6 Nov. 1944
0900- Received message from 1171st Engr Gp that Bn was on two hour alert to serve as Inf. Col. Isley went to Gp Hq for instructions S-3* called in Co. Comdrs.
* Maj. Baker, Operations Officer
1000- Ordered by Col. Daley* to assemble Bn at 1340 C.P. informed Col. Daley that companies were spread out through work area and that it would take three hours to assemble them.
* CO 1171st Engr. Combat Gp.
1030- Col Isley returned to Bn Hq and ordered Co C to assemble at.........., Co A to assemble at 1340 C.P. by 06130. Col. Isley, S-2 and S-3 moved Fwd. C.P. at ..............
1315- Co. A ordered to assemble at...............
1335- Col Isley informed Co. Comdrs that he was going forward with Col Daley, Co A to move to............... and await further orders Co C to follow as soon as possible. S-3 joined Co A and Co C at assembly area...........where he received instructions to assemble Cos at top of hill............Col Daley and Col Isley had gone forward to learn situations. Moved out with Co A leading in Column of platoons followed by Co C.
1400- Col Daley and Col Isley visited 2nd Bn 112th C.P. in Vossenack. Captain Pruden stated that the Bn C.P. was the front line, also that they could not hold out unless reinforced within 30 minutes, that he had approximately 40 men consisting mostly of Bn C.P. Group. Col Daley stated that the 112th would have to hold out for another hour, that two Cos of Engrs were on the way, one Co was moving up to top of hill at GERMETER and would be brought into town as soon as possible. As Co A reached new assembly area, S-3 was met by Gen. Davis, Ass't Div. Comdr 28th Inf. Div. who ordered him to take the unit into VOSSENACK immediately to defend the town and attack if possible. No time was given to learn enemy situation, issue orders, or organize in any way, but Gen. Davis insisted violently that S-3 get the men moving at once. S-3 ordered Capt. Ball* forward and Capt. Wall** to bring Co C as soon as possible.
* CO Co. "A" 146th ECB
** CO Co. "C" 146th ECB
1430- Met Col Daley and Col Isley coming out of Vossenack and informed them of situation as far as was known. Col Isley led the troops into town under artillery fire and contacted Capt. Pruden, Bn Comdr of 2nd Bn 112th Inf. where plans were made for disposition of troops. Co A was to work as far forward as possible past church on south side of street and fan out defense to protect MSR to SCHMIDT. Co C was to work forward of church on north side of street and set up defense.
1600- Col Sonnefield 20th Engrs reported with approximately one platoon of Co B, 20th Engrs. was given mission of protecting south flank west of church.
1730- Report of Co A that the enemy troops had been driven from vicinity of Bn C.P. One German had been killed next door, that we were in possession of all hourse* to CR at church.
* Interpreted to mean: houses
1750- S-3 went to church to learn situation. Contacted Capt. Wall at church, Co C being deployed on each side of street west of church. Capt. Wall stated that Col Daley had ordered Col Isley to assume command of all troops in town. Also Capt. Wall had message from Capt. Ball not to advance beyond church whereabouts of Co A unknown. S-3 and Capt. Wall moved down street west of church to contact Co. A. Moved over road block below church where they were stopped by hand grenade. Obviously from the conversation on both sides of the street, the Germans were occupying houses on each side of street directly east of church. S-3 and Capt. Wall got back to protection of church. Capt. Wall had received wound in back and Lt. Schindler was ordered to take over Co C and set up defense on north side of the street from church west.
1900- Col Isley advised that he was in command and informed that Germans held town east of church and of the new disposition of troops with Co C holding north side of street, Co A deployed on south side of street and along MSR to Schmidt, and 20th holding south flank west of church.
2000- S-3 went to church to try and contact Co A. Found C.P. in cellar of house directly west of church on south side of street. Capt. Ball and S-3 returned to Bn C.P. where Col Isley advised that Gen. Davis had visited C.P. and ordered one Co. to flank town from southeast and occupy former Inf. positions.
2315- Co A moved out on flanking mission guided by two infantryman. Co C reported Germans had gotten back into church and both Co C and Germans were in building. One Co C man wounded unable to get him out. Would hold church.
2400- Recapitulation - We held town west from church with Co C holding parts of church and a tight perimeter defense on edge of buildings on north side of street along MSR to Schmidt and 20th holding tight perimeter defense on north side of town and furnishing protection for tank platoon set up southwest of church. Co A was committed to flanking movement. SP guns were held in west end of town. Artillery and mortar defense fire for night arranged by artillery liason* officers. Had been receiving continuous artillery fire since entry into town but slackened during the night. Radio communication was never established either with Fwd company nor with rear. CP Msgr sent out for supplies especially grenades brought in rations, water and 400 grenades, but there were no fuses for grenades.
* Typo: Liaison
07 Nov 44
0100- Messenger from Capt Ball that Co A was on flank of town but was pinned down by enemy fire, and that infantry position would not be found. Col Isley ordered Co A to withdraw toformer* positions near church.
