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In February 1942, the 16th Infantry left its permanent Camp at Fort Deven, Mass., for 4 months of maneuvers training at Camp
Blanding, Florida. Following these maneuvers, the 16th spent approximately a month at Fort Benning, Georgia, in garrison,
where normal training activities were carried on; and near the end of June, proceeded to the staging Area at Indiantown Gap,
Pennsylvania. On June 30, 1942, Company "E", among the first group in the Division to head overseas, proceeded to New York
City and loaded on Army Transport number 150 at 2000 hours. The ships name was The Duchess of Bedford, affectionately
referred to by the men in the Company as "The Dirty Duchess", for reasons all who have ridden on troopships will understand.
Thus, on a summers evening there began quietly and without fanfare or incident, an overseas career that was to take Company
"E" through the invasions of three hostile shores, participations in major battles in upwards of a half-dozen countries, and to last
for over three long years.
The rather large convoy suffered no accidents; there was gun drill and fire drill and boat drill; the usual number of men were
sea sick, the usual number of small fortunes were won and lost, and on July 12, the "Dirty Duchess" steamed into the British
port of Liverpool. Debarkation was carried out the next day—the Company moved by motor and marching to Tidworth Barracks
near Salsbury, England. For the next two months there was a full training schedule, inspections, night problems, and long hikes
through picturesque countryside, and through the not so picturesque rain and fog. But there were weekends in London, and
liberal passes in the evenings to the small towns around Tidworth.
In late September, Company "E" left for Avnesbury, Scotland, and boarded the British transport "Reina Del Pacificio", for
training on the River Clyde. After more training on the "Orbita" and duties in the harbor on the Clyde Bank, on October 26,
Company "E", aboard Ship L-12, left the Scottish port for a landing operation, destination unknown. As the convoy steamed
past the straits of Gibraltar and headed for the "Dark Continent", the men realized that they were part of the Allied Invasion of
German held North Africa. While still at sea, two air attacks were beaten off, and one enemy submarine sunk. Then at 1100
hours, November 8, the landing was made on ARZEW BEACH, without casualties, and the Company moved inland over 15
miles of sand to bivouac at LOGRANDE. The next day Company "E" took up the advance guard for the Battalion's march on
ORAN. The first sign of the enemy came at 2305, when a flare was sighted and 75mm artillery fire began falling to their rear.
The advance continued, and at 2315, the enemy opened up with machine gun and rifle fire, wounding 3 men in the point. At
2335, as the Company deployed to meet this resistance, Pfc Smith became the first man in Company "E" to die a hero's death
in the war, when he was killed by enemy fire as he emptied his automatic rifle into the enemy line. Another bad piece of luck
occurred immediately afterwards—enemy shell fire ripped into a high-tension wire overhead, which fell on and killed 3 men, in
addition to lighting up the whole area and disclosing the disposition of every man. The Battalion formed a new line, and the next
day drove on to ORAN, which surrendered.
Road blocks and pickets were set up and operated, and raids were carried out for Nazi sympathizers. Awards were presented; a
ceremonial parade held with units of the French Army, the Company moved to VALMY, ALGERIA to form a security guard for an
airbase. The men got their first look at foreign women—Arabs, who were off limits, and French, who weren't—there was plenty
to drink, souvenirs to buy, and the amazing filth and ability to steal of the Arabs was a source of constant wonder. The first
Christmas away from home will be hard to forget—wading knee deep mud to the kitchen in anticipation of a promised turkey
dinner with "all the trimmins", they were greeted with cold salmon. The howls of rage were loud and long. The turkey came three
days later.
The end of January, 1943, found Company "E" back in the fight near REBAA, TUNISIA, and there were skirmishes and patrols
for a month, leading up to a defensive position at KASSERINE PASS. The Jerries attempted to break through, they were
stopped and the Battalion pulled back for a rest, when Jerry struck again, this time with all he had. The Battalion was thrown
back into the defense, and though subjected to heavy 88mm and tank fire, assisted in completely routing the enemy and
practically annihilating the 10th Panzer Division.
Continuing to EL GUETTAR, Companys "E" and "F" made the famous bayonet charge to take Hill 606, driving the enemy from
dug in positions with hand grenades, and stopping only when the Company Commander and one platoon were captured. In the
attack of Hill 374, Lt. General McNair, then Army Ground Force Commander, was injured while in Company "E" Area, which was
being subjected to heavy shelling.
When the last of the Italians and Germans gave up on May 8, Company "E" was in MATEUR, but immediately returned to
ARZEW BEACH, the site of their original landing and began practicing beach landings again, going over the side by means of
nets. The weather was muddy murderous. After a month of this, the U.S.S. Thurston carried them to STAOUELI, near ALGIERS
for a period of hikes, inspections, and British extended order drill. It was still hot, but here there were passes to ALGIERS,
where there was ice cream, beer, and not a little excitement, if you ventured into the Arab quarter after dark.
In July came the invasion of SICILY, and Company "E" hit the beach at GELA at 0200, July 10, part of the first battalion landed.
The assistance promised in the form of planes and paratroopers failed to materialize, so sheer courage was all that helped the
Company storm the beaches through enemy mine fields, artillery, and small arms fire, and gain the high ground beyond. The
foot troops drove forward for several miles, and before any support could be landed behind them, the enemy counterattacked,
and heavily—with two Battalions of tanks, part of which raced down the beaches to come behind them. For the action that
followed, the Battalion received a Presidential Citation for heroic action. With some assistance from the Naval guns offshore, a
few anti-tank guns, and skillful handling of the bazookas by men who had the courage to let the tanks pass over them in a
foxhole, then rise and shoot the tank from the rear, the overwhelming odds of the enemy were soon diminished and the attack
routed.
The battle for SICILY lasted 28 days, but it was done so quickly by maintaining a killing pace. They marched at night and fought
all day, over torturous terrain, in scorching weather. Chow and ammunition were brought up by donkey, if at all. The fighting
was sporadic, but bitter, and consisted mostly of skirmishes for road centers. Company "E" and the rest of the second Battalion
took TROINA after 2 other units had tried and failed; they took NICOSIA and RANDAZZO, which was the last line of defense of
the faltering enemy. Air power had helped, as in the attack on TROINA when B-26's and P-51's softened up the objective in
front of the troops, but SICILY was won principally by the dough's literally marching the shoes off their feet.
