Garand Picture of the Day # 207 289th Inf

American soldiers of 289th Infantry Regiment marching along snow-covered road on their way to cut off St. Vith-Houffalize road in Belgium, during WWII.
Location: Belgium
Date taken: January 24, 1945
Photographer: Richard A. Massenge


During the first phase, 24 December - 14 January, some of the Division's major elements were attached elsewhere, in piecemeal fashion in order to stem the Nazi break through toward LIEGE, BRUSSELS, and ANTWERP.



During the second phase, 15 - 24 January, the 75th Infantry Division took part in the XVIII Airborne Corps' coordinated attack to retake ST. VITH and its vital road net. The Division's role in the battle — to cross the SALM River to capture VIELSALM was a classic example of the double envelopment. The 291st Infantry on the north attacked and seized the high ground north of the city; the 289th Infantry attacked and seized the high ground south of the city. Thus the whole valley became untenable for the enemy, and he withdrew. A patrol from the 2d Battalion, 291st Infantry, discovered the withdrawal, and Corps was requested to block the upper end of the valley with troops in the vicinity. Determined resistance by the enemy held the corridor open, and the withdrawal continued under fire. The Germans then began a series of delaying actions which characterized the rest of the battle.




More on the 289th
75th Infantry Division in Combat ~ Page 1

My father-in-law was in the 75th Division, though not sure which regiment he was attached to. His unit was a combat engineer company, and he survived the war unwounded, earning a bronze star. He says the Colmar Pocket battles were very hard fought, but received little attention in the press unlike the "Battle of the Bulge".

My Father was in Co. "E", 2nd Battalion, 290th Infantry, 75th ID. I've had a copy of the picture above but lost it when my computer nosedived. Tried in vain to find it again...

Thank you - Thank you - Thank you!!!

I believe the picture is of the 290th, rather than the 289th. The bumper on the Jeep in the background reveals that the Unit markings on the Jeep's right bumper are 75/290. Thank you again for the picture.

Even looks cold and miserable. Wonder how many poor guys tripped over that commo wire.