That night the regiment moved to a forward assembly area in preparation for continuing the attack eastward. Orders were issued for the First Battalion to attack the village of Holzheim about two miles east, and the Second Battalion to attack Medendorf -- south of Holzheim.
At 0400, the First Battalion, in a column of companies, started toward Holzheim with the men carrying weapons, ammunition, food and blankets on their backs. The roads were open to only light tracked vehicles like Weasels, and only a few of these were available. Therefore, objectives had to be taken quickly, roads opened, and supplies had to be brought up as soon as possible to support the men as they continued the attack.
In the early afternoon, the First Battalion arrived at Holzheim where a pitched battle was fought for the town. Two companies, B and C, supported by Hq1 light machineguns and 81mm mortars entered the town by two different routes.
Company B easily advanced against light opposition. Company C ran into several German light tracked vehicles mounting 20mm guns. These weapons were destroyed and the company moved into Holzheim.
Approximately ninety Germans were captured during the assault and were held in the town square. In a failed escape attempt, about half of the Germans were killed. None escaped. 1st Sgt. Leonard Funk (Co C) thwarted the escape attempt, saving countless American lives. Sgt. Funk was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
The regiment continued to attack seizing the town of Lanzerath - three miles east of Holzheim. The heavy snows continued to make walking with a heavy load almost impossible and trailbreakers had to be changed frequently to keep them from dropping with fatigue. The men labored up steep mountainsides, slipped down icy trails, and sloshed through half-frozen streams.
Lanzareth fell after slight resistance. The regiment was now deep into the Siegfried Line, as evidenced by the heavily defended fortifications and artillery fires encountered.
On February 4, the 508th PIR moved into old barracks near the Rench-eux-Vielsalm complex from which the regiment had withdrawn on Christmas Eve.
On the night of February 7, the 508th PIR moved from the rest area in Rencheux to the Aachen area. The regiment was now in a section of Germany where civilians were still living, so troops were warned that fraternization was VERBOTEN! | 