The battle over, Company "E" took up life in pup tents at LICATA, near PALMA, SICILY, and began to inspect the surroundings,
which were extremely inauspicious. The natives were dirty and thieving, the country devoted mostly to raising cattle and horses,
and the one bright spot in the picture, were the excellent wineries, and vineyards, often 50 or 60 acres in extent. There was
training and daily hikes, three retreat parades weekly, with movies at night and Company parties were red Sicilian wine flowed
freely. The high spot was the visit of Bob Hope and his troupe in August. On October 21, the HMS Maloja was boarded, and
until two days after she sailed, there was considerable conjecture as to the destination—some thought it would be to invade
Italy, some expected to return to the States. But just over a year after leaving England, it was LIVERPOOL again, with a British
band playing a welcome. Company "E" moved into Nissen huts at WALDITCH, a half mile from the Channel, near BRIDPORT,
for the winter. There were hikes and films, rain, MP detail in town, liberal passes, the people were friendly, the First Sgt. got
married, there was turkey on Turkey Day and again on Christmas in the big Battalion mess hall, with ice cream and beer
besides. There was cool weather, firing on Symondsbury and Eype Down ranges, a lecture on "What We Will Find in Europe",
training in street fighting in a bombed out section of the port town of WEYMOUTH, church on Sundays in BRIDPORT; in short,
the men found England the best place to be next to home. In January 1944, British General Montgomery reviewed the troops on
the cricket field at BRIDPORT, and told them that of all the American Divisions he'd seen, he'd rather fight with the 1st US
Division.
In February, they went 86 miles by motor to BARNSTABLE for assault team training, amphibious operations, attacks on fortified
positions, boat landings and obstacle courses. On the 24th there was a beach landing by the entire Regiment. In March, the
Company boarded the U.S.S. Henrico at WEYMOUTH for another practice landing and attack inland. The bright spot in this
picture was the chow served by the Navy, which was excellent.
Back in WALDITCH, James Cagney and cast entertained with "Keep 'Em Rolling". A Battalion rifle match was won by Company
"E" and on April 2, General Eisenhower came around to inspect, present awards and make a speech. Any illusions of returning
to the States were dispelled when he said, "The First Division will be one of the last to go home. If nothing else, I'll just keep you
around for good luck." From this time on the Division was alerted for the invasion of the continent. They went to
MARTINSTOWN to train, the swift water there, boarded the U.S.S. Henrico, and assaulted "Able Red" Beach once, then again.
General Heubner, the Division Commander, made a speech. The Company was organized into 5 assault sections and trained
that way, each section equipped with flame throwers, and bangalore torpedoes, and with its own base of fire. On June 1, they
boarded the U.S.S. Henrico again, and when it sailed out from WEYMOUTH harbor on June 5, D-Day and H-Hour were
announced.
The big show was on.
There have been many more complete accounts of what happened that day than it is possible to present here.
Suffice it to say that Company "E" in the assault wave, landed on Easy Red Beach at 0645 in the face of murderous fire. Two-
thirds of the Company were immediate casualties, but those remaining kept wading right into everything the enemy had and
took their objective, which provided the only exit from the beach that the entire Fifth Corps had for 48 hours. It is an obvious
fact that Company "E", as much as, if not more than any other unit, seemingly by strength of will and courage alone, saved the
entire beachhead from being thrown back into the sea. It was an experience few men under went and lived, and for a month
afterwards, those who did, remained almost in a daze.
A patrol sent down the Bayeux road reported enemy in Tour-en-Bessin.
By nightfall on June 7th, a part of D-Day objectives had been reached. Only in the Formigny-Trevieres area was the enemy in
force sufficient to check the First Division's progress.
The situation at Formigny was clearing up during the early morning hours of June 8th. About midnight Company B of the 18th
Infantry, helped by tanks of Company B, 745th Tank Battalion, attacked from the southeast and drove out a small enemy force,
which lost ten killed and fifteen prisoners. North of the village, enemy machinegun positions continued to block the 3rd
Battalion, 26th Infantry, until late in the morning. Initially the delay at Formigny was due to lack of contact between the two
battalions attacking from different sides of the village. Coordination was regained by division controls.
On D plus two day main action in the First Division zone shifted to the left flank, where the 26th Infantry went after its D-Day
objectives in the Tour-en-Bessin area. The movement had begun late on June 7th, when the 2nd Battalion of the 26th Infantry
released at 5 :45 P.M. from Division Reserve, was ordered to seize the high ground at the crossroads between Mosles and
Tour-en-Bessin. The battalion moved southeast along the front of the 16th Infantry, crossed the Aure River at midnight a little
west of Etreham, and reached its objective about S :30 A.M.
Enemy artillery and infantry were reported in some strength at Tour-en-Bessin, and the 26th Infantry at 8 :00 P.M. requested an
air mission.
Division notified the regiment that adequate fire support from artillery and naval guns would be available if the air mission failed.
The air attack was made by fighter-bombers shortly before 9 :00 A.M.; an armored patrol got into Tour-en-Bessin by 11:40 A.
M., reporting the town: "empty and flat." The 2nd Battalion, reinforced by a company of the 635th Tank Destroyer Battalion, and
Company C of the 745th Tank Battalion, waited on the advance of the rest of the regiment before moving into the town.
