"YOU are all familiar with the situation and the Division order. CT 304, with 1st battalion 385th Infantry attached, supported by Division and Corps Artillery, attacks tonight at 2300 in the zone indicated on this operations map. The Prüm River is our line of departure. Richardson, your battalion will cross the river one kilometer north of Holsthum. Your initial objective will be the high ground southwest of Wolsfeld. Be prepared to continue your attack east on my order. Charlie Company is attached to you. When this company has crossed the river it will attack south seizing the high ground just north of Holsthum and protect your right flank. When Green's battalion gets over, Charlie Company reverts to his control. You maintain contact with the 10th Infantry on our left and protect the left flank of the Regiment. Green, you will make your crossing in the vicinity of Holsthum. After capturing that town leave Charlie Company there to hold it and head the rest of your battalion south along the river and grab that ridge just north of Dalheim Creek. Be prepared to pull back into Holsthum in reserve after Clowes passes you. Clowes, your battalion will follow Green's across the river. After Green clears Holsthum move up on his left flank and attack along the top of the ridge south toward Irrel. When you have passed grid line 41 you revert back to the control of CO 385th Infantry. Barber, your battalion will continue to hold the south bank of the river below Holsthum until Green has cleared the north bank along your front. You will then follow in the trace of Clowes and when he's out of your way launch your attack on Richardson's right in the direction of Alsdorf. Take that place! Establish a bridgehead across the Nims River and be prepared to continue the attack east on my order.

"Except for counter-battery, all artillery fires will be on call through battalion liaison officer. The 302nd FA will be prepared to displace promptly into the Nims bridgehead. Cannon company will initially reinforce the fires of the Field Artillery from present locations and be prepared to give assault battalions close support after crossing the Nims River. Anti-Tank Company remains in present positions until the Prüm is bridged. They will then prepare to give close support to the attacking battalions, and will pay particular attention to protection against tank attack from the south and southeast. The Tank Company will remain in the present area till the Prüm and the Nims have both been bridged. It will then move into the Nims bridgehead in the vicinity of Alsdorf and prepare to assist the attack.
The Tank Destroyer company will be prepared initially, to reinforce the fires of the Field Artillery and to move promptly into the Nims bridgehead. The Chemical Mortar Company will establish liaison with each Infantry battalion and support the attack initially from present position with WP or HE on call. The CT Engineer company will furnish assault boats and install foot bridges as previously planned. It will maintain roads in the regimental area. Particular attention will be paid to clearing the Holsthum-Wolsfeld road of mines. Division Engineers will install heavy vehicular bridge across the Prüm at Holsthum and the Nims River at Alsdorf.

"Supply and evacuation plans as previously announced. Battalion vehicles remain in present areas until heavy bridge at Holsthum is installed. Regimental motor officer will coordinate movement across bridge. Priority will be to vehicles of attacking battalions, then to Anti-Tank Company and Tank Destroyer Company. The regimental command post will open at Ferschweiler at 2000 with advance message center at Holsthum as soon as that place is taken. Subsequent CPs as indicated on operations map. Battalion CPs initially at present locations. Thereafter report your location. Are there any questions? It is now 1845. Synchronize your watches."
He paused and glanced around the faces in the group:
"Gentlemen, I need not remind you that this is our first attack. It must be successful. I know you and your men are capable. Good luck to you."
First battalion established itself in an area around Diesburgershof about a thousand yards directly west of Ferschweiler. 2nd battalion struck off to the north of the town and stopped in a woods somewhat to the east awaiting the signal to go. 3rd battalion passed through Ferschweiler striking towards Holsthum, relieving elements of the 10th Infantry as they went along.

Everything was in readiness. The Prüm would be crossed at two spots, one to the north and the other to the south of Holsthum. Out of the 1st battalion two companies, a bare kilometer south of the town, were poised to move. Able Company had the mission of securing high ground outside the limits of the town. Baker Company was to secure the town itself. Charlie Company was attached to the 2nd battalion for its coordinated move with the 5th Division to the north. Dog Company, heavy weapons, crossed at Schankweiler and set up positions for preparation fire into the town. There are two extracts, one from the 2nd battalion history and the other from the artillery diary (written while with Easy Company) which reproduce part of picture most vividly.
"On the evening of the twenty-fourth the men shed all excess equipment, picked up their emergency rations and ammunition and generally prepared for the coming battle. At 2300 that night they left the assembly area on foot and marched to Schankweiler where they were joined by their supporting weapons. Immediately thereafter came the 'jump-off'.

"F COMPANY worked the left half of the battalion sector that morning . . . experienced same type of opposition. As they crossed the ridge . . . artillery concentration . . . light automatic weapons but continued the attack. The 1st, 3rd and weapons platoons . . . through the barrage . . . into a ravine . . . gained their positions on the fringe of the clearing. The 2nd platoon . . . undergoing . . . fire from the flanks and the rear, one squad losing eight men. Orders . . . to withdraw . . . supporting artillery to break up (enemy) counter-attack . . . The battalion dug in a perimeter of defense in these woods that night and took a terrific pounding from enemy artillery.

"The Communications men, Anti-Tankers, A & P platoons an Medical Section earned the respect and admiration of the fighting troops that night. It had been impossible to get any motor transportation across the river and consequently the big AT guns were not in use. Instead the AT men aided the A & P platoon in carrying fresh supplies of ammunition and hot food to the men, making as many as six round trips over the tortuous route that night. The communications men set up and maintained a network between the several fighting units on '300' sets, establishing relay stations where the terrain hampered good reception and at the same time kept in constant contact with sets for twenty-four hours without a break.