The big job in January was to eliminate the German salient at the Roer-Wurm confluence. This was a formidable piece of ground defended by a little stub of the old Siegfried Line. Plans were necessary. Plans were made. Snow suits were issued. Assault teams, specially trained in attacking fortified positions, were organized. British 43d Division on our left planned to attack at the same time. The use of British attachments gave us an opportunity to learn a little of the British Army language and get acquainted with Tommies of the Dragoon Guards Armoured Regiment, the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, the Lothian and Border Yeomanry. Everything was set for the attack at 0730 26 January. And then the Germans, growing increasingly faint-hearted under our thunderous artillery, relentless patrolling, and devastating raids, withdrew, "to shorten their lines".

During the night of 24-25 January great explosions rocked the river valley. Dawn revealed the Korrenzig bridge and many others in ruins. No enemy traffic could be seen in the bridgehead. Patrols found the towns abandoned. 1st Battalion, 405th Infantry, seizing Honsdorf and Flahstrass, discovered the pillboxes deserted but littered with booby-traps, time-bombs, and antipersonnel bombs. They pushed on through Randerath to Himmerich, rounding up nineteen prisoners enroute.

3d Battalion, 406th Infantry secured the Lindern sector. 2d Battalion moved into Brachelen encountering nothing hut cheval-de-frise obstacles and schu-mines in every street and door yard. 1st Battalion moved rapidly to Gut Rischmuhle where it linked with Troop C of the 17th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, attached to the Ozarks for this operation, Before noon 26 January all objectives were well in hand with nothing more than a scattering of artillery fire to impede the attack. During the afternoon a 406th patrol penetrated Hilfarth -- at that moment further into Germany then any other allied unit in the history of World War II.