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2nd
Battalion, 378th Infantry Regiment
The
accomplishments of the 2nd Bn 378th Infantry in the
Thionville Moselle River crossing can best be summarized
by its Distinguished Unit Citation as follows:
March 1945
"The 2nd
Battalion, 378th Infantry, in division reserve in the
vicinity of Batilly, France, as the 95th Infantry Division
initiated its operations against the fortified city of
Metz, received orders at 1515, 19 November 1944, to move
to Thionville, 22 miles to the north, in the 90th Infantry
Division zone, force a crossing of the Moselle River, and
reconnoiter for a possible bridge site here. The
importance of this mission was stressed in the order from
XX Corps. The corps plan for the encirclement of Metz had
been jeopardized by inability to etablish a bridgehead
across the flooded Moselle for the crossing of the 10th
Armored Division. The battalion closed at Thionville at
0330 on 11 November 1944, but engineer assault boats for
its crossing did not arrive until after daylight. At 0830
on 11 November 1944, the battalion sent its first assault
wave across under the guns of Fort Yutz, which dominates
the east bank of the Moselle. By dark, Company E and a
platoon of Company F had captured the ground between the
river and the canal that winds moat-fashion around the
fort. The success of this operation caused a change in
mission. The battalion was directed to seize a bridgehead,
and bridging equipment was moved to Thionville during the
night. Despite a continuous hail of artillery, mortar, and
small-arms fire, the battalion was completely across the
river by 0900, 12 November 1944, and was fighting inside
Fort Yutz.
The battle
for the fort continued throughout the day and night, and
the last of the battered German garrison surrendered at
1200, 13 November 1944. During the afternoon the battalion
was completed its occupation of the town of Basse-Yutz and
the bridge site was safe from direct fire. On the morning
of 14 November the battalion turned south its effort to
expand the bridgehead and to relieve the beleaguered 1st
Battalion of the 377th Infantry, which had crossed the
river at Uckange on 8 November and had been isolated by
counter-attacking German armored vehicles and infantry.
Haute-Yutz was captured during the morning, and during the
afternoon the battalion pushed on to encircle Fort d'Illange,
a modern fortification more formidable than Yutz. The
commander of the German garrison declined to surrender,
and during the afternoon the battalion began its assault
across 2 broad bands of barbed wire, moats and heavy
masonry walls.
At 1130, 15
November, Fort d'Illange was officially reported captured.
During the bitter fighting around the fort, the battalion
commander, Lieutnant Colonel Autrey J. Maroun was severely
wounded in the left arm but declined medical aid and
accompanied his troops as they pushed on into the village
of Illange where he received another wound which forced
his evacuation.
At 1430, 15
November 1944, the battalion now reinforced by the 95th
Reconnaissance Troop and under command of Task Force
Bacon, reached elements of the 1st Battalion, 377th
Infantry at Imeldange. The German containing force, which
by now had reduced the 1st Battalion, 377th Infantry to
less than one-half effective strenght, was routed and
driven to the south. Without pause the battalion continued
to advance along the east bank of the Moselle River,
spearheading the rapid advance of Task Force Bacon.
During the
five days of this action, the 2nd Battalion, 378th
Infantry, engaged in itsfirst offensive operation and
functioning until the last day as a separate command,
forced a crossing of the flooded Moselle River, advanced
more than three miles against a stubbornly resisting enemy,
killed and estimated 300 Germans, captured 215 prisoners,
reduced 2 major fortifications, and routed a large enemy
force.
During this
period the battalion suffered more than 200 casualties.
The desperate determination, great personal courage, and
outstanding professional skill of the officers and the men
of the 2nd Battalion, 378th Infantry, gained the
bridgehead at Thionville, which made possible the
successful execution of the XX Corps plan for the capture
of the City of Metz. Their example is an inspiration to
all members of ithis command."
By order of the
Secretary of War, G.C. Marshall, Chief of Staff
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Rhineland