18 December 1944

There was still a little cleaning up to be done in each Bn sector. 3rd Bn sent L Co down to take the small sector in SE ROLSDORF. This was accomplished with light opposition, and another 40 or 50 prisoners were taken out of the basements. 1st Bn sent two platoons of A Co through a sector of buildings lying between ROLSDORF and the ROER River,2nd Bn sent F and G Cos on to within a couple of hundred yards of the ROER River in their sector.

Our mission had been completed in seven days. The Germans had been driven from a sector 4 kilometers wide and 6 kilometers deep. Our troops were sitting close enough to the ROER River to cover it by fire and prevent the enemy from recrossing, or at least, to make it very costly to him if he attempted it.

There were two bridges across the ROER in our sector. The northern one, in 2nd Bn sector had been blown by the enemy, sufficiently enough that it could not be used. The southern one, in the 1st Bn sector, had a 20 foot gap blown in the middle. Upon Division order, demolitions were placed at our end of the bridge by the Engrs after darkness, in preparation for any counter-attack the enemy might attempt with armor. At 2100, the charge had been placed, and at 2145, the other end of the bridge was blown by the enemy. Apparently they were afraid we would continue our attack across the river.

All of our 774th Tk Bn units except the light tanks, were released and returned to the rear for service. This consisted of AG plat, one prov plat, and two plats from Co B.

At this time, in addition to normal CT attachments, our remaining attachments were: one plat, Co D, 774th Tk Bn; Co A, 629th TD Bn; one rcn plat, 629th TD Bn.

Our left boundary had been a temporary one, and elements of the 39th Inf Regt were actually occupying part of the sector originally assigned to the 83rd Div. At 1800, we were ordered to relieve those 39th Inf elements at once. E Co was sent over to make the relief , and it was completed by 2230.

19 December 1944

Plans were initiated for the defense of our sector.These plans included: the laying of wire and mines in forward areas which would be critical in case of serious enemy counter-attack; the digging of holes and stacking of mines nearby in rear areas; the planning and setting up of defensive fires.

Plans were also made for Anti-Airborne Defense, for enemy paratroopers had been dropped in the Corps sector on several occasions. Our attached rcn platoon from the 629th TD Bn, which had not yet been used, was given the job of patrolling the roads in our rear area by day and setting up a road block on our main supply route by night.

Co A (-2 plats), 87th Cml Bn, was attached. One section of two 46 T tanks from the 774th Tk Bn was attached.

At 1710, the enemy shelled and smoked an area between the 3rd Bn and the unit on our right. The shelling continued until 1805, after which time the 3rd Bn sent out a patrol to the ROER to see what was going on.It was just a fake, however, and no attack followed.

20 December 1944

The 104th Inf Div moved in on our left and took over the part of our sector which had been held by the 2nd Bn. The 2nd Bn was relieved by the 413th Inf Regt and pulled back into GURZENICH, in Division reserve.

The 1st Bn was given the mission of continuing to hold their same sector in the northern part of ROLSDORF, with two companies forward and one back in reserve.

The 3rd Bn drew back one company to BIRGEL, giving them two companies in reserve and one reinforced company in the S end of ROLSDORF.

The provisional section of tks which had been attached on the 19th, were released at 1230.

Co A, 629th TD Bn, was drawn back into an assembly area to the W of BIRGEL, so that they might be more advantageously used in case of counter-attack by the enemy.

21 December 1944

Continued with defensive plans. Plan of defensive fires and mines submitted to Division.

The Comical Chemicals, Co A of 87th Cml Bn, who fired nothing for us and a few rounds of smoke that confused us, and who took two days to report in to us, were released as of 2400.

22 December 1944

We had a standby at 0500, with everyone on the job. The enemy had been quite inactive on the 21st, and it was thought that Division was suspecting a counter-attack. However, nothing happened.

23 December 1944

The 414th Inf Regt of the 104th Inf Div came in to relieve the 329th. The 329th Inf was given the new and welcome mission of moving to vic AACHEN, in 9th Army Reserve. The first unit crossed the IP at SCHEVENHUTTE at 1400.The regt, plus Co A, 308th Med Bn, minus 3rd Bn, closed into new area at 1700. This new area was the town of EILENDORF, about 3 miles E of AACHEN.

24 December 1944

3rd Bn was released by the 441th Inf Regt and closed into EILENDORF at 1800.

25 December 1944

A large turkey dinner was enjoyed by all.

Upon Div order, a rcn party was sent to 78th Div sector, vic SCHMIDT, leaving at 1400 and returning at 1545. This, however, turned out to be a waste of time, for at 1845, General Macon told Colonel Crabill to have the regt alerted for a move to 1st Army sector the next morning.

The stay at EILENDORF had been pleasant but short.

26 December 1944

The move was not made in the morning, as originally planned.We were put on an alert to be able to move on 3 hours notice. At 1145 we received the notice to move at 1445.We crossed the IP on time and made the move with all attachments except the tanks. Following were the attachments: 322nd FA Bn; Co A, 308th Med Bn; Co A, 308th Engrs; Co A, 774th Tk Bn; and Co C, 772nd TD (T) Bn.

In spite of the confused orders given us, we closed into an assembly area vic of HAVELANGE, BELGIUM, at 2230, a move of 65 miles to the SW.

Just what our new mission was to be, we did not know. We did know that our job would have something to do with stopping or cutting off the big German penetration which had been made across northern LUXEMBOURG and southern BELGIUM.

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