30th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mech) Timeline

1 December 1944

AAR:

"1 December 1944 to 16 December 1944 Troop assembled at Kohlscheid Germany awaiting orders for a new mission."

 

17 December 1944

AAR:

At 0630 Troop given mission of reconnoitering area bounded by Orsbach, Kohlscheid, Weiden and Aachen for German paratroopers that might have dropped the night before. Mission completed at 1200, no enemy found. At 1300 Troop ordered to move to the south and establish a series of roadblocks and outposts. Troop moved out at 1530 and established outposts at 895333, 884301, 853305, 842296, 835283, and 814283 (Vervier Sheet). At 2200 3rd Platoon given mission of preceeding [sic] 117th Infantry to Malmedy. All mission completed.

General situation 1200 hrs this date.

View attachment 21756

Roadblocks setup by the 30th Recon:

View attachment 21757

 

18 December 1944

AAR:

At 0920 Troop ordered to cross I.P. at Eupen and 1000 and proceed south to Malmedy, establishing roadblocks to the east of the main road to cover divisions [sic] move. Roadblocks were set up at 805207, 815177, 832134, 815085 and 815079 (Vervier Sheet). Mission accomplished at 1200. 3rd Platoon with 117th Infantry Command Post in Malmedy and was patrolling between Malmedy and our front Lines. Six parachutes were found at 1300 by 2nd Platoon near 815177 and one paratrooper was captured in the same vicinity.

Mr. Sanford remembers the drive to Malmedy well. Several senior non-coms were on leave and not present when the order to move passed. Instead of riding in the relative warmth of the halftrack, he had to ride in a jeep, as he was the senior-most sergeant of his group. It was raining when they left and that turned into sleet, then snow as they drove. His right leg would not fit inside the body of the jeep and so was exposed to spray from the right front wheel. By the time they got to their destination, his pants leg was frozen stiff. They were strafed one time and he bailed off the jeep into the woods. After the airplane passed, he bumped the arm of the soldier beside him to tell him to go. When the soldier didn't move, Mr. Sanford started to bump him again, but then realized that the other man was a dead German soldier.

The 30th is shown to be on the move to the south.
View attachment 21758

30 Recon is still manning roadblocks stretch south into the Ardennes.

View attachment 21759

 

19 December 1944

AAR:

"Troop was given mission of reconnoitering area bounded by Malmedy, Longfaye, Sourbrodt and Waimes, at first light of morning to contact all friendly units in that area and determine if there were any Germans in the area. At 1200 1st Platoon had completed it's [sic] mission and had found friendly Belgium [sic] Troops at Xhuffraix, Longfaye and Ovifat. Platoon then went into reserve pending another mission. By 1400 2nd Platoon had completed its mission and had contacted friendly forces at Sourbroudt and had moved down to Waimes and contacted friendly forces there. The 2nd Platoon was then given the mission of establishing contact between the friendly forces in Waimes and the 1st Battalion 120th Infantry at 823050 (Vervier); Platoon was set up at 837045 and dismounted patrols were run between those friendly units all night. At 1115 3rd Platoon was called to Division and 1200 was given the mission to establishing contact between 119th and 117th Infantries. Mission completed at 2100; contact was maintained and are patrolled until 1000 20 December 1944.

Journal:

"1215 Now on our way to contact 117th and 119th Inf."
"1230 Elements of 1st Division on north of town trying to re-establish their positions. German armor is in town."
"1700 Third platoon. we have made contact with friendly units at Nofraix, Longfaye, Ovifat, Sourbrodt and determined as much as possible the friendly and enemy situation. Second platoon was to reconnoiter area bounded by Mont. Malmedy, Robertsville, and Waimes. In conclusion of this mission to contact friendly forces in Waimes and establish contact between these forces and 119th Inf. at 823050. Contact through patrols to these units."

Situation 1200 this date. The 30th ID is firmly in place from Malmedy west and penetration by the 6th Panzer Army have been mostly stopped by the 2nd, 99th and 1st ID at Elsenborn Ridge. The map does not reflect it, but the two wings north and south of the 106th ID have closed and the bulk of the Golden Lions have surrendered. Further south, the 28th ID has been split and one of its regiments (I think the 109th IR) will join with the 424th IR and a combat command of the 7th AD to form a provisional division under temporary command of MG Alan Jones, who would be relieved later in the month. I am pretty sure that the German units shown are a best guess.

