Download - 70th Infantry Division Association

our guns because they were on the other side of the hill. That accounts for the eight mortar rounds falling
800 yards from our mortar position in Forbach. The company commander put that down in the log; I
guess that was the only action we had that day.
On February 3. 1945. Richard Schumacker, the 2nd Lt., reported on duty from the Task Force Herren. I
was promoted from a buck sergeant to a staff sergeant because my sergeant was off the rolls. After his
shell shock, he came back once, but was there only for a short time. He was no good to the outfit. He
would hear a round fall or machine guns and he would cry like a baby. He couldn't think; he couldn't lead;
he couldn't do much of anything. It was just too bad. They finally took him off the roll and sent him back to
the rear. I got his job on February 3.
It was noted in the S-2 report of 3 February that the enemy was bringing up reinforcements. Reserves,
estimated at a battalion, were located in Stiring-Wendel. Added to the summary of enemy capabilities was
the conclusion that with further reinforcements and artillery he could execute a coordinated attack in the
zone of the 276th Infantry.
On the same date S-2 and S-3 continued perfecting plans for raiding operations. XV Corps refused the
use of tanks and TD's in these operations. Improvement of defensive positions and active patrolling
continued.
On February 5th we got 19 men as replacements, brand new from the United States. We also had seven
assigned to duty from replacement headquarters from the Task Force Herren. We moved from 109 men
to 135. Our outfit was beginning to be pumped up. Now remember, we put new sergeants in command,
started a new organization. Our company was relieved at 5:00 on February 5 by Company A. We
assembled in Folkling, France, for the remainder of the day.
First we started receiving reinforcements, then they pulled us out of the lines and put us in the rear. We
knew that there was something big cooking. I could feel it, but we had no idea what was going on. They
took us to an assembly area and we tried to get some kind of organization together so we could operate
as a unit.
At this time the regiment was also carrying on a training program for reinforcements. This instruction
included familiarization and mechanical training with all weapons, scouting and patrolling, map reading
and use of the compass, observation, emplacements, camouflage, first aid and personal hygiene, and
general proficiency. Progress charts were kept to insure that each reinforcement had received adequate
instructions. Also, the troops were shown the training film, "Your Job in Germany".
Reinforcements totaling 12 officers and 184 enlisted men were received 3 February.
The 276th Infantry began to operate again as a unit of the 70th Division at 0001 4 February, when TF
HERREN was dissolved.
Raid No. 1 of the planned series jumped off at daylight February, conducted by the third battalion. The
raiding party reached its objective in Marienau without encountering opposition and searched houses in
that vicinity, but no enemy was found. There were no casualties on either side and no PW's taken. The
raiding party returned at 0900.
The First Battalion, ordered to relieve the Second Battalion and K Company, had completed this relief at
0630 5 February.
Plans were being completed 5 February for an attack by the Second Battalion and K Company,
scheduled to jump off on the morning of 6 February. The 276th Infantry was notified by the 70th Division
at 1740 on 5 February that the 275th Infantry was preparing to support the attack.
The mission of the attack was to capture prisoners of war and to kill as many of the enemy as possible.
Original plans for the attack called for three phases: First, the taking of high ground to the south and east