2D MEDICAL BATTALION, ARMORED
9TH ARMORED DIVISION
DATE: 31 December 44 2d Medical Bn, Armored
AUTH: CO, 2d Med Bn, Armd From: 010001A Dec 44
INIT: HSV To: 312400A Dec 44
AFTER ACTION REPORT
Part I.
Section I. - Introduction
1. Campaign: Western Europe
2. Map References: GSGS 4042, 1/250,000, Sheet 9
GSGS 4336, 1/100,000, Sheets 13, 16, 17
GSGS 4416, 1/100,000, Sheets T.1, U.1
3. Units and Commanders of Subordinate Troops:
|
2d |
Medical Battalion, Armored |
EZRA L EVANS, Jr, O-xxxxxx, | ||
|
Lt Col, MC, Comdg. | ||||
|
Hq |
Co, 2d |
Med Bn, Armd |
HARLEY R AIKMAN, O-xxxxxxx, | |
|
Capt, MAC, Comdg. | ||||
|
Co |
A, 2d |
Med Bn, Armd |
MARTIN J SCHAEFERLE, O-xxxxxx | |
|
Capt, MC, Comdg. | ||||
|
Co |
B, 2d |
Med Bn, Armd |
JOSEPH A PANZARELLA, O-xxxxxx | |
|
Capt, MC, Comdg. | ||||
|
Co |
C, 2d |
Med Bn, Armd |
JAMES M PACKER, O-xxxxxx | |
|
Capt, MC, Comdg. | ||||
|
Section, |
590 Ambulance Co |
PRESTON J EBRE, O-xxxxxxx, | ||
|
2d Lt, MAC, Comdg. | ||||
|
Section, |
581 Ambulance Co |
(Enlisted personnel only) | ||
Section II. - Statistical Data
1. Personnel Losses:
Off WO EM Total
|
Killed in Action |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wounded in Action |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Died of Wounds |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Missing in Action |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
|
Sick & Non Battle |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2. Personnel Replacements:
Off WO EM Total
0 0 2 2
3. PW Taken: None (0)
4. Vehicular Losses:
Destroyed Abandoned Other Total
0 1 2 3
2
5. Vehicular Replacements: None (0)
6. Ammunition Expenditures: None (0)
Section III. - Narrative
For most of the period covered by this report, the component companies of the 2d Med Bn, Armd were separated, each of the medical companies medically supporting a different Combat Command. For this reason, the activities of each company will be reported separately.
HQ & HQ CO
The installations of Hq and Hq Co were billeted in the village of Tuntingen, Luxembourg (see overlay H.1) at the beginning of the period.
As a result of the German offensive, acting under the orders of CO, 9 Armd Div Tns, a move was made to Mont St. Martin, France (see overlay H.2) on 18 Dec. On 19 Dec, we were joined by Co C, which had come from the vicinity of Bastogne, Belgium.
Hq, Hq Co and Co C moved on 20 Dec to Beles, Luxembourg (see overlay H.3) and again to Etalle, Belgium (see overlay H.3) on 21 Dec.
On 23 Dec, Hq and Hq Co moved to Buzancy, France (see overlay H.4), at which point we remained for the duration of the month.
The activities of Hq and Hq Co during the period consisted of normal command and administrative functions, the latter category including division medical supply and battalion vehicular maintenance.
Co A was detached from CC "A" and reverted to battalion control on 151030 Dec; this continued until 211005 Dec, at which time it was again attached to CC "A". For the entire period, however, the medical support of the company was devoted to CC "A" units.
The only visible enemy action was that in the air, but our installations were not attacked.
Weather conditions throughout the period were, generally, more clement; snow and cold predominated during the latter portion thereof.
CO "A"
As the month opened, Co A remained at Chateau Meisembourg, Luxembourg (see overlay A.1). It was attached to CC "A", 9 Armd Div, and gave medical support to Hq and Hq Co, CC "A", Hq, Div Arty, 19 Tk Bn, 2 Tk Bn, 3 Armd FA Bn, 75 Armd FA Bn, Co A, 131 Ord Maint Bn and Co A, 9 Armd Engr Bn. There was very little action among these units, and practically no battle casualties were received.
