Posted by Allan Wilford Howerton The 334th's Third Battalion with Company K leading captured the southern and eastern portion of Prummern on November 20 but ran into heavy opposition from pill boxes at a place called Mahogany Hill slightly to the north and east of the village. The hill was taken two days later on November 22 by Company L while companies I and K moved forward to attack the village of Beeck. However, they were not successful and Beeck did not fall until several days later to other elements of the division. Pvt. Reuff was most likely a victim of shellfire while K-334 was held up somewhere between Prummern and Beeck. The Draper history also notes that "The 334th's Third Battalion during this period organized carrying parties from the rear to bring socks, water, food, and clean rifles to the foxholes at night." One wonders if Pvt. Reuff lost his life to artillery fire while on one of these missions. There is no way to know. The adoption by your friend of his grave at Margratan is greatly appreciated. Link: Story of an 84th Division company
on May 11, 2006, 12:47 pm, in reply to "Private Oscar L Reuff 334ste infantery regiment"
64.12.116.6
The 84th Infantry Division roster lists Private Oscar L. Reuff or Cortland, Ohio as a member of Company K, Third Battalion, 334th Infantry noting that he was killed in action on November 26, 1944.
The division history, "The 84th Infantry Division in the Battle of Germany" by Lt. Theodore Draper notes: "on November 18 and November 19, when we had launched the attack on Prummern and Geilenkirchen, our advance was relatively rapid and the objectives were taken. From November 20 to November 24, we tried to push our advantage, but the enemy's defenses stiffened as we penetrated deeper into his strong points. On November 25, a lull settled on the battlefield. The first phase was over. For the next three days, both sides licked their wounds. For us, it was a time above all to reopen the question, to hit the enemy and this time to hit him decisively in another way. In that mud, rain, shellfire and desolation, November 20-27 was a long week."
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