The following is the official “After Action Report” for the 346th Regiment, May 1945, from the 87th Infantry Archives
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Category: Background
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Germany: April 1945
The following is the official “After Action Report” for the 346th Regiment, March 1945, from the 87th Infantry Archives
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March 3, 1945 – Goldbrick Hill
On March 3, 1945 K Company participated in the assault on “Goldbrick Hill” – Hill 649B on the Siegfried Line.
From the Regimental History:
At 1330 on 3 March 1945, the Battalion launched
its attack from Hill 648 debouching from its heavy
woods, passing across the open draw between the
two hills and up the bald slopes of Gold “B” Hill,
after a 20 minute artillery preparation. Under in-
tense enemy artillery, neblewerfer, and small arms
fire, the Third Battalion pressed its attack using
marching fire and knocked out seven enemy ma-
chine guns, capturing the hill, which yielded 150
enemy prisoners of war and inflicting 100 enemy
casualties. At this point, the enemy increased his
artillery and mortar fire on the hill, and the Bat-
talion dug in for the night in a perimeter defense.
The capture of the hill denied the enemy its ob-
servation and the artillery fire on our rear areas
ceased, permitting freedom of movement for our
troops and supply to the front. It also broke the
back of the enemy defenses in that sector of the
Siegfried Line.
A description of the attack by Ed Jans and Mitch Kaidy
A memoir of the assault by Lt Glenn Doman, commanding officer for Company K.
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Germany: March 1945
The following is the official “After Action Report” for the 346th Regiment, March 1945, from the 87th Infantry Archives
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Belgium-Germany: February 1945
The following is the official “After Action Report” for the 346th Regiment, February 1945, from the 87th Infantry Archives
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January 7, 1945
From an email note received in August 2012, just before a visit to Belgium – from 93 year old Retired Lt. Col. Glenn Doman, who was Donald’s CO:
“Your father Donald was one of my boys in K (King) company, 346th INF Regiment, 87 Infantry Division (Golden Acorn) and it was a high honor to serve with a great hero like your dad. On January 7, 1945 around Tillet Belgium, one of our boys was seriously wounded in an open field. Your dad ran into the field under enemy fire and helped recover our wounded boy, most certainly saving his life. I was honored to recommend him for the Silver Star.”
From 346th Infantry: (On 4 January) the new mission was to attack, capture and hold the town of Tillet. TheThird Battalions moved to the high ground east of Tillet, and later in the day Tillet was reported burning. The Third Battalion attacked the town but were unable to capture it.
On 7 January the Third Battalion again attacked Tillet with no success. The enemy apparently were determined to hold the town at any cost. During the night German patrols were very active around our positions, and the outfit’s casualty toll was extremely high .
Second Lt. Glenn Doman, Company K, earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions in the attack of Tillet. He voluntarily led three patrols into the town, taking prisoners and gathering much valuable information. While in the town he also personally observed and directed effective artillery fire on the town. Because of the shortage of ammunition and increasing fire from the enemy, Lt. Doman was given permission to withdraw after successfully accomplishing his mission.
Attack after attack was repulsed by the stubborn enemy garrison.
Fields near Tillet, Belgium photographed in 2012:
The following is the official “After Action Report” for January 1945, from the 87th Infantry Archives