The other two battalions of the 26th infantry were slow in reaching the scene. The 1st Battalion, its objective the ground north-
east of Tour-en-Bessin, pushed patrols through Etreham about noon, encountering only snipers; then, determined resistance
from prepared positions stopped the battalion at the river crossing. The rest of the day was spent in efforts to get across, with
artillery support made difficult by the presence of 2nd Battalion units not far to the southwest. By evening only one company of
the 1st Battalion was across the Aure River. The 3rd Battalion was held up north to Formigny all morning, pending arrival of a
battalion of the 115th infantry which was countermarching from Louvieres to Formigny for the purpose of strengthening the
sector north of Trevieres. Released to the 26th Infantry at 1:40 P.M., the 3rd Battalion started down the Bayeux highway toward
its objective, Ste. Anne, just beyond Tour-en-Bessin. It reached the 2nd Battalion position at 6:00pm. and was ordered to jump
off at 8 :40 P.M. for attack straight through Tour-en-Bessin, supported by Company C of the 745th Tank Battalion. The force
went through the town about midnight, the infantry moving in two files on either side of the road, with six tanks between the files
at the head of the column. Directed by the battalion commander, the tanks sprayed sniper positions and suspected strong
points. Light enemy resistance was brushed aside, and the column reached Ste. Anne about 1 :30 A.M. in contact with enemy
patrols retreating to the east.
The enemy-held corridor north of Tour-en-Bessin was now in great danger of being cut. At the end of June 7th, the Germans
still held Port-en-Bessin and south of it the high ground along the Drome Valley.
The narrowing enemy pocket was held by remnants of the 1s tBattalion, 726th (German) Infantry, reinforced on June 7-8 by
some elements of the 517th Battalion, 30th Mobile Brigade, rushed up from reserve positions near çoutarkes and St. Lo. By
evening of June 8th, there was a chance that much of this force might be trapped by an advance of the 26th Infantry. Very
determined enemy resist ance, however, held off the 26th Infantry at Etrehani and stopped the British efforts to get past from
Drome. A violent action at Ste. Anne, in the early hours of June 9th, kept the base of the corridor open.
The 3rd Battalion of the 26th Infantry had dug in hastily at Ste. Anne to meet an expected counterattack, with Company L just
north of the village, Company I facing east, and Company K to the south. A light rain began to fall and visibility was bad. About
3:00A.M. Company L's position was overrun by. a strong German column including ammunition trucks, bicycles, and other
vehicles, the presence of which suggested that the enemy was withdrawing from the north and had blundered into the American
lines. What followed was a wild fire-fight, at close range, with both sides hampered by surprise and confusion. The 2nd Battalion
held on in the village; tanks were of little use in the darkness, but effective aid was rendered by area fire from six battalions of
artillery and naval guns, directed northeast and east of the village. Casualties in Company L were severe, due mainly to shells
hitting two trucks loaded with men ternporarily captured by the Germans. By 6:30 A.M. the 3rd Battalion
had restored its positions, taking 125 prisoners who testified to the effectiveness of the artillery fire.
Although the enemy had lost heavily in men and vehicles in this action, the corridor stayed open, and Vaucelles, a mile east of
Ste. Anne, was retaken from the British in the same period. During the night and early morning, the enemy managed to
withdraw most of his force from the salient, at the cost of considerable losses and further disorganization. When the 1st
Battalion of the 26th Infantry resumed its attack south of Etrehani on the morning of June 9th,only light resistance was met from
the remnants of enemy forces north of the highway.
With the 26th Infantry beyond Tour-en-Bessin, the First Division reached its D-Day objectives. This mission had been largely
moving on a front so wide that intervals between battalions were as much as 3,000 yards. No enemy counterattack had
developed, though it was known from interrupted messages that attack was ordered for June 8th.
Intelligence reports by June 9th warned of possible concentration of reinforcements, including armor, in Cerisy Forest. However,
barring arrival of reinforcements, all evidence indicated that theGermans had now lost whatever chance they once had of
passing to the offensive on the First Division front. They had continued their policy of the first day in offering dogged resistance
at tactically important points, often f rpm prepared positions. in hedgerow country, this had slowed down the First Division's
progress, and the delay was increased by the willingness of small enemy groups and individuals to fight on in bypassed
positions. Nevertheless, these tactics could not stop the advance, and they steadily wore down enemy strength. Most troops of
the bypassed groups never got back; a major proportion were killed, and by June 9th, the First Division had taken over 600
prisoners. Enemy artillery, so effective on D-Day,was less and less in evidence thereafter.
The Battalion broke through to COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, advanced to VILDAY, and on D + 4 to CORMOLAIN, where the kitchen
came up, killed a cow and cooked steaks. The Company remained here for about a month, re-organized, was given re-
inforcements and a chance to clean up. But the Heinies still interfered with sleeping by crawling down the hedgerows near the
positions and firing machine guns all night.
July 25th 1944, known as the day of the break through, planes flew over the Company for 3 hours; 300 P-51's began it by dive-
bombing and strafing enemy positions to the front, then Flying Fortresses and Liberators bombed in flights of 75, and the B-25s
and B-26s did their work of low-level bombing. It was a real show, and the race across France was on. Company "E" fought to
take MAYEN, which started the forming of the FALAISE GAP, where the Regiment faced enemy to the north, south, and east. At
MORTAIN there was another pocket, and at the Marne, just east of Paris, two platoons of the Company were surrounded by
enemy forces fleeing that city and fought heavily until relieved by Company "G" coming in on tanks. But much of this period was
enjoyable; they were seeing France, and the population often ran out with wine to hand up to the men on the trucks and tanks.
Only the pace was too rapid for a chance to linger and cultivate the acquaintance of the mademoiselles.
September 5th 1944 found Company "E" entering Belgium, where one of the most notable battles of the war occurred, near the
city of MONS. A jam-packed enemy convoy, covering the road for 25 miles, had just been strafed by allied planes. Company "E"
ran head-on into this mess, and the resulting confusion was tremendous. The Company quickly set up a perimeter defense;
every man in the organization began firing, and the basic load of ammunition was expended in 3 hours. They were surrounded
on all sides by frantic Germans, seeking to escape, but themselves only suffered 2 casualties and by noon the next day had
taken 1500 prisoners, the largest bag of a single Company in the Division. Needless to say, there were beaucoup pistols and
loot gathered. Belgium was crossed in 5 days.
