134th Infantry Regiment "All Hell Can't Stop Us"

Distinguished Unit Citations

Battle Honors - As authorized by Executive Order 9396 (sec. I, WD Bul. 22, 1943) superseding Executive Order 9075 (sec. III, WD Bul. 11, 1942), citations of the following units in the general orders indicated are confirmed under the provisions of section IV, WD Circular 333, 1943, in the name of the President of the United States as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction:

The First Battalion

G. O. 66 Washington 25, D.C., 10 August 1945

The 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, is cited for extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy in vicinity of St. Lo, Normandy, France, from 15 to 19 July 1944. On the morning of 15 July 1944, the 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, instituted its initial attack against the enemy in the Villiers-Fossard sector, 2 1/2 miles northeast of St. Lo, in a frontal assault on Hill 122, the dominating terrain feature of the German defensive positions before St. Lo. The battalion bone was interspersed with sunken roads and checker with hedgerows composed of large bases of earth surmounted by shrubbery and trees. So strongly emplaced and stubbornly defended were the enemy hedgerow defenses, generally impregnable to all types of fire except direct hits from artillery, that it was necessary for individual soldiers to crawl forward to throw hand grenades in order to silence the enemy guns. Under heavy enemy fire of all kinds, across mine fields, the battalion moved forward against seasoned German troops, advancing some 2,100 meters by noon. Continuing its determined advance despite increasingly strong resistance and although suffering mounting casualties, the battalion pierced the enemy regimental reserve line, consolidated its position for the night, and repulsed repeated enemy counterattacks, while units on its right and left endeavored to advance to positions abreast the battalion. On 17 July the battalion resumed its drive, by dogged determination broke through the enemy's almost impregnable main line of resistance at great cost to the enemy of men and material, and that night reached the military crest of Hill 122, thereby crushing the main enemy defense in the area. After overrunning the remaining enemy positions on 18 July, the battalion consolidated its position less than 2,000 yards north of St. Lo, from which point patrols were sent into the town. On 19 July the battalion entered St. to relieve units in defensive positions around its forward perimeter. This operation was conducted smoothly and successfully despite intense fire from enemy guns located in hills south of St. Lo. The magnificent gallantry, heroism, teamwork, and will to win displayed by the 1st Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, in this crucial operation, characterized by countless deeds of individual and group heroism, and its tremendously significant part in the action on Hill 122 at the approaches to St. Lo, contributed immeasurably to a major victory for the United States, and reflects the highest credit on the character and training of the officers and men of this unit. (General Orders 45, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 18 June 1945, as approved by the Commanding General, European Theater of Operations.)

The Second Platoon, Company D

G. O. 66 Washington 25, D.C., 10 August 1945

The 2d Platoon, Company D, 134th Infantry Regiment, is cited for extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Habkirchen, Germany, from 12 to 21 December 1944. On 12 December 1944, the 2d Platoon, Company D, 134th Infantry Regiment, supporting a rifle company, was assigned the mission of leading an assault across the Blies River to establish a bridgehead at Habkirchen, Germany. The river crossing was instituted at 0500 hours in assault boats. The swift current and debris -covered water caused several of the assault boats to be wrecked, with the attendant loss of eight lives. The 2d Platoon, Company D, with its supported rifle company, the first elements of the XII Corps to effect a landing in Germany, fully exploited the element of surprise to establish a foothold in two buildings on the water front, capturing a number of German prisoners. The alerted enemy then subjected the attacking force to heavy fire of all types despite which the machine gun platoon and rifle company contrived to capture six more buildings, in many instances only after sharp hand-to-hand fighting. The unit then established a holding position and, during the course of the day, repulsed a number of enemy counterattacks. Heavy enemy fire isolated the troops on the enemy shore, and a rifle company which undertook to follow up the attacking force lost the majority of its strength in the effort. At nightfall, 13 December, the enemy launched a counterattack, utilizing an infantry battalion supported by assault guns. The 2d Platoon, Company D, and its supported rifle company repulsed the enemy attack with a marked exhibition of courage and determination after a 3-hour period of fierce fighting, during the course of which combat engineers established a footbridge across the river, enabling reserves to reach the beleaguered force. The following morning, the 2d Platoon, Company D, and its supported rifle company again repulsed an enemy counterattack, the impetus of which carried it within hand grenade range. The repulse of the enemy counterattack was followed up by an expansion of the bridgehead to include occupation of commanding ground in the vicinity. This expansion resulted in the denial to the enemy of observation of the river and precluded the delivery of accurate enemy artillery fire thereon. The expansion of the bridgehead further resulted in the establishment of a bridge across the river over which supplies were transported to the attacking forces, the footbridge constructed by engineers the previous night having been demolished by enemy fire. Despite heavy casualties, the 2d Platoon, Company D, and the rifle company which it supported remained in active combat with the enemy in the vicinity until the regiment was relieved from the sector on 21 December 1944. The action of the 2d Platoon, Company D, 134th Infantry Regiment, in support of a rifle company in effecting a river crossing, establishing and expanding a bridgehead in the face of determined enemy opposition by superior force and formidable obstacles, and despite mounting casualties, is in accord with the highest traditions of the military service. (General Orders 47, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 20 June 1945, as approved by the Commanding General, European Theater of Operations.)

