By Sidney A Salomon (1913 - 2004)
2 Silver Stars; Purple Heart w/Oak Leaf Cluster

D (Dog) Company

14 Nov. ---- Germeter area

6 Dec. ---- Bergstein / Hill 400

It was on 3 November 1944 that D Company arrived in Belgium near the German border and in the vicinity of the Hurtgen Forest. The company had left the town of Esch in Luxembourg, and now became part of the battalion reserve, participating in a modified training program that was designed to keep everyone busy and on a ready status. It was also a time to give the newly arrived recruits of the company an abbreviated course in Ranger training.

Those recruits that were arriving seemed to be excellent Ranger prospects, and they looked forward to the opportunity of following the Ranger motto, "Rangers lead the way." They were proud to be a part of the Rangers. The Ranger casualty rate was generally high and Ranger companies were always in need of replacements, so the new recruits were indeed welcome.

On 14 November, D Company received orders to move into and occupy part of the town of Vossenack, Germany, with the responsibility for the security of the west end of the town along the Vossenack Ridge. On their arrival, defensive positions were immediately prepared, which included digging foxholes, predetermining lines and fields of fire in the event of attacking enemy forces, setting up forward observation posts and trip wires in front of their various positions, and to be prepared to hold and retain possession of this piece of ground until relieved.

During this time, contact was maintained with other Ranger companies located on their right and left flanks, and of course, communication was maintained with battalion headquarters, which was located a short distance to the rear. All during the time D Company occupied their position on the Vossenack Ridge, there was sporadic moderate to heavy German artillery and mortar shelling upon their positions. Occasionally, enemy reconnaissance patrols would be sighted, but no German assaults were actually made upon the D Company position. In a similar situation as the other companies of the battalion, the D Company Rangers had to restrict their movement during the daylight hours due to the ability of the enemy to clearly observe movement in this area from their dominant observation posts on the high ground in the area of the village of Schmidt. Most troop movements or reconnaissance patrols by the Rangers were carried out during the nighttime hours.

This defensive position along the Vossenack Ridge lasted but a few days; on 19 November, the CO of D Company received orders to be prepared to move back to the former battalion reserve area. And so, at 2200 in the dark of the night, following a heavy German artillery barrage, D Company pulled out of Vossenack and returned to the battalion reserve area situated on the edge of the Hurtgen Forest. Again, another modified training program followed.

Ranger training, physical and mental, was an ever ongoing pursuit of perfection depending on the intensity of the combat situation and the circumstances existing at the time. The Ranger Battalions of WW II, because of their many casualties struggled to keep up to strength, and be fit and ready at all times. The following described and reported mission is an example. There were only a few hours of advance notice of the mission, at least, as far as the troops were concerned; barely enough time to properly prepare for such an important mission as it turned out to be.

Late in the evening of 6 December 1944, D Company, along with the entire battalion, boarded trucks, and under cover of darkness, and the use of circuitous back roads through the wooded Hurtgen Forest, moved out of their reserve position. Details had not been told to the men, and rumors of an impending assault were making their way from truck to truck.

Never in their wildest imagination did these Rangers of D Company anticipate that they would be the principal target during the next two days, of the amassed German artillery situated in the Roer Valley. Thousands of rounds in an almost continuous German bombardment awaited the Rangers who at the time would have little or no protection available to them. It would prove almost impossible to avoid becoming a casualty, yet, the Rangers would accomplish their mission, but with an unexpected high rate of casualties.

Somewhere along the road in the vicinity of the village of Kleinhau, Germany, the company disembarked from the trucks amidst rain, snow and sleet in the cold, wet darkness. A patrol consisting of an officer and five men from the 1st platoon was designated for a special mission to combine with a like number from F Company, and they proceeded to move out on their mission ahead of the company.

Meanwhile, the remainder of D Company men plodded along the road in the direction of Bergstein, Germany. The roadway was wet, muddy, and pockmarked with ice encrusted puddles. The company doggedly moved forward, a column on either side. The footing was treacherous; not everyone had been so fortunate to have been issued overshoes. Flares and artillery flashes sporadically lighted the darkness. Unfortunately, nearby ditches were filled with water and could not be used for safety when incoming artillery shells landed too close. All of this just made the march seem more dangerous and worrisome. Unaccountable delays occurred during the march. Since the going was so treacherous, little conversation took place. Fortunately, there were no casualties during the march. Occasionally a Ranger would slip on the ice or fall along the slippery road but no serious injury resulted.