On 16 Dec, 60 Armd Inf Bn received heavy shelling by the enemy, and casualties began to come in to us. CC "A" moved to Madernach, Luxembourg and, on 17 Dec, Co A moved into the chateau proper (no change in coordinates).
The company reverted to battalion control on 15 Dec, but supported the same units as before minus 2 Tk Bn and 73 Armd FA Bn.
On the evening of 17 Dec we were told that our position was dangerous and moved per verbal orders, G-4, to Berg, Luxembourg (see overlay A.2). Casualties began to flow heavily and the entire company were rushing themselves to the utmost.
3
On 18 Dec, we were again in a dangerous position, and moved to Saeul, Luxembourg (see overlay A.3). Casualties continued to be heavy, the majority being from 60 Armd Inf Bn; the fighting is vicious, and our aid men and ambulances are continually sniped at by the enemy.
The company moved to Capellan, Luxembourg (see overlay A.4) on 20 Dec. The large numbers of casualties continued, and many trench foot cases began to come in. Most of the latter were men cut off by the enemy for three or four days.
On 21 Dec we were again attached to CC "A" and made plans for moving forward. We moved to Rollingen, Luxembourg (see overlay A.5) on the morning of 22 Dec. At this time the cumber of casualties slowly decreased.
CC "A" was attached to 10 Armd Div and designated as CC "X" on 24 Dec. Our area was strafed by enemy planes. On 26 Dec our units were relieved by elements of 10 and 6 Armd Dive, and that night CC "A" moved toward Bastogne, Belgium. We arrived in Neufchateau, Belgium (see overlay A.6), and were to attack in the morning.
On the morning of 27 Dec the enemy began to bomb and strafe the town of Neufchateau. Few windows were left in the clearing station. There were many casualties from flying glass; most of these were men of 28 Inf Div and Belgian citizens. We moved in the afternoon and went to Longlier, Belgium (see overlay A.6). This movement was made by individual vehicles because of the air threat to convoys.
Casualties began to increase in number on 27 and 28 Dec, and continued to flow heavily for several days. We received many 11 Armd Div casualties and some from 4 Armd Div and 101 Airborne Div, which had been trapped in Bastogne .
CO "B"
Co B, attached to CC "B", was located in Asselborn, Luxembourg on 1 Dec (see overlay B.1). From this time until 12 Dec, it medically supported the following units: 27 Armd Inf Bn, 14 Tk Bn, 16 Armd FA Bn, Tr D, 89 Rcn Sq, Mecz, Co B, 9 Armd Engr Bn and Btry B, 482 AAA Bn. None of these units were committed to front line duty up to 12 Dec.
On 12 Dec, CC "B" was attached to V Corps and, for the remainder of the period, Co B was not in contact with battalion headquarters.
CO "C"
For the period 1 to 13 Dec, the company remained in Greisch, Luxembourg (see overlay C.1). During this time it was under Div Tns control, no units supported were in the line, and casualties admitted were light and all non battle.
On 13 Dec the company was attached to CC "R", which was composed of CC "R" Hq, Hq and Hq Co, 12 Tk Gp, 2 Tk Bn, 73 Armd FA Bn, Btry C, 482 AAA Bn, Co C, 811 TD Bn and Co B, 131 Ord Maint Bn. A march order was received under which the company was to move by convoy using the infiltration method, one minute between vehicles, to the vicinity of Trois Vierges, Luxembourg on 140800 Dec. Patients on hand were transferred to Co A and the Division Psychiatrist and his equipment were moved there also.
This move was accomplished without incident and the clearing station was opened in Asselborn, Luxembourg (see overlay C.2). On 14 Dec, one section of 590 Amb Co was relieved from attachment to us and 581 Amb Co
4
attached three (3) ambulances for evacuation.
On 16 Dec heavy artillery fire to the east was heard sporadically throughout the day, and news was received of a mounting German offensive. The unit was alerted by CC "R" Hq to be ready to move on one hour notice.
