After Action Reports and Interviews
7th Armd. Inf. Bn. - S-1 Report, Jan 26-28, 1945
| Jan 22-25 | Jan 26-28 | Jan Cmd | AAR index |


HEADQUARTERS 7th ARMD INF BN
8th Armd Div
APO 258, U. S. ARMY

S-1 JOURNAL
0001 26 Jan 45 to 2400 28 Jan 45
Besch, Germany

Time Incidents, Messages, Orders, etc.Action taken
  26 Jan 45
0130 S-2 CCA to CO(Msg-Rad): PW states en using following signals presumed to be protecting barrages Green flares for rockets, Red flares for arty, White Green White for hwy Mortar.
0715 Plan for Co A to jump off to take high ground beyond Berg with Co A, 18th Tk delayed by hwy mortar fire.
0900 Co A followed by MG Plt jumps off pursuant to plan following tks under hwy mortar fire and digs in on high ground; Mortar Plt moves mounted into Berg under hwy mortar fire and dismounts at Bn CP.
1000 CO Co A W.I.A. and evac; Lt McCaffrey assumes cmd. ExO W.I.A. and evac; S-2 assumes cmd of Bn.
1000 Lt Newman assumes cmd Co C.
1100 Mortar Plt goes into dismounted action.
1300 Mort Plt moves forward to "Hot Corner", 200 yds S of chateau.
1500 Mort Plt moves mounted and dismounts in position in rear of chateau.
1800 Mortar Plt moves to Nennig; Co C moves forward fr vic of tk trap to secure Co of tks against enemy action.
1800 Mortar Plt gives covering fire to Co L and MG sect of Co K, 301st Inf while those units moved into position or rt flank.
1900 Co C releives Co A; Co A moves to reserve area at Nennig having effective strength of about 90 men. MG Plt relieved and moves to reserve area at Nennig.
2100 Co B moves to Nennig and bivouacs.
2100 S-2 relieved and Lt. Col Mossman assumes cmd of Bn.
  Bn casualties for 26 Jan 45; W.I.A. - 49, K.I.A. - 1
  27 Jan 45
0900 Col Mossman meets staff and Co Cos at forward CP - Reorganize - ammo - accurate roster,
Co.Actual Fighters TCO?
Hqs110 135
A 57-3 185-6
B120-3 185-6
C 115-3 185-6
Plan for going in to exploit tk atk.
Employ in order: B - A - C.
Plan withdrawal to home station.
All meals hot.
1000 Lt Volk, Co A and Lt Fisher, Co B evac for frostbite; Lt Garrison assumes cmd Co B.
1100 Co C having been shelled for 2 hrs infiltrates back to Berg for rest.
1355 CCA to CO (msg-Rad): 0330 60 Large Inf con 035055 conc in wood 099063
1407 (Msg-Rad): At 1030 en Tks Reptd ass 052045 053044 at 1007 Tks moving out of Sinz being met on N Road by our armour at 0930 ceramic red meeting hwy en resistance at 1058 Tk ass-AT.
1515 CCA to CO (Msg-Rad): AT gun firing fr 63530 631240 Mortar fire fr 053064 at 1340 enemy tks 045050.
1545 Gen Colson: Be prepared to move on 15 min notice to cover withdrawal of tks fr N.W. of Sinz. Move on foot. Take only LMG crew served weapons and individual weapons. May have to cover to N.W. of Wies. We have some tks and Inf in Sinz - given to staff and Co Cos about 1605, 27 Jan - CO
1558 ExO CCA to CO (Msg): Plat Inf moving S.W. L 050005 at 1450.
1625 Gen Colson: Might as well move out before dark. Rept to Col Goodrich at about (037-049) R. J. and cover his withdrawal and reservicing as he desires. Keep in touch on CC Cmd Channel - you are MOSS. Then contact Bn CO in Sinz and help take enough of town to retrieve tks. - given to staff and Co Cos at 1750 - move out 1715. Order B-A-C.
1705 Bn moves dismounted toward Sinz to protect evacuation of tks with secondary mission of helpimg 94th in Sinz. Order of march, B-A-C.
1745 Col Goodrich: Post Bn about tk reservicing point vetw here and Wies. Tks needing evacuation vetw here and AT ditch at (048045). 301st Inf vetw here and ditch.
