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World War II: Overview of Actions |
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World War II: Overview of Actions |
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History of the 14th Infantry Regiment with the 71st Infantry Division in World war II |
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History of the 14th Infantry Regiment with the 71st Infantry Division in World war II, excerpted from:
"THE RIGHT OF THE LINE"
14th Infantry Regiment Newspaper
published in "ON GUARD" by Gerald
McMahon, 1990
Light Division
Not until June 7, 1943, was the Fourteenth called again to the States (from
Ft. Wm. Davis,
Canal Zone, Panama). Camp Carson, Colorado, was the new
home of the regiment, but not for long. The 71st Light
Division was activated on July 15, 1943, and the Fourteenth became one of the
three colorful regiments comprising the experimental division. In
February of the year following (1944), the 71st Lt. Div. was
ordered to Hunter-Liggett Military Reservation in California, for what was the
most grueling maneuvers known in the U.S. Army, after which the division moved
to Fort Benning on May 24, 1944.
The Regiment completed training as a part of the light division in May of the
same year, shipped a large percentage of its personnel overseas as
replacements, and was re-activated as a regiment of a regular triangular
division on May 26, 1944. Field training followed as the reorganization
was completed, and the Fourteenth was again awaiting the call.
World War II
The call was not long in coming, as early in January of 1945 the regiment
moved to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, and sailed from the New York port on the
Navy troop ship "General J. R. Brooke" on January 26. Men of the
Fourteenth debarked 13 days later at Le Harve after a quiet crossing and
established themselves at Camp Old Gold.
Early in March the regiment moved by truck and rail 350 miles across France to
the assembly area in the vicinity of Deuze in the rear of the Seventh Army’s
lines bordering the Saar-Mosselle triangle.
First Action
On the nights of March 13-14, the regiment shifted into position guarding
the right flank of the Fifteenth Corps. The first battalion, under the
command of Lt. Col. (then Major) Samuel E. Hubbard, made the Fourteenth’s
first contact with the enemy on March 16, when it relieved elements of the 399th
Infantry, on the right flank of the 100th Division’s attack on the
city of Bitche. Colonel Carl E. Lundquist assumed command of the
Regiment on March 19, relieving Colonel Donald T. Beeler.
After helping mop up the Bitche area, the regiment took part in the breaching
of the Siegfried Line on March 22, protecting the right flank of the
Division’s attack. Two days later, the regiment was on the bank of the
Rhine River, near Speyer, Germany, where a feigned crossing of the river drew
the enemy’s attention from the Seventh Army’s successful attack above
Mannheim.
Cross Rhine
On March 29 and 30 the regiment crossed the Rhine and covered 105 miles.
The month’s end found it in a position near Frankfurt-on-Main. During
its first twenty days of combat the Fourteenth had constantly found its
positions on the "right of the line" while helping in the clean-up of the
Saar-Moselle Triangle, and had crossed the Rhine.
During the month of April the regiment continued its push across central
Germany from the vicinity of Frankfurt, reaching Meiningen, on the edge of the
Thuringer Forest. On the afternoon of 1st of April the 2nd
Bn. under Lt. Col. Brandt raced to the left side of the 3rd Army
spearhead where the XII Corps supply line had been cut. At 1600 hours
contact was made and the small force found themselves faced with the 6th
SS Mountain Division on the north. Attacking without artillery, the
Mountain Division was driven to cover. Replacements were brought up
during the night. Three days later the entire SS Mountain Division
ceased to exist. On April 10 the attack swung to the southwest and
elements of the Fourteenth were fighting their way into Bayreuth, and by noon
the following day the city had fallen.
From April 17 to April 22 the regiment attacked down the Bayreuth-Amberg
highway in five days of fighting against a determined enemy effort. The
Third Battalion, commanded by Lt. Col. Paul G. Guthrie, dislodged the enemy
from Amberg, and on the 22nd had occupied the city.
River Crossings
The month’s end brought no relief to the regiment, as three assault river
crossings followed in rapid succession across the Regan, Isar and the Danube
rivers. The city of Regensburg was surrendered to the Fourteenth on the
morning of April 27.
On April 30 the regiment made a quick thrust towards the Isar River. The
swift and treacherous river, the third for the regiment in six days was
crossed, and a narrow bridgehead near Landau was established.
The following day the bridgehead was widened, and the regiment had once again
gained speed in its relentless drive against the now shattered enemy.
Striking toward the Braunau-Lambach highway on May 4 to cut the only remaining
escape route from central Germany area to the Redoubt area in the Bavarian
Alps.
Peace in Europe
War’s end on May 9 found the regiment in the middle Danube plain at
Droissendorf, Austria, faced with the problems created by thousands of
prisoners and displaced persons. The Fourteenth remained in this sector
until June 1, when they moved to Gunzburg, Germany to take up occupational
duties.