View attachment 21760

30th Recon positions over the next six days:

View attachment 21770

 

20 December 1944

AAR:

"3rd Platoon maintained contact by patrols, between right flank of 119th Infantry and left flank of 117th Infantry. Platoon relieved from mission at 1400 and assembled in Malmedy. 1st Platoon had mission of sending a patrol, mounted, to the vicinity of 755025 (Vervier) and then moving, dismounted, to 757003, to observe any enemy movement across a creek in that vicinity. Patrol started at daylight and returned at 1700: reporting two German cargo trucks on a road on-quarter mile south of their position and heavy motor movement on-half mile south of them. 2nd Platoon was with 1st Battalion of 119th Infantry and maintained contact between left flank of that unit (817--Vervier) and friendly troops in Waimes. Platoon relieved from this mission and remained in reserve with 1st Battalion.

The northern shoulder of the Bulge is still holding, thanks to the efforts of the 30th ID, 82nd AB, 2nd ID, 99th ID and 1st ID and some helpful waterways.

View attachment 21765

The 106th ID is still shown as a reinforced division but it is quite a reduced force and the remaining formations from that unit are still very much fighting for their survival.

 

21 December 1944

ARR:

"1st Platoon had same mission and was moving out to accomplish it when they came under enemy fire in vicinity 764035 (Vervier) at 0800. Patrol withdrew to 764038 and remained in observation. 3rd Platoon was given mission of reconnoitering area west of Malmedy and clearing out any light resistence [sic]. entire area west of grid lines 74 on west, 03 on south, 06 on north and 78 on east, was reconnoitered. The enemy had withdrawn and none were encountered. Platoon returned to assembly area in Malmedy at 1500. The patrol from the 1st Platoon which had remained in observation was then given the mission of running a patrol over the roads in their vicinity. No enemy encountered. Mission completed at 1630. 1st and 2nd Platoons assembled at 805074 (Vervier)."

 

22 December 1944

AAR:

"2nd Platoon received the mission of establishing physical contact and patrolling between left flank 1st Battalion 120th Infantry and friendly forces in Waimes. No changes for the remainder of the Troop."


There was an interesting entry in the Journal: "At 0600 two tanks supported by Inf squad with machine gun attacked two TD guns at (Star) LBB KRA. Gun positions were over run. Tanks were not stopped." No other mention was made. I wonder who's guns these were and I cannot determine where they were. Any ideas?

 

23 December 1944

AAR:

"1st and 3rd Platoons remained in mobile reserve and 2nd Platoon continued mission of maintaining contact."

 

24 December, 1944

AAR:

"No change. 3rd Platoon moved from Malmedy to 795062 (Bonn Sheet) but was not assigned a mission"

Journal:

"1200 Patrol number three spotted AA guns. Three men wounded by booby-trap. Details later."

I do not know who these men were nor any other details. It was not mentioned again in the Journal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tomorrow will be a bad day for the 30th Recon.

 

25 December 1944

AAR:

“ At 0730 three patrols were sent out to set up artillery observation posts and observe enemy movements. These patrols were sent to vicinity of 775015, 801003 and 824997 (BonnSheet)[sic]. The first patrol advanced about 500 yards beyond the front lines into enemy territory and ran into front and flanking enemy machine-gun fire, causing this patrol to withdraw. The second patrol was fired on at several points and while attempting to infiltrate through the enemies [sic] lines, ran into a bobby trap wounding two of the five men. This patrol returned at 1600 after many unsuccessful attempts to establish the artillery observation post. At 100 the third patrol reported by radio that they had bypassed two enemy patrols and were in the act of by-passing the third. This patrol was approximately 500 yards beyond our front lines, in enemy territory, when it sighted a large concentration of enemy tanks. In attempting to withdraw to a safe distance in order to radio for artillery [sic], this patrol was attacked by a large enemy patrol. The four members of our patrol seperated [sic] and ran for safety. Of the four men, only man was picked up. This man was evacuated through medical channels but reported that he knew nothing of the other members of the patrol.”

Surprisingly, there were no entries in the Journal referencing the patrol.

Killed in action was Cpl. Perry E. Dale. I have not been able to locate where Cpl. Dale is buried.

WIA Cpl Theodore C. Pasternak

I have not been able to determine the names of the other men who were wounded.

PFC Ralph G. Gordon earned a Bronze Star for Valor. I do not have a copy of the citation, only a mention in the General Orders.

 

26 December 1944

AAR:

“At 0730 three more patrols were sent out to set up artillery observations posts and observe enemy movements. These patrols were sent over the same route and [sic] the patrols on 25 December 1944. All three patrols were successful in competing their missions and returned safely.”

The Journal had a good many entries detailing events and locations of enemy, far, far more thanthe day previous.

Here is one example:
“0835 – Patrol number three observed enemy AA in vicinity 825004. Enemy tank at 817009. Five enemy on road 817002, also enemy in groups of two or three on high ground at 810006 and on road vicinity 917008.”

