putting out too. You know you can't beat the 36th Infantry in the whole U. S. Army. They've been in there every minute and they're plenty rough on the Krauts. But they're getting pretty thin too."

  • 14 September
    1944- The 83rd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion continued to outpost the town of Rottgen (first town in Germany to be captured by the Allied Armies) until 153o hours when it moved forward and conducted reconnaissance sweeps in the vicinity of Raeren encountering very little opposition. Task Force 1 of CCB which had been held up by a blown bridge, completed construction of the bridge in the early morning hours and CCB was able to attack at o8oo hours. No organized resistance was encountered but roadblocks and craters hindered the advance. At 1100 hours Task Force 1 halted on order and coiled south of Breinigerheide and a force was sent to aid CCA which had been encountering heavy mortar and machine gun fire at obstacle south of Sehmidtof. Task Force t continued to attack at 1515 and moved into positions in the vicinity northeast of Breinig.
    Op Memo 10, Headquarters Third Armored Division, 141900 September 1944, was received this date ordering the maximum use of engineers and infantry to be made in order that the attack might be continued 15 - 0800 hours September 1944
    The battalion attacked with CCB Task Force 1 at 0800 hours and proceeded against light opposition and closed in final position for the day southwest of Breinig.
  • 15 September 1944
    All units of the Third Armored Division continued to attack with objective Eschw•eiler. CCA continued breaching operations on the main defenses of the Siegfried Line and at 1415 hours a breakthrough was ac accomplished with an infantry task force. CCB advanced against heavy opposition including prepared defenses. At t l100 hours Task Force 1 completed the construction of a blown bridge at 9494oo and succeeded in breaching the line at 1400 hours. During the day both CCA and CCB after encountering stubborn opposition definitely breached the main defenses of the Siegfried Line and established deep bridgeheads of infantry and tank units.
    The Battalion displaced with CCB Task Force 1 starting at 1000 hours to positions southwest of Breinigerberg closing in positions at 1115 hours. Battery A had one man wounded by sniper fire from a house at the edge of Breinig when the column was moving to position. One M-7 was swung around and one round of HE was fired at a range of about 50 yards. 2 men ran out of the house and surrendered. In the fighting at the front, the FO 1 tank was knocked out by a direct hit in the gas tank. The tank burned rapidly. Only one man, the driver T/5 Summers, was in the tank at the time and he managed to escape with only burns on the face. Sergeant Pierce was lightly wounded by shrapnel at this same time. Both men remained on duty.
  • 16 September 1944
    The battalion remained in position this date to support the attack of CCB Task Force 1. This force received heavy mortar and artillery fire all day and advanced only a short distance. Fighting for the city of Mausbach was very bloody as the enemy put forth every ounce of effort to hold the town. Battery A received heavy counter-battery fire and was forced to move to alternate positions. As the battery withdrew, the fire was shifted to follow it. Headquarters Battery and Battery B received light counter-battery fire, but remained in position.
    The battalion fired 19 missions this date: 4 harassing missions, 5 on vehicles, 4 on infantry, 2 on tanks, 1 on anti-tank guns,1 bombardment, and ,2 registrations.
  • Prisoners: None.
  • Casualties:
    Private First Class Lester P. Long, Battery B, SWA, and evacuated. Sergeant William H. Huizel, Battery A, Private James M. Weiss, Battery A, Private First Class Perry W. Coonan, Battery A, LWA and evacuated. Private First Class Zelmer R. Ball, Battery B, Technician Fourth Grade Charles A. Coppens, Battery A, and Private Sam Camarata, Battery C, LWA, but remained on duty.
  • Replacement: None.
  • Weather: Clear. Visibility Good.
  • 17 September 1944
    CCA moved to the area of CCB and was ordered to attack towards the Division objective, Eschweiler during the morning. CCA was unable to move forward on the attack due to enemy observation on the route of advance. CCB continued to attack at o8eo hours. Task Force 1 encountered strong enemy tank, anti-tank and artillery fire during the morning and succeeded in advancing slowly. At 1300 hours Task Force 1 received counter-attacks on both flanks and was compelled to withdraw 1000 yards. Task Force 1 dug in and prepared to hold these positions.
  • Op Memo 11
    Headquarters Third Armored Division, 172230 September 1944, ordered Task Force Hogan to attack to secure the high ground at Duffenter; CCB to hold in present position until this mission is accomplished, then attacking northwest towards Stolberg, cleaning up the town and finally securing the area in the vicinity of Steinfurth.
    The battalion remained in position to give CCB Task Force 1 attack direct support. Fighting was very fierce. First Lieutenant Harvey D. Patterson, Jr., and Corporal Robert J. Heinaucr, Battery A, were reported missing in action at 0900 hours.
  • 18 September 1944
    CCB was given the mission of securing the high ground in the vicinity of Duffenter. Against heavy opposition the town of Duffenter was secured. CCA consolidated positions throughout the day and conducted active patrolling. Efforts to move vehicles brought heavy anti-tank and artillery fire. The battalion remained in position near Breinigerberg and supported CCB Task Force 1 attack. The battalion fired 11 missions this date: 1 on machine guns, 2 on infantry, 1 barrage, 1 on town, 4 preparations, 1 on tanks, 1 counterattack. Total rounds expended this date-1230.
  • 19 September 1944
    CCA was ordered to resume cleaning up operations in the west sector of the Stolberg area but since his infantry elements were unable to disengage the enemy, this operation was impossible. CCB was ordered to continue cleaning up operations in the east sector of Stolberg with an objective Steinfurth. Due to strong enemy action and difficult terrain, CCB was unable to carry out this mission. At 1500 hours an order was issued to CCB to hold on the line Weiffenberg-Duffenter.
  • 22 September 1944
    The Third Armored Division continued to hold defensive positions and to mop up enemy resistance in the division sector. CCB continued tp hold and improvedefensive positions in the CCB sector. CCB wasrelieved by the 1st Infantry Division and withdrew to assembly areas northeast of Breinig. CCB Task Force 1 received moderate mortar fire all day. The battalion remained in position southwest of Breinig to give direct support to Task Force t of CCB. The battalion fired 19 missions this date: 11 on infantry, 2 on a house, 1 on an assembly area, 4 on flak batteries, and t on vehicles. Total rounds expended this date-6z6. Battalion trains remained in position northeast of Breinig this date.

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