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half hour later, he found that the Germans had completely withdrawn and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.
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ROY E. LINDQUIST
Colonel, Infantry Commanding |
Incl., sworn Statements
Lt. Lloyd L. Polette
Major Otho E. Holmes |
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