September 14th 1944, Company "E" entered Germany. They took positions in pill boxes on a ridge near EILENDORF, east of
AACHEN, and began hearing their first artillery fire since the break through across France. But it was enough to make them
forget there had been a lull. For 38 days, in rain and fog that cut observation to a minimum; the Company beat off almost
continuous strong counterattacks, and were subjected to terrific shelling. Casualties were frequent, the only food that could be
brought up was sandwiches and coffee, but in an almost untenable position, the Company yielded not an inch.
October 1944 , there was a 5-day rest at BRAND, GERMANY. The men were billeted in houses, there were movies and showers
and beer, and the doughnut wagon paid a visit. Then it was back in the line again at STOLBERG, and when relieved by the
104th Division, it was to jump off in the season's first snow attack near HAMICH, GERMANY. The two weeks which followed are
acknowledged by almost everybody as the roughest battle of all, next to the beach on D-Day. It was the drive through the
HURTGEN FOREST, against a stubbornly resisting enemy, under artillery and machine gun fire day and night. The sun never
shone though the trees and the men were without overcoats or blankets for the first 3 days and nights in the cold, wet woods. A
fox-hole was little protection from artillery, for almost every round was a tree-burst. There was no rest or warmth, and casualties
mounted. When the end was reached at LANGERWEHE, the Company pulled back to one of the towns they had taken,
HEISTERN, to receive reinforcements. December 5th found them in MUTZENICT, and some were sent to EUPEN for showers.
December 13th 1944.The Division began to pull off the line to the vicinity of HERVE, BELGIUM for its first rest since the D-Day
invasion. Company "E" moved into THIMISTER and on the 15th, held a ceremony to present the awards of Bronze and Silver
Stars. They were in the rest area for 3 days—and then came the Battle of the Bulge. Still grumbling at their luckless fate, the
Company hit the north shoulder of the Bulge at SOURBROUT, in the MONSCHAU area, then moved down to WAIMES, and set
up a strong defensive position. For the next month, the enemy knocked himself out trying to break through in this area. His daily
punches at the line with armor were stopped by the mine fields in front of the Company, and the Division artillery took its deadly
toll of attacking infantry. But the men suffered too, for their fox holes filled with snow which covered their positions to a depth of
4 feet or more. One man was lifted out of his "snow hole" and carried to the aid station, frozen in a sitting position.
January 16th 1945, the Company began the drive to cut down the Bulge by taking FAYMONVILLE, and 3 days later took
SCHOPPEN in a blinding snowstorm. Half of the weapons in the Company froze and wouldn't fire, but the Jerries were found in
their holes in the same predicament. In the days that followed the enemy used American .50 and .30 caliber machine guns and
81mm mortars against them; it was bitter cold in the woods, as evidenced by the fact that in one day alone, 22 men in the
Company had to be evacuated as frost bite casualties. Sometimes there were as few as 5 fighting men per platoon.
A series of attacks which began by Company "E" crossing the Roer River and taking KREUZAU on Feb. 26, were among the
most successful ever carried out by the Battalion. Two or three towns a night were taken, against tough resistance, by
employing good strategy and driving boldly and aggressively, until March 9, when after a day's street fighting, Bonn fell, and the
Division was sitting on the west bank of the Rhine. But there was a bridgehead across the river down at REMAGEN, and the 1st
Division raced across to expand it. Company "E" went in on the extreme north flank, took the town of ROTT in house to house
fighting, and HENNEF, on the Seig River. There was a stiff resistance, and plenty of opposing armor, but the drive progressed
by leaps and bounds and the Company took WILGESDORF, and closed in at GESKE to meet units of the 9th Army and form
the Ruhr pocket.
The spearheading armor was stopped at the WESSER RIVER. There were no bridges for the tanks to cross on, so at 0400 on
the morning of April 8, the men of Company "E" carried their assault boats down to the waters edge and stormed across in the
face of withering fire, suffering 6 casualties, but clearing the way for the tanks to again break loose. For three weeks then, the
fighting was over terrain remindful of Sicily—advances were difficult even when unopposed—it was cold and rainy. ST.
ANDREASBERG fell to Company "E", and soon the failing enemy began surrendering in groups of as large as whole
Companies. On the day the HARZ MOUNTAINS campaign ended, 600 walked into the Company lines to give up.
Having fought their way completely across Germany, the men found themselves in CZECHOSLOVAKIA, and members of the 3rd
Army. Though many units had fought their last battle already, there remained for Company "E" one more—on May 6, they
drove 15 miles through rain and mud to capture 80 prisoners and 12 towns. That there was considerable opposition is attested
to by the fact that there were 6 casualties. V-E Day found the Company in CHULM ST. MARI, and the announcement was
immediately followed by everyone getting drunk. For several days prisoners streamed in by the hundreds. The natives were
more than friendly, inviting the men into their homes and offering them their own beds. The girls were pretty, there was plenty to
drink, and there were no-nonfraternizing restrictions, which made for an enjoyable month before it was time to return to
Germany assume and occupational duties.
Only one man who came overseas with Company "E" originally is still with the organization, but all those who are or have ever
been apart of it, have a right to be proud.
Blanding, Florida. Following these maneuvers, the 16th spent approximately a month at Fort Benning, Georgia, in garrison,
where normal training activities were carried on; and near the end of June, proceeded to the staging Area at Indiantown Gap,
Pennsylvania. On June 30, 1942, Company "E", among the first group in the Division to head overseas, proceeded to New York
City and loaded on Army Transport number 150 at 2000 hours. The ships name was The Duchess of Bedford, affectionately
referred to by the men in the Company as "The Dirty Duchess", for reasons all who have ridden on troopships will understand.
Thus, on a summers evening there began quietly and without fanfare or incident, an overseas career that was to take Company
"E" through the invasions of three hostile shores, participations in major battles in upwards of a half-dozen countries, and to last
for over three long years.
The rather large convoy suffered no accidents; there was gun drill and fire drill and boat drill; the usual number of men were
sea sick, the usual number of small fortunes were won and lost, and on July 12, the "Dirty Duchess" steamed into the British
port of Liverpool. Debarkation was carried out the next day—the Company moved by motor and marching to Tidworth Barracks
near Salsbury, England. For the next two months there was a full training schedule, inspections, night problems, and long hikes
through picturesque countryside, and through the not so picturesque rain and fog. But there were weekends in London, and
liberal passes in the evenings to the small towns around Tidworth.
