3. STRENGTH, COMMISSIONED AND ENLISTED
OFFICERS WO EM
a. At beginning of month 29 3 600
b. Net increase during month 4 0 31
c. Net decrease during month 5 0 41
d. At end of month 28 3 590
4. STATIONS
a. Rotgen.........., Germany from 1 November 1944 to 19 November 1944.
b. Mutzenich.........., Germany from 19 November 1944 to ........................
6. CAMPAIGNS
The 146th Engineer Combat Battalion as a member of the 1121st and 1171st Engineer Combat Groups, V Corps,
participated in Allied Operations in Belgium and Germany throughout the month of November.
7. BATTLES
Action at Vossenack, Germany on November 6 and 7, 1944 when the 146th Engineer Combat Battalion (less Company
B) was committed as Infantry to reinforce the 2nd. Battalion of the 112th Regiment, 28th Infantry Division in the
defense of that town and driving the enemy out of it.
8. COMMANDING OFFICERS IN IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENTS
a. Engagement -- Action at Vossenack, Germany on November 6 and 7, 1944............................
b. Lt. Col. Carl J. Isley, Battalion Commander.
Major Willard B. Baker, Battalion S-3.
Capt. Sam H. Ball, Jr., Commanding Officer, Company "A"
Capt. Vincent L. Wall )
Lt. Richard R. Schindler) Commanding Officer, Company "C"
Lt. Bernard E. Meier )
c. Command Section of the 146th Engineer Combat Battalion:
Lt. Col. Carl J. Isley, Battalion Commander
Major Cecil F. Clark, Executive Officer
Major Willard B. Baker, S-3
Captain Stephen Pipka, S-2
Captain Jamex L. Nichols, S-4
Lt. Harold D. Brown, S-1
Captain Sam H. Ball, Jr., Commanding Officer, Company "A".
Captain John K. Howard, Commanding Officer, Company "B".
Captain Vincent L. Wall, Commanding Officer, Company "C".
Lt. Bernard E. Meier, Acting Commanding Officer, Company "C".
Captain Arthur J. Hill, Commanding Officer, Company "H&S".
Captain Richard O. Stratton, Commanding Officer, Medical Detachment.
9. LOSSES IN ACTION -- OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN.
a. Engagement -- In support by Company "B", 146th Engineer Combat Battalion of the 102nd. Cavalry Group in
operations against the enemy.
(1) Killed --
Trescher, Williams, 1st. Lt., 0-1110301
(2) Wounded --
Jackson, Homer I., S/Sgt., 38429101
Pellar, Raymond J., Cpl., 36554266
(3) Missing in Action --
None
b. Engagement -- Action at Vossenack, Germany November 6 and 7, 1944 when the 146th Engineer Combat Battalion
(les Company B) was committed as Infantry to reinforce the 2nd. Battalion, 112th Regiment, 28th Infantry Division
in defense of that town and driving the enemy out of it.
(1) Killed --
McDaniel, Doyle W., Pvt. 38307784
Roberts, Ashley S., Pvt., 39276981
Ritter, Glen R., Pfc., 38454066
Moudry, Ladgie R., Pvt., 38413292
Bishop, Edward L., Pvt., 38396979
Vetro, Peter F., Pvt., 32703048
Stelly, Frank (NMI), 38267475
Youngen, William J., Cpl., 39094466
Jaramillo, Cleofas (NMI), T/5, 38014480
(2) Wounded --
Wall, Vincent L., Capt., 0-1101260
Rollins, Charles F. 1st. Lt., 0-5513241
Bartholomew, Ben G., 1st. Lt., 1113094
Murphy, John G., Cpl., 38463753
Williamson, James H., T/5, 15042868
Taylor, James C., Pvt., 38413667
Haveard, Clyde R., T/5, 14040168
Inman, Phinis R., Pvt., 38463811
Jessick, Robert A., T/5, 39461351
Mullens, Elisha C., Pvt., 38463938
Gaillot, William E., Sgt., 38379365
Stowers, Millard M., T/5,38397133
McKelvey, James W., T/4, 38397081
Hall, Thomas W., T/4, 38428702
Crayton, J. W. (IO), Cpl. 38370607
Winfrey, Richard A. ., Pfc., 38387928
Cagne, Roger A., Pvt., 31375484
Pannell, William R., Pvt., 38397497
Fogel, Alvin, T/5/ 35020711
Durbin, Harlin, Pvt., 38397906
Casey, Elbert C., Pvt., 37414816
Webb, Elroy R., Sgt., 38397278
(3) Missing in Action
McKeon, Owen E., T/5, 39037801
Burton, Douglass H. T/4, 38307919
Katsavakis, George H., Pvt., 42306872*
* Incorrectly reported. Should have been listed as KIA
12. AWARDS
The Purple Heart was awarded to the following named officer and enlisted men for wounds received in action aginst the
enemy during the month of November.