In the meantime, the patrol which had moved out ahead of the company received the details of their mission. They were to reconnoiter the best way to assault Castle Hill, a dominant feature on the skyline, measuring 400 feet in height and situated at the far edge of the town of Bergstein. They were to be on the alert for evidence of pillboxes, bunkers, plus enemy strength and positions, and most important, to do this reconnaissance undetected by the enemy.

It was now approximately 0300. The member's of the patrol had been briefed, combined and joined forces with the Fox Company patrol, and proceeded to make their way to the base of Castle Hill. Part of the patrol remained and reconnoitered at the base of the hill, while the two officers and a few of the men climbed up the steep hill. F Company's patrol went to the left side of the hill and D Company men reconnoitered the rear and right side. Enemy activity and positions were observed, however, since time was moving along so quickly and dawn would soon be breaking, the patrols reassembled and deemed it advisable to return to the battalion CP with their intelligence information. At approximately 0600, they reported to the battalion staff officer in charge of D, E and F companies, relayed the information to him and then set out to rejoin their respective companies.

Meanwhile, as the plodding D Company men reached the outskirts of Bergstein, they were brought to a halt at a crossroads on the edge of town, along with the men of the other companies. At this temporary halt, the companies learned that their battalion commander, Lt. Col. James Earl Rudder, was leaving the battalion to command the 109th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division, and that he was being replaced by former staff officer, Major George S. Williams. The news of Lt. Col. Rudder's departure saddened the troops, as he had been well liked and respected by everyone. The platoon leader of the 1st Platoon learned the sad news upon returning from patrol duty. He was particularly disappointed as he enjoyed a close association with Lt. Col. Rudder when he had served as the Battalion Sergeant Major. However, all of the men respected Major Williams, and would give him their best effort as well.

The three company commanders of D, E, and F Companies and the battalion staff officer quickly reviewed the reconnaissance information and formulated their plans for the assault on Castle Hill. D Company, along with F Company, was directed to assemble in the vicinity of a church and cemetery, then stretch out along a partially sunken road that paralleled the base of Castle Hill, a distance of approximately 100 yards from the hill. Platoon leaders and sergeants were briefed by the company commander for the attack, which was to take place at 0730. Burned out tanks and halftracks from the 5th Armored Division littered the road as the Rangers made their way to the line of departure. A troubling thought ran through the minds of the Rangers. If an Armored Unit and an Infantry Regiment had failed to capture this hill, how could two small companies, totaling 130 men, of Ranger Light Infantry on foot with rifles and automatic weapons succeed? These Rangers knew the answer. What they lacked in fire power, their prior combat record proved, they would make up in courage, determination and aggressive tenacity. Another extremely dangerous Ranger mission against overwhelmingly odds was about to be successfully accomplished. The Rangers moved forward with confidence to the point from which the assault would start.

Now the company was moving into position. The cemetery which was in the assembly area actually lay behind Dog Company, which in turn, was on the right flank of Fox Company. The right flank of D Company was said to be protected by a mine field. The company was to run in a spread formation across the field of approximately 100 yards in depth. As daylight dawned, Castle Hill loomed 400 feet high, directly ahead of the D Company men. The hill was thickly wooded, presenting sufficient concealment for the defenders, and offered a very steep, slippery and difficult climb to the assaulting force. In addition to the well constructed defensive positions situated up and down in various places on the forward and rear slope of the hill, there was a vital German artillery OP located on the very top of the hill that dominated the Roer Valley for miles in all directions. One of the men of D Company, who had been a member of the company in the pre-invasion training days, was heard to comment, "here we go with the old King-of-the-Hill game." That was a prophetic observation of what was to take place.

As the time approached 0730, both the 1st and 2nd platoons of the company were spread along the line of departure, ready to cross the snow-covered open field, in an assaulting formation. The 2nd platoon leader had already become a casualty. The CO at the appropriate time gave the word, "Go!" With a whooping and hollering as loud as possible, firing a clip of ammo at random from their weapons in the direction of the hill, the Rangers ran as fast as they could across the approximately 100 yards of open cleared table top field into the machine gun and small arms fire of the German defenders. Crossing the field and before reaching the base of the hill, the company commander and his runner became casualties; but still, the remaining D Company Rangers continued their forward charge and up the hill they went, determined to accomplish the mission.