In late September, Company "E" left for Avnesbury, Scotland, and boarded the British transport "Reina Del Pacificio", for
training on the River Clyde. After more training on the "Orbita" and duties in the harbor on the Clyde Bank, on October 26,
Company "E", aboard Ship L-12, left the Scottish port for a landing operation, destination unknown. As the convoy steamed
past the straits of Gibraltar and headed for the "Dark Continent", the men realized that they were part of the Allied Invasion of
German held North Africa. While still at sea, two air attacks were beaten off, and one enemy submarine sunk. Then at 1100
hours, November 8, the landing was made on ARZEW BEACH, without casualties, and the Company moved inland over 15
miles of sand to bivouac at LOGRANDE. The next day Company "E" took up the advance guard for the Battalion's march on
ORAN. The first sign of the enemy came at 2305, when a flare was sighted and 75mm artillery fire began falling to their rear.
The advance continued, and at 2315, the enemy opened up with machine gun and rifle fire, wounding 3 men in the point. At
2335, as the Company deployed to meet this resistance, Pfc Smith became the first man in Company "E" to die a hero's death
in the war, when he was killed by enemy fire as he emptied his automatic rifle into the enemy line. Another bad piece of luck
occurred immediately afterwards—enemy shell fire ripped into a high-tension wire overhead, which fell on and killed 3 men, in
addition to lighting up the whole area and disclosing the disposition of every man. The Battalion formed a new line, and the next
day drove on to ORAN, which surrendered.
Road blocks and pickets were set up and operated, and raids were carried out for Nazi sympathizers. Awards were presented; a
ceremonial parade held with units of the French Army, the Company moved to VALMY, ALGERIA to form a security guard for an
airbase. The men got their first look at foreign women—Arabs, who were off limits, and French, who weren't—there was plenty
to drink, souvenirs to buy, and the amazing filth and ability to steal of the Arabs was a source of constant wonder. The first
Christmas away from home will be hard to forget—wading knee deep mud to the kitchen in anticipation of a promised turkey
dinner with "all the trimmins", they were greeted with cold salmon. The howls of rage were loud and long. The turkey came three
days later.
The end of January, 1943, found Company "E" back in the fight near REBAA, TUNISIA, and there were skirmishes and patrols
for a month, leading up to a defensive position at KASSERINE PASS. The Jerries attempted to break through, they were
stopped and the Battalion pulled back for a rest, when Jerry struck again, this time with all he had. The Battalion was thrown
back into the defense, and though subjected to heavy 88mm and tank fire, assisted in completely routing the enemy and
practically annihilating the 10th Panzer Division.
Continuing to EL GUETTAR, Companys "E" and "F" made the famous bayonet charge to take Hill 606, driving the enemy from
dug in positions with hand grenades, and stopping only when the Company Commander and one platoon were captured. In the
attack of Hill 374, Lt. General McNair, then Army Ground Force Commander, was injured while in Company "E" Area, which was
being subjected to heavy shelling.
When the last of the Italians and Germans gave up on May 8, Company "E" was in MATEUR, but immediately returned to
ARZEW BEACH, the site of their original landing and began practicing beach landings again, going over the side by means of
nets. The weather was muddy murderous. After a month of this, the U.S.S. Thurston carried them to STAOUELI, near ALGIERS
for a period of hikes, inspections, and British extended order drill. It was still hot, but here there were passes to ALGIERS,
where there was ice cream, beer, and not a little excitement, if you ventured into the Arab quarter after dark.
In July came the invasion of SICILY, and Company "E" hit the beach at GELA at 0200, July 10, part of the first battalion landed.
The assistance promised in the form of planes and paratroopers failed to materialize, so sheer courage was all that helped the
Company storm the beaches through enemy mine fields, artillery, and small arms fire, and gain the high ground beyond. The
foot troops drove forward for several miles, and before any support could be landed behind them, the enemy counterattacked,
and heavily—with two Battalions of tanks, part of which raced down the beaches to come behind them. For the action that
followed, the Battalion received a Presidential Citation for heroic action. With some assistance from the Naval guns offshore, a
few anti-tank guns, and skillful handling of the bazookas by men who had the courage to let the tanks pass over them in a
foxhole, then rise and shoot the tank from the rear, the overwhelming odds of the enemy were soon diminished and the attack
routed.
The battle for SICILY lasted 28 days, but it was done so quickly by maintaining a killing pace. They marched at night and fought
all day, over torturous terrain, in scorching weather. Chow and ammunition were brought up by donkey, if at all. The fighting
was sporadic, but bitter, and consisted mostly of skirmishes for road centers. Company "E" and the rest of the second Battalion
took TROINA after 2 other units had tried and failed; they took NICOSIA and RANDAZZO, which was the last line of defense of
the faltering enemy. Air power had helped, as in the attack on TROINA when B-26's and P-51's softened up the objective in
front of the troops, but SICILY was won principally by the dough's literally marching the shoes off their feet.
The battle over, Company "E" took up life in pup tents at LICATA, near PALMA, SICILY, and began to inspect the surroundings,
which were extremely inauspicious. The natives were dirty and thieving, the country devoted mostly to raising cattle and horses,
and the one bright spot in the picture, were the excellent wineries, and vineyards, often 50 or 60 acres in extent. There was
training and daily hikes, three retreat parades weekly, with movies at night and Company parties were red Sicilian wine flowed
freely. The high spot was the visit of Bob Hope and his troupe in August. On October 21, the HMS Maloja was boarded, and
until two days after she sailed, there was considerable conjecture as to the destination—some thought it would be to invade
Italy, some expected to return to the States. But just over a year after leaving England, it was LIVERPOOL again, with a British
band playing a welcome. Company "E" moved into Nissen huts at WALDITCH, a half mile from the Channel, near BRIDPORT,
for the winter. There were hikes and films, rain, MP detail in town, liberal passes, the people were friendly, the First Sgt. got
married, there was turkey on Turkey Day and again on Christmas in the big Battalion mess hall, with ice cream and beer
besides. There was cool weather, firing on Symondsbury and Eype Down ranges, a lecture on "What We Will Find in Europe",
training in street fighting in a bombed out section of the port town of WEYMOUTH, church on Sundays in BRIDPORT; in short,
the men found England the best place to be next to home. In January 1944, British General Montgomery reviewed the troops on
the cricket field at BRIDPORT, and told them that of all the American Divisions he'd seen, he'd rather fight with the 1st US
Division.
