Kleinblittersdorf,
Germany
By direction of the President of the United States of America, the Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to the: Third Battalion and Companies A and B, 253d Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy from 17 to 24 Feb 1945, near Kleinblittersdorf, Germany. These troops were given the mission of leading the reentry of the Seventh Army troops into Germany by effecting a crossing of the Blies and Sarre rivers and attacking a well-organized and partially fortified enemy position. With gallantry and determination the objective was quickly secured with very light casualties. The enemy then literally attacked from all directions with armor and infantry and, at one time, succeeded in penetrating the main line of resistance to dig in. By great courage, fortitude, and cohesion of the personnel of the 3d Battalion and Companies A and B, this and all other enemy counterattacks were eliminated. On the night of 18 February, the enemy succeeded in reaching Auermacher, thus cutting off the 3d Battalion and Company A from B Company. The attacking enemy forces were stopped by Company A and eliminated by determined fire from the 3d Battalion and Company B, combined with that of Company A, while attempting to penetrate further south towards the bridge over the Sarre river. During this action, 120 Germans were killed, an unknown number wounded and 210 were taken prisoner, at a cost to these units of 15 killed and 45 wounded. The outstanding courage, skill and devotion to duty displayed by the officers and men of the 3rd Battalion and Companies A and B, 253rd Infantry Regiment,reflected the highest credit on the United States Army (WDGO 45, 15 May 1946)
Bubingen, Germany
By direction of the President of The United States of America, the Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to: Company C, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy from 3 to 5 March 1945 at the rock quarry northeast of Bubingen, Germany. This quarry, the dominant terrain feature in the area and the last main enemy defense before the Siegfried Line, with its sheer cliffs, maze of tunnels, piles of loose rock and covered routes of approach which greatly favored the defenders, was assaulted at 1400 on 3 March 1945 by Company C, in conjunction with an attack by the 1st Battalion, 255th Infantry, attacking on the left to secure the woods northeast of the quarry. While attempting to seize the northern end of the quarry, they were halted for 2 days and nights by concentrated enemy mortar and machine-gun fire and suffered tremendous losses. At the same time, two companies on the left had been unable to advance because of the overwhelming fire power directed at them from the northern end of the quarry. On the night of 4 March, reconnaissance patrols from Company C succeeded in locating some of the well camouflaged machine-gun positions. Later that night, the company, with less than one-quarter of its original strength and the men exhausted by 2 days and nights of violent action, renewed the attack. With great valor, skill, and determination, the assault was pressed home and the final heights were carried. The extraordinary courage, fidelity and tenacity of purpose in pressing the attack and capturing this vital enemy position reflect the highest credit on the officers and men of Company C, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division and the armed forces of the United States. (WD GO 44, 13 May 1946)
Presidential Citation- 253d -Page 6
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