I have strong suspicions that they were watching the area south of Baugnez Crossroads along the Grand Rue (N-62/E421) possibly going toward Ligneuville, but that is only my conjecture, based on the grid coordinates mentioned in the Journal. Baugnez Crossroads was where the Malamedy Massacre had occurred just a few days prior. To get to the patrol area, the troop had to have passed the field where the men of B/285th FOB had been slain. This also make me wonder if the enemy forces that the 30th Recon were observing were Peipers’s men. I doubt it, as I think he had moved on further west by then, but I would like find out.

I will put up another map showing more coordinates later, when I get back home from visiting family.

Edit:

The coordinates listed in the Journal have to be largely incorrect. Depending on the prefix code I have use to designate the correct map, the denoted locations are either in Luxembourg or north of Aachen, which cannot be accurate. I am left to wonder if some of the men could not read a map correctly or if the author of the Journal put the wrong numbers in.

It does look like two of the coordinates recorded were probably correct, though, and show positions south of Malmedy, below Baugnez Crossroads. The 30th Recon was apparently in the area of the massacre several days afterward. Mr. Sanford says he remembers being informed of the deaths, but does not remember when it was. He said it was around this time that he and Charlie Hall were "captured" by men of 119th Infantry Regiment, when returning from manning a roadblock near Malmedy. They had been out for two days and did not know the current password. It took several phone calls to the 30th Recon HQ to get it all straightened out.

 

27 December 1944

AAR:

"No change."

 

28 December 1944

AAR:

"Troop placed in division reserve at 1600."

 

29 December 1944

"No change. Troop assembled and moved to Sart Belgium, 7124 (Malmedy sheet)."

Journal

"1345 - Member of missing patrol [25 December] found. Now at 120th Inf."
"1455 - Patrol member recite's [sic] details to C.O. before leaving for hospital."
"1700 - Driver leaves to take G-2 to hospital to interview patrol member."

 

30 December 1944

AAR:

"No Change. Troop ordered to run practice scouting and patrolling patrols in their immediate area."

Journal:

"1052 - Tell big boss guide is here to bring him [to] where troop is. Ask him if he wants us to send after him."

There was not an entry in the AAR for December 31, 1944, although there were a few Journal entries.

 

1 - 9 January 1945

AAR:

"From 1 January 1945 to 9 January 1945 Troop stationed in Sart Belgium 7214 (Malmedy), running pracitce scouting and patrolling patrols in immediate area."

Journal:

No time given - "Troop assembled at area "Sart" 722146 (Malmedy 1/50,000) for the purpose of training in combat patrols. Arrangements have been made by the Commanding Officer of the I & R platoon of the 120th Infantry and his men to arrive here on January 2 at 1330. Mechanisms of combat patrols will be worked out together."

...

"At 1300 platoon leaders take over their platoons and motor maintenance under the guidance of non-commissioned officers."

There are apparently some issues that have to be addressed.

 

2 January 1945

No entry in the AAR.

Journal:

"At 0800 platoons left for training area previously selected by the Commanding Officer. After orientation by the Commanding Officer and platoon leaders, the platoons ran combat patrols against personnel acting as enemy."

"!t 0930 G-2 arrived at training area and reviewed the problems with respective platoons."

"At 1100 G-2 offered a critique on patrols to officers and men after which he discussed the problems with the officers."

"At 1120 G-2 leaves and platoons return to the Troop area."

"At 1300 platoons returned to the training area. Reconnaissance patrols were run against O.P's [sic] surrounding a small town held by the enemy."

They then did a night problem, ending at 2300.

 

3 January 1945

Journal:

"At 0800 platoons go to motor pool for motor maintainence [sic]."

"At 1300 the platoons left for training area to run combat and reconnaissance problems. These problem were concluded at 1700."

I talked to Mr. Sanford about this training to see if he remembered what precipitated the need for training at this critical time. He does not remember what, if anything, happened. He stated that they stayed north of Malmedy for two weeks in early January. I have concluded that they were at Sart, Belgium this entire time. We passed through the village when we departed the Ardennes on our way to Tournai.

I am fairly confident these two photos below were made while the 30th Recon was at Sart. Mr. Sanford remembers the young lady in the photo (although not her name) and she visited Mr. Sanford and his comrades every day. She was 16 years old and was looking for food, which the men provided. The maintenance section of the troop were working out of the farm where the girl and her family lived and the area around the house and barn were scattered with spent artillery shells. Apparently an artillery battery had set up there at some point.

Mr. Sanford and Belgian girl:
View attachment 21823

Marion Sanford and Goodrich Sims. Sims is working on the halftrack wheel and Sanford is sitting on the hood.

View attachment 21824

The originals photos were about 1 x 1.5 inches and resisted my best efforts to enlarge them satisfactorily.

 

4 January 1945

There was not entry in the AAR.

The Journal was essentially a repeat of the previous day with the platoons running training exercises.