The enemy defenders immediately became alert. A red flare shot up in the air from an enemy outpost on D Company's right flank of the hill, apparently a signal to their higher headquarters. Shortly thereafter, a heavy mortar and artillery barrage came down on the assaulting Rangers. Heavy small arms and machine gun fire was directed on the rushing Rangers. Casualties on both sides now began to mount, but still the charge continued. The Rangers would not and could not be stopped.

They were determined at all costs to take Castle Hill 400 and hold it until relieved.

Some Germans were giving ground. Others of the enemy forces were seemingly safe in well-prepared holes or behind log emplacements. Both sides continued the deadly and frighteningly fierce battle. Rifle and automatic weapons fire filled the air. A creeping German artillery barrage behind the assaulting Rangers produced more Ranger casualties. The enemy continued to offer stiff resistance. Ultimately, the fast, unceasing and determined forward momentum of the assaulting D Company Rangers stunned the German defenders, some of whom quickly moved away from the steadily advancing assault troops, retreating from their prepared positions as fast as they could. The other Germans escaped down the far slope of Hill 400 to rejoin their encamped units.

The platoon leader and his 1st platoon were the first to reach the top of Hill 400. The remaining D Company men following immediately behind also reached the pinnacle. Less than an hour had gone by since the start of the assault. Casualties had been numerous. One noncom with a handful of men even went down the far side of the hill, almost to the Roer River, chasing the enemy, but they stopped and returned to rejoin the rest of the company at the top of the hill as planned. The sole remaining D Company officer, who formerly had been the 1st Sergeant and had recently received a battlefield commission, rallied the men and issued orders to dig in and prepare defensive positions on the forward crest of the hill facing the enemy. The men were further instructed to be ready to rush to any point on the hill that might be suddenly under a counterattack and aid in repelling that attack. An enemy troop-shelter concealed at the top of the hill and in the vicinity of the observation post was neutralized by this platoon leader when he threw a grenade through a forward aperture, and another Ranger sprayed the insides with automatic fire. At this moment, the CO of F Company, with a couple of his men appeared, busted in the front door of the troop shelter, and along with some D Company men, undertook removing the German prisoners from the bunker and having them taken to the rear. Meanwhile the D Company platoon leader rejoined the men of his forward defensive positions and set out forward observation posts. From time to time, Hill 400 was surrounded by the enemy as they attempted to attack from different directions in their several efforts to retake Hill 400. Alert observation was soon found necessary at all times in order to beat the Germans to the punch, so to speak, and repel their attempted counterattacks. Particularly when heavy enemy artillery barrages were over seemed to be the time the counterattacks would come. The forward observers would point out where the attack was coming from.

The Rangers quickly found that it was not as easy to dig in for defensive positions as it was to say it. The ground was rock strewn, the soil was full of shale and roots from fir trees. Digging a foxhole with their entrenching tools had presented a difficult, almost impossible problem.

With D Company now in possession of the top of the hill and F Company on its left flank, another massive artillery and mortar barrage took place. Men quickly searched their immediate area for whatever depression in the ground they could find, hopefully behind a tree stump or under fallen trees or limbs, anything for some type of protection from the shrapnel that was skittering around and falling from tree bursts, at least from those trees that were still standing. Bits of rocks and steel fragments flew through the air, continuously it seemed. The stench of cordite covered the hilltop. The situation was horrendous. Only a few Rangers had miraculously escaped being wounded. Several men had been wounded more than once.

Eventually, the heavy German barrage lifted and the first counterattack came at about 0930 in the D Company sector; the Germans doing their utmost to dislodge the outnumbered Rangers from their positions and retake the hill. Both sides were aggressive and there were instances of hand-to-hand combat. The Rangers effectively repelled the attack and the enemy withdrew. German artillery bombardment immediately resumed. Later in the morning, a survey was taken of men of Company D to ascertain how many were still able to fight. From the original assaulting force of 65 men, 48 were seriously wounded and unable to fight; some were K.I.A. There were 17 men left and even though some of these 17 had been slightly wounded, they continued to effectively be a part of the D Company defenders. These Rangers were to bear the brunt of what was yet to be thrown at them by the Germans over the next 40 some hours. They were determined to keep possession of Hill 400 and defend it until the last man.

Near the top of the hill, a large enemy troop and weapons bunker was put to use as an aid station for the many badly wounded Rangers who could be moved there, as well as some of the German casualties who had been unable to withdraw with the counterattacking enemy forces. Unfortunately, it was an aid station without medical supplies, since all medical supplies had been used on the wounded by the also wounded company aid man. It was now a question of getting in contact with the battalion aid station for additional medical supplies and reinforcements. The bunker was jammed with the most serious casualties of Dog and Fox companies. There was no other way or means to protect the helpless wounded. In some cases, wounded Rangers continued to lay where they had fallen for many hours before they could be helped or moved. Due to small arms fire and snipers, it was difficult to enter or exit the trooper shelter, as enemy snipers were zeroed in on the bunker door from their hidden positions.

