 0800. At 1600 Field Order No. 35, Headquarters 35th Division,
was received. There was no change in the disposition or activities of the
troops.
26 February
1945: The 134th Infantry attacked the town Hillfarth, and with supporting fire
of the Second Battalion, 320th Infantry, on enemy positions across the river,
made crossing of the Roer to the right of our positions.
27 February
1945: All units were assembled and alerted for movement and attack on the
following morning.
28 February
1945: At 0715 Memo No. 31, Headquarters 35th Division was received at Regimental
Headquarters. Pursuant thereto Task Force Byrne was organized and consisted of
the 320th Infantry (motorized), 216th Field Artillery Bn, 784th Tank Bn (minus
Company A), Company C, 654th Tank Destroyer Bn; Company C, 60th Engineers, and
Company C, 110th Medical Bn. The task force was ordered to advance to the north
by motor at H hour on 28 February 1945, along a route to establish road-blocks
for the protection of the Division left flank on the west and to seize
objectives along the route. At 1000 Field Order No. 33, Headquarters 320th
Infantry, was published and issued to the unit commanders. H hour was 1300. The
Third Battalion moved across the IP at H hour and was followed by the other
units comprising the task force. The Regimental Command Post displaced from
Hulhoven at 1330 and advanced 9 miles when it stopped for the night. At the end
of the day, contact had been made only with friendly troops. The First
Battalion; Company C, 654th Tank Destroyer Battalion; Cannon Company and Company
C, 110th Medical Battalion were located in the vicinity of Busch, Germany. The
Third Battalion, Anti-Tank Company and 784th Tank Battalion (minus Company A)
were located at Myhl, Germany. The 216th Field Artillery Battalion and 275th
Field Artillery Battalion were at Millich. The Second Battalion was located at
Gendorf and Company C, 60th Engineers was located at Krickelberg.
2. The Battle
casualties for the month of February are as follows:
Officers |
Enlisted Men |
|
Killed
in Action |
3 |
|
Died
of Wounds |
2 |
|
Seriously Wounded in Action |
9 |
|
Lightly Wounded in Action |
3 |
19 |
Lightly Injured in Action |
17 |
|
Missing in Action |
7 |
|
Total |
3 |
57 |
Awards received by members of the Regiment are as follows:
DSC |
Silver Star |
Bronze Star |
||||
Regular |
Oak Leaf Cluster |
Regular |
Oak Leaf Cluster |
Regular |
Oak Leaf Cluster |
|
Officers |
2 |
9 |
2 |
|||
Enlisted Men |
2 |
18 |
20 |
The
number of Purple Heart medals awarded is: 48
The
number of prisoners captured for the period are: 28.
(Signature)
B. A. BYRNE
Colonel, 320th Infantry
Commanding
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