On 23 February 1945 a general attack was made along the west bank of the Roer with the main effort to the south of our sector. In the preparation between 0245 and 0728, 567 rounds were expended. A well dug in German 20mm AA gun across the river on a high ridge provided a difficult target for the FOs. Approximately 43 rounds had been fired at it, and at intervals between bursts the Krauts would come out of their cover shouting and waving flags at the FOs. Even after a direct hit the piece continued firing.

During the period 23-27 February 1945 the following missions were fired:

The terrain in this operation, which incidentally was one of holding only, was different from that in which we had been engaged previously. The British had once taken all terrain west of the river but in a holding operation had found it advisable to drop back several hundred yards from the river roughly to a north-south line through Posterholt. Ops were maintained at St. Odilienburg and Paarlo at the river's edge but since they were accessible to enemy observation and fire of all types, reliefs were effected only at night. The enemy maintained strong patrols at Vlodrop and sent infiltrating patrols across the river at night. During our occupation of the area, the situation remained much the same.

Several commendable incidents occurred. Since it was beyond the effective range of the SCR 509, the FO at Paarlo depended entirely upon wire communication. This line was laid under enemy observation and fire, and on 23 February it had been broken four times by direct hits from enemy mortar fire. Splices were made by Lt Sparkman, Communications officer and two members of his crew after each break, under observation by the enemy, while small arms and mortar fire were falling around them.

Remaining under Division Artillery control, the 398th departed from Diergaarde and vicinity at 252000 February 1945, moving northeast about five miles to St. Joost, south of Roermond, Holland, in CC 'R's sector. By 2255, the Battalion was in position and ready to fire. There was but slight activity on our part in this sector. A propaganda mission was fired the following day telling the Germans of the futility of their fight and of their "rights" as prisoners of war.

In view of our inactivity, Col Dawson was persuaded by the Battalion Surgeon to spend a couple of days at the 105th Evacuation Hospital at Sittard starting 26 February to try to shake off a dose of bronchitis which had kept him hovering around a light fever for a week. The Battalion executive, Major Molchan, assumed temporary command.

During this period Service Battery was billeted at Sustern south along the highway to Sittard. At a changing of the guard Pfc Compton was shot in the leg sustaining minor injuries which did not require evacuation.

The unit departed from St. Joost, Holland, at 271430 February, because the Division was marching southeast to capitalize on a Roer River crossing effected by the 35th Infantry Division at Hilfarth, Germany. The route of march was through Sittard, Geilenkirchen, Hilfarth, Huckelhoven, Gladbach to Haw, just north of Wegberg, Germany, a distance of 32 miles where the Battalion went into firing positions at 281020 February 1945. Col Dawson rejoined the unit early in the morning and resumed command of the Battalion.

The unit passed through the stronger fortifications of the Seigfried Line east of the Roer at night, and it was unable to see them, but subsequently it became acquainted with the fox holes, chevron trenches, communication trenches, anti-tank ditches and other emplacements which had been dug all over the countryside.

Between the Teich and Roer rivers, the recent flood had left the road partially inundated and not clearly defined. 'C' Battery's maintenance track ran off the road a few feet in this area and struck a mine destroying the front end of the track and causing two wound casualties who had to be evacuated.

'A' Battery was marching with the advance guard during the march. At one position it came under hostile artillery fire which 'beat up' Capt Landthorn's peep and his personal equipment. In addition an attached AKA enlisted man was struck in the chest by a fragment and had to be evacuated.

The town of Wegberg was surrounded by a concrete oval road net which we styled "the race track." Our Battalion was impressed by the large amount of heavy artillery which had been brought across the Roer and established in firing positions in the area. While in position at Haw, the unit supported the action north at Merbeck and Tetelrath. 'A' Battery captured one prisoner in this area which was turned over to CC 'A', and the month closed with the unit getting acquainted with the problem of dealing with and living with German civilians. The latter seemed to be well fed and clothed, and from all outward appearances they had not felt the adverse conditions of war except that young men were scarce.

Continuing the action, the 398th left the vicinity of Wegberg at 1445. The firing batteries went into position west of Waldniel and Headquarters Battery stopped in the town long enough to locate billets and to eat the evening meal. March was resumed at 1825 with 'B' Battery in the advance guard in support of the 18th Tank Battalion. The battery fired 592 rounds reporting the destruction of four enemy tanks, one enemy ammunition dump and several gun emplacements. The advance guard was held up at Lobberich, Germany. 'B' Battery went into position southeast of Bosheim, and the other two firing batteries joined it, with Battalion Headquarters being set up in the town at about 020330 March. 'B' Battery had reported a shortage of ammunition on the march, so Lt Kapian went back to Service Battery's palatial setup at Waldniel and aroused them to the extent of two ammunition trucks which he brought up to the battery in time for the preparation.

In the preparation on Lobberich, Lt Ash, forward observer with the tankers, turned in an admirable performance by registering the Battalion on a church at night in the moonlight and by effectively conducting artillery fires as the town bore witness to the fact when the unit moved through it later in the day after it had been taken. To observe it was necessary for Lt Ash to leave his tank regardless of hostile fires and to establish an OP in the second story of a house.

The unit continued to support CC 'A' until it was relieved at 021900 March 1945 due to the inadequacy of the road net in our sector. At that time our positions were in the vicinity of Gladbach, Germany. At 031950 March, the Battalion went into billets with Headquarters located at Merbeck and the other batteries in the immediate vicinity. During the last two days of this operations, Major Dove, S-3, rode in the ambulance to overcome a spot on his lung.

While in the vicinity of Belsheim, members of the Battalion saw German planes in the air for the first time. Several single-engine ships reconnoitered the column with attacking. Although they were taken under fire by the attached AAA units and most of the vehicles in the column carrying machine guns with AA mounts, none were knocked down.

Upon leaving Boisheim the Battalion moved through Lobberich and Hinsbeck establishing a GP in a few houses at the east-west cross road between Hinsbeck and Worsenbeck. During the afternoon many prisoners moved south down the road to Hinsbeck with hands clasped behind heads and without guards.