Awarded in the name of the President of the United States (and later redesignated the “Presidential Unit Citation”), this award was created during WWII to recognize units for a collective display of extraordinary heroism.
1st Battalion, 397th Infantry Regiment (Heilbronn)
The 1st Battalion, 397th Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding accomplishment in combat during the period 5 to 11 April 1945, in the vicinity of Heilbronn, Germany. Crossing the Neckar River by assault boat under heavy fire, the 1st Battalion secured a bridgehead in the face of unyielding resistance and inaugurated its block-by-block, house-by-house, and even room-by-room conquest of the key rail city of Heilbronn. Deadly cross-fire from automatic weapons emplaced in rubble heaps and cellars of ruined buildings slowed the attack; snipers in countless vantage points constantly harassed our troops; and thickly wooded hills on three sides afforded the enemy perfect observation for the direction of all types of artillery fire. Yet despite fanatical resistance,the 1st Battalion continued its implacable advance, repulsing repeated tank-infantry counterattacks and destroying group after group of infiltrating enemy infantry. Supporting armor and tank destroyers were sped across the river by a hastily installed pontoon bridge, which was as quickly demolished by artillery fire; casualties were evacuated and supplies brought forward by ferry under continuous shelling; and on 11 April, after seven days of the most savagely prosecuted fighting on the entire western front, the 1st Battalion, 397th Infantry Regiment, virtually completed its capture of the city, because of the individual bravery of its members and the esprit de corps of the organization, reflecting the highest traditions of the military service. (General Orders 260, Headquarters, 100th Infantry Division, 29 September 1945.)
2d Battalion, 397th Infantry Regiment (Heilbronn)
The 2d Battalion, 397th Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding accomplishment in combat during the period 4 to 12 April 1945, at Heilbronn, Germany. On 4 April the 2d Battalion launched its frontal assault against Heilbronn, key German rail center and defensive bastion of the Neckar River line. Ferrying assault forces across the Neckar under intense concentrations of artillery and mortar shelling as well as small-arms fire, advance elements overran entrenched enemy positions on the east bank, inflicted heavy casualties, and established a precarious bridgehead. For 7 consecutive days, the 2d Battalion then fought its way forward street-by-street, house-by-house, and even room-by-room, overcoming fanatical enemy resistance and repulsing counterattack after counterattack as the enemy struggled desperately to hold Heilbronn at all costs. Enemy artillery fire on dominating hills surrounding the city pounded the river crossing site with unabated savagery, preventing the bridging of the stream and making it necessary to ferry supplies and casualties across the Neckar throughout the battle. Attempts to float armor across the river failed when improvised -rafts capsized, and lacking tank support, the 2d Battalion doggedly inched its way forward until, on 11 April, final remnants of the defending forces were routed from high ground behind the city. Thus the 2d Battalion, 397th Infantry Regiment, by dint of resolute, unfaltering courage displayed by every man and the perfect coordination of all elements, crushed fanatical enemy resistance, breached the formidable Neckar defense line, and made possible the present drive. into Austria.. -(General Orders 260, Headquarters 100th Infantry Division, 29 September 1945.)
Company H, 397th Infantry Regiment (Rimling)
Company H, 397th Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding accomplishment in combat on 8 and 9 January 1945 in the vicinity of Rimling, France. Under the pressure of a savagely prosecuted attack by numerically superior hostile forces, which forced back adjacent elements, Company H staunchly held its ground, threw back assault after assault, and, by its gallant and unyielding defense, prevented the encirclement of the battalion by the enemy. The initial hostile attack in the night by infantry mounted on tanks was dispersed by the deadly fire of the company's heavy machine guns and mortars, and subsequent daylight tank-infantry attacks were also repulsed with heavy losses to the enemy. Attempts at infiltration by hostile soldiers wearing American parkas were thwarted and the opposing riflemen killed or forced to withdraw. Sixty-three prisoners were captured and an estimated four hundred casualties inflicted upon the attackers in the heroic action in which every member of Company H, 397th Infantry Regiment reflected great credit on himself, his company, and the Army of the United States. (General Orders 155, Headquarters 100th Infantry Division, 9 June 1945.)
