406^th Infantry Regiment

The 406th Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Maxey, Texas, on September 15, 1942. It trained at Camp Maxey, in the Louisiana maneuver area, at Camp Swift, and at Fort Dix before staging through Camp Kilmer. The regiment sailed from New York on September 12, 1944, and landed in France on September 23. Its first combat employment came while attached to the 30th Infantry Division from October 25 to November 6, followed by attachment to the 2nd Armored Division from November 6 to November 25. It crossed into Holland and Belgium on October 31 and entered Germany on November 29.

The regiment's first major divisional action came in the Roer approach. On November 30, as the 102nd Division took over the burden of attack, the 406th drove to the edge of Linnich while the 405th fought along the Lindern-Linnich road and the 407th cleared Welz. On December 1 the 406th captured Linnich, putting the division on the Roer line. After winter defense along the Roer and Wurm, the regiment prepared for Operation Grenade. When the 405th and 407th crossed the Roer on February 23, 1945, the 406th moved into position south and east of Tetz as the division reserve. With the 405th it formed a defensive arc from the Gevenich-Boslar high ground through Boslar to the river south of Tetz.

During the night fighting, German infantry penetrated a 406th battalion position before a reserve rifle company sealed the gap. The regiment cleared Katzem by February 25, took part in the seizure of Erkelenz, and on March 1 helped the 405th overrun Viersen and secure a Niers Canal bridgehead. It fought through Krefeld, held the Rhine sector, crossed at Wesel in April, and advanced to the Weser and Elbe before occupation duty near Rudolstadt.