Click on the photo for a larger image.
These transcriptions were made from scanned images made from microfilm of the Morning Reports. In some cases, the scanned images were very diffiult to read. Uncertain transcriptions are indicated with [square brackets]. Spellings are left as in the original. Note that the different elements of D/87 were at different locations, as noted in the reports. References to elements at Baraque de Fraiture are in bold.
The aspects of the Morning Reports that are included here are:
Morning Reports were turned in each morning, showing the location of the Troop as of 2400 the previous day and any changes in personnel status that were known to have occurred the previous day or which occurred earlier but were not reported until that date. They would sometimes also contain "Record of Events" entries, and in this case these appeared every day.
The complete Location/Record of Events information for all elements of 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron for December 1944 can be seen in the December 1944 section of the 7th Armored Division Document Repository.
|
16 December 1944 Scherpenseel, Germany VK8260 Remained in same area. Conducted schools throughout the day. Weather cloudy with light rain, Morale excellent. |
17 December 1944 1 1/2 Mi S. Wallerode, Belgium VP8368 Departed fr Scherpenseel, Germany at 0315. Crossed IP at Kunrad, Holland at 0545. Arrived 1 1/2 Mi S. Wallerode, Belgium at 1750. Total distance traveled 84 1/2 miles. Weather overcast with clouds. Morale excellent. Tr reverted fr CC"A" control to Hq control. Tr commited to combat at 1800. |
18 December 1944 Beho, Belgium VP7683 Tr reverted fr Sq to CC"A" control at 0800 and CC"A" to Div control at 1700. Left bivouac 1 1/2 mi S. Wallerode, Belgium at 0800 after drawing in platoons committed in combat. Arrived at Beho, Belgium at 1100. Distance traveled 9 miles. Rcn platoons placed on outpost duty for Hq CC"A" and left in position to defend same till movement for mission forthcoming. Tr Hq shelled by enemy artillery at St Vice where we had a temporary CP. No casualties or damage done. Rcn platoons dismounted and used as Inf until movement fr vicinity of Wallerode. Drew tk and small arms fire 1 enemy tk fired upon, crew evacuated it and tk later destroyed by friendly tk fire. Some crew members killed or wounded by our fire. Weather cloudy, Morale excellent. |
|
19 December 1944 Lierneux, Belgium VP6290 Departed Beho, Belgium at 0930. Sent Rcn platoons out on missions. Hq Platoon only remained in this position. Established outpost for Div after thorough Rcn of given area. Weather cloudy with light rain, Morale excellent. |
20 December 1944 1 1/2 Mi W. Regne, Belgium VP5685 Moved fr Lierneux, Belgium at 1400 on new mission. Met enemy resistance 1 1/2 Mi E. Samree, Belgium. Had skirmish with enemy and established road block at that point. Moved Hq Platoon to 1 1/2 Mi W. Regne, Belgium. 1 EM LIA due to faulty breech on 37mm. Weather foggy, Morale excellent. |
21 December 1944 Joubival, Belgium VP6886 Hq & 1st Plat moved fr 1/12 Mi W. Regne, Belgium to Joubival, Belgium by round-about way for other route was under direct fire of enemy weapons, both arty and small arms. Distance marched 8 Mi, 1st part of march under small arms fire. At 0200 was lightly attacked by enemy Inf. At 0400 another attack occurred in force but repelled same. 3d attack at 0545, attack repulsed with heavy losses to the enemy. Captured approximately 17 between units, 7 killed, wounded known 13. The rcn platoons had been forced to withdraw as far as the rd junction inflicting losses on the enemy. 1st Plat on a rcn mission at Douchaups was baited into a trap, Results 1 Officer MIA, 1 EM LWA, 1/4 ton truck lost. Tr reassembled at 578852 Rd junction [WJ: Baraque de Fraiture] and given mission to hold at all cost. Enemy again attacked in force at 1240 and kept pressuring until 1700. Total casualties 1 off MIA, 4 EM LWA, 1 EM SWA plus [?1?] under investigation. Situation remains critical though reinforced by 8 medium tanks fr 3d Armd Div at 1800 |
|
22 December 1944 Malempre, Belgium VP5689 Enemy forced Hq platoon out of Joubival, Belgium at 1430. Established temporary bivouac and reassembled Hq Platoon plus attachments at La Falise. Moved fr there to Malempre via roundabout route. 1st & 3d Platoons remained in position at road junction 1 1/2 Mi W. Regne. They are receiving heavy enemy fire, arty, Mortar and small arms. Have stalled and stil holding the enemy fr advancing after previous attacks in force. Weather clear and cold. Morale excellent. |
23 December 1944 Werbomont, Belgium VP5499 Moved CP fr Malempre, Belgium to coordinates VP 5489 at 0800. Moved CP at 1530 [could be 1330] to Manhay, Belgium. At 2300 moved CP to Werbomont. The position at 578852 [WJ: road junction at Baraque de Fraiture] was maintained and held under 8 heavy enemy counter attacks. On the 9th attack it was abandoned by order. All vehicles had been destroyed by enemy action and those still able to leave the position on foot were to do so. The 3 Rcn Platoons held to the last minute, without a man leaving his post till ordered. the MIA list is being held up in hopes some 50 men may return. Though each and every man of this unit knew the fullness of this suicide mission, credit must be given to the fullest extent to the O's and EM for thier [sic] loyalty to dy in this action as they fully knew that nothing but death awaited them. When the order to abandon post was given they were surrounded on all sides. This unit held this post for 4 days. While there they were under constant small arms and Arty fire. On this date they were subjected to the fury of a full Div. |
24 December 1944 Mormont, Belgium VP4794 Moved Werbomont, Belgium to Mormont via [?Chansier?]. Rejoined Sq and reverted to their control. Remnants of Tr joined forces with Tr "C" and went back into the line as one unit under control of Tr "C" Comdr. Deployed the Rcn platoons and established CP at Mormont, Belgium. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[no personnel entries] |
|
Click here for an active overview of all pages at the 7th Armored Division web site