393rd Infantry Regiment

The 393d Infantry played a key role in holding the northern shoulder of the Ardennes. It therefore has a significant write-up in the official US Army history. Here's an excerpt from the start of the battle and link to the fantastic HyperWar site where it can be read in total.

The Ardennes: Battle of the Bulge (Chapter 5)

"The German Attack Toward Rocherath and Krinkelt
16-17 December

"The 393d Infantry (Lt. Col. Jean D. Scott) had taken no part in the V Corps offensive of 13 December except to put on a "demonstration" in front of the West Wall positions. The regiment, minus its 2d Battalion (attached to the 395th Infantry), was deployed along the German frontier, a line generally defined by the eastern edge of the long forest belt in which the bulk of the 99th Division was stationed and the International Highway. The width of the front, held by the 3d Battalion on the left and the 1st Battalion on the right, was about 5,500 yards. Outposts on the regimental left lay only a few score yards from the West Wall bunkers, but the right was more than half a mile from the German lines. About four miles by trail behind the 393d, the twin villages of Rocherath and Krinkelt lay astride the main north-south road through the division area. In front of the 393d, across the frontier, were entrances to the two forest roads which ran through the regimental sector, one in the north at Hollerath, the second in the south at Udenbreth. Both villages were in enemy hands. At the western edge of the woods the roads converged, funneling along a single track into Rocherath-Krinkelt. The twin villages, therefore, had a tactical importance of the first order. Through them passed the main line of communications in the 2d Division corridor, and from them ran the supply route to the 393d Infantry and the 395th.
..."

 

TobyS,

Thanks for the input. Would love to compare notes. Dad was C.O. from November 44 (I think) thru the end of the war. I believe that he was probably "infused" when the 99th came on line, as he was XO of a regiment in the 1st Inf. Div. prior to that. We know he was wounded when his CP was hit by German artillery, but I do not know when or where.

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Earthican;

Can you shed any light on a mystery? Your extract seems to show that a LTC J.D. Scott was C.O. of the 393rd during the Bulge. Our family history has my father as C.O. (he told me he was). I am NOT challenging your source, simply trying to solve an apparent mystery.

 

Found the following at this location: 99th INFANTRY DIVISION

[SIZE=+1]Commanding Officer, 393d Infantry[/SIZE]
[TABLE="width: 590"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%"]12 Oct 44[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%"]Lt. Col. Jean D. Scott[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%"]5 Feb 45[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%"]Lt. Col. James K. Woolnough[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%"]26 Mar 45[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%"]Col. James K. Woolnough[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%"]7 May 45[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%"]Lt. Col. Logan Clarke

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

Natman, thanks for the update. That is later than I understood him to have taken the 393rd.

 

From your handle, I guess we are talking about Lt. Col. James K. Woolnough

Armageddon: the battle for Germany, 1944-45
By Max Hastings

Armageddon: the battle for Germany ... - Max Hastings - Google Books

According to the above (and attached) he was a Major with the 16th Infantry going into the Bulge. Seems likely he was transferred to the 99th Infantry Division to replace losses and to give them some experienced leadership.

 

Hi Dave.
I'm doing a research on the Co 2nd Battalion...LT Col Ernest Clyde Peters (nickname was Pete).
If you have stories or pics from this Bn or from the CO himself, please share them with us..
Thanks

 

Hello...I would be happy to share all the info and pics I have. My father just passes away on March 12th. Here ia my email address davedowning@live.com

 

my late father, Pvt. Donald L. Parta, received the DSC for actions with 3rd platoon, L company, 393rd infantry regiment on 10 April 1945.

I discovered this by accident two months after he died and have no idea what happened in or near Halberbracht [Ruhr pocket; its about 20 km SE of Dortmund in the Linne river valley] that day.

My family would appreciate any one's recollections [email to: RolfHParta@yahoo.com]

***
I do have Dad's copy of "The 393rd Infantry in Review" which includes his handwritten notes on some pages. For those who've never seen a copy of the "review", it was written immediately after the war by men who were with the regiment during the war and includes many original photographs. The "review" focuses on the unit, and not on individual men, thus there is little mention of any unit smaller than a company or attached unit and almost no mention of any men other than officers.

***
Btw, TSgt. Vernon McGarrity, also of L/393, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Bulge on 16 December [the citation linked above by another member does not mention this]. My father said that he knew McGarrity at the time and that he was "a very nice guy". As I write this [April 2013], I belive that Mr. McGarrity is still living.

 

Hey Nomadic Is my grandpa's name on that list with the bronze stars his name is Alfred Anthony Taddeo, I could bet that they knew eachother and if anyone else has any information involving him I would love to know it. 393rd 99th Charlie Co

thanks so much

 

A Pictoral Account of the 393rd Infantry in Combat can be downloaded here:

http://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/57/

 

Taddeo: Hello, I checked my dad's orders and your dad's name is not on them. His orders were dated June 5, 1945 for having shown exemplary conduct in action against the enemy on May 1, 1945. The photo is my dad on right seated on jeep, taken in creil france in Oct 1944 i think. I got my copy from the National Archives in Greenbelt Maryland. I am sure you can do the same...I do not have any photos of that time frame so if you do please email them to me at leemgilroy@yahoo.com If I can help feel free to email me. Thank You and good luck! Lee

 

I tried to post a photo of the HQ staff of the 393rd Inf Reg but could not. lee

 

Lee, there is a limit on size if you try to upload it directly from your computer to the Forum. If you use an image hosting website (i.e. Photobucket, ImageShack, etc.), you can post a link to the photo.

 

My 90 year old dad (John Ulfsrud) was in Company B 393D Infantry Regt 99th Division. Discharged in 1946 and doing great!!! Hopefully he will be around at 100 years old!!!

 

Welcome to the Forum, Kim. Please give your father our warmest regards and a big thank you for his service. We love hearing about and from our WWII veterans. In fact, we have some active members here who are WWII veterans. Please consider inviting your father to stop by, perhaps with your assistance if needed.

 

View attachment 20656 Hi: Kim, and welcome. hope you can get your dad or some photos on this site. Love to see them....This is a photo of 393rd HQ staff

 

Great photo, Lee. Do you happen to have the names of any of the men in that photo?