134th Infantry Regiment "All Hell Can't Stop Us"

Combat History of World War II

By Major General Butler B. Miltonberger, Former Commanding Officer, 134th Infantry Regiment
and Major James A. Huston, Assistant Professor of History, Purdue University

Transcribed by Roberta V. Russo, Palatine, Illinois

PREFACE

A complete history of the 134th Infantry Regiment in World War II would consume many volumes the size of this. Nevertheless we hope that there can be presented here a summary of its action with sufficient detail to give and accurate picture of modern battle and of the Regiment's role in winning the victory in Europe - that it will explain for a man what happened in other parts of the Regiment while he was fighting his personal war, or what happened to his outfit after he was wounded, or will refresh his memory for events in which he participated; and that it will be a guide for the host of friends who maintain a keen interest in the Regiment's activities.

A letter from a brave mother of Independence, Missouri, whose son was killed in action on 31 July 1944, tells of her deep interest in the 134th Infantry, and she asks for information to fill in certain gaps in the big scrap book which she has kept of the Regiment's action. The date of departure from New York, madam, was 11 May 1944, and the name of the vessel, a Navy transport, was U.S.S. General A. E. Anderson. Beyond that, the Regiment disembarked on 25 May 1944 at Avonmouth, England. It moved to France 4 - 7 July, and the 2nd Battalion went into the lines 8 July - to return to the Regiment two days later - and the 3rd Battalion moved into the lines in the hedgegrows of St. Lo on the night of 13th July. The Regiment launched its first attack - aimed for Lt. Lo - on 15 July. Ahead there lay the confusion of counterattack at Mortain, the great race through France, the local attacks and hard defenses in the mud of the Gremecey Forest and Fossieux, the attack through Lorraine in cold rains and early snow, the bitter winter fighting in the Ardennes, the treacherous mines along the Roer and closing to the Rhine, attacks through the Ruhr Pocket and the dash to the Elbe River.

Unfortunately this story will not always serve as a reference guide to place a man, a platoon, and event at exact places at exact times. It does, however, attempt to adhere with complete accuracy to the facts with which it deals. Toward this end reference has been made to the regimental unit journal, S-3 journal, operations reports, intelligence reports, the "Daily Log," battalion journals (where available), general and special orders, field orders and operation memos, after action reports, newspaper accounts, personal notebooks, personal correspondence, and interviews. It has been found that these sources do not always agree on particular points, and in those cases it has been necessary to pass judgment according to the merits of the conflicting sources and according to personal knowledge.

It is a history which needed no addition of color to add to its glory.

B.B.M.

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