3d Battalion, 397th Infantry Regiment (Rimling)
The 3d Battalion. 397th Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding and exceptional accomplishment in combat during the period 1 to 5 January 1945 in the Bitche sector, near Rimling, France. The 100th Division as assigned the mission of defending against an expected enemy attack in force, which had as its objective the capture of the Saverne Pass, a vital terrain feature in the Seventh Army front. The 3d Battalion, 397th Infantry Regiment occupied a defensive position on the left flank of the division. Suddenly, at midnight on New Year's Eve, the enemy (17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division) launched a heavy and fanatical attack, the main effort of which encompassed the 3d Battalion and units on its left. The unit on the left of the 3d Battalion was driven back during the course of the day some 5,000 yards. Because of the width of the front, reserves were not available to fill the gap. A platoon of the left company was overrun by the enemy tank-infantry assault, and the enemy infiltrated in force into Rimling, behind the lines of the 3d Battalion. Notwithstanding the exposed and tactically disadvantageous position in which the 3d Battalion found itself, it succeeded in restoring the lines and capturing or killing all of the infiltrating enemy. For five days, the 3d Battalion, in this exposed position, was subjected to repeated attacks from the front, flank, and rear by enemy tanks and infantry accompanied by mortar and artillery fire. Repeated attacks by troops of this division and the division on the left to reestablish the line and make contact with the left flank of the 3d Battalion failed. The 3d Battalion, nearly surrounded, still held on, despite heavy losses and a disadvantageous tactical situation which warranted withdrawal. Howeer, in doing so, it inflicted such heavy losses upon the enemy and impressed upon him so successfully the will of our troops to hold on, that further offensive action on this part of the front by the enemy was discontinued. The action of the 3d Battalion, therefore, played a decisive role in thwarting the enemy from attaining his vital objective of the Saverne Pass and enabled the division to hold its position without a serious change in dispositions. The extraordinary heroism, determination, esprit de corps, and effective fighting displayed by the 3d Battalion 397th Infantry Regiment, in successfully accomplishing this unusual and rugged task were an inspiration to other troops in the sector and reflect greatest credit on the Armed Forces of the United States. (General Orders 183, Headquarters, 100th Infantry Division, 27 June 1945) |
3d Battalion, 398th Infantry Regiment (Bitche)
The 3d Battalion, 398th Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding performance in combat during the period 17 to 21 December 1944. near Bitche, France. On 17 December 1944, the 3d Battalion was assigned the mission of breaching the formldable fortifications of the Maginot Line west of the town of Bitche, France. The main line of enemy defense was Fort Freudenberg, a large fortification, and Fort Schiesseck, which had 11 adjacent units, each unit with a gun emplacement or a series of guns ranging from 47mm to 135mm which were mutually supporting and extremely difficult to attack. The walls of the fortifications were from three to ten feet thick and constructed of reinforced concrete. Some of the units had as many as five stories below ground level with underground railroads which were used for supply. With no terrain features for protection and only shell craters for cover, the 3d Battalion, taking advantage of a 45-minute barrage, moved into the attack. Under intense enemy artillery, mortar, automatic weapons, and small arms fire, the 3d Battalion pressed the attack and, after fierce fighting, captured Fort Freudenberg along with units 10 and 11 of Fort Schiesseck. At this point the enemy increased their artillery and mortar fire, forcing the battalion to dig in for the night. At 0930 hours the following morning, 18 December 1944, the attack was continued behind a rolling barrage laid down by supporting artillery. Fighting their way up the steep, barren slope of the difficult terrain, through heavy wire entanglements, the assault detachments, despite harassing enemy fire, rapidly wrested the remaining units of Fort Schiesseck from the enemy. The fighting aggressiveness, courage, and devotion to duty displayed by members of the 3d Battalion, 398th Infantry Regiment are worthy of the highest emulation and reflect the finest traditions of the armed forces of the United States. |
3d Battalion, 398th Infantry Regiment (Heilbronn)