* Typo: to former
0130- Col White, 1171 Gp visited CP, Co B 1340th and Co A and 1 Pl Co B 20th to take up positions on south side of town at dawn. 146th to attack and retake eastern half of town tanks to support attack.
0200- Capt. Ball reported in that Co A was back in position near church. Tentative orders issued that Co C would attack town at dawn supported by tanks with Co A retaking church and then securing Co C's north flank as attack progressed. Artillery and mortar fire to precede the attack.
0300- Capt. Creegan Co B 1340th and Cap Dougherty 20th Engrs reported in to Col Isley. To establish liason* as soon as positions occupied.
* Typo: Liaison
0530- Conference Capt Ball Lt Schindler an tank Comdrs relative to attack. Attack had to be postponed because new tank platoon was moving into town and tank support could not be had until they were in position and orders issued to to platoon commander.
0700- Conference with Co. Comdrs and new tank Comdr on attack. Tanks to work down south side of town, firing into buildings as Co C advanced. Attack to start at 0800. Supporting artillery and mortar fire arranged up to that time.
0800- Heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire begins. Information received later from a PW that this shelling was their preparation for launching an attack against us, Col Sonnefield reports that elements of Co B 20th will move to new location immediately upon his return.
0815- Attack started by Co C western half of town from church west taking terrific pounding from enemy artillery and mortar fire.
0915- Maj Pussey 1171st Gp reported in for info. Unable to leave until noon due to heavy fire. Inf Comdr called for air support to hit gun positions east of town. Co. C reported attack progressing satisfactorily with church and houses just east of church in our hands. Co A securing north flank as attack progressed. No report on disposition of 1340th or 20th Engrs.
1200- Gen. Cota, 28th Inf. Div Cmdr visited CP to learn situation, said one Bn 109th Inf would be sent into town to relieve Inf and Engrs. Gen Cota was asked by Col Isley for the appropriate time that the 119th would arrive. Answer -- As soon as possible.
1215- Lt. Anderson from office of V Corps Engineer given the situation.
1300- Air attack on center of town. One bomb hit church. Strafing across center of town. No panels were available. Inf. Radioed back that planes were hitting our part of town. Can get no report on casualties*. Possibly one 707th tank Bn EM killed in church. Co C reports attack progressing four or five houses on each side of street have been taken.
* 3 EM Co A injured.
1500- Capt. Johnson, 1171st Engr C Gp with Lt White 502 Engrs and Lt. McCloud 993rd Engrs at C.P. Capt. Johnson would try to contact 1340th and 20th Engrs for information concerning location of their companies on our left flank as we had not been informed if they were in position. Would also find out and relay to Col Isley orders of disposition of unit after relief by 109th Inf.
1515- CO 2nd Bn 109th Inf arrived at CP to make plans to move into town. Attack moving forward nicely with excellent coordination, between tanks and engrs. Ammunition brought up to edge of town.
1515- Co C reports that all houses to where road started down hill were taken, and that tanks could not support attack any further forward because any movement would bring tanks into direct fire from enemy AT guns. Col Isley issued orders to hold tight and set up defense.
1630- CO 2nd Bn., 109th Inf held conference with his Co Comdrs. Ordered Bn to move into town at 1830 and relieve Engrs.
1700- S-3 contacted Capt. Ball and Lt. Schindler and ordered them to set up tight perimeter defense, with man in each house to hold it at all costs until relieved by the 109th.
1900- Leading Co 2nd Bn., 109 moved into town to relieve Engrs Col Isley trying to get disposition of 146. Lt White 502nd will try and get information and get word back.
1915- Lt Col Strickland CO 109th Inf Regt at CP.
1925- Col Setliffe at CP stated that Co B of 1340th had not been able to occupy position on our foward right flank. Intense enemy fire from woods on flank. B Co was in vicinity of Co A of 20th Engrs. Col Isley informed him tha a Bn of the 109th was to move into position in vicinity of his troops. Col Setliffe stated he would try to contact Gp from his area for disposition of both Bns.
2000- Engrs relieved and assembled in basement of church and in Co CP across the street. Still no orders for withdrawal from town. 2nd Bn 112th Inf began withdrawal from town. Bn Sgt Maj estimated that the 146th had captured over 100 prisoners. He had no record of the actual number. This figure was later credited with 130 by G-2 of the 28th Inf Div.
2200- Sgt Boudreau sent to Bn Rear CP to contact Capt. Pipka and ask him to contact 1171st Gp and get orders on disposition of 146th Engr Co Comdrs notified that two jeeps would be available in west end of town to take heavy weapons out.
08 Nov 44
0115- Sgt Boudreau reports that 146th to "withdraw" from town before dawn if it is OK with Inf Bn Comdr. Also that Lt White is OK and arrived safely and would have answer in three or four hours.
0145- 146th Engrs began withdrawal from town.
.5- Col Isley and S-3 reached Bn Rear C P at 022328. All elements out of town.