Company C

G. O. 68 Washington 25, D.C., 14 August 1945

Company C, 134th Infantry Regiment, is cited for extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Habkirchen, Germany, from 12 to 21 December 1944. On 12 December 1944, Company C, 134th Infantry Regiment, support by a heavy weapons platoon, was assigned the mission of leading an assault across the Blies River to establish a bridgehead at Habkirchen, Germany. The river crossing was instituted at 0500 hours in assault boats. The swift current and debris -covered water caused several of the assault boats to be wrecked, with the attendant loss of eight lives. Company C, with its supporting attendant weapons platoon, the first elements of the Twelfth Corps to effect a landing in Germany, fully exploited the element of surprise to establish a foothold in two buildings on the water front, capturing a number of German prisoners. The alerted enemy then subjected the attacking force to heavy fire of all types despite which Company C and its machine gun platoon contrived to capture six more buildings, in many instances only after sharp hand-to-hand fighting. The unit then established a holding position and, during the course of the day, repulsed a number of enemy counterattacks. Heavy enemy fire isolated the troops on the enemy shore, and a rifle company which undertook to follow up the attacking force lost the majority of its strength in the effort. At nightfall on, 13 December, the enemy launched a counterattack, utilizing an infantry battalion supported by assault guns. Company C, and its supporting heavy weapons platoon repulsed the enemy attack with a marked exhibition of courage and determination after a 3-hour period of fierce fighting, during the course of which combat engineers established a footbridge across the river, enabling reserves to reach the beleaguered force. The following morning, Company C, and its supporting unit again repulsed an enemy counterattack, the impetus of which carried it within hand grenade range. The repulse of the enemy counterattack was followed up by an expansion of the bridgehead to include occupation of commanding ground in the vicinity. This expansion resulted in the denial to the enemy of observation of the river and precluded the delivery of accurate enemy artillery fire thereon. The expansion of the bridgehead further resulted in the establishment of a bridge across the river over which supplies were transported to the attacking force, the footbridge constructed by engineers the previous night having been demolished by enemy fire. Despite heavy casualties, Company C remained in active combat with the enemy in that vicinity until the regiment was relieved from the sector on 21 December 1944. The action of the Company C, 134th Infantry Regiment, in effecting a river crossing, establishing and expanding a bridgehead in the face of determined enemy opposition by superior force and formidable obstacles, and despite mounting casualties, is in accord with the highest traditions of the military service. (General Orders 46, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 19 June 1945, as approved by the Commanding General, United States Army Forces, European Theater of Operations (Rear).)

The 134th Infantry Regiment

G. O. 62 Washington 25, D.C., 3 July 1947

The 134th Infantry Regiment is cited for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against the enemy during the period 28 December 1944 through 16 January 1945. On 28 December 1944, elements of the 134th Infantry Regiment, moving rapidly northward from hard-won positions at Habkirchen, Germany, relieved elements of the 318th Infantry south of Bastogne in the vicinity of Sainlez, Belgium, and attacked northward in conjunction with the 4th Armored Division to relieve the isolated 101st Airborne Division in the vicinity of Bastogne. When the Third Battalion became involved at Lutrebois, it was bypassed by the First Battalion which continued to fight northward to effect a junction with the forces at Marvie. The Third and Second Battalions continued to engage the enemy forces in the vicinity of Lutrebois, repulsing numerous counterattacks from the enemy in that sector. Enemy forces infiltrating through the gaps in a wide front penetrating to within 400 yards of the Arlon-Bastogne Highway, but were unsuccessful in severing this vital line of communications. Large numbers of enemy personnel and at least 25 tanks were destroyed. In the face of terrific artillery and mortar fire, the attack was resumed on the afternoon of 1 January 1945. By the afternoon of 3 January the enemy was cleared from the town of Lutrebois and the First Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, assembled in the vicinity of Marvie, prepared to continue the attack. At 0700 on 4 January 1945, the First Battalion attacked from the north toward the southeast in an effort to break the enemy position east of Lutrebois. Holding these positions won on 5 January 1945, the 134th Infantry Regiment repulsed numerous enemy attempts to infiltrate. Heavy concentrations of mortar and artillery fire continued to pour on the front line troops and on the rear areas. Constant attempts were made to break the enemy position but it was not until 9 January 1945 that an attack, launched at 1000, succeeded in establishing a coherent line. Launching an attack again at 0800 on 11 January 1945, the Regiment advanced to the northeast, encountering terrific small-arms, artillery, and mortar-fire and after a hard battle, the Regimental objective was secured. Elements of 4 enemy divisions, including 2 complete infantry regiments and large numbers of special troops were decimated by the 134th Infantry Regiment during the operation. A total of 427 prisoners of war were taken in addition to a large number of enemy killed and wounded.

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