(Written by Maj. Charles E. Rousek, Exec. Officer of the 38th eff. Aug 8, 1944)
At 0535 a tremendously heavy artillery and rocket barrage hit the "C" Troop positions and the Squadron
CP area, and then rolled back to hit "B" Troop and "F" Company on the Mutzenich Hill.
This barrage was followed at 0600 by the attack of the 1st Battalion, 751st Regiment, 36th VG Division on "C" Troop's right
and the 2nd platoon, "F" Company, S/Sgt. Bielicki commanding, defending the Roer Valley in Monschau.
The spearhead of the attack was completely smashed by canister fire of the tank platoon delivered at a
range of 50 yards. A "C" Troop Patrol under Tec. 5 Van Order broke up other attacking elements, as they
emerged from Menzerath, with artillery and mortar fire which he called for and adjusted by radio.
When "F" Company's mortar illuminating flares revealed more enemy approaching up the valley, Sgt. Bielicki
requested artillery defensive concentrations which broke up this attack. However, the enemy reorganized and attempted to infiltrate into the tank positions.
Sgt. Messano seized an anti-aircraft light machine gun and placed it in position, dismounted, to block for good this attempt.
Continued "C" Troop mortar fire and artillery fire finally broke up concerted enemy activity in the valley, except for sniper fire all day.
Meanwhile, the enemy launched another attack at 0830 down the winding road, which led from Imgenbroich to the north end of Monschau, known as the "snake road".
This attack was first brought to a halt by machine gun fire from "C" Troop's 2nd and 3rd platoons, and then smashed by fire from the 62nd
FA Battalion and "E" Troop (M5 75mm Howitzers).
German patrols were observed and fired on all parts of the Squadron line during the rest of the day.
When an observer reported that all the enemy pillboxes were being loaded with extra men, it was plain that another and heavier attack was due to come.
Reinforcements were requested of Group Headquarters, which procured Company "A" 146th Combat Engineering Battalion, Captain Ball commanding.
One platoon was given to each of "B" and "C" Troops to bolster their line, while the 3rd platoon was dug in on the hill behind Monschau to cover the front line positions with overhead fire and to
protect our right flank. Six machine crews from the 186th FA Battalion, and attached TDs were also put
into the line with "F" Company's hard-pressed 2nd platoon.
The night of the 16th and 17th was marked by much activity.
As many as five enemy searchlights lit up the Mutzenich Hill and a score or more large low-flying planes flew westward over the Squadron line.
These were the planes which dropped LT. Col. Von der Heydre's Parachute Battalion behind the Squadron line At 0400 a "C" Troop listening post under Tec. 5 Allen Anderson on the Merzerath Hill detected a force of 60 or 70 enemy approaching their post.
They called for and received fire from "E" Troop (M5 75mm Howitzers) within two minutes, which broke up the enemy endeavor.
At 0615, another heavy barrage struck the Squadron line, even reaching back to the "C" Troop mortars this time.
At 0630, the enemy launched his initial attack to pierce the line in "C" Troop's left.
The enemy, having assembled in the draw east of Mutzenich during the night, attacked "F" Company's 1st platoon at the railroad track, but were finally driven off with machine gun fire, and punished severely by artillery fire as they retired into the draw.
At 0800, the full weight of the entire 751st regiment struck the Squadron, as one attack coordinated with the initial attack just mentioned was made down the "snake road" while the main effort was made in an all out assault on the Mutzenich Hill.
The attack down the "snake road" was met by machine gun fire from "C" Troop's 3rd platoon, but kept coming.
It was finally stopped by tank and TD fire from "F" Company's 3rd platoon whose weapons overlooked the "C" Troop position.
Artillery fire further broke up this attack.
As you can see Artillery and mortar fire was instrumental in breaking up the attacks historically in the Hofen scenario.
You can read the full account here:
http://117th-cav.org/History%20of%20the%2038th.pdf
This link was originally posted by Simovitch here:
tm.asp?m=3546563