331TH INFANTRY REGIMENT (83RD DIV.)
1 - 31 DECEMBER 1944
HEADQUARTERS 331th INFANTRY
APO 83
UNITED STATES ARMY.
18 December 1944.
1st and 2nd battalions continued to maintain and improve defensive positions. The 3rd battalion continued clearing and patrolling of the Lendersdorf area. Contact was maintained with the 329th Infantry on the left. Artillery fire decreased and was intermittent. Hostile air activity increased. Road from Gey to Birgel was strafed. A machine gun of Anti-Tank platoon, 1st Battalion Headquarters claimed hits on a hostile plane which later crashed in the vicinity. Three (3) planes were shot down by AA fire in the north part of the regimental area. Number of prisoners: Twenty-three (23). Casualties: WIA - Eleven (11); MIA - One (1).
19 December 1944.
A six (6) man officer patrol to Lendersdorf returned at 0530. They reported the bridge at Lendersdorf to be blown and impassable to vehicles and personnel. River at this point is 50 yards wide and 5 feet deep. Approaches on west were intact. At 0700, a hostile six (6) man patrol ran into a 3rd battalion outpost. Patrol was fired on and the patrol leader wounded and captured.
Remainder of patrol withdrew. All battalions continued on defensive mission and improvement of positions. At 1707, 3rd battalion reported their position was being smoked. Smoke was followed by a heavy concentration of artillery. Movement of armor was heard on the east bank of Roer river. Friendly artillery laid concentrations down on east side of river. By 1800, fire had died down to occasional rounds of artillery. By 2000, 3rd battalion area was quiet. Enemy fired harassing fires throughout the night. There was no air activity. Number of prisoners: None. Casualties: KIA - Six (6); WIA -Fifteen (15).
20 December 1944.
1st battalion continued defensive mission and prepared to relieve elements of CCA 5th Armored Division when they had cleared Schneidhausen and Hill 211. However, at dark, CCA had occupied only part of Hill 211. Company A of 1st battalion occupied reverse slope of Hill 211 at about 2200. Company C moved up to Kufferath. 2nd battalion continued on defensive mission and laying of mines. At 1500, Company G moved to high ground west of Berzbuir. 3rd battalion continued laying mines and wire in its sector and improvement of its positions. Enemy activity was confined to harassing artillery fire over the area and heavy concentrations in Gey. The Regimental Commander, Colonel Robert H. York, was wounded by a mortar shell in the vicinity of 1st battalion command post at about 1600. Number of Prisoners: One (1). Casualties: KIA - Seven (7); WIA -Two (2); MIA - Six (6).
21 December 1944.
1st battalion by the close of the period had not completed relief of CCA. CCA had not yet completed its mission of cleaning up Hill 211 and Schneidhausen. Company A was still on Hill 211 with other elements of battalion in Kufferath and Gey. 2nd and 3rd battalions continued improvement of positions, laying of mines and placing of wire. Colonel York was evacuated at 0900 and Lieutenant Colonel William E, Long assumed command. Number of prisoners: Two (2). No Casualties.
22 December 1944.
1st battalion completed relief of CCA at 0820 and occupied positions with Company A on Hill 211. One (1) platoon plus two (2) squads in Schneidhausen, Company C less detachments in Kufferath and Company B in Gey. Command post in Kufferath. 2nd and 3rd battalions continued improvement of positions to include mine and wire laying operations. Enemy activity consisted of harass-ing and interdicting artillery fire which was lighter than previous days. CCB on south was active all day in vicinity of Berzbuir. No prisoners. Casualties: WIA - One (1). Colonel Russell F, Walthour assumed command at 1200.
23 December 1944.
Shortly after midnight, 1st battalion reported that the bridge at Schneidhausen had definitely been blown out. At 0910, orders were received that the regiment was to be relieved by the 414th Infantry of 104th Division. Regiment to assembly in vicinity of Aachen in 9th Army reserve. Division came under control of 9th Army and XIX Corps. 1st battalion to remain in vicinity of Kufferath until relieved by 414th Infantry. 2nd battalion to leave area for Aachen at 1400 and 3rd battalion to leave for Aachen at 2000. Special units to infiltrate. Supporting units detached. Quartering party under command Regimental Adjutant left for new area at 1030 hours. 2nd battalion entrucked at Grosshau at 1545 and closed in new area at 1715 (Aachen). Failure of 414th Infantry to complete early relief delayed movement of 3rd battalion and regimental command post until 24 December. 3rd battalion was assembled in vicinity of Gey at 2230. Regimental forward command post established at K 879409 (Aachen) at 1700. No prisoners. Casualties: KIA - Two (2); WIA -Four (4).
24 December 1944.
Christmas Eve, weather was clear and cold as on the previous day. Numerous Allied, bomber formations were observed throughout the day flying east over Aachen. Approximately twenty (20) V-2's were observed during the day. At 0001, 1st battalion was attached to 330th Infantry to continue on defensive mission in vicinity of Kufferath and Schneidhausen. 2nd battalion remained in vicinity of Aachen and 3rd battalion was in assembly area in vicinity of Gey. No prisoners. Casualties: KIA - Three (3); WIA - Four (4).
25 December 1944.
Christmas Day, 3rd battalion left Gey at 1100 and closed in vicinity of Aachen (873409) at 1300. Regimental command post opened at K 879409 at 1330. Relief of 1st battalion began at noon by elements of 113 Cavalry Group. 1st battalion began movement to Aachen area at 1400 and closed at 0030, 26 December 1944. Regiment closed in new area at 0030, 26 December 1944. No prisoners. No casualties.
26 December 1944.
Regiment in assembly area vicinity of Aachen K 879409, At 1100, regiment received warning orders to be ready to move on three (3) hours notice, quartering parties to be ready to move on thirty (30) minute notice. Quartering party left regimental area at 1230. Regiment began movement to vicinity of Ossonge, Belgium (152103) at 1630. Closed in new area at 2400. No casualties.
27 December 1944.
At 1030, orders received to make reconnaissance of area Haversin (p 195875), Hogne (250875), Buissonville (190828) and be prepared to occupy a defensive position in rear of 329th Infantry. General missions to reinforce defensive positions on north flank of German penetration. Battalions began shuttling to defense positions at 1415 by use of organic transportation. 2nd battalion moved to P 192865, 3rd battalion to P 239911, and 1st battalion to P 251861 (Map.- France and Belgium, Ciney Sheet 91 SE). Command post at P 237935. Units all closed at 2145. No casualties.
