The 823-TDB, during the period Dec 01-16, conducted maintenance and repairs of equipment, schools, tactics, training with M-10 Tank Destroyer, rotated troops to the division rest area, and assisted the division in defense of its zone. Charlie Co 823-TDB, during the period Dec 01-11, provided AT protection for the entire division zone. The 2nd Platoon, Able Co 823-TDB was released from attachment to the 30-ID Artillery at (04)-1000 and the 3rd Platoon Charlie Co 823-TDB was attached at that time for secondary mission. The 3rd Platoon, Able 823-TDB relieved the 2nd Platoon Charlie Co 823-TDB at (11)-1130, and with the 1st Platoon, Charlie Co 823-TDB assumed responsibility for the AT protection of the division zone. The 2nd Platoon Charlie Co 823-TDB, upon relief, moved to an assembly area in the vicinity of (K928532). The battalion was relieved of the responsibility for providing AT protection for the division zone at (15)-1700, and at (15)-1710, the 3rd Platoon Able Co 823-TDB and the 1st Platoon Charlie CO 823-TDB moved from direct fire positions to their company assembly area at (K907503) and (K928532) respectively. During the period Dec 01-16, the battalion received twelve M-10 Tank Destroyers and by order from US 9-A the battalion was changed to 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion (Self-Propelled on Dec 15).
The 743-TB, during the period Dec 01-16, assisted the division in defense of its sector, conducted maintenance and repairs of equipment, training, and rehabilitation of personnel, and in conjunction with the US 7th Armored Group, conducted training with the 4.5′ Rocket, using the T-34 Launcher, and successfully test-fired this weapon on Dec 9 from a medium tank, and on Dec 15 from a captured German half-track. Baker Co 743-TB, during the period Dec 01-04, remained attached to the 120-IR and supported that unit in defense of its zone. The company was released from attachment to the 120-IR at (04)-1500 and reverted to battalion control. Charlie Co 743-TDB was attached to the 120-IR at (10)-1400 and released from attachment to that unit at (16)-1430 and reverted to battalion control. During the period Dec 1-16, Charlie Co 743-TB supported the 120-IR in the defense of its sector.
The US 7th Armored Group, during the period Dec 01-17, in conjunction with the 743-TB, conducted training with the 4.5′ Rocket using the T-34 Launcher. This weapon was successfully test-fired on Dec 9 from a medium tank, and on Dec 15 from a captured German half-track. The Group was detached from the 30-ID at (17)-2050.
The 17-CRS remained attached to the 120-IR during the period Dec 01-17. During the period Dec 01-13, the squadron maintained active defense and patrolling of the division’s entire zone. C Troop relieved the 1/120-IR, at (01)-0042 and assumed responsibility for the defense of the entire division zone. During the period Dec 13-17, the squadron maintained its defensive positions and assisted the attack of the 120-IR, by fire, when that unit cleared the division zone of the enemy between the Inde and the Roer Rivers. At (17)-2030, the squadron relieved the elements of the 120-IR in the division zone between the Inde and the Roer Rivers and was attached to the US 29-ID, who assumed responsibility for the defense of that sector. The 30-CRS (Mecz), during the period Dec 01-16, remained a division reserve in the vicinity of Kohlscheid and conducted training, care, cleaning, and maintenance of equipment.
December 17 The division was alerted for movement South into the US V Corps (17)-1115 and was released from attachment to the US XIX Corps, US 9-A, and attached to the US V Corps, US 1-A. The division was relieved of responsibility for the defense of its zone in 2030 by the US 29-ID. Leading elements of the division began movement by motor to the south at 1625 to an assembly area in the vicinity of Hauset, Belgium and at 2400, the 30-CRS (Mecz), 119-IR, and 823-TDB had closed into their assembly area. The remainder of the division was en route or prepared to move to the South. During the entire move, the German Luftwaffe was extremely active bombing and strafing our convoys, causing little damage but with good harassing effect
The 117-RCT began movement also by motor to the south and to an assembly area in the vicinity of Hauset, Belgium, at 2200, but the Regiment’s orders were changed en route and it was ordered to continue moving farther south to secure the town of Malmedy, Belgium. At 2400, the Regiment was en route to Malmedy. The Regiment’s orders were further changed en route and one Battalion was ordered to seize and hold Stavelot, Belgium.
The 119-RCT began movement for the vicinity of Kohlscheid, to an assembly area in the vicinity of Eynatten, Belgium at 1630. The 1/119-IR led the Regiment’s move with the mission to cover the Division’s movement into its assembly area. The 119-RCT closed into Eynatten at 2200.
The 120-RCT continued to maintain the defense of the Division’s zone and was relieved of that responsibility in 2030 when elements of the 17-CRS (Mecz) relieved King Co in the area in Division’s zone between the Inde River and the Roer River. When relief was accomplished, the 17-CRS (Mecz), was released from attachment to the 120-IR and US 30-ID and attached to the US 29-ID. The 120-RCT began movement to the south by motor at 2300 from Langweiler, Germany, and at 2400, was en route.
December 18 The US 30-ID, less the 117-RCT, 743-TB, and the 3rd Platoon of the 30-CRS (Mecz) closed into its assembly area in the vicinity of Hauset at 0605. At this time, the 117-RCT, the 743-TB, and the 3rd Platoon of the 30-CRS (Mecz) with the mission of securing Malmedy and attacking southwest to seize Stavelot were en route.
At 1000, the Division, less the 117-RCT, the 743-TB, and the 3rd Platoon of the 30-CRS (Mecz), continued movement to the south, and at 2400, the Division had closed into its news assembly area in the vicinity of Francorchamps, Belgium, established the defense of Malmedy, seized the northwest portion of Stavelot, attacked to the east and seized Stoumont and Habiémont and stopped the enemy’s advance to the west and northwest at Stavelot, Stoumont and Habiémont.