On the morning of 17 Dec a group of officers and men of an artillery unit of 28 Inf Div reported that their positions had been overrun in the vicinity of Clervaux, Luxembourg. We received orders at approximately 1300 to move by sections to Gouvy, Luxembourg; one section was put on the road, but was called back due to a change in orders. At 1630 orders were received to move the entire command by convoy to the vicinity of Oberwampach, Luxembourg pursuant to which our clearing station was opened at 2200 at Niederwampach (see overlay C.3). On this march we carried some four officers and sixty enlisted men of the 28 Inf Div; their positions had been overrun in the vicinity of Clervaux. During this day, two small task forces of infantry and tanks from this command had engaged the enemy NE and SE of Trois Vierges. Very few casualties were evacuated from either action. As the company left Asselborn at 1900, heavy small arms fire and large fires were noted a mile to the east of the town. The night was cloudy and foggy, but the road was lit up considerably by a battery of enemy searchlights to the east. No fire was encountered during this march.
The morning of 18 Dec was spent reconnoitering for routes to evacuate to the rear. Orders were received at 1000 to move the entire command to Longvilly, Belgium and, at 1210, the clearing station was opened at Margaret, Belgium (see overlay C.3). Small units of tanks and infantry had set up road blocks at Asselborn and in the vicinity of the RJ of the Clervaux, Trois Vierges and Bastogne highways; no casualties came in from these actions during the day. In the early afternoon a few artillery shells fell along the road between Margaret and Bastogne. Casualties received while in Margaret were mostly from 28 Inf Div. The company was ordered to move into Bastogne at 1600, and this was accomplished by 1730. There was a mild rush of casualties in the early night, the majority being from 28 Inf Div; very few were from CC "R" units.
On 190100 Dec one of our ambulance drivers attached to CC "R" Hq reported heavy fighting in the vicinity of Longvilly and of small arms fire across the road at Margaret. A section of the company was alerted and sent out to Neufchateau with orders to wait in the vicinity of a CR about five miles outside of Bastogne, there to await further orders; the rest of the company remained in Bastogne . At about 0400, the Surgeon and a group of other CC "R" staff officers, as well as our liaison officer arrived with news of the command`s positions being overrun in the vicinity of Longvilly and that the rest of the road was cut off at Margaret. The company was ordered to Neufchateau, there to await further orders; this was accomplished by 0800.* At 1300, we were ordered by CC "R"`s Executive Officer to rejoin our battalion headquarters. Accordingly, we moved to Mont St. Martin, France, arriving there at 1600 (see overlay H.2).
On 20 Dec, we moved with bn hq to Beles , Luxembourg (see overlay H.2) and, on the following day, to Etalle, Belgium (see overlay H.3). Units supported here were Div Hq and Hq Co, 89 Cav Ron Sq, Mecz (-), Prov Tk Bn, Prov Inf Bn and 9 Armd Engr Bn (-). The 590 Amb Co was attached for evacuation, the 581 having been relieved the previous day. Casualties received here were light; they included several cases of exposure from our own command and a few from 4 Armd Div. The weather at this time was clear but extremely cold.
*This move was made per verbal orders of Maj Bryant, S-1, CC "R", also present at the time was Maj Morrison, S-4, CC "R." HSV
5
On 29 Dec, under Div control, the company was alerted to move. We did so at 1300 on the following day, going to Chesnois, France (see overlay C.4). The month closed with light casualties being received and no further incidents of note. At this time, three ambulances were known to have been lost, one attached to 73 Armd FA Bn and two attached, to 52 Armd Inf Bn. The crew of one of the latter vehicles returned to the company on 20 Dec.
Section IV. - Comment.
By JAMES M PACKER, Capt, MC, Comdg Co "C":
The only period requiring comment regarding operations was the time between 17 and 20 Dec. The station, due to tactical reasons, was moved four times within forty eight hours, which made it difficult to keep forward units notified of the location. The action involved was generally to halt the enemy advance down the highway from Trois Vierges to Bastogne by road blocks, defended by tanks and infantry task forces. Evacuation from these actions was minimal, apparently because of the ability of the enemy to surround and isolate casualties. Evacuation was finally hampered by the enemy`s cutting off the command at Margaret on the night of 18 Dec; this made evacuation down the main highway impossible. After this, Co "C" took no further part in the action.
For the Battalion Commander:
|
[signed] |
|
HUGH S. VAUGHAN |
|
1st Lt., MAC, |
|
S-3. |
Enclosures
15 Overlays
SOURCE: National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 407, Records of the US Army Adjutant General, World War II Records, 2d Armored Medical Battalion, 9th Armored Division, After Action Reports, October-December 1944, Box 15890 .