Major Willard B. Baker
Sgt. Barney A. Dean
Sgt. Julian Mathies
T/4 Jack Anderson
T/4 Willard H. Carr
T/4 Harry W. Oskam
Cpl Stanley H. Clark
Pfc Weldon Beardon
Pfc Carroll F. Guidry
Pfc Edwin Mhire
Pfc Cecil C. Morgan
Pfc Leon L Pearson
Pvt. Joe E. Bratton
Pvt. J. R. Bennett
Pvt. John R. Fisher
Pvt. Raymond F. Mallaro
Pvt. Richard A. Seley
Pvt. Carl Smith
Pfc. Young, Austin
Pfc. Heenan, John R.
Pvt. Young E. Allen
2. ATTACHMENTS:
a. From 1 November 1944 through 30 November 1944, The 146th Engineer Combat Battalion was assigned to the First United States Army and attached to V Corps with further attachments as shown below.
(1) From 1 November 1944 to 19 November 1944, the 146th Engineer Combat Battalion (less Company "B")
was attached to the 1171st Engineer Combat Group which was attached to the 28th Infantry Division for
operations.
(2) From 19 November 1944 through 30 November 1944, the Battalion (less Company "B") was attached to
the 1121 Engineer Combat Group and performed general engineer work in Corp's area.
(3) From 1 November 1944 to 21 November 1944, Company "B" was attached to 102nd Cavalry Group for
general engineer work. Reverted to Battalion control on 21 November 1944.
3. OPERATIONS.
a. Combat Missions.
(1) On 6 November 1944, an enemy attack drove back the infantry of the 28th Division into the middle of
VOSSENACK, a vital point on the line of communications to U,S. forces in the SCHMIDT area. In the early afternoon, the Battalion was committed as infantry, first to reinforce the defense of the town and
then to drive the enemy out of it. The situation was critical with enemy forces within 100 yards of the
2nd Bn., 112th Infantry CP. In the opinion of the senior infantry commander present, he could continue
the defense of the town for less than an hour. The Battalion (less Company "B"), amounting to an
approximatly 250 Officers and men, moved into town across the fireswept area west of the town. By
dark, the situation had stabilized and a little of the lost ground had been regained. During the night,
Company "A" made an enveloping movement to the south of VOSSENACK, in an attempt to gain
positions on the eastern edge of town and support Company "C's" attack from the church east, planned
for the morning of 7 November 1944. The company was met with heavy fire and forced to withdraw to its
former position west of the church. At 070600 November 1944, Company "C", supported by tanks,
attacked the enemy half of the town in the face of heavy artillery and mortar fire with Co "A" furnishing
flank protection and mopping up the captured buildings. By dusk, when relieving infantry arrived, the
enemy had been driven out of the town except for a few houses on the eastern fringe. The Battalion had
suffered casualties of over twenty percent, but had held this key position in our lines and had captured
over 130 of the enemy. The Battalion withdrew, after relief by the 2nd Bn., 109th Infantry at 080200
November 1944.
(2) Recommendations.
(a) When Combat Engineers are used as infantry, supporting artillery and mortars must be provided and
liason* officers assigned to coordinate fires and advise the Engineer C.O.
(b) Hand grenades were urgently needed and were requested. However, when 400 grenades were brought
up under heavy fire, the separate boxes containing the fuses had been lost and the grenades were useless. They should be packed together.
* Typo: liaison
b. Roads and culverts.
(1) During the month of November 1944, the primary mission of the Battalion was the maintenance of roads in the Corps and Division areas. Heavy rains and melting snow made the problem of drainage especially acute during this period and effort was concentrated in opening existing culverts, removing vegetation and other obstructions from drainage ditches, and opening bleeder drains to keep the water off the road surface. On roads with soft shoulders, it was found highly satisfactory to revett* the shoulders with natural timber.
* Typo: revet
c. Bridges.
(1) Company "A" installed 36' M-2 Treadway Bridge 21 November 1944 ...............over existing timber trestle bridge from which trestle bent had washed away.
(2) Company "C" constructed "A" frame under bridge.................to replace one which had washed away.
(3) Company "A" constructed new trestle bent under existing bridge ................ Bent was placed in three feet of water and under existing stringers. Completed on 30 November 1944.
d. Mines.
(1) During the nights of 9 - 10 November and 10 - 11 November 1944, Companiea "A" and "C" laid 982 yards of hasty mine field, consisting of 1462 mines at the eastern edge of VOSSENACK by truck. The field was laid in the dark and under heavy artillery fire. The mines were brought into the western edge of VOSSENACK by truck, transported to the church near the center of town by jeep, and carried by hand the remaining 600 yards over a debris littered street. Difficulty was experienced in fusing the mines as the spider would not fit without being bent.
(2) Company "B" attached to 102 Cavalry Group, installed and maintained trap line of AP mines along cavalry outpost line.
e. Miscellaneous.
(1) Landing Fields.
(a) Constructed 24' x 450' landing strip of Sommerfeld Track for artillery observation planes on 16 November 1944................
(b) Constructed 12' x 525' landing strip of Sommmerfeld Track for artillery observation planes on 16 November 1944................
