in support of the 28th Infantry Division
in the vicinity of Vossenack, Germany
2-9 November 1944 - (Rhineland Campaign)
By Major John J Lavin
OUR FORCES WITHDRAW FROM THE KOMMERSCHEIDT AREA
During the night 8-9 November the withdrawal was carried out as planned. In the assembly area designated for "C" Company (200 Yards southwest of RICHELSKAUL) all was in readiness. On hand were medical personnel with sedatives, stimulants and first aid equipment and transportation. Guides were spotted. Personnel began arriving about 2315 hours and continued to straggle in until 1020 the following day. Some infantrymen and tankers also came to the same area. The men had many weird experiences to relate- enemy tanks parking over their foxholes, rounds bouncing off the front of Mark V and VI tanks like golf balls, one round of HVAP piercing the frontal plate on a Mark V at 800 yards and of artillery fire that completely shattered their nerves. As soon as a truck was filled the men were moved to a rest area in the rear. One officer and twenty seven men of "C" Company returned from the KOMMERSCHEIDT area.
On the 9th of November orders were received to keep one platoon of TDs in VOSSENACK at all times and to hold at all costs. Enemy tanks reports continued to come in. In the rear supply personnel at all levels were extremely cooperative. Replacement destroyers, equipment, and ammunition were being picked up by the battalion's service elements. Replacements however were not all trained TD men. Some were anti-aircraft, artillery and tank replacements but by the end of the five day rest period these men would be familiar with their jobs. All but three destroyers were on hand at the end of the day. Service elements of the battalion worked night and day. Ammunition, fuel and batteries for destroyers were the major requirements. Supply trucks lost their braking power because of the deep mud which ground the brake linings off.
In the afternoon one platoon of "B" Company was given a direct support mission of neutralizing some pillboxes in the southern sector. After the S-3 and TD platoon leader coordinated with the S-3 of the 2d battalion 110th Infantry the platoon moved down to the RAFFELSBRAND area to carry out its mission. Patrols reported 100 enemy dead in the area fired in. 49 The make-shift platoon of "C" Company which was organized on 6 November was attached to "B" Company and positioned in GERMETER. Another composite platoon was ordered to be formed by "C" Company and held in readiness for immediate use.
In VOSSENACK the infantry battalion commander requested that our liaison with him be equipped with better communications. An SCR 610 with batterypack was installed in the CP.A Reconnaissance officer and several men were sent to an artillery OP in GERMETER as part of the observation and warning system. The situation, though still critical should the enemy decide to attack in strength, began to settle down to a normal defense mission.
To sum up the results of this battle: The 893d Tank Destroyer Battalion (-Co A) did support the operations of the 28th Infantry Division to the best of its ability. While it failed to get sufficient anti-tank support across the KALL River, a contingency which had not been adequately planned for, the support it did render was adequate in proportion to other arms present in the restricted area. It forced the enemy to commit tank forces as well as infantry forces it had probably planned to use elsewhere and caused enemy infantry to be reluctant to accompany their tanks in some instances. The 275th, 89th Infantry Divisions and 116 Panzer Division (with 18 guns SP 75 mm and Tank Regiment of 60 Mark V and VI tanks) were engaged in this operation. Including tanks destroyed by "C" Company (not verified) the battalion destroyed 3 Mark IV, 10 Mark V and 6 Mark VI German tanks, and killed over 150 enemy personnel. The results of some 6000 rounds of indirect fire were unknown.
The battalion lost 9 killed, 20 missing and 38 wounded, (Most of the missing were found dead three months later) Of 24 destroyers entering the action 16 were lost (11 by "C" Company, 5 by "B" Company). 50 These losses were in proportion to those of the 707th Tank Battalion which entered the action with 50 medium tanks and lost 31 and the 28th Division itself with; over 5500 casualties during the operation. 51
This action was one of the major disasters of World War II. As far as the battalion was concerned the enemy accomplished three things (over and above the physical destruction):
- Showed that he was not through fighting yet
- That we should never underestimate his capabilities
- That our terrain evaluation was correct.
As a result of the outstanding bravery on the part of Lt. Turney W. Leonard, 1st platoon Co. "C" 893d TD Bn while in KOMMERSCHEIDT area he was awarded the Medal of Honor. 52 His citation includes in part the guiding of his platoon to firing positions in the face of heavy enemy fire, and although wounded early in the action, continuing to fight. At one time he advanced alone and destroyed an enemy machine gun with a hand grenade. He also reorganized infantry elements which had lost their leaders and exhorted them to hold. Finally an artillery shell shattered his arm and he went to an aid station, later captured by the enemy.
