By Sidney A Salomon (1913 - 2004)
2 Silver Stars; Purple Heart w/Oak Leaf Cluster
2nd RANGER BATTALION
(Attachment Record)
1944
| 3 Nov. | Attached to CCA/5th Armored Division
Company F/85th Recon and 1st Plat. A/628 TD Battalion attached to 2nd Ranger Battalion. |
| 10 Nov. | 1st Plat. A.628 TD Battalion relieved from attachment. |
| 13 Nov. | Relieved from attachment CCA/5th Armored Division. |
| 14 Nov. | Attached to 28th Infantry Division, moved to Germeter/ Vossenack and take over ground formerly occupied by 2nd Battalion/112 Infantry. |
| 15 Nov. | A and B Companies to maintain contact by patrol action with K/12th Infantry. |
| 19 Nov. | Attached to 8th Infantry Division. |
| 20 Nov. | A and B Companies remain in position, continue con tact with L/121 Infantry. |
| 21 Nov. | B Company move forward to protect the right flank of 121 Infantry (3rd Battalion) in Hurtgen Forest. |
| 27 Nov. | A Company relieved, returns to former position Germeter. |
| 28 Nov. | All companies are together in Battalion area. New mission
as counterattack force received from 28th Division. |
| 30 Nov. | Battalion alerted for immediate movement to occupy area Hurtgen to Kleinhau. Just as troops were crossing the I.P., movement order cancelled. Troops removed from alert and returned to assembly area. |
| 6 Dec. | Battalion alerted for immediate movement to Bergstein, 2nd Plat. C.893 TD Battalion attached to 2nd Rangers. Ranger mission to establish perimeter defenses around Bergstein and attack Hill 400. |
| 7 Dec. | Major Williams assumed command of Battalion at 0005.
Col. Rudder relieved to assume command of 109 Rgt./ 28th Infantry Division. A and B Companies in designated positions at 0530. C Company occupied its position at 0622. D and F Companies jumped off for Hill 400 assault at 0730, reaching objective at 0835. E Company cleared western outskirts of Bergstein, became involved in a firefight, took 17 prisoners. |
| 8 Dec. | C/121 Infantry attached to Rangers at 0210. Company less 1 HMG section sent to reinforce D and F on right flank of Hill 400. HMG section attached to E company. Elements of CCR/5th Armored Division relieved and moved out of Bergstein starting at 0300.
At 2140, Battalion relieved by 3rd Battalion 13th Infantry and relief completed at 2338. Battalion attached 28th Infantry upon completion of move from Bergstein, now back to original bivouac area. |
The following information is from 5th Armored Division records. 2nd Ranger Battalion attached to 5th Armored Division from 3 Nov. to 14 Nov. (CCA).
During the Hurtgen-Bergstein action, CCR/5th Armored Division, supported the 8th Infantry Division. The 10th Tank Battalion and 95th FA Battalion, part of CCR/5th Armored Division plus the 628 TD Battalion which was attached to CCR, made the assault on Kleinhau. Heavy artillery, mines and AT guns of the enemy caused many casualties and damaged many tanks of the assaulting forces. Then, that CCR attack force assaulted Brandenburg on the road toward Bergstein. Finally, they began their attack on Bergstein beginning the afternoon of 5 Dec. The force sat on the road on the outskirts of Bergstein for hours, taking heavy casualties and tank losses because of the German artillery, managed by the German OP on Hill 400.
At about 0530 on 6 Dec, the Germans counterattacked from the east and south of the town with dozens of tanks and infantry. The U.S. 628 TD Battalion smashed the attack. The town was in rubble and the task force suffered a multitude of casualties and tank losses.
Enter the 2nd Ranger Battalion, and CCR was then able to limp away.
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Posted here with kind permission of the family of the late Sidney A. Salomon.
Many thanks Peter.