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Article from the 941st Field Artillery Battalion's official "field newspaper" of June 18, 1945.

MACHINE GUNNERS RECEIVE AWARDS FOR WORK AT MONSCHAU

Fifteen members of this unit [941st FA Bn] have been awarded the Distinguished Unit Badge for their work in assisting the 38th Cavalry Recon Squadron (CRS), to repel the German counterattack in the Monschau area last December [1944]. These men were on detached service with the 38th [CRS] at the time and remained in support of that mechanized unit for about 10 days. The citation is directed at the 38th Cavalry Recon Squadron (Mecz) and attached units and read as follows:

The 38th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized), with attached units, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy during the period 16-18 December 1944, in Germany.

During the major counter-offensive staged by the 6th German Panzer Army, the squadron and attached units displayed extraordinary heroism and outstanding combat proficiency in repelling for three successive days the desperate [attempts] by the 326th Volks Grenadier Division to open the Monschau sector for exploitation by the 2nd Panzer Division.

Defending a front of 9,000 yards and standing alone between the full-scale German attack and vital road nets leading to Eupen and Liege, this thinly spread force held its ground in the face of five attacks ranging in strength from a reinforced battalion to the combined elements of two infantry regiments. Three of these assaults were supported by direct self-propelled artillery and rocket fire, which preceded the attacking infantry.

The battalion of German paratroopers, which had been, dropped behind the lines on the first night of the engagement seriously harassed front line elements as well as the forces rear areas.

Despite the fact that the numerically superior enemy made several penetrations, one of which was in battalion strength, isolated outposts and platoons held their lines with grim determination. Although artillery [941st FA Bn] observation posts were overrun, the personnel fought with small arms to maintain their positions and adjusted devastating fire upon waves of German infantry.

All enemy infiltrations were thwarted by determined fighting and close hand-to-hand combat. When the battle was most intense every available man, including personnel of rear echelon maintenance and supply sections and soldiers being treated in the squadron infirmary, were employed to drive back the advancing forces.

The gallantry and combined skill of this force resulted in 300 enemy killed, thirty-one prisoners taken, and countless casualties inflicted upon the enemy ranks.

The strength, courage and determination exhibited by the personnel of the 38th Cavalry and attached units in denying the Germans access to the vital road net contributed largely to the ultimate defeat of the German offensive in the Ardennes.

Men of the 941st Field Artillery Battalion Receiving this Award:

NAME, BATTERY, HOMETOWN

Cpl. Alexander, Ethan D.,Service, Danville, Ill
Cpl. Methot. Harold L., C, Wetmore, Mich
Cpl. Potter, Orland P., C, Detroit, Mich
Pfc. Daly, Edward P., HQ, Philadelphia, PA
Pfc. Evans, Ben, A, Chicago, Ill
Pfc. Figueroa, Unk, Unk
Pfc. Hewitt, Homer E., Service, Manchester N.H.
Pfc. Landry, George E., Service, Manchester N.H.
Pfc. Rooth, Calvin S., C, Chicago, Ill
Pvt. Coonradt, Clarence L., A, Osage, Iowa
Pvt. Griffith, Charles B., C, Quitman, Miss
Pvt. Morris, John L., Service, Struthers, Ohio
Pvt. Murph, Walter, C, Charlotte, N.C.
Pvt. Oliver, Kenneth E., HQ, Harrisburg, Ill
Pvt. Spagna, Charles A., HQ, Bronx, N.Y.

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The Wartime Memories Project - The Second World War - Day by Day

18th June 1945

In Memory of those who died this Day