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To: Douglas L. Orre, 2107
Belmont Terrace, Scranton, 8, Pa. 3/16/45
GENERAL NEWS STORY ON THE
275TH ARMORED FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION ---
FROM PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE ---7TH ARMORED DIVISION TO
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE 1ST UNITED STATES ARMY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO
ALL NEWS AGENCIES, AND HOMETOWNS LISTED IN THIS ARTICLE.
WITH THE 7TH ARMORED
DIVISION IN BELGIUM, Jan 4,
--- Absorbing the brunt of the early stages of the
surprise break through of General Von Runstedt’s
forces into Belgium, the 275th Armored Field Artillery
Battalion of the First United States Army held the line
of defense from Losheim to Ormont 100 hours before other
Artillery reinforcements were brought forward.
It
joined forces with the 7th Armored Division on December
17th and succeeded in aiding Combat Command
"B" in holding St Vith and later in effecting
a safe withdrawal from that sector.
Observation posts were set up at
Lanzerath and Krewinkel, in Belgium and Roth, Germany,
with Forward Observers at Merlscheid and Afts, Belgium
and Kobscheid, Germany.
Outstanding in heroism and leadership
in the Battalion’s activities was tall, lanky, shy
Staff Sergeant Ethelbert Breckinridge of Lexington,
Kentucky, Forward Observer at Merlscheid at the outset
of the drive.
Three times he had to leave Merlsheid
but twice he returned to direct fire that recaptured it.
His finesse in directing artillery under almost hopeless
circumstances made the Germans pay heavily for their
venture. At one time the enemy had troops in the
northeastern part of St Vith while Sergeant Breckinridge
was at a Post in the southwestern part.
On one occasion Sergeant Breckinridge
was directing fire near an Infantry position. "I
was blown out of a foxhole by the explosion of three
large caliber shells, through a hedgerow, across a road
and lay unconscious for about five minutes" he
said. He regained consciousness and brought fire on an
enemy tank column, knocking out 34 of 40 vehicles. He
thus saved an entire company of Infantry.
There were many others who performed gallant
deeds. There was Sergeant Thomas Deegan of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, who rode the pintle of an M-7 gun carrier
for six miles, adjusting the carburetor on the engine.
"The heat was terrific at times," he
afterwards related, "and it seemed that every inch
we traveled would be the last I could stand it. But I
knew the carburetor wouldn't operate without being
constantly adjusted."
Brigadier General Bruce Cooper Clarke,
Syracuse, New York, Commanding General of Combat Command
"B" of the 7th, highly praised the work of the
275th. The 275th is Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Roy
U. Clay of Freeport, Ohio with Major Arthur G. Hoge of
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as Executive Officer.
The battalion which normally has two
Observation Planes attached to it, was without the
services of these planes. They were destroyed at the
outset of the drive.
Captain Frank J. Brundage of
Winnerton, New York, was one of the Forward Observers
who remained at his post from the 17th to the 21st of
December, when St Vith finally fell, and directed
accurate Artillery Fire on the enemy positions. |