In February, they went 86 miles by motor to BARNSTABLE for assault team training, amphibious operations, attacks on fortified
positions, boat landings and obstacle courses. On the 24th there was a beach landing by the entire Regiment. In March, the
Company boarded the U.S.S. Henrico at WEYMOUTH for another practice landing and attack inland. The bright spot in this
picture was the chow served by the Navy, which was excellent.
Back in WALDITCH, James Cagney and cast entertained with "Keep 'Em Rolling". A Battalion rifle match was won by Company
"E" and on April 2, General Eisenhower came around to inspect, present awards and make a speech. Any illusions of returning
to the States were dispelled when he said, "The First Division will be one of the last to go home. If nothing else, I'll just keep you
around for good luck." From this time on the Division was alerted for the invasion of the continent. They went to
MARTINSTOWN to train, the swift water there, boarded the U.S.S. Henrico, and assaulted "Able Red" Beach once, then again.
General Heubner, the Division Commander, made a speech. The Company was organized into 5 assault sections and trained
that way, each section equipped with flame throwers, and bangalore torpedoes, and with its own base of fire. On June 1, they
boarded the U.S.S. Henrico again, and when it sailed out from WEYMOUTH harbor on June 5, D-Day and H-Hour were
announced.
The big show was on.
There have been many more complete accounts of what happened that day than it is possible to present here.
Suffice it to say that Company "E" in the assault wave, landed on Easy Red Beach at 0645 in the face of murderous fire. Two-
thirds of the Company were immediate casualties, but those remaining kept wading right into everything the enemy had and
took their objective, which provided the only exit from the beach that the entire Fifth Corps had for 48 hours. It is an obvious
fact that Company "E", as much as, if not more than any other unit, seemingly by strength of will and courage alone, saved the
entire beachhead from being thrown back into the sea. It was an experience few men under went and lived, and for a month
afterwards, those who did, remained almost in a daze.
A patrol sent down the Bayeux road reported enemy in Tour-en-Bessin.
By nightfall on June 7th, a part of D-Day objectives had been reached. Only in the Formigny-Trevieres area was the enemy in
force sufficient to check the First Division's progress.
The situation at Formigny was clearing up during the early morning hours of June 8th. About midnight Company B of the 18th
Infantry, helped by tanks of Company B, 745th Tank Battalion, attacked from the southeast and drove out a small enemy force,
which lost ten killed and fifteen prisoners. North of the village, enemy machinegun positions continued to block the 3rd
Battalion, 26th Infantry, until late in the morning. Initially the delay at Formigny was due to lack of contact between the two
battalions attacking from different sides of the village. Coordination was regained by division controls.
On D plus two day main action in the First Division zone shifted to the left flank, where the 26th Infantry went after its D-Day
objectives in the Tour-en-Bessin area. The movement had begun late on June 7th, when the 2nd Battalion of the 26th Infantry
released at 5 :45 P.M. from Division Reserve, was ordered to seize the high ground at the crossroads between Mosles and
Tour-en-Bessin. The battalion moved southeast along the front of the 16th Infantry, crossed the Aure River at midnight a little
west of Etreham, and reached its objective about S :30 A.M.
Enemy artillery and infantry were reported in some strength at Tour-en-Bessin, and the 26th Infantry at 8 :00 P.M. requested an
air mission.
Division notified the regiment that adequate fire support from artillery and naval guns would be available if the air mission failed.
The air attack was made by fighter-bombers shortly before 9 :00 A.M.; an armored patrol got into Tour-en-Bessin by 11:40 A.
M., reporting the town: "empty and flat." The 2nd Battalion, reinforced by a company of the 635th Tank Destroyer Battalion, and
Company C of the 745th Tank Battalion, waited on the advance of the rest of the regiment before moving into the town.
The other two battalions of the 26th infantry were slow in reaching the scene. The 1st Battalion, its objective the ground north-
east of Tour-en-Bessin, pushed patrols through Etreham about noon, encountering only snipers; then, determined resistance
from prepared positions stopped the battalion at the river crossing. The rest of the day was spent in efforts to get across, with
artillery support made difficult by the presence of 2nd Battalion units not far to the southwest. By evening only one company of
the 1st Battalion was across the Aure River. The 3rd Battalion was held up north to Formigny all morning, pending arrival of a
battalion of the 115th infantry which was countermarching from Louvieres to Formigny for the purpose of strengthening the
sector north of Trevieres. Released to the 26th Infantry at 1:40 P.M., the 3rd Battalion started down the Bayeux highway toward
its objective, Ste. Anne, just beyond Tour-en-Bessin. It reached the 2nd Battalion position at 6:00pm. and was ordered to jump
off at 8 :40 P.M. for attack straight through Tour-en-Bessin, supported by Company C of the 745th Tank Battalion. The force
went through the town about midnight, the infantry moving in two files on either side of the road, with six tanks between the files
at the head of the column. Directed by the battalion commander, the tanks sprayed sniper positions and suspected strong
points. Light enemy resistance was brushed aside, and the column reached Ste. Anne about 1 :30 A.M. in contact with enemy
patrols retreating to the east.
The enemy-held corridor north of Tour-en-Bessin was now in great danger of being cut. At the end of June 7th, the Germans
still held Port-en-Bessin and south of it the high ground along the Drome Valley.
