History of The United States Army's 117th Infantry Regiment

Assembly following landing on the beach at Normandy

Assembly to take up a defensive line along the east bank of the Vire River from Aire [Airel] north to Neuilly la Foret. - approximately 3 miles.

117th crosses the Vire River at Airel.

All three regiments of the 30th Infantry Division attack south and west of the Vire towards Hauts-Vents.

General Hodges mentions in his diary that on the 13th of July:  “XIX Corps: the 30th Div’s 117th Inf advanced to a point 600 years SW of Vents [Hauts-Vents];…”
(Hauts-Vents is a farm just near Pont-Hébert.)

July 14 advance to take up high ground west of ST-LO. (Mesnil Durand is mentioned several times in the AAR, and in the ST-LO book, but is not found on current maps. (“Mesnil” is derived from the Latin mansionile, meaning a small mansion or dwelling. So, we can assume that in the AAR, the writer is saying "the house of Durand."
"The 2nd Battalion advanced to the Terrette River in order to protect the right flank of the Division. The following day, the Regiment (117th) renewed the attack and carried its forward elements from Hts Vents [Hauts Vents] to the outskirts of Mesnil-Durand [not found as a municipality, but the Rue du Mesnil Durand runs southeast from the Vire from Pont Hérbert – possibly a mistake for Le Mesnil-Amey]. Then, it engaged in mopping up and protecting both divisional flanks as well as holding down road blocks and carrying on active patrolling. Two important bridges, on the Terrette River, near Huberderie and Herbert, France, were seized on 18 July by the 2nd Battalion." 

For six days the 117th went into Division Reserve.
It was during this period that the 117th was temporarily attached to the 120th and suffered casualties caused by accidental bombing by Allied aircraft during the 25th and 26th. “Le Mesnil Durand was to be its next objective. Having occupied Le Mesnil Durand on the night of 26 July, both battalions reverted to the 117th. [Having been assigned to the 119th and the 120th.]

Ordered south 8 miles to capture Tessy-sur-Vire. which was accomplished on July 31 by a combined attack of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 117th.  Bitterly contested by the enemy, more than 200 casualties were suffered by the Regiment. It was the most difficult engagement in which the regiment had participated in to that date.

Broke the enemy line at Le Mesnil Opac, where it fought a fierce engagement for three days, and achieved its objective near Poemeliere on the 2nd, dug in, and the following day was placed in Division Reserve.

By August 6, the entire 30th Division was on the road heading towards Mortain to relieve positions previously held by the 1st Infantry Division. The 117th Regiment settled into position around St. Barthélmy. While the 119th was retained as strategic reserve along the ridge road west, while the 2nd Battalion of the 120th moved onto Hill 314, the 1st occupied Hill 285. By nightfall all were where they were supposed to be, albeit under strength by about 1,000 men from normal strength of 9,000. (Collins, pgs 137-8)

The 117th faced the enemy attack in force, in a Hitler ordered drive to the sea meant to split Allied forces. The spearhead of this blow was directed at the 117th Infantry. The 2nd Battalion of the Regiment, less “G” Company, was attached to the 120th Infantry during this period. The remainder of the 117th Infantry was practically isolated on the ridge, and the enemy succeeded in breaking through the forward defenses of the 1st Battalion.

“Aiming at muzzle flashes, U.S. tank destroyer crews here demolished a Panther with a 3-inch slug at fifty yards, then another at thirty yards, both slewed across the road, burning with white fury. GIs at one roadblock let the panzers roll through, then butchered the grenadiers trailing behind. The 1st Battalion of the 117th Infantry suffered 350 casualties and retired to a hillside a thousand yards west of St. Barthélmy, but the German offensive had been delayed six hours, with forty panzers soon crippled.”

Reinforced by the 12th Infantry Regiment, the 117th re-occupied St. Barthélmy. By the 15th had gained objective near St. Claire D’Halouse, approximately 12 miles to the east, where it set up a defensive line for three days

Following the Battle of Mortain, the 117th travelled 130 miles east to an assembly area  at Brezolles.

From 20 August 1944 to 24 August 1944, the 117th Infantry, less the 3rd Battalion, was in Division Reserve. However, the 30th Infantry Division was advancing northward toward Évreux, France, and the 3rd Battalion of the 117th Infantry was protecting the left flank of the Division. Little opposition was encountered, and on 24 August 1944, the 3rd Battalion of the 117th Infantry liberated the town of Évreux, France.”

“On 25 August 1944, the Regiment made and uncontested advance to the vicinity of La Chapelle, France. The next day it moved to an Assembly Area at Mantes, Gassicourt, France.  It was a major assembly point for the U.S. Army to make the first bridgehead across the Seine.
On 27 August 1944, the troops crossed the Seine, gaining their final objective near Lainville by nightfall. The attack was resumed on the 30th of August. Vallanganjard, France, was reached before dark and the following day the troops fought their way east to the town of Mello.”

