30th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mech) Timeline

23 January 1945

AAR:

"23 January 1945 to 28 January 1945 - No change. Troop held in division reserve."

The 7th Armored Division had moved into the left of the 30th ID, placing itself between the 30th and 1st IDs. On the the 30th ID's right, the remnants of the 106th ID were fully off of the line and located between Stavelot and Vielsalm. The 75th ID was now on the 30th ID's right. The 30th ID's immediate task was to retake St. Vith, which they accomplished over the next two days.

 

28 January 1945

AAR:

"Troop released from division reserve and moved to Hierlot Belgium 6192 (Sheet 93, Vielsalm) for rest period."

Journal:

"Troop moved from Bellevaux 776005 to Hierlot 614921. The troop arrived at Hierlot at 1135.

They moved WSW about 10 miles as the crow flies to a location roughly 5 miles SW of Trois Ponts. I have not idea how far they actually had to drive on those twisting roads. Hierlot was (and is) a tiny village, so I suspect all they could do was, in fact, rest.

 

31 January 1945

AAR:

"29 January 1945 to 31 January 1945 - No Change."

 

1 February 1945

AAR:

"Troop located in Heirlot Belgium (614921). In Division Reserve. A training schedule is being carried out."

Journal:

"Troop in Division reserve at Heirlot (614921). A fixed schedule is being carried out with attention to motor maintainence [sic] and care of weapons stressed. Periodic report sent to Division at 2100."

 

2 February 1945

AAR:

"Troop moved to Hierlot Belgium to Harren Germany. Remained in Division Reserve."

Journal:

"Troop still in Division reserve. The Commanding Officer [Capt. James Hume] went to Division to discuss the contemplated movement with G-2, at which time ti was decided that a quartering party of five men would meet G-1 at cross roads (699935), at 1600 near Grand Halleux. At 1600 the Troop is still at Heirlot (614921). The Commanding Officer oriented the Troop as to the movement to Harren, vicenity [sic] 852461 and 838457. AT 2000 the Troop left Heirlot proceding [sic] to the vicenity [sic] of Harren via stipulated route move on over-lay and crossed the I.P. at 2130 and arrived at 852461 and 863457 at 0200 on Feb 3.

Out to the left side "RADIO SILENCE"

 

3 February 1945

AAR:

'3 February to 8 February 1945 - No change."

Journal:

"The Troop moved into this area at 0200. At 0830 the Commanding Officer oriented the Troop on secrecy procedures and confinement to all vehicles and personnel was in effect. Periodic report was sent to Division at 2100."

 

8 February 1945

AAR:

"One officer and two enlisted men established an observation post at 061537 (Julich). Post established under cover of darkness because of excellent enemy observation."

Journal:

"At 0900 the Laision [sic] Officer arrived and discussed the setting up of an O.P. at 063538 for the purpose fo [sic] selecting a favorable route of approach toward the Roer River. The four men who were to form this O.P. would leave under cover of darkness. At 1700 the 1st platoon moved by sections to Lurken. At 1900 the O.P. team departed and notified the Commanding Officer by runner that their O.P. was set up at 063358. The Trains and Troop C.P. remained at 852461. At 2100 the Periodic report wassent [sic] to Division."

View attachment 22012

 

9 February 1945

AAR:

"Troop moved fr [sic] Harren Germany to Lurken Germany. No missions assigned, remained in Division Reserve."

Journal:

"Troop still in Lurken. The O.P remains the same at 063538. Radio silence still in effect."

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

I've not been able to locate Harren or Lurken Germany. There is a small villiage NW of Aachen called Haaren and I suspect that this may be the location called Harren above.

I found a small village named Luchem close to the Roer River, near the grid coordinates for the O.P. mentioned on Feb. 8. I'm not going to be so bold as to say this was the village but it could be.

I mentioned to Mr. Sanford the changes in the AAR and Journal entries back in January through February. He said that he remembers that the Troop clerk got sick around this time and was in the hospital for a month or more. Mr. Sanford cannot recall his name, but feels that when we can get together and look at a list, such as the Christmas party (1943) list, he would know the man's name when he saw it. Regardless, he remembers the clerk being less than 5 feet tall and very meticulous about the Troop reports. I'm guess his replacement wasn't as attentive to detail, which is why I see more errors than I did earlier and the Journal is less detailed than prior.

 

10 February, 1945

AAR:

"No change."

 

11 February 1945

AAR:

" One officer and forty enlisted men detailed as security guard to Division Headquarters. This guard relieved headquarters defense platoon.

 

12 February 1945 to 17 February 1945

AAR:

"No change."

 

14 February 1945

Journal:

"Troop still in Lurken, Forty men and an officer still at Division. Radio silence still in effect."

