page_title: Battle of Remagen
section_title: Awards for valor
hierarchical_section_title: Battle of Remagen / Aftermath / Awards for valor
caption_attribution_description: English: Company C, 27th Armored Infantry Battalion, 9th Armored Division of the US Army, captured the railroad bridge over the Rhine at Remagen. Before they were relieved by the 276th Engineer Combat Battalion, they placed a large sign on the north tower on the western side of the bridge to welcome soldiers: "CROSS THE RHINE WITH DRY FEET, COURTESY OF 9TH ARM'D DIV". Brig. General Thomas H. Harrold, Commanding General, U.S. 9th Armored Division (center) stands with members of the division who were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their actions during the battle to capture the bridge. Left to right: T/SGT Michael Clincher, Rochelle Park, NJ; SGT William Goodson, Rushville, IN; LT John Grimball, Columbus, SC; CPT George P. Soumas; Perry, IA; BG Thomas H. Harrold; LT Karl Timmermann; West Point, NB; SSG Eugene Dorland; Manhatten, KS; SGT Joseph S. Petrinosik; Berea, OH.
context_page_description: The Battle of Remagen during the Allied invasion of Germany resulted in the unexpected capture of the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine. After capturing the Siegfried Line, the 9th Armored Division of the U.S. First Army had advanced unexpectedly quickly towards the Rhine. They were very surprised to see one of the last bridges across the Rhine still standing. The Germans had wired the bridge with about 2,800 kilograms of demolition charges. When they tried to blow it up, only a portion of the explosives detonated. U.S. forces captured the bridge and rapidly expanded their first bridgehead across the Rhine, two weeks before Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's meticulously planned Operation Plunder. The GIs' actions prevented the Germans from regrouping east of the Rhine and consolidating their positions.
  The battle for control of the Ludendorff Bridge caused both the American and German forces to employ new weapons and tactics in combat for the first time. Over the next 10 days, after its capture on 7 March 1945 and until its failure on 17 March, the Germans used virtually every weapon at their disposal to try to destroy the bridge.
context_section_description: Maj. Gen. John W. Leonard awarded Brig. General Hoge the Oak Leaf Cluster to his Distinguished Service Medal for his unit's actions in capturing the bridge and establishing the bridgehead. On 21 March 1945 Hoge was transferred to assume command of the Fourth Infantry Division under General Patton. Leonard also awarded 13 soldiers Distinguished Service Crosses and 152 Silver Star medals for their success in capturing the bridge and related action.
  From Company A, 27th Armored Infantry Battalion, Sergeant Alexander A. Drabik, the first American enlisted man to cross this bridge, and German-born Lieutenant Timmermann, the first American officer to cross the bridge, were both recognized for their actions with the Distinguished Service Cross. Sergeant Joseph DeLisio, Sergeant Michael Chinchar, Sergeant Joseph S. Petrencsik and Sergeant Anthony Samele from Company A also received the DSC.
  Lt. Hugh Mott of the 2nd Platoon, Company B, 9th Armored Engineer Battalion, led Sergeant Eugene Dorland and Sergeant John A. Reynolds onto the bridge to remove live demolition charges while under fire. All three were awarded the DSC for their actions in taking the bridge.
  Company A, 14th Tank Battalion, the first tank company to cross the Rhine, were instrumental in helping seize the railroad bridge and establishing the first Allied bridgehead over the Rhine. Once across, they established fighting positions on the eastern side, repelling multiple German counterattacks by armor and infantry. For their actions, Captain George P. Soumas, First Lieutenant C. Windsor Miller, Sergeant William J. Goodson, and 1st Lieutenant John Grimball were awarded the DSC. The entire battalion was awarded its second Presidential Unit Citation.
  From 9 to 17 March members of the 9th Military Police Company were positioned at both ends and all along the bridge to guide a steady stream of POWs, vehicles, and troops. Other MPs were detailed as snipers to watch for German frogmen who might attempt to blow up the bridge. When a vehicle was hit or the driver wounded, they helped get the vehicle off the bridge, even if it meant driving it. They manned aid stations and POW cages on both shores, and they installed and maintained wire communications across the bridge, all while under artillery fire. The 9th Military Police Platoon was recognized with the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Belgian Fourragère, and the Presidential Unit Citation for its performance at the Ludendorff Bridge. 1st LT John Hyde of the 9th Military Police Company was Bridge Control Officer. Hyde had famously denied General George Patton passage through a roadblock over the general's vigorous objections earlier in the war. Hyde implemented established rigid traffic patterns to maintain a constant flow of vehicles and troops for more than 15 days. Hyde received a Silver Star for his bravery and gallantry under fire at the Ludendorff Bridge.
  The 47th Infantry Regiment, which was the first to cross the Rhine on 8 March, bore the brunt of the aggressive German counterattack. For its actions in helping protect the bridgehead, it was recognized with a Presidential Unit Citation.
  All units of CCB/9 AIB of the 9th Armored Division were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their actions in taking and defending the bridge.
caption: Brig. General Thomas H. Harrold, Commanding General, U.S. 9th Armored Division (center), stands with members of the division who were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their actions during the battle. Left to right: T/SGT Michael Clincher, SGT William Goodson, LT John Grimball, CPT George P. Soumas, LT Karl Timmermann, SSG Eugene Dorland, and SGT Joseph S. Petrinosik.
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