On the 27th the 117th crossed the Seine and drove towards Lainville

The 117th entered Vallangoujard.

The 117th entered Melo.

From Nov 1 to 15 the 117th Regiment maintained an active defense along a line running from Schaufenberg, Alsdorf, to Kol Kellersberg [Kellersberg] Germany. Deep penetrations by reconnaissance elements were made repeatedly into enemy territory.

In a perfectly conducted attack, the regiment attacked Mariadorf, Germany. It encountered dense enemy mining and artillery fire causing a number of casualties. The attack resumed on the 17th and the 1st Battalion cleaned out the remainder of the town and progressed 700 yards (about a third of a mile) beyond the Aachen-Cologne Highway against stubborn resistance. 332 prisoners were taken in the two days of fighting.

1st Battalion attacked the town of Warden, Germany, the attack initially thwarted by heavy enemy artillery which saw Company “B” alone losing more than seventy men in an afternoon renewal of the attack. Company “F” responded with a coordinated attack on the town against the enemy in concrete emplacements, houses as strong points, supported by at least four direct-fire assault guns. Nevertheless, the key town was seized in bitter house-to-house fighting. Another 209 prisoners were taken in addition to tons of ammunition and two self-propelled assault guns.

2nd Battalion passed through the 1st Battalion and attacked south in the direction of Kinzweiler, Germany.

Simultaneously with the attack on Kinzweiler, the 3rd Battalion attacked St. Joris. Both objectives were taken within thirty minutes with light casualties. 223 prisoners were taken.

During this period the 117th Infantry constituted Corps Reserve near Mariadorf. The battalions alternated in going back to a Rest Camp at Kerkrade for well-earned periods of relaxation.

The 117th was in Rest Status for nearly a month at Mariadorf until December 16 when it rushed about 25 miles south to take up defensive positions around the southeast edge of Malmedy. A few miles northwest of Malmédy, on the road to Francorchamps, was the location of Depot Number 3, a huge allied fuel dump that contained 997,730 gallons of gasoline - more than enough to get the attacking German tanks all the way to Antwerp. It was only being guarded by a handful of poorly-equipped Belgian soldiers. The 117th Infantry Regiment immediately got to work setting up roadblocks and preparing to meet the SS; while 3rd Battalion of the 117th set up those roadblocks, 1st Battalion of the 117th moved past the fuel dump in Francorchamps and disembarked a few miles north of Stavelot, roughly five miles southwest of Malmédy."

The 120th Infantry Regiment (30th Infantry Division) proceeded to Malmedy. “Spa, Malmedy and Stavelot form a rough triangle of roads suitable for an armored force to use in a winter offensive. Stoumont lies further west along the road running through Malmedy and Stavelot. Von Rundstedt planned to use these roads for the main German thrust to Liege where the Allies had huge stores of fuel, ammo and essential supplies. Thus the Germans would split the Allied forces and push on to recapture the port of Antwerp.

“During their drive to the front lines, the men of Old Hickory first heard Axis Sally call them the “fanatical 30th Division, Roosevelt’s SS troops.” She also told them they would once again face the 1st SS Panzer Division spearheaded by Lt. Colonel Joachim Peiper. This was the same division they had stopped at Mortain months before.” 

"The 117th Regiment encountered the enemy first near Stoumont in route to their assignment of Stavelot. The 120th proceeded to Malmedy while the 119th took up positions near Spa, where First Army Headquarters was being hastily dismantled and moved to the rear." 

The 1st & 2nd Battalions advanced toward Stavelot.

The 119th Infantry Regiment (30th Infantry Division) took up positions near Spa, where the First Army Headquarters was being hastily dismantled and moved to the rear.

The 3rd Battalion was directed to recapture the town of La Gleize, Belgium. The intense fighting in this triangle with counter-attacks by the enemy lasting until the 26th.

By 26 December 1944, the Nazi bulge into Belgium was firmly held and the 117th Infantry had practically wiped out an entire German SS Regiment. Not many prisoners were taken but enemy dead filled the forests, the fields, and the river. In the Regimental Sector alone, twenty-two tanks were knocked out, twelve half tracks, thirty-two trucks, and seven guns of various calibers were destroyed, in nine days fighting.

On January 1 the 30th Division front line extended from a point slightly east of Malmedy to a short distance west of Stavelot. Extremely deep snows, roads covered by ice and flanked by 6-foot snow drifts. The high ground was occupied by the Germans. It was necessary to cross the Amblève River between Trois-Ponts and Stavelot, Belgium. Undercover of dark foot bridges were constructed across the river and Company G, 117th Infantry crossed the river under cover of darkness, and by 0700 the entire regiment was over the river and had taken up positions in the corner enclosed on the north by the Amblève and on the east by Salm River. The attacks next came southeast to Wanne. Objective villages lay to the southeast, Wanne, Aisômont, Wanneranval, Bouyin, Le Bairsoû and Spineux. In this two day period, the enemy had been cleared out of the Salm-Amblève pocket and the first step had been taken in the rapid, relentless drive of the 30th to the vicinity of St. Vith.