 

15 February 1945

AAR: nothing

Journal:

"Two men were sent at 0900 to Kirschberg. (Artillery O.P. F026563 for instructions in adjustment of fire.)"

 

16 February 1945

AAR: nothing

Journal: "No change."

 

17 February 1945

AAR:

"At 2045 a patrol of one officer and 5 enlisted men crossed the Roer River at Schiphoven (059540 Julich) to secure information by either capturing a prisoner or taking the necessary papers from one of the enemy. The patrol advanced several hundred yards beyond the river without encountering any enemy. Patrol returned at 0330 18 February 1945. No prisoner was captured but valuable terrain information was gained. This patrol reported a canal approximately 1000 yards east of the Roer River that would prove an obstacle to advancing troops."

Journal:

"A six amn [sic] patrol including and [sic] officer will be sent across the Roer River on the night of Feb 17 and 18 at 067541 for the purpose of securing a prisoner. The patrol will report to the Division O.P. prior to dawn on Feb 17. The engineers with boats will meet the patrol at west gate of Chateau where O.P. is located at 171830. The patrol members will be strictly searched and cautioned not to disclose unit identification in case of capture. Route will be decided by patrol leader, patrol will return to our lines prior to dawn Feb.18. Patrol leader will notify all concerned in Shophoven. G-2 will notify G-3, Division Artillery, 119th Inf Regt and 113th Cavalry Group, so that light artillery and mortars will not bother them. Have regular O.P. messenger reprot [sic] to G-2 early tomorrow night the exact target, route and plan. Patrol members report to G-2 immediately upon return. This patrol left at 2030 from vicenity [sic] of Shophoven (063538).

Variously spelled in the AAR and Journal as Shiphoven and Shophoven, the village is actually named Schophoven. It is a couple of miles south of Julich and is within the red circle on the map in post 228 above.

 

18 January 1945

AAR:

"AT 2045 a patrol of one officer and nine enlisted men crossed the Roer River at Shophoven (059540 Julich) to reconnoiter terrain and to secure information by either capturing a prisoner or taking necessary papers from the enemy. Patrol returned at 0330 19 February 1945. No enemy encountered, no prisoners taken, but information pertaining to the canal was obtained. [This is a second patrol]

Journal:

"The patrol sent to cross the Roer River returned ar [sic] 0400. This patrol crossed the Roer River advanced 1000yds to a small canal which offered an impediment due to it's [sic] current. No prisoners were taken and the patrol returned at 0400." [This is referring to the first patrol across the river.]

1Lt James H. Borg was awarded the Bronze Star.

 

19 February 1945

AAR:

"No Change."

Journal:

"At 2030 the patrol was increased to ten men and again sent out with the same mission as the night before. The patrol crossed the Roer River at F066541 and thoroughly explored the ares [sic] between F 065548 and 069543 with out [sic] encountering the enemy. The canal proved to be an obstacle to rated with the Roer itself, because of it's [sic] depth and current. The area reconnoitered did not show much indication of recent occupancy except for a recently constructed one man O.P. platform in a tree at F 068543. There wasn't any communication wires leading to this point. Obstacles which would empede [sic] troops include rolls of barbed wire on straight strands on one foot stakes along the river banks from F 066541 to F 066544 and between the canal at F 067546 and F 066546. Trenches and foxholes in the area were partly filled with water and showed signs of weathering. A 15 foot emplacement was located F 067546, also deserted and water filled. It appeared to be for an artillery piece with poles wired togather [sic] for a camaflage [sic] net. The road east of F066541 was free of mines and booby-traps as far as the canal. the canal itself was found to be 30 or 40 ft wide in the area where crossing were tried, the bottom was soft and slopped gradually until about six feet from the west bank where it dropped off suddenly to four or five feet. The deep channel appeared to be about 25 feet wide. The bank itself has a 60 degree angle norht [sic] of the blown bridge at F 069543, the banks are at an average of 3 to 4 feet above the [w]ater level, south of there they are 1 1/2 to 2 feet above water level. The left bank has a belt of trees and undergrowth about six feet wide. On the Roer the boats used in crossing drifted 150 to 200 yds going west to east. The patrol reached the road junction 073544, but no prisoner was taken or enemy seen, objective was reached.".

 

20 February 1945

AAR:

"At 2030 a patrol of one officer and four enlisted men crossed the Roer River to obtain a prisoner or to determine enemy identification. Patrol crossed river at 063537 and patrolled along road to road-junction at 073545 (Julich) and waited there to ambush an enemy patrol. No enemy encountered and patrol returned at 0330."

Journal:

"No change."

PFC Maland C. Nowland was awarded the Bronze Star medal.

 

21 February 1945

AAR:

"One officer and two enlisted men relieved from outpost established 8 February 1945 at 061557 (Julich) for the purpose of observing the enemy and terrain."

Journal:

"No change."