Joining the 79th Division on the 10th of September at Thonnance-Les-Joinville on the Marne
River, meant supporting the Corps effort on the Moselle River. “A” Company operated with Combat
Team 3 (313 Infantry), B Company with CT 4, (314 Infantry) and C Company with CT 5, (315
Infantry).
Company C, commanded by Captain John J. Kelly, supported CT 5 as it swept through
Neufchateau, Chatenois, Oellville to Poussay, by the 13th of September. Lt. Von Behren was
commended by the Assistant Division Commander, Brig. General Greer, for personally leading the
successful attack on Rourve-La-Chetive. CT 4 with B Company thrust East to Charmes, with the 2nd
platoon entering the town at 1000 hours on the 20th. Heavy resistance from road blocks, mines and
enemy machine gun nests was overcome and the town fell at 2000 hours that night. This platoon, under
Lt. Kenneth C. Sutrer was highly complimented by the Division Commander and the Regimental and
Battalion Commanders.
While B Company and C Company were fighting eastwards, A Company with CT 3 captured the
towns of Puzieux, Poussay and Ramecourt to take and hold positions overlooking Damvillier and
Mirecourt.
The important bridgehead over the Moselle at Charmes, was established and CT 4 and B
Company crossed on the 15th clinging stubbornly to the small toe-hold on the east side, while the other
TD Companies supported them by direct fire. Relieved, and a crossing to the North at Bayon on the
18th, led to Luneville. Fighting up and down hills and across minor streams with blasted bridges all
companies closed in on Luneville by the 22nd. B Company forded the Meurthe River near Houdainville
and moved into the town of Gerberviller on the 21st. On the 23rd, B Company increased their score, but
this time knocked out an M8 that the Germans were using as an assault gun near Fraimbois.
Seldom fighting as companies and often with platoons split, the battalion rumbled on into
Luneville, the one time capitol of Lorraine. Street fighting continued for days under a rain of enemy
artillery.
On the 29th the XV Corps, passed to the command of the Seventh Army and the Corps was
given the mission of cleaning out the Foret de Parroy. This vicious tangle of timber and dense
underbrush was about six miles long and five miles wide. The forest, scene of Adolph Hitler’s World
War I service, lay just North and East of Luneville. An interesting fact, as disclosed by captured German
Officers was, that no possible surrender of these woods could be expected for fear of the Fuhrer’s
displeasure, and summing it up briefly they said, “Berlin will fall before this Holy Ground will be
taken.”
Although the Enemy were subjected to several air bombings, and many heavy artillery
saturations, the forest remained, a close Infantry-Tank Destroyer attack action. Due to the tangled
undergrowth and dense woods it was not cleared until October 9th. It was here that Lt. John Sharp,Jr.,
Bn. Motor Officer, developed the M10 steel tops, to protect the men in the TD’s from the unceasing air
and tree bursts of the then frantic German artillery.
On the 13th of October the Battalion reverted to XV Corps reserve, and on the 16th moved some
85 miles North to Jarny to become Third Army Troops again. There we were attached to the XX Corps
and further attached on the 25th to the 95th Infantry Division just in from the States, and moved South to
a Division Assembly Area Point Southwest of Metz.
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