During the time the CP was located at Sendorf, many officers from other elements of the Division visited us, largely because one of our Ops located across the Moselle at Remich, Luxemburg, afforded a panoramic view of the battlefield such as is seldom encountered. Major Molchan, spend a good deal of his time at this OP. Before daylight one morning while he was proceeding thereto, his peep slid off the road and turned over on both him and his driver, Pvt Kimps. They were able to attract the attention of a nearby bridge guard which extracted them from the turned over vehicle which they also assisted in replacing on the road. Fortunately, neither was hurt seriously.

Col Dawson was not to be seen at the CP very often. Most of the time he was in the Nennig-Berg area at the Combat Command's forward CP.

All personnel showed the effects of the cold weather and little sleep, but few took the beating allotted to the forward observers and their sections. These officers and men became acquainted with battle at close range, in extremely cold weather, and during longer than normal reliefs. They turned in an excellent performance, and they deserve the commendation of the rest of the Battalion.

On 27 January 1945 about 1000 the Battalion was ordered to return to the old assembly area at Rouves France. Movement began at 2800030. The weather was still extremely cold with slippery roads, but the unit had little difficulty in traveling. First elements arrived at Rouves at 280350 January, and the Battalion was extremely fortunate in that it sustained no casualties in the Nennig engagement, especially considering that a large number of officers and enlisted personnel were directly involved on the battle-field. At one time twenty of the thirty officers of this organization were engaged in duties forward of the gun position areas. It is interesting to note that light counterbattery was received by the firing batteries only on one occasion. The fire was light in comparison to ours. However, they more than made up for this deficiency by abundant use of mortars. The failure to locate these mortars was a constant headache to the troops. Most casualties were the result of these weapons. The period from 28 January to 1 February was devoted to maintenance and refitting for the next operation. On 30 January the weather warmed up, and ice melted away very fast causing small floods in the area. The parking area of 'B' and 'C' at Clemery became completely inundated necessitating their removal to higher ground.

On February 1945 the Battalion received orders to move north to the vicinity of Maastricht, Holland. At 2020 the same day the march north began. Except for hourly halts and every nine hours, refueling halts, the march was made in one operation. The Battalion arrived 040230 February 1945 at Simpleveld, Holland, the new assembly area. The distance was 214 miles. The route of march took the Battalion thru the French towns of Pont-A-Mousson, Jarny, Etain, Longwy and the Belgium towns of Arlon, Neufchateau, March, Liege and finally to Maastricht and Simpleveld, Holland.

The route between Arlon and north of March had been the scene of the December offensive of Von Runstedt in what is now called the 'Bulge Country'. The route was thru the heavily wooded Ardennes Forrest. Evidence of fierce fighting was seen everywhere along the roads in form of abandoned ammunition and equipment.

One serious mishap occurred during the march. An M-7 of "B" Battery slid off the road, broke through a protective retaining wall and plunged twenty feet bottom side up. The car commander, Corporal Alfred J. Contestible was caught under the armor and died instantly by crushing. Several other members of the crew were injured and removed to an evacuation hospital. The M-7 was righted by wrecker crews. It was undamaged and was able to continue the march.

Simpleveld, Holland was the location of Battalion Headquarters and the billeting area of Headquarters and 'A' Batteries. 'C' Battery was billeted at Trintelen and 'B' and Service at Hals. The people provided facilities and beds for all personnel making all feel very much at home. They proved to be real hosts by their actions in washing clothes, making pastries for the men and taking them to movies and dances. Ice cream was made for the messes by the local dairy, materials being provided by the batteries. This was a deluxe delicacy.