METZ - MOSELLE
16 October - 19 November 1944
After a few days in Corps reserve, the battalion was re-assigned to the THIRD ARMY and
moved north to JARNY. On the 25th the unit was attached to the XX Corps, re-attached to the 95th
Division, and re-crossed a MOSELLE RIVER south of METZ, and took over defensive positions near
the small town of ARRY. On the 3rd of November and now with the 90th Division again, the battalion
supported their crossing of the MOSELLE with indirect fire from the vicinity of BOUST. On the 9th the
first infantry elements made an assault crossing over the flood-swollen river. With several attempted
bridges being washed away, ferries were rigged and two of M Company's M-10's successfully ferried
over just in time to repulse a strong counter attack near PETITE-HITTANGE. Under the formidable
guns of the MAGINOT LINE FORTS the battalion once more crossed the MOSELLE. Overcoming all
resistance the battle moved south around Metz to meet the 5th Division completing the encirclement and
the subsequent surrender of the garrison there. GENERAL PATTON described this act of the 90th as
the "GREATEST MILITARY ACHIEVEMENT OF THE WAR".
SAAR RIVER CROSSING DILLINGEN
20 November 1944 - 6 January 1945
Still in support of the 90th the battalion turned East and by the 30th of November all enemy were
cleared from the division zone west of the SAAR RIVER. Beyond this water barrier lay the thickest
portion of the vaunted SIEGFRIED LINE the 'SAARBURG SWITCH'. After another successful assault
boat crossing by the Infintry, and in the face of thousands of artillery rounds falling on the ferry site
daily, the battalion crossed. From pillbox to pillbox the fighting continued until the towns of PACHTEN
and DILLINGEN fell. A threatening salient had been been driven into the SIEGFRIED LINE defenses
before the Division was ordered to withdraw to the west bank on the 22nd of December, due to the
mounting offensive in the ARDENNES and the threat from the North in the MOSELLE and SAAR
Triangle.
LUXEMBOURG - ARDENNES
6 - 29 January 1945
To help stem the surge of Von Runstedt's crack Panzer armies, the battalion moved north to the
snow-blasted mountainous country of LUXEMBOURG. On the 9th launched a fullscale attack against
the terrain protected south flank of the enemy bulge east of BASTOGNE. Gains were measured in
snowdrifts, as the unit fought on to the decisive stand at OBERWAMPACH on the 17th of January.
During the savage counterattacks that followed. The battalion total of enemy tanks knocked-out Rose to
102, marking the 773rd as the FIRST AMERICAN TANK DESTROYER BATTALION to exceed the
Century mark. On the 26th of January and now with the VIII Corps, they reached the OUR RIVER and
again faced the SIEGFRIED LINE.
SIEGFRIED LINE - RHINE
30 January - 22 March 1945
On the 30th the Division crossed the stoutly defended OUR RIVER in the frigid cold of dead
winter and crumbled the maze of pill boxes as it moved through W1NTERSPELT-HABSCHEID-
BRANDSCHEID and LITENBORN. TASK FORCE SPIESS was formed on the 21st to protect the
Division right flank on the drive south. 16 German towns fell to the TF in four days of fighting. With
March came the spring rains and thick mud, as the Division attacked across the KYLL RIVER to the
MOSELLE. Again a 90th assault crossing of the MOSELLE and on the 14-15th of March, the 4th
Armored and TF SPIESS raced through rolling the enemy up along the RHINE between BOPPARD and
MAINZ.
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