13^th Infantry Regiment

The 13th Infantry Regiment was activated at Fort Jackson on July 14, 1940, as part of the 8th Infantry Division. After motorized training, redesignation as standard infantry, and movement to England, it landed in France in early July 1944. Its first major mobile role came in Brittany, where it was attached to the 4th Armored Division during the Rennes operation. On August 3-4 the regiment attacked from the north, forced its way into the northeastern outskirts under small-arms, automatic-weapons, and antiaircraft fire, and marched into Rennes after the German withdrawal.

The regiment then rejoined the 8th Division in Brittany. At Brest it fought in the slow reduction of trenches, concrete emplacements, and fortified approaches before the division shifted to the Crozon Peninsula. In November the regiment entered the Huertgen Forest. A battalion under the 121st Infantry helped renew the attack on Huertgen, cut the Huertgen-Kleinhau highway, gained a foothold in the village, and seized Hill 401. The regiment also held defensive positions around Vossenack and later took over Castle Hill after the Ranger fight.

On February 23, 1945, the 13th Infantry crossed the flooded Roer at Dueren under severe conditions. Swift current, failed motors, artillery fire, and broken ferries scattered the assault, leaving only fragments east of the river during the first day. The regiment nevertheless fought through the ruins of Dueren, cleared the town after concentrated artillery support, and then served with the 3rd Armored Division during the exploitation. In April it captured Siegen, attacked into the Ruhr pocket, and reached the Ruhr at Hattingen, where contact with Ninth Army forces split the pocket south of the river. At the end of the campaign the regiment briefly assisted the 82nd Airborne Division near the Elbe before the 8th Division moved toward Schwerin and the German surrender.