PART TWO

 

COMMENDATIONS

 

HEADQUARTERS

THIRD UNITED STATES ARMY

Office of the Commanding General APO 403

16 April 1945

SUBJECT:   Commendation

THRU:    Commanding General Ninth U.S. Army, APO 339, U. S. Army

TO:       Commanding General, 95th Infantry Division, APO 9, U.S. Army

 

      1. The achievement of your division and attached units, consisting of the 607th tank Destroyer Battalion, 778th Tank Battalion, and 547th AAA AW Battalion, in successfully completing the assigned mission in connection with the reduction and capture of the strongly fortified city of Metz by Third U.S. army was outstanding, both in the combat skill of the individual units committed and the control and sound tactical judgment displayed by commanders of all echelons.

 

            2.  The fourteen days of continuous attack against a strong and aggressive enemy, along the 26-mile front, drove irresistibly to the heart of the city of Metz where contact was made with American forces advancing from the south.  In the course of this attack you successfully (1) made four assault crossings of the Moselle River at its high flood stage, (2) penetrated the line of defending forts, reducing those necessary to accomplish the mission, and (3) greatly contributed to the destruction of an entire reinforced German division. Against these fortifications which had never before in modern times fallen by assault, in terrain favorable to the enemy, and under almost intolerable weather conditions of rain, flood, and bitter cold, your officers and men met a most searching combat test which required not only individual courage, skill, endurance, and determination, but also sound tactical judgment coupled with an insatiable desire to close with the enemy.

 

            3.  This achievement has added luster to the glorious history of American arms, for which you and all the officers and enlisted personnel of your division and attached units, are highly commended.

 

G. S. Patton, Jr.

Lieutenant General, U. S. Army, Commanding

 

 

HEADQUARTERS

THIRD UNITED STATES ARMY

Office of the Commanding General

APO 403

April 25 1945

 

My Dear General Middleton:

            Again the exigencies of war have separated the VIII Corps and the Third Army.  We are almost regretful.

            None of us will ever forget the stark valor with which you and your Corps contested every foot of ground during Von Rundtstedt’s attack.  Your decision to hold BASTOGNE was a stroke of genius.

            Subsequently, the relentless advance of the VIII Corps to the KYLL river, thence to the RHINE, your capture of KOBLENZ and subsequent assault crossings of the RHINE at its most difficult sector, resulting in your victorious and rapid advance to the MULDE River, are events which will live in history and quicken the pulse of every soldier .

            Please except for yourself and transmit to the officers and men of your command my sincere thanks and admiration for the outstanding successes achieved.

            May all good fortunate attend you.

 

                                                                                    Very sincerely,

 

                                                                                                G. S. PATTON JR.,

                                                                                    Lieutenant General, U.S. army

                                                                                                Commanding

 

 

 

1st Endorsement

 

HEADQUARTERS VIII CORPS, APO 308, U.S. ARMY, April 27, 1945

 

To: See distribution

 

            It is with deep appreciation and a sense of humility that I transmit to the officers and to the enlisted men who have served in the VIII Corps since December 16, 1944 this letter of appreciation from General Patton.

            As we review the picture since Bastogne, we see performance of feats by officers and men of the Corps which in normal times one would have believed to be impossible of execution. It is however doing the impossible which marks the leader and returns the winner in war.

            My sincere thanks to those members of the Corps now living and my humble reverence to those now deceased who by devotion to a cause and a duty made this letter of appreciation from our Army Commander possible.

 

                                                                                    TROY H. MIDDLETON,

                                                                                    Major General, U.S. Army,

                                                                                                Commanding.

 

 

2nd Endorsement

 

HQ. 87TH INFANTRY DIVISION APO 448 U.S. ARMY, 2 MAY 1945

 

To: All Members, 87th Infantry Division, 549th AAA Battalion, 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion and 735th Tank Battalion.

 

            1. General PATTON’S letter and General MIDDLETON’S endorsement aptly express the outstanding battle performance of the VIII Corps. The 87th (Golden Acorn) Division has been privileged to play an important part in the achievement of these successes. The place names marking the record of the 87th Division will forever be illuminated with the bright light of consistently successful action. THE ARDENNES - THE SIEGFRIED LINE - THE KYLL - THE MOSELLE - KOBLENZ - THE RHINE - PLAUEN and THE MULDE - these are written in bold letters on the pages of history for all posterity to see.

 

            2. I pass the commendations of these two outstanding leaders to you with soldierly pride and pleasure.

 

                                                                                                FRANK L. CULIN, JR.

                                                                                    Major General, U.S. Army,

                                                                                                Commanding.