Towards midday, the lone D Company officer received shrapnel wounds and was also bleeding from a concussion, as were many other Rangers, due to repeated pounding and constant artillery and mortar barrages. He nevertheless fought on like the rest of the walking wounded, valiantly prepared to defend against the next numerically superior German combat action. Some enemy assaults consisted of over 100 to 150 Germans. At times, the top of the hill actually trembled from the inordinate number of artillery and mortar barrages that took place. The enemy barrage continued throughout the afternoon. About mid-afternoon, another counterattack took place. One D Company noncom in the sector of the attack rallied the men and charged the German combat patrol on the run, firing a captured German automatic weapon, causing the Germans to panic and quickly retreat, abandoning some of their weapons and ammunition. This 1st platoon noncom and his men brought back the badly needed German weapons and ammunition and used them later in repelling other counterattacks. Retrieving weapons and ammunition became important and necessary. Most of the D Company men were dangerously low or had run out of ammunition. Each time a German combat patrol assaulted the top of the hill, they were successfully driven down the hill by the D Company Rangers. But then once again, the horrible and devastating artillery and mortar barrages would resume on the Ranger positions while the Germans reorganized for another counterattack. The Germans were intent on recapturing Hill 400. They needed possession of this most important observation hilltop in order to continue to control the Roer Valley. The loss of Hill 400, it was later learned, would greatly impair their planned winter offensive in the Ardennes.

Messages were relayed to the battalion CP informing them of the great number of casualties, the small number of men remaining to control possession of the hill, and requesting reinforcements, a supply of ammo, and medical supplies. Sometime during the afternoon, radio communications between the company and battalion ceased to exist as the radio had been hit by shrapnel and rendered useless. This necessitated the use of runners to maintain contact with battalion CP, but rather than further reduce the already small fighting force, some of the walking wounded, unable to fight were utilized as runners, as painful as it must have been for these brave volunteers. They would at least get medical attention if they were fortunate enough to make it back to the battalion CP.

The battalion CP, in turn, relayed the information to the CG of the 8th Division to whom the 2nd Ranger Battalion was attached. However, no word was ever received at the top of the hill that their messages were ever received, or that action was being taken.

The lone Dog Company officer continued to encourage the men to hold on at all costs and keep possession of the hill. He continued to lead the fight even though he had lost the use of his left hand and arm from wounds, and had to fire his submachine gun one-handed. Now he was ranking officer on the hill; all other D Company and F Company officers had been killed, wounded, captured or evacuated. After darkness fell, a chilling rain began falling and a group of men from Charley Company came with litters. They were the first help to arrive on top of the hill. Two medical section men from the battalion aid station accompanied them. Several of the more seriously wounded were the first evacuated from the hill to the battalion aid station. Finally, at about 2100, the lone D Company officer was evacuated for treatment of his wounds. From that point on, the platoon sergeants of D Company assumed command of the company. Later, a platoon from E Company arrived to assist in the defense of the hill and help the litter bearers in evacuating the wounded under cover of darkness. It was often too dangerous in daylight to evacuate the wounded because of sniper fire and artillery barrages. Nevertheless, shelling continued throughout the night. The Germans apparently thought the night barrages would prevent the Rangers from sleeping, thereby unnerving them, and soften up the Rangers for an early morning counterattack.

As dawn broke in the early morning hours of 8 December, so, too, did another tremendous concentration of artillery shelling, plus mortars, and firing from enemy self-propelled guns. When the shelling eventually lessened, enemy combat patrols once again made an attempt to regain possession of the hill. Again, their attempt was thwarted by the Rangers. In the meantime, at 0540, approximately 100 men and three officers from the 121st Infantry Regiment radioed Ranger Battalion Headquarters that they were in position on the valley floor protecting the right flank of Dog Company. They were the first and only reinforcements to come to the assistance of the Rangers.

Now it was daylight, the artillery barrage let up, and in a tremendous last ditch effort, another enemy counterattack came at D Company's right front. The Rangers and their reinforcements withstood and repelled the attackers. The machine gun crew from the 121st Infantry was killed instantly, and numerous additional casualties resulted from among the Rangers and their reinforcements. But the hill was still in the possession of the Rangers.

