Fort de Pont St. Vincent
David.Gettman March 2nd, 2008
8 September 1944
Fort de Pont St. Vincent (map 24), massive and powerful, towering 600 feet above the Moselle river, dominated the crossing over the river and the southern approaches to Nancy (map IV)(map NS) for miles.
Col. Reed ordered the 42d Squadron to take the fort to facilitate the XII Corps attack on Nancy. Troop C, reinforced by Troop E and F, was selected for the task. Troop C 2d Squadron was attached to the 42d for operational control and relieved Troop C in their zone from Bainville (map 24) to Benney (map 24). The 696th Armored Field Artillery Battalion was also worked into the fire plan.
The attack was planned for the 8th of September. That morning Troop C, under Lt. Harris, concentrated with the armor and assault guns in the Bois de Fey (map 24) on the high ground above Germiny (map 24) and Thelod (map 24). The artillery signaled the attack with a drum fire barrage that pasted the fort and surrounding entrenchments. White phosphorous shells mixed with high explosive air bursts made a pretty black and white pattern over the target. Troop E fired smoke shells to cover the deployment of the assault force. Troop C pressed forward dismounted with the tanks in close support.
Now the artillery came in for a little trouble. A Battalion of German 150mm Howitzers southeast of Nancy opened up in counter battery fire. This somewhat reduced the fire support of C Troop.
When the assault groups started up the steep hill to the fort it was found that the tanks could not follow directly. The men in C Troop paused, waiting for the tanks with their yammering guns to close up.
Lt. Harris saw that this would give the enemy a chance to reconstitute his defenses, especially since the amount of smoke was being greatly reduced. He pushed forward to the head of his men to lead them in a charge to the top. This sudden move forward permitted the tanks to use a dirt road that was uncovered by the advance. S/Sgt. Moore and Cpl. Cea were some of the C Troopers hit during the assault and mopping up around the fort itself.
The fort was found to be manned by elements of the 3d German Paratroop Division, sister of the 1st Paratroop Division that held out so brilliantly at Cassino in the Italian campaign. But this was not another Cassino, for C Troop kicked the paratroopers from their last position in front of the Moselle, having previously driven them out of Bainville and Benney.
The next day the outraged German paratroopers hit back and for some time it looked as though they might have made a successful attack on the peaceful little town of Benney.
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