The 117th takes Wanne.

119th Regiment attacked south in what was to become a very costly offensive. (The offensive to St. Vith by the 30th Division was two pronged, east (119th and 120th) and west (117th) and it was the eastern prong that suffered the most; the total number for the 120th for the 13, 14, and 15th of January amounted to 450 killed, wounded and missing.)

The 119th was instructed to take Hédomont that night and under cover of heavy artillery barrage it took the town after almost five hours of steady fighting in the early hours of the 14th the 3rd Battalion was in possession of the city.

The 2nd Battalion of the 117th attacked south with Ligneuville as the objective. “Moving south toward Ligneuville from Houyier, the 2nd Battalion, 117th Infantry, avoided being observed to any great degree by advancing along the west side of the Malmedy-Ligneuville road. The trees were thick, the knee deep snow drifts were higher by 3 or 4 inches more of snow that had fallen during the night and communication was difficult. At 1200 hours, 14 January, the battalion was in the outskirts of Ligneuville. The were met by scattered units that were displaced in the stone buildings of the city. Fire fights continued throughout the afternoon in the city of Ligneuville, but by 1600 the enemy had been driven out. Moving through the city quickly, on the St. Vith road, Company “E” approached the bridge spanning the Abeleve River. The bridge, at 806987, had been prepared for demolition by the Germans, but the Company “E” commander, Capt. George H. Sibbald, cut the wires and led his troops across. With all three companies in the city, the 2nd Battalion, 117th Infantry, consolidated their positions and were not taken unaware by the German counter attack launched at 2000 hours. Estimated at a battalion of infantry and supported by six tanks, the enemy attempted to regain Ligneuville. They were unsuccessful, however, and were forced to withdraw.”

Thirimont falls to the 120th Infantry Regiment of the 30th Infantry Division after several days of very intense fighting. 

The 117th attacked south towards Dillburg, locality northeast of Recht. Roadblocks and weather delayed successful advance.

The 117th on the right of the 120th prepared to attack Recht and in a very short time the enemy was cleared thanks to the heavy artillery barrage that preceded the attack. Eachelsborn [Feckelsborn] was the next objective. Objectives for the 30th Division were accomplished and they could almost see St. Vith. The enemy began to retreat to St. Vith and then on the 21st large groups of Germans began to evacuate the city to the south. 

The 30th Infantry Division had captured Rodt and Hinderhausen northwest of St. Vith on high, dominating ground and the 7th Armored could attack the town proper. Losses were heavy in the 30th Division in the 10 day period from the 13th to the 23rd: 1,151 officers and men killed, wounded or missing plus 707 officers and men listed as non-battle casualties. 

The 117th was relieved by a regiment from the 17th Airborne and moved to rest at Grand-Halleux.

The 1st Battalion of the117th went to Verlautenheide, Germany, and then to Warden, Germany to train for crossing the Roer which was originally planned for the 10th, but had to be postponed when the Germans flooded the valley. The Division designated the 119th and 120th to be assault troops while the 117th was designated reserve initially.

The 1st Battalion, 117th trains to cross the Roer. The crossing had originally been scheduled for the 10th, but the Germans blew dams and flooded the valley causing a postponement until the 23rd. 

The 119th and the 120th Infantry established a bridgehead across the Roer and 117th, initially in reserve, was committed through the forward units of the Division at 4:30 P.M. February 24th. The First Battalion remained in Regimental reserve, and in late afternoon, moved to the 119th crossing site near Schophoven. 

Hollen was captured on the 25th by Company “G” of the 119th in an action that involved not only the 119th, but also the 120th. Exactly where the 117th was at this point is not completely known but it is evident from the citation for a second Oak Leaf cluster given to First Lieutenant Cyril B. Spicer, jr., that it provided support in this attack.

On February 27, elements of the 83rd Infantry Division and the 2nd Armored Division passed through the 30th Infantry Division to exploit the Roer breakthrough. The First Battalion stayed in Kirchtroisdorf several days.

On March 2, word was received that the Germans had penetrated the right flank of the 83rd Infantry Division across the Erft Canal. The 117th was to move up and get the situation under control. The First Battalion en-trucked at 2:00 P.M. and sped north 14 miles, de-trucked and worked their way forward into Hemmerden. They then moved on and recaptured the town of Kapellen, situated on the Erft Canal with Company "B" leading the Battalion attack.

1st Battalion began a motor movement to Linne, Holland then to a point several miles south to Roermond for rest and also for training to assault the Rhine River. 