The 117-RCT attached the 3rd Platoon of the 30-CRS (Mecz), Charlie Co 823-TDB, closed into its assembly area northwest of Malmedy at 0800. The 1/117-RCT continued movement via Francorchamps at 0830 to an assembly area north of Stavelot and attacked south to seize Stavelot. The battalion encountered stiff resistance north of Stavelot but continued to advance and at 1600 had seized two-thirds of the town northwest of the Amblève River and occupied defensive positions extending from (K714014) to (717010) and (K720011). At 0830, the 2/117-RCT and the 3/117-RCT began movement from their assembly area, and at 1100, the 2/117-RCT had occupied defensive positions along the commanding ground between Malmedy and Stavelot, and the 3/117-RCT had established and organized the defense of Malmedy by occupying defensive positions and reinforcing several roadblocks (south and southeast) established during the night of Dec 16/17 by elements of the US 291-ECB, elements of the Norwegian 99-IB-(S) and from the 526-AIB. Able and Baker Cos assault gun and mortar platoons, 743-TB attached at (18)-0900.
The 119-RCT attached Able Co 823-TDB and began movement to the southwest from the vicinity of Eynatten, Belgium, by motor at 1311, via Eupen, Dolhain-Limbourg, Verviers, Theux, Louveigné to Remouchamps, at which point the regiment split and attacked to the southeast to seize Trois Ponts and block the enemy’s drive to the west in the vicinity of Stoumont. The regiment reached Remouchamps at approximately 1800 where it split into two columns. One column composed of the 1/119-IR and the 3/119-IR, 3/119-IR leading, drove south and southeast to Stoumont extending from (K634023) to (K636032). The 1/119-IR reached Targnon at 2022 and assumed strong defensive position extending from (K610032) to (K61543). The 2/119-IR moved from Remouchamps eastward to Aywaille then south to Werbomont then east to Habiémont, reaching Habiémont at approximately 2200 where it encountered resistance east of the town and established a strong defensive position extending from (P568982) to (P569990).
The 120-RCT closed into an assembly area in the vicinity of Hauset, Belgium, at 0430. The regiment again began movement by motor to the south at 1026 and closed into an assembly area in the vicinity of Malmedy at 2030 and assumed defensive positions as follows: 1/120-IR (less Baker Co) (K803052) to (K818057); 2/120-IR (less George Co) (K792059) to (K801064); 3/120-IR (attached Baker Co) (K760030) to (K790043). George Co was placed in Division Reserve at 1900, then George Co with Dog Co 743-TB, established roadblocks at (K717089), (K714070), and (K724064).
December 19 The 30-ID continued to maintain defensive positions in the vicinity of Malmedy, cleared the enemy from Stavelot, and held that town against repeated strong enemy attacks from the west, southwest, and east. The division received a strong enemy attack on infantry and armor at Stoumont and was forced to withdraw to the west but stopped the enemy attack in the vicinity of the Stoumont Station, inflicting heavy losses upon the enemy. The division attacked southwest from the vicinity of Francorchamps to seize
The 117-RCT attached Charlie Co, Able, and Baker Cos of the 823-TDB (SP), assault gun and mortar platoon of the 743-TB, continued to maintain defensive positions at Malmedy, and on the commanding ground northeast of Stavelot. The regiment launched an attack to the south at (19)-0830, with 1/117-IR to capture and clean out the southwest portion of Stavelot, and the portion of the town south of the Amblève River. The 1/117-IR’s attack made slow progress initially and at (19)-0850, a strong enemy counter-attack by armor and infantry was repulsed. Advancing slowly, the battalion reduced all enemy resistance in Stavelot (north of the Amblève River) and assumed defensive positions. Repeated strong enemy counter-attacks from the west and southwest were repulsed through the remainder of the day. At about 1930, a squad of men from Able Co, 105-ECB, led by Capt Rice, blew the bridge over the Amblève in Stavelot. The 2/117-IR continued to maintain defensive positions on the commanding ground northeast of Stavelot. The regiment was relieved of its mission from the defense of Malmedy at (19)-0830, when the 3/120-IR, relieved the 3/117-IR. The battalion, upon being relieved, entrucked and moved to the vicinity of Francorchamps from where it attacked to the southwest at (19)-1100 to seize La Gleize. The battalion stopped and repulsed a strong enemy attack to the north, continued its attack, and at (19)-1600, had seized Roanne, Cour, Ruy, and established strong defensive positions.
The 119-RCT, attached Charlie Co 743-TB and Able Co 823-TDB, was attacked at 0645 by a strong enemy force of tanks and infantry against the 3/119-IR east of Stoumont. The battalion, after hard fighting during which it suffered heavy losses and the loss of all tank destroyer weapons, withdrew through the 1/119-IF, reorganized, and established a strong roadblock northwest of Stoumont. By 1500, the 1/119-RCT had stropped the enemy about 200 yards east of Stoumont Station. 14 enemy tanks and 4 half-tracks were destroyed in this action. The 2/119-RCT, maintaining defensive positions in the vicinity of Habiémont, was relieved at 1520 by elements of the US 82-A/B and moved to Targnon where it established a strong roadblock and assumed defensive positions. The 740-TB was attached to the 119-RCT at 1200. The regiment with attachments was attached to the US XVIII Corps A/B at 1530. Charlie Co 743-TB was relieved from its attachment at 2100.
The 120-RCT (less 2/120 in Division Reserve), attached the 30-CRS (Mecz), Baker 823-TDB, maintained active defense of its sector. The 3/120-IR relieved the 3/117-IR of its defensive positions south and southeast of Malmedy. The Regiment actively patrolled its sector and maintained contact with the US 1-ID.