Sometime during the day of 8 December, the battalion staff officer made his way to the top of the hill to assess, at first hand, the battle situation of the D and F Company sectors and praise the Ranger defenders. On his return to the battalion CP, he again communicated to the 8th Division CP, the urgency that additional reinforcements be sent to the beleaguered Rangers on top of Hill 400.

The battalion staff officer repeatedly attempted to get timely reinforcements from his higher headquarters throughout the entire ordeal but was unsuccessful. But even the aforementioned late arriving reinforcements were a welcomed sight to the hard-pressed Hill 400 survivors and aided considerably in repelling the final enemy attacks. The battalion staff officer arranged for and stressed the necessity of moving all the remaining casualties down the hill to the battalion aid station as quickly as possible for their removal to the nearest field hospital. From the top of the hill, many German tanks and self-propelled 88's could be seen in the distance along the valley floor, partially hidden behind farmhouses, barns, and miscellaneous buildings. Castle Hill would soon serve as the much needed artillery observation post of the U.S. Army in the Roer Valley. Thanks to the courage and tenacity of the 2nd Ranger Battalion.
Again, there seemed to be a lull; no incoming artillery; the silence was eerie after the many intensive barrages. The counterattacks appeared to be at an end; the Germans apparently had decided to withdraw their forces. The enemy had been unable to regain possession of Hill 400 or the town of Bergstein, thanks to the efforts of the 2nd Ranger Battalion and the supporting U.S. artillery units which had given close artillery support to the Rangers.

Late in the day, word reached the top of the hill - be prepared to descend to the bottom, relief forces were at hand. Originally, Dog Company had expected to make the assault on Castle Hill, hold the top, and be relieved within 24 hours, according to their CO. But, it was not until 40 or more hours later, after the most intense fighting ever, that the good news of being relieved finally arrived. The evacuation of the dead and wounded continued from remote and treacherous parts of the hill, requiring special care in removing some of the casualties, due to the seriousness of their wounds, and the terrain from which they had to be evacuated. The toll of casualties among the Rangers of Dog Company had been tremendous; only 15 men of the original 65 who had started off on the assault were able to walk off Hill 400, or Castle Hill, as it was more commonly known locally. The casualties inflicted on the Germans were much more numerous as indicated in German records. They had committed many men in their efforts to retake Hill 400; their casualties were in the hundreds.

The Germans apparently never found out how few Rangers originally made the assault and held Hill 400, and the town of Bergstein. Their many numerically superior counterattacking forces had even been offered special incentives and rewards by their Commanding General to recapture the hill, yet they failed to defeat the 2nd Ranger Battalion in the battle for Bergstein and Hill 400.

The assaulting companies lost 22 men killed in action and suffered approximately 90% casualties. In addition, the battalion medical officer was killed at his battalion aid station. Only historic records and the men that participated in this heroic action, knew how important this victory was and how overwhelming the odds were against a Ranger victory. Few units in all warfare history have survived victoriously through such intense and heavy artillery bombardment for so long, particularly with so little or no protection available. The Rangers were determined to remain in possession of Hill 400 and defend it until the last Ranger went down, if necessary. Unlike the Germans' offer of special incentives and rewards to their men to retake Hill 400, the Rangers considered their valiant effort simply as in the line of duty. Their reward was victory.

The 15 cold and tired battle-scarred surviving walking casualties of D Company slowly made their way down the slippery snow-covered rear of bloody Hill 400. Steep though It was, they had to wind their way around many high tree stumps and under many fallen trees. There were no paths, roads, or trails to follow. These men had lived through 40 hours of hell. They were grateful to God to be alive. Their pace was slow and obviously painful. They had fought without sleep or food and very little water. All looked forward to returning to their battalion reserve area, and such rest, warmth and security it would provide in the cold, wet outdoors of the snowy Hurtgen Forest.

7 December 1944, would be remembered by the survivors of the Battle of Hill 400 for the rest of their lives. It was the longest and most horrendous day they had every experienced. They will never forget the feeling of their helplessness against the endless hours of continuous bombardment on this small piece of real estate. There was no way the men of D Company could stop the German artillery or protect themselves from the vast quantity of shrapnel raining down on them. The Rangers nevertheless accomplished their mission; they captured Hill 400 and continued in possession until relieved as ordered. They also captured the remaining enemy troops in Bergstein, Germany and secured the town until relieved as ordered.

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