David.Gettman January 31st, 2008
From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry
11 – 18 January 1945
Troop C, 2d Squadron
The Troop rested, except for a five man patrol under Cpl. Holtz that went out to go over the route that was to be used in the attack. All during the day Capt. Morrison and his officers planned the attack, looking over the terrain and coordinating with the supporting artillery Battalion and our own E Troop. The mission was an important one and knowing this, all possible precautionary measures were taken.
With everything planned and everyone rested, the three recon platoons and the CP moved out before 0030, dismounted, and moved to the woods north of Machtum (map 33). After a short halt to get reorganized, we moved close to the town and waited for 0300, at which time a 15 minute barrage from the supporting artillery fell on the objective. The Troop was so close to the barrage that the men were showered with stones and dirt from the exploding shells. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman January 30th, 2008
From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry
18 January 1945
Troop C, 42d Squadron
After as much preliminary observation as our occupied area would permit, the 3rd platoon, under Lt. Pridgen, and about two sections of the 2nd platoon crossed the river well after dark, and proceeded to carry out their combat patrol plan of a frontal attack against Thorn (map 33) by the 3rd platoon, covered on the left by the 2nd platoon. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman January 29th, 2008
From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry
19 – 20 January 1945
Troop C, 2d Squadron
The Troop outposted the town of Machtum (map 33) until the 19th of January, when it pulled a raid on Rehlingen (map 33), Germany, across the Moselle, which we thought was one of our smoothest operations.
Lt. Little was put in charge and after a days preparation and reconnaissance, 30 picked men, 10 from each platoon, proceeded at 1700 to Ahn (map 33), the jump off point. At 1800 we started across the river in six man groups and assembled on the other side. Of course at this critical moment the ’536′ radios refused to work, but the mission continued regardless. The evenings job was to clear the town, capture a prisoner and withdraw. Not knowing the strength of the enemy we used a different method of attack than we ordinarily used, and it proved successful. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman January 28th, 2008
From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry
20 January 1945
Lt. Hoyos, 11th Panzer Division
The 11th Panzer Division pulled into the Saar Moselle Triangle through Merzig (map V) after the Ardennes Front failed. My tank Company was composed only of Mark IV’s; we had no more of the beloved Panthers.
We had orders for the Division to smash the American bridgehead at Nennig (map 33) – Thorn (map 33) and drive them across the river.
(note: The Germans were mistaken here as it was not a bridgehead in this area but an extension of the 94th Division’s flank which had been pushed up from the south)
So on 20 January my tank Company, 4 Mark IV’s, moved from Sinz (map 33) to Hill 300 where we went into position defilade and engaged the American fire positions above Remich (map 33) to find their defensive set-up. We drew some artillery fire but it was not effective.
We started down toward the Nennig AT ditch. Suddenly a great number of American Pak (anti-tank) guns opened fire and instantly knocked out my two flank tanks. I dove out of my tank just before it and the remaining tank were hit. The Division fought it’s way to the AT ditch in much schwer (heavy) fighting, hand to hand combat, but we were finally repulsed. We had high losses; 30 tanks were destroyed that day. It was the worst for the panzers. The 11th Panzer never fully recovered from that fight.
2d Cavalry note: The same day heavy artillery fire on Kleinmacher (map 33) forced our OP there to change positions. Six inches of snow covered the ground, and being hard packed on the roads made driving very dangerous. Engineers diverted men and equipment to work on the roads. Patrolling continued, a patrol on the 21st to Palzem (map 33) encountered 30 to 40 enemy, killed several and withdrew without casualties or prisoners.
David.Gettman January 27th, 2008
From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry
21 – 25 January 1945
Major Andrews, 42d Squadron
Palzem (map 33) is a small German town on the Moselle river directly across from Stadtbredimus, Luxembourg (map 33). After about 3 weeks of routine patrolling into Palzem after a prisoner, I finally decided to try it myself. I had picked 16 men to go with me as this was the patrol that was going to do or die. I can remember a few of those on the patrol – Sgt. Roy, 1st Sgt. Beasley, S/Sgt. Magnum, Sgt. Benvenuto, Cpl. Francis, Cpl. Bower, Cpl. Brady.
