HEADQUARTERS, 508 PARACHUTE INFANTRY
A.P.O. 230, U. S. ARMY

19 October 1944

SUBJECT:   Capture of Bridge #10

TO:              Commanding General, 82 A/B Division, APO 409, U.S. Army

1. Due to the numerous activities of this Regiment, until recently it has been difficult to obtain the facts as to the capture of Bridge £10 (671604). The following report is now submitted, based on sworn statements made by those who have knowledge of the facts.

2. Although the capture of Bridge #10 was not specifically prescribed as a mission for this Regiment, it was undertaken on 10 September. One platoon of Company F, commanded by 1st Lt. Lloyd L. Polette, moved out from the 2nd Battalion defensive position at approximately 180330 to seize and hold the bridge. The platoon reached a point about 500 yards SE of the bridge at daylight, where it became engaged in a heavy fire fight with a German unit defending the bridge. The platoon advanced by fire and movement to within 150 yards of the bridge where it was pinned down and could not advance further. In the meantime a platoon of Company E, commanded by Lt. Tomlinson, had reached bridge #9 (677583) without opposition and reported this bridge to have been destroyed. Lt. Polette reported heavy opposition and requested support in the form of another rifle platoon and some 81mm mortar fire. Accordingly, Lt. Tomlinson's platoon was ordered to reinforce Lt. Polette in his attack on Bridge #10 and a section of 8lmm mortars was made available to Lt. Polette. During the morning Lt. Polette continued to engage the Germans on Bridge #10 with fire and attempted unsuccessfully to seize the bridge, suffering heavy casualties in doing so. The Germans made several attempts to place demolitions on the bridge but were prevented from succeeding by fire from Lt Polette's platoon. The Germans succeeded however in blowing the railway bridge which runs alongside of the highway bridge. At about 1100 the mortars arrived and Lt. Polette had them fire concentrations on the bridge. After the mortar concentration had been placed on the German position the Germans appeared to withdraw. Lt Polette's platoon had been badly disorganized and had suffered heavy casualties during the morning so he withdrew the platoon about 300 yards, contacted Lt. Tomlinson's platoon, reorganized, and prepared to assault the bridge with both platoons. Upon moving back to within sight of the bridge, and about a half hour later, he found that the Germans had completely withdrawn and that there were some civilians and a small group of men from the 504 Parachute Infantry at the bridge, he established a defense of the bridge with both platoons and remained there until recalled by his Battalion at around 1730.