1800 CCA to CO (Msg-Rad) LnO coming with info. Rept to unit in Sinz for instructions. Be careful and methodical.
1900 LnO arrives with Msg (Msg: 27 Jan 45 1800 Mossman: Push ahead through our tanks to Sinz - contact Inf of 94th Div now holding 3 houses in town and assist in taking town for purpose of evacuating our tanks that are disabled - Colson.
1905 S-3 with Rcn patrol leave to contact rt flank of 301st Inf near tk ditch and obtain info relative to Sinz.
2030 S-3 returns: 301st Inf holding edge of wood W of tk ditch to Sinz; 302nd Inf holding 3 houses in Sinz.
2100 Bn moves to vic of tk ditch.
2200 Co B committed to cover road betw ditch and Sinz. Bn less B Co in reserve. Patrol sent to Sinz to contact troops therein.
2300 Patrol returns: 302nd Inf holds 6 houses; 1 of our tks in town is burning; pill boxes and 88s on hill to S. cover town and approaches.
2400 LnO, 302nd Inf lead Bn CO to CP 3nd Bn 302nd Inf - Col Anderson, ExO, 302nd Inf. 2430 7th AIB atchd TF Anderson for atk on Sinz 28 Jan:
Enemy very weak.
Atk fr W at 0715.
Pill boxes to S of Sinz will be smoked.
No arty preparation - surprise.
E & G Cos 302nd will take S.E. section of Sinz.
7th will take N.W. and central sectors with one co each.
6 flame throwers with crews have been promised will be atchd 7th AIB.
4 TDs in reserve.
Call arty by coordinates.
PW and casualties to Nennig.
Radio SCR 300 ch 4.
  Bn casualties for 27 Jan 45; W.I.A. - 57, K.I.A. -3
  28 Jan 45
0300 CO notifies Co Cos:
Co C -- upper sector w/2 flame throwers
Co B -- center sector w/4/flame throwers
Co A -- reserve
Withdraw Co B pres position 0500
Hot breakfast 0530
Extra grenades, rocket and mortar ammo 0500
0330 LnO CCA: Withdraw Cos A and C immediately to motor pool. Cover tks with Co B until they are out or until such time as to clear into Nennig by daylight - Co Cos notified; Co B withdraw at 0530.
0410 Cos A and C aid station moved out.
0540 Co B moved out
0545 Co B stopped by Maj Deau, ExO 18 Tk: Gen Colson directs Co B to cover disabled tks until Maj Deau gets all tks out that he is going to evacuate.
0550 Co B directed to cover rt flank 301st Inf with one Plt , 2 plts in reserve, withdraw to crest at daylight.
0630 CO at CP CCA: Gen Colson confirms Maj Deau's msg; Bn less Co B to return to Div area; Co B atchd to 18th Tk Bn.
  IP - Koenigsmacher
  Hq - 1000
    A - 1020
    B - 1030
  Sv - 1050
0730 Mortar Plt, MG and AG Plts moves to Rettel
0745 Bn Hq moves to Rettel
0800 Co A closes Sierck and moves for Aulois
0900 Lt Grau & 5 EM (reetar?) aid stat for Co B.
1500 Co B with medics moves dismounted to Besch, mounts and proceeds to Sierck and Mailly
1515 Bn less Co B arrives Nomeny, Jeandelcourt and Atlois.
1830 Bn CP opens Mailly.
  Bn Casualties for 28 Jan 45: W.I.A. - 16, K.I.A. - 0

Bn casualties from all causes for period 22 to 28 Jan 45:
  Bn Hq Med Hq Co A B C Sv Co
Dead 0 1 2 5 2 6 0
Missing 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Wounded 4 6 12 47 47 41 0
Frostbite 0 1 1 24 27 10 0
Sick 1 2 0 11 3 11 0
Eff Strength ------------ 165 ------------ 120   144   147   77
Overhead       15 15 15  
Tot strength ----------- 165 ------------- 135   159   162   77

Bn took approximately 180 PWs during period fr 22 to 28 Jan 45
During the period 22 Jan 45 to 28 Jan 45 Chaplains Small (prot) & Ryan (cath) arrived at Nennig to give the men spiritual comfort; they were present at Nennig betw hrs of 0900 to 1900 & then proceeded to Sierck at night to attend to Bn men there.