The 30th Division commander had decided to simultaneously engage all three regiments for the crossing. The 119th began crossing in the north, just southeast of Buderich. The primary thrust in the center was provided by the 117th Infantry Division at the village of Wallach with the 120th attacking two miles to the southeast near a big bend in the river just northeast of Rheinberg. Each regiment used one battalion in the assault. Each assault battalion was organized into four waves with two minute intervals between waves. Each battalion was equipped with 54 storm boats carrying seven men and a two-man crew each, and 30 double assault boats capable of transporting 14 men and a three-man crew.

After Action Report Interview with Major Julius W. Singleton, S-3, 117th Infantry at Waldeslust, Germany on the 28th of March.  “We moved the regiment into assembly area near Wallach on the evening of 23 March 1945. The 1st Battalion made the initial crossing, taking Ork with Companies A and B abreast. 150 prisoners were captured there. The 2nd Battalion went through Ork and took objective Folly…” Katie, Ginny, Sue, and on the 25th took Anne. Company B went on in and captured the town of Hunxe. At 0200 26 March the 1st and 2nd jumped off for the next objective Sally. (More objectives taken but using objective names not towns.)

On March 31, 1945, the 117th Infantry Regiment captured the Lippe Canal, then motored 55 miles to Brensteinfurt, Germany [Drensteinfurt]. Here they encountered a mass German surrender with German soldiers, hands up and running towards POW cages in the rear. Here they met the first of the streams of allied prisoners, thin as skeletons, liberated from German prison camps along with laborers from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Russia, and France.

At 06:00 on April 7th, 1945 the 117th Infantry Regiment attacked and took the town of Hamlin, Germany. Hamlin, Germany [Hamelin] is famous for the Brothers Grimm story of the "Pied Piper of Hamlin" a children’s’ fairy tale. Here the Regiment captured hundreds of German soldiers as prisoners of war.

"In early April of 1945, the Thirtieth Infantry Division of the US Army National Guard advanced toward the city of Magdeburg, Germany. Under the command of Major General Leland S. Hobbs, their orders were to liberate the citizens of Magdeburg from the tyranny of Nazism that held sway there under Adolf Hitler, who had commanded his generals to continue to fight a war that was already lost. On their way to Magdeburg, the Thirtieth Infantry Division sacked enemy pockets and took the nearby towns of Hamelin on April 7 and Braunschwieg on April 12.
On April 13, 1945, the Thirtieth Infantry Division rolled into the city of Magdeburg; there began the little-known, albeit important, battle at the war’s end, called the Battle of Magdeburg. Did the American soldiers know that some twenty thousand Polish slave laborers were prisoners of Nazism in Magdeburg and the surrounding areas; an estimated total of at least 1.7 million ethnic Poles were held forcibly as slave laborers (Zwangsarbeiter) across German-occupied Europe?
“Unknown to us at the time of the beginning of the Battle of Magdeburg, was the fact that there was a substantially sized slave labor camp housed in the outskirts of the city,” reported First Lieutenant Frank W. Towers of the Thirtieth Infantry Division.
From April 13 to April 18, the Thirtieth fought German forces in fierce scrimmages until they reached the Elbe River, where they met Russian troops headed for Berlin. The Americans took control of the city west of the Elbe, and on April 26, German General Kurt Dietmar surrendered Magdeburg to Major General Hobbs."

"On April 25th, 1945 Lt. Gen. Kurt von Dittmar, German official army news commentator, together with Major Pluskat, Dittmar's son and two orderlies crossed the Eble River. They crossed at Magdeburg in the zone of the 117th's Third Battalion. Dittmar, the German General Staff radio spokesman, crossed in a boat under a white flag. He had come, he said, to arrange aid for German wounded on the east bank of the Elbe. It was then discovered he commanded no troops and traveled to the west without the knowledge of the German commander in that sector. Dittmar was then offered to surrender but he refused. On his way back to re-cross the river he changed his mind and surrendered along with his son and Major Pluskat, an artillery officer."

Conflicting spellings of towns and dates make the final months in Germany for the 30th Division and the 117th Infantry Regiment difficult to determine. Nevertheless, it seems that the 117th waited several weeks in Magdeburg for the Russians to link up and for the British to take command there. In late May, following Germany’s surrender, the Regiment moved to Oelsnitz near the Czech border some 150 miles to the south, while the 119th moved to around Hirschberg and the 120th to an area around Paulen, where they remained for some weeks. 

The 117th boarded the ship "Marine Wolf" for one of its 52 shuttle operations between Le Havre and Southampton. From Southampton, they made the five-day trip aboard the Queen Mary on August 17th for New York, sailing with 14,776 troops. Having been designated to the Pacific, the surrender of the Japanese on the 14th made this moot. The 117th was deactivated at the end of November at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.