46

The anti-aircraft battery which was being used for outpost defense of Hq Btry captured 8 prisoners this date and a patrol organized by Hq Btry captured 2 others.
21 April 1945
TF Welborn attacked north at 0530 hours and advanced against small arms, some artillery and mortar fire, encountering one light flak battery. By 1300 hours the task force zone was cleared and contact was established with elements of CC Doan on the left.
TF Lovelady attacked across the Spittel Wasser Creek at o3oo hours to seize the town of Raghun. Moderate resistance was encountered. By 1325 hours the town was cleared. This force was ordered to attack south from Raghun between the Spittel Wasser and the Mulde to clear that area as far south as Jessnitz to assist TF Richardson in the capture of Jessnitz if necessary. TF Lovelady attacked at 1400 hours and against light resistance cleared this area. This force was not committed to the attack on Jessnitz.
The battalion remained in position northeast of Lingenau and fired direct support missions for the attack of CCB. The battalion fired 21 missions this date: 1 preparation, 1 on guns, 6 on infantry, 1 on a town, 1 on a CP, 1 on a crossroad, 9 harassing missions, and 1 TOT. Total rounds expended this date-577. Gun position was reported neutralized. Missions on infantry were reported very effective.

22 April 1945
TF Welborn continued to maintain defensive positions and secure its zone. Elements of the Goth Inf. Regt. (9th Inf. Div.) relieved TF Lovelady at 1615 hours and this force moved out of the division area. The battalion remained in position 1 mile northeast of Lingenau in direct support of CCB. Division Artillery fired a 21 volley salute to the Russians at 1200 hours. All division artillery and attached artillery fired in this salute-the target was the town of Mildensee. A mixture of impact and white phosporous was fired. Brigadier General Budinot (CCB) and Lt. Col. Garton observed the mission from the cub planes of this battalion. Col. Brown (Div Art Comdr) observed from a Div Arty plane. Results were reported as excellent. In timing the gun sections for the 21 volleys, the fastest gun was 6th section of Btry B (Sgt. Wicklund) all rounds on the way in 65 seconds. The last gun to cease firing was the 2nd section of Btry A in 1 minute and 45 seconds.
You know that salute we just fired to the Russians? Well, two guys just came in from Mildensee on the other side of Dessau where we beat up the town and wanted to surrender the town? We told 'em to wait for the Russians. Man, I don't blame them wanting to give up after that salute landed there.

23 April, 1945
Task Force Welborn and elements of Task Force Lovelady continued to secure the CCB sector of the Division zone. The firing elements remained in position northeast of Lingenau and gave direct support to CCB in defense of the Task Force Welborn zone. About 1315 hours several rounds of artillery fell in Lingenau setting a house on fire. The air OP was unable to pick up the gun. Division Artillery kept a plane up all day looking for the advancing Russians. Just at dark the cub spotted flashes from the Russian artillery north and south of Wittenburg.
The battalion fired 4 missions this date: 3 harassing missions and 1 registration. Total rounds expended this date-153. Instructions were received that the 9th Infantry Division would relieve Task Force Welborn on 24 April and that the battalion would move to assembly positions in the vicinity of Sangershausen. At 1330 hours Headquarters Battery (FDC) and Service Battery displaced from positions and marched to the assembly positions. Service Battery closed in positions at Oberroblingen and Headquarters Battery closed in at Hackpfuffel
24 April 1945
The 9th Infantry Division relieved CCB by 1345 hours and CCB began the move to the assembly area in the vicinity of Sangershausen.
The battalion firing elements remained in position northeast of Lingenau in the morning and fired at targets of opportunity. The battalion fired 11 missions this date: 3 on towns, 6 on strong points, 1 harassing mission, and 1 registration. Total rounds expended-916. The last mission was a harassing mission fired by Battery B. The last round was fired by 2nd gun section (Sgt. Wascom)-the 170,100 round fired by the battalion since landing in Normandy. Sgt. Wascom's gun section also fired the 1st round to be fired against the enemy in Normandy.
At 1345 the FDC and the firing batteries displaced from position and marched to the assembly area. Battery A Oberroblungen, Battery B Riethnordhausen, Battery C Edersleben, and FDC closed in position at Hackpfuffcl with the rest of the Headquarters Battery. The battalion had completely closed in the assembly area by 2045 hours. The battalion began a period of rest and maintenance.

The campaigns over, the division settled down to occupation duties, to give tried nerves and bodies a rest. A rest well earned. The Normandy Campaign, the Battle of France, o f the Bulge, of the Rhineland, and o f Central Germany brought five battle stars to personnel who had come through all the way with the "Spearhead" Division. The campaigns had been long, and arduous, and as hard fought as any of the war.
From near Sangerhausen, on 12 May, the division moved to take over a new sector o f occupation south o f Frankfurt. At Neu-Isenburg, the battalion found an ideal town with every facility for recreation and amusement. As the battalion moved again on the 14th o f August to a sector between Stuttgart and Nuremberg, the atomic bombs fell on Japan and the peace was finally signed. The 3rd Armored Spearhead Division, which had been reorganizing to resume its successes in the Pacific had seen its last combat in World War- 11, the Global War. The world at last was safe again and the eyes all men turned toward peace and the work to follow. Not, however, without great honor and glory and eternal appreciation to our comrades who gave their utmost, their all-their lives so that all of us remaining could help build a better life for all o f mankind.