324^th Infantry Regiment

The 324th Infantry Regiment was activated at Fort Lewis, Washington, on February 1, 1943, and assigned to the 44th Infantry Division. After training in the Louisiana Maneuver Area and at Camp Phillips, it sailed from Boston in September 1944 and landed in France on September 15. Its first combat came in Lorraine, where it was briefly attached to the 79th Infantry Division and then entered the 44th Division line near Foret de Parroy. On November 13, 1944, the regiment attacked from Leintrey on the division left, advancing toward Sarrebourg through mud, mines, artillery, and machine-gun fire.

After the 114th Infantry broke open the German flank, the 324th supported the 71st's drive along Route N-4. During the Saverne Gap operation, it followed French armor north of Sarrebourg and crossed the Sarre River at Sarraltroff. In December the regiment helped carry the 44th Division into the Low Vosges and the Maginot Line. It secured ground near Ratzwiller and Montbronn, then supported the assault on Fort Simserhof by seizing high ground near Hottviller north of the fort. During Operation Nordwind and the winter defensive period, it remained in the Sarreguemines-Rimling sector. On February 15, 1945, it led the division's attack through Buschenbusch Woods during the reduction of the Gros Rederching salient.

The 324th crossed into Germany with the division in March, then spent much of April in detached service. Attached to VI Corps and then the 4th Infantry Division, it drove southeast toward Rothenburg while the rest of the 44th followed the 10th Armored Division's exploitation. Rejoining the division on April 19, it crossed the Danube at Ehingen and helped clear Ulm alongside armored and French forces. In the final Alpine drive, the regiment moved through Fern Pass, cleared Imst, advanced toward Landeck, and occupied the town on May 5 before contact was made at the Resia Pass.