10 July 1944

The 90^th Division was involved in the assault of the heavily fortified positions in the Fort de Mont Castre (Hill 122). For three years, the Germans had fortified the forest and had learned every inch of the terrain during maneuvers. The young, fanatically determined Germans were almost invisible in camouflage clothing and were skilled in individual combat. The fighting was close and fierce. Causalities were heavy. Each day, there were numerous attacks and counter attacks. A provisional "J" Company of 120 cooks, mechanics and headquarter specialists were organized and put in the front lines to prevent enemy infiltration.

Eddie’s 3^rd Battalion had been occupying a defensive position on the northern edge of the forest. They were ordered to attack at 2 PM to the southeast. The strength of the three rifle companies was 434 men and 13 officers. As the Battalion moved forward, Company K was in reserve moving behind Co. I. Eddie was led by his Company K Captain Woodrow Allen. The hill was covered with a thick, dense growth of plants and tangled vines, almost jungle like in appearance. Visibility was limited to between 5 and 25 yards. The rifle companies advanced, beating out the thickets. Contact between them became very difficult to maintain due to the thick undergrowth. After advancing approximately 800 yards through this dense terrain without meeting enemy resistance, suddenly the battalion was engaged in a vicious fight at hand-grenade range with German Paratroopers. The Germans attacked the Battalion from the front, and one group of the enemy even succeeded in working its way through the brush and attacked the rear. During this battle, many individuals and groups became separated in the jungle, and were surrounded and killed or captured by the enemy.

By 3 PM, the Battalion halted in order to regain contact and determine the company’s exact locations.  Company K was out of contact except by radio. Lt. Col. Bealke was able to determine his exact location by  having artillery fire purple smoke shells until they were immediately in front of the Battalion, and then asked artillery for the coordinates of the last round. The rifle companies were then able to regain contact and the advance was resumed. The companies ran into several German positions, and were under heavy machine-gun fire and hand grenade attacks from all sides. Company K moved forward as the Germans were heavily shelling the Battalion with mortar and artillery fire. A platoon of four tanks, followed by litter bearers, crashed through the thicket and evacuated the wounded.

At 6 PM, the plan of attack was to pass Company K with the tank platoon, and allow the company to move forward. The attack of Co. K succeeded in getting to the hedgerow just after the first open field outside the woods. One tank remained in the forest while the other three tanks advanced 15 yards. Two of the tanks were immediately knocked out by a self-propelled gun, and the third tank was stuck in a marshy spot. Company K went forward under heavy fire from dug-in German positions and reached some hedgerows about three hundred yards south of the forest.

At 8 PM, Company K’s Lieutenant John Hylton found he could not advance any further because the Company was pinned down by fire on three sides, causing heavy causalities. He attempted to go back to ask the Battalion Commander to withdraw his company, but was severely wounded and never reached the forest. While lying wounded on the ground, he saw about 16 American soldiers walking towards the German lines with their hands up. A second Co K officer, Lieutenant Hansen, went back for orders but was also wounded and never made it back. The battle raged on until dusk, when Co K was forced to withdraw into the forest. They were placed with the other Companies in a square formation with an all-around defense for the night. From dusk until 4:30 AM on July 11^th, the litter bearers worked down the trail, carrying forward rations and water, and carrying back casualties. More than 85 wounded casualties were evacuated from the July 10^th battle, and many wounded men from Company K and M were evacuated by the Germans after the Company had withdrawn. Company K Captain Woodrow Allen had also been killed...

11 July 1944