2 TOT's and 2 on tanks and infantry. Total rounds expended this date-976. At o8oo hours the battalion trains and the remainder of the batteries displaced from the billets at Stolberg-Muhle and at 1225 hours closed in a bivouac area at Spa, Belgium.

There they were just like he'd heard. A man, a woman, and a small child with their throats cut, shot in several places and burnt in bed. 1st S. S.-Hitler's elite, and some mothers had borne men who could do this! The soldier backed out o f the room, his eyes hot, throat tight, and he thought with satisfaction of the brown and green spotted figures frozen in the snow outside the town.

25 December 1944

Task Force 1 of CCB attacked from the west to capture Grandmenil. Elements of this force reached the town but were driven out.
The battalion displaced at 0815 hours from positions at Oppagne, Belgium and closed in positions near Fouyel at 1000 hours. Heavy preparation fire for the attack of Task Force I was fired at 161 S hours. The battalion fired 8 missions this date: I high burst, 1 harassing mission, 1 TOT, 2 on a town, 1 preparation, 1 on infantry and tanks, and 1 registration. Total rounds expended this date -969.
The battalion trains displaced from bivouac at Spa at 1300 hours and closed in bivouac near Louvcigne, Belgium at 1700 hours.

The forward observer sergeant sat in the snow behind at beet pile and lit the Coleman stove. He wiped the dirt out of a small skillet with a piece of toilet paper and opened can o f bacon out of the 10 in 1 ration. "Gotta eat on Christmas Day," he thought, and maybe be could get his hands warm anyway from the heat of the stove. After that last ride in the tank, it was time for a meal. No doubt the guys in the rear were having their turkey somehow. They always managed. He grunted. The bacon spluttered and curled. The tank driver and assistant driver drifted over, squatted down on their haunches. "Merry Christmas, you lucky bastard," one said to the sergeant. The sergeant grinned and the deep hollows under his eyes lifted a little. "Yeah, you mean because I don't have to be back in the states getting drunk and getting indigestion from a turkey dinner, and because 1 don't have to be sweating out tomorrow at the factory like a soldier on the home front?!" The corners o f their mouth lifted a little - in amusement and the sergeant cracked three almost frozen eggs into the skillet - one after the other.

26 December 1944
Task Force 1 of CCB continued the attack to capture Grandmenil. Heavy fighting continued all day. A heavy preparation fire from 1400 to 1420 was fired and troops of Task Force 2 with troops attached from CCA attacked and seized the town with the 28gth Infantry Regiment of 75th Infantry Division following and consolidating the town. In this action, Seccxid Lieutenant Eldridge, (10) was lightly wounded by shrapnel, and was evacuated.

27 December 1944
CCB assumed responsibility for the right sector of the 3rd Armored Division front. Task Force 2 was withdrawn from Grandmenil at 1200 hours. Task Force 2 established roadblocks in the vicinity of Soy.
The battalion displaced from positions at Fouyel, Belgium, and returned to old positions at Oppagne to support the 290th RCT which was attached to the Third Armored Division.
This date the 391st Armored Field Artillery groupment was reestablished consisting of the 391st Armored Field Artillery Battalion, the 898th Field Artillery Battalion and the 83rd Field Artillery Battalion (not yet in position). All battalions were under the command of Lieutenant Colonel George G. Garton to be in direct support of 29oth RCT. Captain Carney reported to the 290th RCT as liaison officer. Captain Nelms reported to 898th Field Artillery Battalion and Regimental Headquarters 290th RCT as liaison officer.

28 December 1944
The battalion remained in position at Oppagne, Belgium, in direct support of the 29oth RCT. Enemy infiltrations of patrol strength were repulsed in this sector. The battalion fired 2o missions this date: 13 harassing missions, 2 TOT's, 2 on personnel, and 3 on counter attacks.
The executive officer, Major Walter D. McCahan was lightly injured this date in a peep accident. He was evacuated. Major Elfring was appointed executive officer, Captain Shellhart assumed the duties of S-3, and Captain Crafts became assistant S-3.

31 December 1944
The 290th RCT was relieved from 3rd Armored Division control this date and this battalion was relieved from the 29oth RCT, and reverted to 3rd Armored Division control. The battalion displaced from positions at Oppagne, Belgium, at 1430 hours and closed in assembly positions with the 3rd Armored Division in the vicinity of Les Avins, Belgium, at 1500 hours.

1 January 1945 The 3rd Armored Division was in assembly area performing maintenance of equipment and rehabilitation of personnel. This battalion was in assembly area with CCB near Les Avins, Belgium, about 6 miles southwest of Huy. The battalion did not fire this date.
Late in the afternoon a warning order was received from CCB alerting the battalion for a combat operation. Per FO 20, Headquarters 3rd Armored Division, 1 January 1945, the 3rd Armored Division will attack at 0830 hours to seize Regne, then move rapidly to the vicinity of Vaux, bypassing enemy resistance to assist in the blocking of roads in the vicinity of Cherain and Vaux, thence attacking south to assist the 2nd Armored Division in seizing and securing of Houffalize.

2 January 1945
The battalion displaced with CCB from assembly area near Les Avins at 0830 hours. The battalion marched the entire day on secondary roads which were jammed with traffic from various units all attempting to move to the front by the shortest apd quickest route. Traveling was made extremely difficult by the icy condition of the roads. Headquarters Battery closed in the

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