I gave them such a pep talk about how we were going to stay over there until we got a prisoner that it wasn’t long until I believed it myself. I gave them 24 hours off prior to the jump off to rest up, and for the assistant patrol leaders to make their reconnaissance. We really had the plan down to perfection. I still can’t figure out how we missed getting a Kraut. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman January 26th, 2008
From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry
January 25 – February 11, 1945
The Second Cavalry Group (Reinforced), still designated Task Force Reed, continued to hold the snow covered banks of the Moselle, with no major changes in mission or composition. Ice in the river made patrolling, as far as the enemy side of the bank is concerned, extremely impractical, and for a few days the exchange of courtesies between the enemy and ourselves was limited to artillery and mortar shells and an occasional burst of machine gun fire. On the 28th a patrol under S/Sgt. Pajdzch, C Troop, 2d Squadron, attempted nine times to cross the river but was repulsed each time by the ice. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman January 25th, 2008
From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry
15 – 18 February 1945
Troop A, 2d Squadron
An 18 man patrol and a 4 man boat guard, led by Lt. Brown, A Troop, 2d Squadron, crossed the Moselle river at Ehnen (map 33) at 2030 the night of the 15th. They proceeded cross country to the edge of the woods just south of Wincheringen (map 33). The prearranged plans were for the patrol to split up into three teams. Lt. Brown and three men were to approach the crossroads to the south end of Wincheringen from the east. Sgt. Fontenot was to take three men and cover Lt. Brown from the right. Sgt. Kinley, with the remainder of the patrol, was to be about 50 yards from the town on Lt. Brown’s left. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman January 24th, 2008
From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry
19 – 22 February 1945
T/5 Charles F. Dale
The evening of February 19th didn’t seem much different from any other February evening, although we knew that something was definitely up. Troop A had been in Squadron reserve for the past week or so back in Flaxweiler (map 33). Around seven o’clock all the officers and platoon sergeants were called to the Troop CP to be briefed for some new mission. In the houses where the men of A Troop had been living, the tension rose steadily. The writer was in the first platoon, and our house was probably no different than any other combat platoon’s that night. Occasionally someone would say, “Jeez, I wish they’d tell us something anyway!” Finally someone suggested that we go to the movies and several of us went. After seeing about half of a very dull and old picture, a head poked in the doorway and a voice barked “All the men of A Troop report back to your billets immediately”. The lights were switched on and we, the men of A Troop, trying to look nonchalant, walked out. Continue Reading »
David.Gettman January 23rd, 2008
From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry
22 February 1945
Troop B, 42d Squadron
The patrol moved east on the road entering Born (map 34). Sgt. Lowrey, leading the point, drew rifle fire (five shots) just before entering the town. Lt. Calderwood moved the patrol into position south of the road and went forward to make a personal reconnaissance.
He heard what he estimated to be 8 or 10 men running around in town, as though moving to a position. This was followed by machine gun fire from the southernmost street in town and from across the river. Later an undetermined number of machine guns and rifles opened fire from the town, and signal lights were seen across the river. Lt. Calderwood heard what he believes was a motor boat cross the river three times. The machine gun and mortar across the river searched the road on which the patrol had moved into town. The patrol leader also reported hearing two trucks on the opposite bank come up from Metzdorf (map 34).
David.Gettman January 22nd, 2008
From:
SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY
Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association
Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry
22 – 26 February 1945
Troop C, 42nd Squadron
Lt. Williams, following closely behind the point as they moved carefully down the railroad track, heard the sound of a falling body, muffled profanity and scrambling around. After some fumbling around in the dark he found a trip wire over which one of the men had stumbled. Fortunately there was something wrong with the hookup and this mishap did not cause an explosion. At least not immediately. Continue Reading »
