253^rd Infantry Regiment

The 253rd Infantry Regiment was activated at Camp Blanding on June 15, 1943, as part of the 63rd Infantry Division and trained at Camp Van Dorn before moving overseas late in 1944. It landed in France on December 7. While the division's advanced elements operated as Task Force Harris, the regiment served under the 44th Infantry Division from the end of December through early February. Its first combat came in the Vosges-Maginot Line sector during the German winter offensive south of Bitche, on a front shaped by patrol warfare, fortified villages, and forest fighting.

After returning to divisional control, the 253rd became one of the 63rd Division's principal assault regiments in the Saar basin. It fought the Battle for Auersmacher from February 17 to 19, 1945, then took part in the reduction of the Welferding salient. In early March it fought through heavily defended woods toward Hahnsbusch as the division prepared for the West Wall attack. On March 15 the 63rd attacked southeast of Saarbruecken, clearing Fechingen, Eschringen, and Ensheim, and the 253rd helped force the breach that opened the German frontier defenses near St. Ingbert.

Once the West Wall broke, the regiment moved with the division into Germany. After the Rhine crossing and relief of the 44th Division near Heidelberg, it advanced behind armor into the Jagst-Kocher country. On April 4 the 253rd forced the Jagst in the Griesheim-Herbolzheim area and fought house to house in Moeckmuehl. It then helped turn the Hardenhauser Forest position, crossed the Kocher, and pushed to the Brettach River near Neuenstadt and Langenbeutingen. The regiment's final combat came during the rapid April advance toward the Rems and Danube before occupation duties replaced offensive operations.