US identifies remains of WW2 tank commander killed in 1944

The US says it has identified the remains of a World War Two tank commander who was killed fighting in Germany in November 1944.

Lt Gene F Walker was battling Nazi forces near the German-Belgian border when his M4 Sherman was struck by an anti-tank round.

His crew escaped the blast, but were prevented from recovering his body by heavy fighting.

The young tanker died as US forces pushed forward and was killed on impact after an anti-tank munition struck his vehicle near the town of Hücheln.

My uncle was there as a member of 2/47 Inf. Regt. which had been attached to Task Force Richardson of the 3rd Armored Division. My uncle was wounded but survived to come home in 1946, while Lt. Walker never came home.

Here are some exerpts describing what Lt. Walker was participating in.

On 24 November, the (3rd Armored) Division Commander gave verbal instructions to the Commanding General Combat Command "A" to organize a task force to attack from positions east of ESCHWEILER and secure the high ground between LANGERWEHE and FRENZ. The enemy holding this ground had slowed the advance of a long section of the Corps front. The task force organized to do this job consisted of:

3rd Bn., 32nd Armd. Regt. (Lt. Col. Richardson, Comdg.)
2nd Bn., 47th Inf. Regt. (Attached to 3rd Armd. Div.)
2nd Plat., Co. A 703rd TD Bn.
2nd Plat., Co. A 23rd Armd. Engr. Bn.
67th Armd. FA Bn. in direct support.

Attacking northeast between two railroads (see sketch No. 14) this force met with very strong opposition. By night they had seized and secured HUCHELN and prepared to continue to advance the next morning.

At 0830 Richardson's reinforced battalion resumed the attack. Soon twelve of the thirteen tanks in the attack were bogged down in mud. The main burden of the assault then fell on the attached infantry. The attack moved slowly and cautiously. On 26 November, the Task Force was in a position to launch a coordinated attack on the objective. The tanks had been stopped by mud in the left of the sector and by heavy anti-tank fire from the vicinity of LANGERWEHE on the right. The infantry made the assault supported by direct fire from tanks and close support aircraft. The objective was taken. The infantry organized the position, and the remainder of the Task Force rejoined Combat Command "A" in the vicinity of BUSBACH on 27 November.

In a little clipping an aunt of mine kept was this: "BATTLE HONORS.-As authorized by Executive Order 9396 (sec. I, Bul. 22, WD, 1943), superseding Executive Order 9075 (sec. III, Bul. 11, WD, 1942), the following unit is cited under the provisions of AR 260-15 in the name of the President of the United States as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction. The citation reads as follows:

The 2d Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, is cited for conspicuous battle action during the 5-day period between 24 and 28 November 1944, during which time it assaulted and completely penetrated the enemy main line of resistance guarding approaches to the Roer River. After clearing scattered resistance in Nothberg on 23 November 1944, the 2d Battalion launched its main attack, at 1000 on 24 November 1944, toward Hucheln, Germany. Coming under murderous barrages of mortar, artlllery, flat-trajectory, and machine-gun fire about 300 yards west of Hucheln, the 2d Battalion, using its attached tanks, closed on the enemy and in fierce hand-to-hand fighting forced their way into the town. They immediately engaged in house-to-house fighting throughout the entire night, capturing over 60 prisoners, 2 tanks, 18 machine guns, and many bazookas and small arms. Continuing their drive forward, on 25 November, they assaulted one of the strongest positions in the enemy's belt, the town of Wllhemshohe. The cellars of all houses had been strongly reinforced and reconverted into individual pillboxes. Following a heuvy artillery barrage, the 2d Battalion closed swiftly with the enemy and, again in violent hand-to-hand fighting which lasted until midnight, forced the capitulation of the town.

Over 300 of the enemy were taken alive, in addition to much equipment including 2 antitank guns, six 20-mm antiaircraft guns, 20 machine guns, and many bazookas and small arms. On 20 November, the 2d Battalion, reinforced, resumed the attack on the castle of Frenzerberg.* Since the battalion had completely broken through the enemy's main line of defense, the enemy, in desperation, threw a company of paratroopers into the castle to halt our advance. In the face of extremely heavy artillery and mortar barrages, Company K succeeded in gaining a foothold in the outer buildings of the castle, putting up a savage battle until Companies F and G were able to force their way to the castle and assist them. For 2 days, a violent hand-to-hand battle continued in tbe castle, during which time the enemy launched repeated counter-attacks from the northeast and southeast to relieve the hard-pressed paratroopers holding out in the castle. On the third day, the castle was completely cleared of the enemy after more than 60 of the defenders had been killed. Within the 5 days from 24 to 28 November, the 2d Battalion assaulted and captured 8 heavily fortified positions, over 450 prisoners, twenty 20-mm antiaircraft guns, 2 tanks, 2 antitank guns, and hundreds of automatic weapons and small arms. ln addtion, the 2d Battalion completely destroyed one battalion of enemy infantry, one company of paratroopers, and parts of two other infantry battallions. Without ever having flank protection from units on its right and left, suffering severe casualties from the constant heavy barrages rained upon it, and having to cross more than 5 kilometers of heavily fortified and difficult terrain, the 2d Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, engaged and defeated a fanatical enemy by a magnlflcent display of courage and devotion to duty."

*Frenzerburg Castle was a Wasserschloss that was not quite the fortress of popular imagination, but did have a moat and a gatehouse. Before it was all over, the officers in command were tired of taking casualties from a delaying action and had the roof shelled and set ablaze. Despite it all, many of the defenders of "Die Burg Frenz" managed to escape in darkness. All that remains now is the "U" shaped outer courtyard which were the castle's outbuildings.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.