The 3d Battalion, 398th Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding accomplishment in combat during the period 3 to 12 April 1945 in the vicinity of Heilbronn, Germany. After crossing the Neckar River by assault boat, the battalion secured a bridgehead and prepared to hold its position when intense enemy artillery and mortar barrages landed with almost pinpoint precision on the crossing site, making further use of assault boats impossible and isolating the battalion. Simultaneously wave after wave of hostile troops, an entire regiment in strength, counterattacked, and the weight of the numerically-superior foe forced the battalion to withdraw to the river's edge. Despite heavy losses, remnants of the battalion reorganized and, when the Germans stopped to dig in, attacked again and retook most of the lost ground. Every night for five nights the enemy attacked, trying desperately to regain the east bank, but each time they were thrown back. On one occasion, after a three-mile-long column of enemy troops and vehicles poured into the lines, the Germans charged with reckless and fanatical zeal, and succeeded in making a slight penetration. Committing its reserves, the battalion stopped the attack and reestablished its lines. By the individual heroism and intrepidity of the officers and men of this command, the depleted battalion held the bridgehead for eight days and nights under continuous and savage shelling, enabling the division to push other troops across the river and insure the success of the vital operation. The accomplishment of the 3d Battalion, 398th Infantry Regiment reflects the highest traditions of the Army of the United States. (General Orders 277, Headquarters 100th Infantry Division, 9 November 1945, as approved by the Commanding General, European Theater (Main).) |
1st Battalion, 399th Infantry Regiment (Raon L’Etape)
The 1st Battalion, 399th Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding performance in combat during the period 16 November 1944 to 17 November 1944, near Raon l'Etape, France. Overlooking the important Meurthe River city of Raon l'Etape, In the thickly forested foothills of the Vosges Mountains, is a bill-mass known as the Tête des Reclos. This high ground, affording perfect enemy observation, barred an assault upon the vital communications city. On the rainy morning of 16 November, the 1st Battalion launched an attack to clear the enemy from these strongly fortified bill positions. Fighting through the dense, pine forest under intense enemy artillery, mortar, machine gun and automatic-weapons fire, the 1st Battalion, after three hours of effort, drove across a trail circling the base of the hill-mass. A withering, 45 minute artillery preparation at this point proved ineffective against the deep, concrete- and log-covered enemy bunkers built into the side of the hills, and it soon became evident that basic infantry assault was the only feasible method for driving the enemy from their positions. In a fierce, close-in, small arms firefight, which increased in fury as they climbed the precipitous slopes, the 1st Battalion wormed its way toward the top of Hill 462.8, key to the enemy's defenses. Battling against fanatical enemy resistance, it finally reached the crest. Bitter, hand-to-hand fighting developed as the enemy hurled repeated counterattacks against the inspired infantrymen. Once, the 1st Battalion was driven from the hilltop, but rapidly regrouping, it regained its positions. At dark, the enemy finally withdrew, leaving the 1st Battalion in possession of high ground. Throughout, supplies bad to be hand carried up the steep slopes under continuous enemy fire. Only the teamwork, coordination, and determination of all elements in the heroic 1st Battalion made the success of this attack possible, opening the gateway through the Vosges Mountains to the Alsatian Plains beyond. (General Orders 206, Headquarters, 100th Infantry Division, 23 July 1945). |
3d Battalion, 399th Infantry Regiment (Fohlenberg)
The 3d Battalion, 399th Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding accomplishment in action on 18 April 1945 in the vicinity of Beilstein, Germany. Assigned the mission of capturing the isolated, practically inaccessible hill mass of Fohlenberg which dominated the entire 16,000-yard front of the regiment, the 3d Battalion moved out from an assembly area 5,000 yards from the objective and, advancing cross-country over heavily wooded, semimountainous terrain, penetrated the line of enemy outposts to reach the high ground of Steinberg. After charging down the open, precipitous southern slopes of Steinberg under a relentless hail of accurate enemy fire, the 3d Battalion climbed to assault and capture an intermediate objective, the thickly wooded hill of Kubelsteiger. The 3d Battalion, determined to accomplish its mission despite numerous casualties and the uninterrupted severity of enemy fire, maintained the momentum of its attack and continued across the open terrain between between Kubelsteiger and Fohlenberg, then fought its way up the steep slopes to the summit. A steady downpourof enemy artillery and heavy mortar shells failed to daunt the drive of the 3d Battalion and, although taxed beyond the normal limit of endurance, it met and determinedly repelled a vicious hostile counterattack and proceeded to secure the entire summit of Fohlenberg. The brilliant coordination and teamwork of all elements which characterized the drive of the 3d Battalion resulted in the capture of this important objective, and played a major role in converting the difficult attack of the regiment against a continuous line into a lightning pursuit which completely routed the disorganized enemy and carried the division into the outskirts of the city of Stuttgart., The gallantry, esprit de corps,an unremitting determination of the members of the 3d Battalion, 399th Infantry Regiment are in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Army.
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