The narrowing enemy pocket was held by remnants of the 1s tBattalion, 726th (German) Infantry, reinforced on June 7-8 by
some elements of the 517th Battalion, 30th Mobile Brigade, rushed up from reserve positions near çoutarkes and St. Lo. By
evening of June 8th, there was a chance that much of this force might be trapped by an advance of the 26th Infantry. Very
determined enemy resist ance, however, held off the 26th Infantry at Etrehani and stopped the British efforts to get past from
Drome. A violent action at Ste. Anne, in the early hours of June 9th, kept the base of the corridor open.
The 3rd Battalion of the 26th Infantry had dug in hastily at Ste. Anne to meet an expected counterattack, with Company L just
north of the village, Company I facing east, and Company K to the south. A light rain began to fall and visibility was bad. About
3:00A.M. Company L's position was overrun by. a strong German column including ammunition trucks, bicycles, and other
vehicles, the presence of which suggested that the enemy was withdrawing from the north and had blundered into the American
lines. What followed was a wild fire-fight, at close range, with both sides hampered by surprise and confusion. The 2nd Battalion
held on in the village; tanks were of little use in the darkness, but effective aid was rendered by area fire from six battalions of
artillery and naval guns, directed northeast and east of the village. Casualties in Company L were severe, due mainly to shells
hitting two trucks loaded with men ternporarily captured by the Germans. By 6:30 A.M. the 3rd Battalion
had restored its positions, taking 125 prisoners who testified to the effectiveness of the artillery fire.
Although the enemy had lost heavily in men and vehicles in this action, the corridor stayed open, and Vaucelles, a mile east of
Ste. Anne, was retaken from the British in the same period. During the night and early morning, the enemy managed to
withdraw most of his force from the salient, at the cost of considerable losses and further disorganization. When the 1st
Battalion of the 26th Infantry resumed its attack south of Etrehani on the morning of June 9th,only light resistance was met from
the remnants of enemy forces north of the highway.
With the 26th Infantry beyond Tour-en-Bessin, the First Division reached its D-Day objectives. This mission had been largely
moving on a front so wide that intervals between battalions were as much as 3,000 yards. No enemy counterattack had
developed, though it was known from interrupted messages that attack was ordered for June 8th.
Intelligence reports by June 9th warned of possible concentration of reinforcements, including armor, in Cerisy Forest. However,
barring arrival of reinforcements, all evidence indicated that theGermans had now lost whatever chance they once had of
passing to the offensive on the First Division front. They had continued their policy of the first day in offering dogged resistance
at tactically important points, often f rpm prepared positions. in hedgerow country, this had slowed down the First Division's
progress, and the delay was increased by the willingness of small enemy groups and individuals to fight on in bypassed
positions. Nevertheless, these tactics could not stop the advance, and they steadily wore down enemy strength. Most troops of
the bypassed groups never got back; a major proportion were killed, and by June 9th, the First Division had taken over 600
prisoners. Enemy artillery, so effective on D-Day,was less and less in evidence thereafter.
The Battalion broke through to COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, advanced to VILDAY, and on D + 4 to CORMOLAIN, where the kitchen
came up, killed a cow and cooked steaks. The Company remained here for about a month, re-organized, was given re-
inforcements and a chance to clean up. But the Heinies still interfered with sleeping by crawling down the hedgerows near the
positions and firing machine guns all night.
July 25th 1944, known as the day of the break through, planes flew over the Company for 3 hours; 300 P-51's began it by dive-
bombing and strafing enemy positions to the front, then Flying Fortresses and Liberators bombed in flights of 75, and the B-25s
and B-26s did their work of low-level bombing. It was a real show, and the race across France was on. Company "E" fought to
take MAYEN, which started the forming of the FALAISE GAP, where the Regiment faced enemy to the north, south, and east. At
MORTAIN there was another pocket, and at the Marne, just east of Paris, two platoons of the Company were surrounded by
enemy forces fleeing that city and fought heavily until relieved by Company "G" coming in on tanks. But much of this period was
enjoyable; they were seeing France, and the population often ran out with wine to hand up to the men on the trucks and tanks.
Only the pace was too rapid for a chance to linger and cultivate the acquaintance of the mademoiselles.
September 5th 1944 found Company "E" entering Belgium, where one of the most notable battles of the war occurred, near the
city of MONS. A jam-packed enemy convoy, covering the road for 25 miles, had just been strafed by allied planes. Company "E"
ran head-on into this mess, and the resulting confusion was tremendous. The Company quickly set up a perimeter defense;
every man in the organization began firing, and the basic load of ammunition was expended in 3 hours. They were surrounded
on all sides by frantic Germans, seeking to escape, but themselves only suffered 2 casualties and by noon the next day had
taken 1500 prisoners, the largest bag of a single Company in the Division. Needless to say, there were beaucoup pistols and
loot gathered. Belgium was crossed in 5 days.
September 14th 1944, Company "E" entered Germany. They took positions in pill boxes on a ridge near EILENDORF, east of
AACHEN, and began hearing their first artillery fire since the break through across France. But it was enough to make them
forget there had been a lull. For 38 days, in rain and fog that cut observation to a minimum; the Company beat off almost
continuous strong counterattacks, and were subjected to terrific shelling. Casualties were frequent, the only food that could be
brought up was sandwiches and coffee, but in an almost untenable position, the Company yielded not an inch.
October 1944 , there was a 5-day rest at BRAND, GERMANY. The men were billeted in houses, there were movies and showers
and beer, and the doughnut wagon paid a visit. Then it was back in the line again at STOLBERG, and when relieved by the
104th Division, it was to jump off in the season's first snow attack near HAMICH, GERMANY. The two weeks which followed are
acknowledged by almost everybody as the roughest battle of all, next to the beach on D-Day. It was the drive through the
HURTGEN FOREST, against a stubbornly resisting enemy, under artillery and machine gun fire day and night. The sun never
shone though the trees and the men were without overcoats or blankets for the first 3 days and nights in the cold, wet woods. A
fox-hole was little protection from artillery, for almost every round was a tree-burst. There was no rest or warmth, and casualties
mounted. When the end was reached at LANGERWEHE, the Company pulled back to one of the towns they had taken,
HEISTERN, to receive reinforcements. December 5th found them in MUTZENICT, and some were sent to EUPEN for showers.
