AFTER ACTION REPORT
331TH INFANTRY REGIMENT (83RD DIV.)
1 - 31 DECEMBER 1944

PATCH 83RD INFANTRY DIVISION
HEADQUARTERS 331th INFANTRY
APO 83
UNITED STATES ARMY.

10 December 1944.

At 1630, the 2nd battalion jumped off. Attack was met by scattered small arms fire and some mortar and artillery fire. During latter part of day enemy mortar and artillery fire increased. Friendly tanks have been unable to get into Gey due to bad roads. One (1) platoon of tanks was attempting to get into Gey from southwest through 330th area. Repairs to road was hampered by hostile artillery fire. By dark, Companies E and F had occupied part of Gey having advanced to the main cross roads in center of town. 1st and 3rd battalions held their previous positions. Mortar and artillery fire increased during the night. Prisoners taken: Thirty-six (36). Casualties: KIA - Two (2); WIA fifty (50).

11 December 1944.

Companies E and F continued attack at 0630 to clean up Gey assisted by tanks. Company G approached Gey from the south astride Grosshau - Gey road. Company A was committed at 1445, attacking east to take and secure the southern part of Gey, but by midnight its exact location was unknown. 2nd battalion had readjusted Companies E and F so that Company F was in the center of the town facing east followed in column by Company E. Progress was slow due to necessity of clearing mines which was hampered at all times by hostile fire. Casualties: KIA - four (4); WIA - thirty-one (31). One (1) prisoner.

12 December 1944.

After midnight, 11 December, Companies E, F, G, and A continued efforts to clean out remaining resistance in Gey. Company A, at 0145, had cut main road south out of Gey. Companies I, K and L began relief of 2nd battalion at 0330. Relief was completed at 0700. Company I moved up from southern road into Gey. Company L moved into northern end of town and Company K remained on west edge of town in reserve. Company G remained south of Gey astride Grosshau-Gey road. Road west from Gey secured. Company I contacted CCA of 5th Armored Division on south. Heavy mortar and artillery fire fell in Gey throughout the period. Roads out of Gey were heavily mined. Engineers, Regimental Mine Platoon and A & P Platoons were engaged in mine removal. Company L continued to meet heavy resistance in north of Gey. Plans made to pass 1st battalion through 3rd battalion and 2nd battalion to take over position of Company B west of Gey. Attack to be launched prior to 0800, 14 December. Prisoners taken for the day: Sixty-one (61). Casualties: WIA - thirty-six (36); MIA - 0.

13 December 1944.

At 0925, 1st battalion attacked east, Company B in the lead and supported by tanks, 774th Tank Battalion. By 1100, units had advanced to the center of Gey and by 1225 reported the town clear of all enemy. The enemy immediately placed heavy concentration of artillery and mortar fire on the town. Company C was thus prevented from continuing the attack to high ground 1500 meters to east of Gey until 1545. Attack advanced 400 yards but was forced to withdraw by extremely heavy machine gun and mortar fire to east and north. Shelling of roads into Gey continued. Road south from Gey was cleared of mines. Prisoners for the day: One hundred twenty-two (122). Casualties: KIA - eleven (11); WIA - twenty-seven (27); MIA -eleven (11). (Wounded: Lieutenants Proper, Lancaster, Westfall, and Carlson.)

14 December 1944.

The 1st battalion continued their attack at 0700 with Companies B and C in the assault with mission of seizing high ground 1200 meters northeast of Gey (083402). By 0830, the objective was captured. 1st battalion was immediately subjected to heavy artillery fire on the objective but no counter-attack was launched. The 2nd battalion passed through the right flank of the 1st battalion and advanced on the high ground southwest of Berzbuir. Companies F and G led the assault with Company G on the right. Company F was hard hit by mortar and artillery fire. Company G moved to the right flank, captured a pillbox and thirty (30) prisoners and continued on to the objective. Companies F and G then advanced with Company E and at dark had secured the west and south slopes of the hill. The 3rd battalion throughout the day remained in Gey outposting the town. Between 0030 and 0430, the regimental mine platoon and Engineers cleared the road between Gey and Strass. Hourly patrols contacted the 329th on the south. Prisoners for the day: thirty-two (32). Casualties: KIA - eleven (11); (including Lieutenant Dockery, Company C); WIA - sixty-three (63); MIA - three (3).

15 December 1944.

At 0800, the 2nd battalion continued their attack to clean off the hill southwest of Berzbuir. By 1050, this had been accomplished and the hill organized. Patrols were sent out at 1200 to feel out the town of Berzbuir and determine enemy strength therein. At 1055, the 3rd battalion moved to relieve elements of CCA in Kufferath. By 1600, Companies K and L had occupied Kufferath and Company I had occupied the high ground on the west bank of the Roer river overlooking Kreuzau. The patrols from 2nd battalion to Berzbuir reached a point 200 yards from the town when they were stopped by fire from entrenchments believed to run to Birgel. The 2nd battalion, using Company E supported by tanks, moved in on Berzbuir just before 1700 and by 1745 were on the objective and mopping up. Fifteen (15) prisoners were taken. Company C, during the afternoon, advanced on and occupied high ground just 500 meters south of Birgel. Fifty-eight (58) prisoners were taken by Company C. Contact was made with 2nd battalion. 1st battalion (less Company C) remained at Gey throughout the day. Heavy mortar and artillery shelling was received in the area throughout the day. Enemy air was active after dark. Number of prisoners taken: Seventy-three (73 ). Casualties: KIA - Four (4); WIA - thirty-eight (38); MIA - twenty-two (22).

16 December 1944.

Orders were received at beginning of period to consolidate present positions and be prepared to capture Lendersdorf on Division order. At this time, the regiment held all the high ground in its sector overlooking Lendersdorf and Kreuzau. Combat Team 329 held Birgel. Observation was excellent. Lowering temperatures, cessation of rain and debouchment from the forests gave supporting weapons, tanks and tank destroyers an opportunity to lend effective support. The advance was therefore more rapid than during the opening stages of the operation. Work continued during the day on supply routes to positions and in rear areas. At 0900, the 1st battalion supported the 329th Infantry by fire in their attack to clean up the southern portion of Birgel. The 3rd battalion was relieved by CCA beginning at 1700. Plans were made to use the 3rd battalion the following morning to attack Lendersdorf. Number of prisoners: Fifty (50). Casualties: KIA - four (4); WIA - thirty (30); MIA - twelve (12).

17 December 1944.

The 3rd battalion in assembly area near Lendersdorf prepared for attack on Lendersdorf. Patrols from 2nd battalion sent to Lendersdorf were stopped on the southwest corner of the town. The 3rd battalion attacked Lendersdorf at 0700 with Companies I and L in the assault supported by tanks. By 0930, the north central portion of the town had been reached. Two (2) tanks were knocked out by hostile anti-tank fire from east bank of the Roer river. Resistance stiffened later in the morning but by 1730, with the assistance of supporting tanks, the bulk of enemy resistance was overcome and the town occupied. There was no activity in the 1st and 2nd battalion areas. After midnight, 17 December 1944, hostile air activity increased. Bombs and flares were dropped in forward areas. Paratroops were dropped south of the division sector during the night at approximately 0300. Marauder platoon searched rear areas after daylight for any paratroopers who might be in the vicinity. Artillery fire greatly increased over the previous day indicating the enemy had completed displacement of his guns. Number of Prisoners: Twenty-one (21). Casualties: KIA - One (1); WIA - twenty-seven (27).

HORIZONTAL FLOURISH LINE



Source: National Archives and Records Administration

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