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August 1944
Operation Anvil, Southern France landing in mid-August. A highly coordinated attack against widely spread German forces allowed American and French forces to quickly move inland. Their goal was to link up with Allied forces in the north that had originally landed in June (D-Day), drive the Germans out of France, and threaten direct invasion of Germany itself.
September-October 1944
Allies raced northward attempting to cut retreating German forces from escape. By mid-September, Operation Market-Garden failed to break into northern Germany. Instead of meeting collapsing resistance, the Allies discovered strong, organized forces ready to fight. On September 1, Dad was cited for the Bronze Star for action about 15 miles south of Bourg.
November 1944
The Vosges Mountains were rough terrain for fighting. As Allied progress slowed across the entire western front, thoughts of an end of the war by Christmas faded. Much of the fighting that took place in the Winter months was bitter and thankless as Americans sought local (tactical) advantages in preparation for a final advance in Spring.
December 1944
In mid-December the 179th Infantry briefly crossed the German border. Soon after the German army counterattacked in the Ardennes, its last effort in the west to defeat American and British forces.
