An Interim

Minor operations continued, areas were cleaned up and patrolled, lines were straightened. On the north AACHEN fell. Bad weather set in and the rolling surge that had carried us through France and Belgium, sweeping all before, settled down to local operations, jobs, limited objective pushes and thrusts. Battle weary troops were rested and reinforced. The build up continued and our forces oozed toward the Roer with the ferocity of static warfare.
  • 23 September 1944
    CCA continued a period of rest, maintenance and rehabilitation and remained in assembly area. CCB continued to hold the division defensive sector and conducted active patrols to maintain contact with the 1st Infantry Division on the left flank and the 9th Infantry Division on the right flank. There was no particular enemy activity on the CCB front.
  • 24 September 1944
    The Third Armored Division continued to maintain defensive positions. CCB Task Force 1 was ordered to secure Hill 287 (948433) in the afternoon. After encountering still and determined resistance, Task Force r reached the objective, but due to heavy mortar and artillery fire, withdrew to old defensive positions. Task Force 1 was relieved from the line at 2300 hours by elements of Division Reserve. Task Force 1 began moving to assembly positions on the alert status prepared to reinforce the Division front and the 47th Infantry Regiment if necessary. Other elements of CCB encountered intermittent artillery fire throughout the day. CCA remained in assembly positions.
    The battalion remained in position southwest of Breinig to give direct support to CCB Task Force 1. Task Force 1 was relieved at 2000 hours for rest and maintenance. The battalion went into general support of Division Artillery, Third Armored Division and started a period of rest and maintenance. Defensive fire were planned for the night and coordinated through Division Artillery.

    AWARDS

    Brigadier General Maurice Rose, Commanding General, Third Armored Division, visited the area this date, presented awards for heroism in action to the officers and enlisted men of this battalion, and gave a short talk to a group which had assembled.
    The following awards were presented: Silver Star-Lieutenant Colonel George G. Garton, First Lieutenant Johnny W. Forston, Private First Class Mike V. Grighlnos, Battery C, and Private Johnnie C. Hislop, Battery B. Oak Leaf Cluster to Bronze Star: Technician Fifth Grade Dillon C. Summers, Headquarters Battery. Bronze Star: Lieutenant Colonel George G. Garton, Major Walter D. McCahan, Captain Robert E. Ham, First Lieutenant Johnny W. Forston, Second Lieutenant William J. R. Overath, Staff Sergeant Theodore Marik, Headquarters Battery, Sergeant Reinhold A. Wetzel, Battery A, Sergeant Theodore Sarna, Battery B, Technician Fourth Grade Elisha F. Wornell, Battery A, Technician Fifth Grade John M. Ligner, Battery A, 486th AAA Battalion, 'Technician Fifth Grade Francis E. Moses, Battery B, Technician Fifth Grade Robert V. Breymeyer, Battery A, Technician Fifth Grade Roy T. Brown, Battery A, Private First Class Nicholas Brink, Headquarters Battery, Private First Class William J. Mazurek, Headquarters Battery, Private First Class Albert M. Mayer, Battery A, Private Charles R. Corbin, Jr., Battery A, Private John W. Holley, Battery B. Air Medal: Second Lieutenant Thomas J. Kelly and Staff Sergeant Lester W. Hardgrove, Headquarters Battery.

  • 26 September 1944
    The Third Armored Division continued to maintain its defensive positions. Division Reserve reported intermittent shelling from mortars and artillery. CCA and CCB remained in assembly areas conducting rest, maintenance and rehabilitation.
    The battalion remained in position southwest of Breinig in general support of Division Artillery, Third Armored Division. Lieutenant Colonel Garton returned and assumed active command of the battalion. The battalion is now the senior battalion in the artillery groupment with the 54th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. The battalion continued its period of rest and maintenance. Defensive fires were planned for the night and coordinated through Division Artillery. Battalion trains remained in position northeast of Breinig.
    The battalion fired 4 missions this date: 1 on a railroad and 3 registrations. Total rounds expended this date-38. A combination of impact and delayed action shells were fired on the railroad spur with the results-a section of the track was torn up and several houses near the railroad were demolished.
    The air OP reported a factory with 12 smoke stacks which began laying a smoke screen whenever forward and air observers started adjusting artillery fire. The mission on the railroad was a test to see the reactions from the factory. This factory was out of our range (railroad mission fired at io8oo yards) so the matter was reported to higher headquarters so that the heavier guns could adjust on the factory.

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