History Part 1 - 70th Infantry Division Association

February
\Jn the &th day of February 1945 men from the two original Squadrons of the
101st CAVALRY GROUP took their place in the front lines for the first time. While
itwas not fully realized at that time, they were ready for combat. Four years of hard
and to prove in the
conscientious training in the United States was itself early
fighting. There was much still to be learned, however, the "hard way". Especially
when their equipdifficultwas
the task these men faced of fighting as infantrymen
ment and training was strictly for Mechanized Cavalry work. They quickly overcame
these were battlewise and
obstacles and difficulties and it was not long before they
combat soldier. The acid
hardened 'to the unpleasant 'tasks which are ithe lot of -the
test of unrelenting and continuous night and day responsibility now fell upon the
of command. There was to be no respite for a period of
elements and machinery
85 consecutive days.
Courage, Fortitude And Death
Here on the Saar River Front ithe first impact of sudden death Was felft as itstruck
down close personal friends and valued comrades. All came to know the fullmeaning
changed from
of honest fear and to respect itin others. Attitudes toward the enemy
slightly apprehensive curiosity to cold and calculating anger. The maze of mines and
booby traps in this area plagued the men at every step and took their toll. The
enemy's ability to use his weapons effectively and his skill at concealment came in
for full appreciation and study. Men earned a new respect for each other and without
for courage
thinking in the terms of themselves wondered at man's capacity
and
especially did they wonder at the fortitude of those so grieviously wounded.
Entire Western Front Flares
"ATTACK!"No man ever forgets the first time he receives orders to attack. Nor
does he forget his own feelings which, between stimulation of the senses and sobered
thinking, become a series of alternating hot and cold mental flashes. The inevitable
period of waiting now set in. Postponements and changes of plan as well as other
vexing problems arose. These proved to be the outgrowth of the Supreme Comman­
der's decision to strike the final blioiw.Thus, the planned local attack became, finally
after the turn of the month, a part of the opening over-all assault along the Western
Front.
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