December 13th 1944.The Division began to pull off the line to the vicinity of HERVE, BELGIUM for its first rest since the D-Day
invasion. Company "E" moved into THIMISTER and on the 15th, held a ceremony to present the awards of Bronze and Silver
Stars. They were in the rest area for 3 days—and then came the Battle of the Bulge. Still grumbling at their luckless fate, the
Company hit the north shoulder of the Bulge at SOURBROUT, in the MONSCHAU area, then moved down to WAIMES, and set
up a strong defensive position. For the next month, the enemy knocked himself out trying to break through in this area. His daily
punches at the line with armor were stopped by the mine fields in front of the Company, and the Division artillery took its deadly
toll of attacking infantry. But the men suffered too, for their fox holes filled with snow which covered their positions to a depth of
4 feet or more. One man was lifted out of his "snow hole" and carried to the aid station, frozen in a sitting position.
January 16th 1945, the Company began the drive to cut down the Bulge by taking FAYMONVILLE, and 3 days later took
SCHOPPEN in a blinding snowstorm. Half of the weapons in the Company froze and wouldn't fire, but the Jerries were found in
their holes in the same predicament. In the days that followed the enemy used American .50 and .30 caliber machine guns and
81mm mortars against them; it was bitter cold in the woods, as evidenced by the fact that in one day alone, 22 men in the
Company had to be evacuated as frost bite casualties. Sometimes there were as few as 5 fighting men per platoon.
A series of attacks which began by Company "E" crossing the Roer River and taking KREUZAU on Feb. 26, were among the
most successful ever carried out by the Battalion. Two or three towns a night were taken, against tough resistance, by
employing good strategy and driving boldly and aggressively, until March 9, when after a day's street fighting, Bonn fell, and the
Division was sitting on the west bank of the Rhine. But there was a bridgehead across the river down at REMAGEN, and the 1st
Division raced across to expand it. Company "E" went in on the extreme north flank, took the town of ROTT in house to house
fighting, and HENNEF, on the Seig River. There was a stiff resistance, and plenty of opposing armor, but the drive progressed
by leaps and bounds and the Company took WILGESDORF, and closed in at GESKE to meet units of the 9th Army and form
the Ruhr pocket.
The spearheading armor was stopped at the WESSER RIVER. There were no bridges for the tanks to cross on, so at 0400 on
the morning of April 8, the men of Company "E" carried their assault boats down to the waters edge and stormed across in the
face of withering fire, suffering 6 casualties, but clearing the way for the tanks to again break loose. For three weeks then, the
fighting was over terrain remindful of Sicily—advances were difficult even when unopposed—it was cold and rainy. ST.
ANDREASBERG fell to Company "E", and soon the failing enemy began surrendering in groups of as large as whole
Companies. On the day the HARZ MOUNTAINS campaign ended, 600 walked into the Company lines to give up.
Having fought their way completely across Germany, the men found themselves in CZECHOSLOVAKIA, and members of the 3rd
Army. Though many units had fought their last battle already, there remained for Company "E" one more—on May 6, they
drove 15 miles through rain and mud to capture 80 prisoners and 12 towns. That there was considerable opposition is attested
to by the fact that there were 6 casualties. V-E Day found the Company in CHULM ST. MARI, and the announcement was
immediately followed by everyone getting drunk. For several days prisoners streamed in by the hundreds. The natives were
more than friendly, inviting the men into their homes and offering them their own beds. The girls were pretty, there was plenty to
drink, and there were no-nonfraternizing restrictions, which made for an enjoyable month before it was time to return to
Germany assume and occupational duties.
Only one man who came overseas with Company "E" originally is still with the organization, but all those who are or have ever
been apart of it, have a right to be proud.
| HISTORY OF COMPANY "E", 16TH INFANTRY. 1942-1945 by LEONARD E. RICHARDSON 1st Lt., 16th Infantry |
| Training at camp Blanding, Florida |
| The Duchess of Bedford. |
| The 2nd Battalion, 16th Inf Regt, march through the Kasserine Pass and on to Kasserine and Farriana, Tunisia. 23rd Feb 1943 |
| General Patton addresses the men of the 16th Infantry Regiment after the Liberation of Sicily |
| Amphibious landing training at Port Aux Poules, Algeria, shortly before the invasion of Sicily. |
| T/Sgt Phil Streczyk (far right) and his platoon from the 16th Inf Regt. during a stop while on a route march from Walditch, near Bridport. |
| Loading the 1st Division, Portland, Dorset. |
| Pfc. Clifford Kangas, 16th Inf. radios from his uninviting observation post near Modersheid, Belgium. Jan 1945. |
| Fighting near Remagen |
| Photo at left, from left to right: Col. George A. Taylor, 16th Infantry commanding officer; Major Carl W. Plitt, S-3; Major Charles E. Tegtmeyer. Regimental Surgeon; Major John H. Lauten, S-2; and Captain William Friedman, S-1. Photo taken during amphibious exercise in England, early 1944. |
| Colonel Frederick W. Gibb, commander of the 16th during the European campaign. |
| 16th infantry command conference at Kasserine Pass. Note the mixture of Tankers jackets, wool shirts and M41 field jackets an head gear. |
| Master Sergeant Thomas O. Beachamp, the Divisions oldest member on the North African Beach. Beachamp served in all the divisions WW1 Battles. Note the bulldozer in the background. |
| A squad of 16th Infantry Troops, mop up in Troina, Sicily. August 1943. |
| Awaiting German Paratroopers being flushed out of woods by other troops, near the Belgium Border |
| Company G. 16th Inf in the streets of Vettweiss, Germany. Note the markings on the halftrack towing the AT Gun |
| Pvt. Stockov, Co. D, 1st Bn, 16th Inf loads a captured German Mortar |
| Company G. 16th Inf in the streets of Vettweiss, Germany. Note the markings on the halftrack towing the AT Gun |
| Company C. 2nd Bn., 16th Infantry Regiment, advance on a narrow road near Faymonville. 16th January 1945. |