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During the balance of October, Santa
Fe men, though in defensive positions in Gremecy Forest,
and handicapped by rains from the heaviest storms in
100 years, were able to take turns so that no more than
a third were gone at any time, and slip back by trucks
in small groups to Nancy to enjoy a hot shower, clean
clothes, a hot B Ration meal, a movie and a few hours
in an undamaged French city away from the shelling at
the front. Some of the troops were able to use houses
in the Lorraine shell torn villages.
The 26th Infantry Division, a National Guard unit,
arrived in October and was assigned to Gen. Eddy’s
XII Corps, relieving the 4th Armored Division and going
into the line to our immediate right. Though fresh from
the States, this division would prove to be a good one
after it could be battle tested. During October and
early November, fresh bread and roasted coffee and captured
German beef were added to Company menus. New tanks were
brought up to replace the 223 which Third Army had lost
in the past seven weeks. Rifles, machine guns, B.A.R.’s,
vehicles, half-tracks, artillery – all were cleaned,
and repaired or replaced and the division brought up
to its T/O strength of over 14,000 men. Gas rationing
caused M.P.s to arrest vehicle drivers on “unauthorized
trips”. Gen. Patton restored the “spit and
polish” discipline to the chagrin of most G.I.
Joes. Field artillery was sparingly used. Blankets,
overcoats, some raincoats and woolen clothing and socks
were issued. Overshoes were few and practically worthless
in the rain and soaked ground and deep puddles. There
was planning and training toward breaching the “West
wall” and in the use of Bailey bridges to cross
rivers. A large dam near Dieuz which impounded an artificial
lake and which could flood a large area and impede the
coming American offensive was opened by P-47's using
1,000 pound bombs and the waters released, flooding
areas to a depth of 5 feet. The big American offensive
was ready, but not all units were. XII Corps was to
go at 0600 on November 8th. The other corps and armies
would start one or two days later.
The road to Saareguemines lay ahead. The infantry regiments
moved up during the night into the front lines. It had been
raining continuously for 24 hours and it was black and a sea
of mud. To our left was the 80th Division, to our right, the
new, untried 26th Division. Behind were the 4th and 6th Armored
Divisions, ready to break through and out when an opening
occurred. In the 35th Division, the 137th Infantry was on
the left, the 320th Infantry on the right, and the 134th Infantry
in reserve. The entire corps front extended 30 miles. The
artillery preparation was for 3½ hours. Over that 24
hour period and the ensuing attack, 21,933 rounds were fired,
mostly time fire, obliterating German trenches and positions.
Yet some strong points, as around Fresnes, were barely touched
by the bombardment and German grenadiers took heavy tolls
on the Santa Fe infantrymen and stopping the attackers cold
at some places. Forcing costly frontal assaults or time taking
flanking maneuvers. Jalloucourt and eventually, Fresnes were
taken and after four days, the Foet de Chateau Sallins. Groups
of prisoners were taken and the Town of Viviers captured.
Then lost, and then retaken. In spite of the rain and mud,
the exhausted riflemen moved forward among countless instances
of heroism. One such was a squad leader with the 2nd Battalion
of the 134th Infantry, Staff Sergeant Junior J. Spurrier from
Bluefield, West Virginia, who on November 11th single handedly
killed 20 Germans and captured 20 at a little town called
Achain. Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Morhange was a major town with a permanent German Army
barracks and a large supply center, with 88 artillery
piece, 28 tanks, 15 half tracks and huge amounts of
ammunition and rifles, surrendered on November 14th,
with 2,000 prisoners. Bistroff taken in a sharp action
where the 3rd Battalion, 137th Infantry turned back
a German counter-attack and won a distinguished unit
citation in a valiant attack on Hill 315. One small
village or town after another forced deployment and
attacks as the Germans desperately threw in troops to
try to stop the combined infantry and tank attacks.
But the G.I.s moved steadily forward, in spite of heavy
casualties. In seven days, they had advanced twelve
miles. And the road led on.
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