CPL. Alfred S. ROXBURGH

Alfred was born in San Diego in 1925, but moved to Sacramento when he was a teenager. After completing high school in 1943, Alfred enlisted in the Army. During basic training at Camp Shelly, Al was assigned to an anti-tank platoon under the 65th Infantry Division, specializing in the 57 mm gun. In September of 1944, Al was transferred to a Cannon Crew of the 289th Infantry Regiment, 75th Infantry Division. It was with this unit Al would see his first stint of combat. Describing that occurrence, Al wrote in a wartime letter, "It started after the night firefight just ahead of us in Sadzot.”

On December 27, 1944, when it appeared that Grandmenil could not be conquered through Manhay, the Germans decided to change their plans. It was the last attempt of the 2nd SS Panzer Korps to break out of the Bulge through Allied lines. 

Without the Americans knowing it, there was a gap between the first and second battalion of the 289th infantry regiment of about 1000 yards. This gap was just south of Briscol and east of Sadzot. (See Map Below) Thus, at zero hour, the Nazi assault force, which consisted of the 6th Panzer Army, the 12th SS Hitler Jugend Panzer Division and 25th SS Panzer grenadier regiment, started to move through the rugged hills and forest. The 2nd SS Das Reich Panzer Division followed along with a reinforced reconnaissance battalion, cannons, and two infantry companies. The grenadiers made good progress, but their radio failed in the thick woods, and it would appear that a part of the attackers became disoriented. At least 2 companies from the 25th Panzer Grenadier Regiment did manage to find their way through the gap between the BN’s of the 289th and followed the creek into SADZOT, where they struck about two hours after the jump-off.

On December 28th, the first report of the Nazi appearance in SADZOT was relayed to higher headquarters at 0200 by forward artillery observers belonging to the 24th Armored FA BN, whose howitzers were north of the village. 

Inside SADZOT, 87th Chemical BN and a tank destroyer platoon recovered from their surprise of German forces entering the town and were able to establish a firm hold on the north side of the village. Commanding General Hickey immediately alerted the 509th Parachute Infantry near EREZÉE to make an assault from west and east. But before the paratroopers really made any ground, they ran into elements of 2nd SS Panzer Division. 

This engagement in the darkness seemed to have been a free-for-all affair. 

The American radios, like the Nazi, failed to function in this terrain; the Nazis were confused and put mortar fire on their own neighboring platoons; and the fight on both sides was carried by squads and platoons firing at whatever moved. 

When daylight came, the paratroopers received artillery support from the 289th Infantry Regiment and by 1100 hours, the 509th had trapped the remaining Germans inside Sadzot.  Roxburgh specifically recalls the barrage in his wartime writings, “We fired barrage after barrage into a target area south of our location.” 

After this initial battle in Sadzot, Al went up into town, which was just a few hundred yards up the road and saw dead Krauts. Describing the scene, Al said “light tankers sent to hell, frozen stiff. Just as we just started to look at them... 'schuoom whoomp!' so we hit the dirt and then grabbed the jeep and tore out of there. I saw my first dead men on this day."

After the success of repelling the Germans that made it into Sadzot, there still remained the task of closing the gap between the two BN’s of the 289th. After an initial failed attempt to seal the gap, General Hickey sent the 509th and 6 light tanks towards that position on the morning of the 29th. However, the enemy had reorganized in the meantime. The re-enforced and reorganized German enemy begun a new march on SADZOT. In the collision that followed, a section of German AT guns destroyed 3 of the light tanks.  After this misadventure and loss of a number of casualties suffered by the 509th, HICKEY and the BN commanders worked out a new coordinated attack. 

In the new objective, the paratroopers would carry out a twilight assault, which would force the "Hun" back. Then the 2nd BN of the 112th would make a night attack with 60-mm illuminating mortar shells fired by the 289th. Likewise, crossing through deep ravines the infantrymen of the 112th/28th ID also would help in driving the enemy from their positions.

Due to this combined effort, at dawn on December 29th, the gap finally was closed and the Germans were repelled. 

After the battle, Al again decided to "go up for a look at the hell of war" into the town of Sadzot, which is where he picked up some souvenirs. In a note, Al described that this is where the "death head" or panzer collar tab insignia was taken from one of the dead SS panzer division men. The steel helmet was taken from one of the dead paratroopers in Sadzot. There are what appears to be traces of blood inside of the top liner. (B&W photo below showing a fallen Fallschirmjager solider in the aftermath, Sadzot)  

Al and the 289th continued to play a role through the end of the war, fighting in the Colmar Pocket and across the Rhine River. After occupation duties and returning in 1946, Alfred went back to the Sacramento area and worked for the State of California for 37 years.

In his later years, after being disappointed by the lack of history available on the 289th IR,  he published his own unit history with compiling mounds of research and eyewitness accounts. He was also interviewed in 2001 for the Veteran's History Project which is housed at this link: https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.12805/

Al passed away in 2006 at the age of 81. Al's uniform, portrait painting, souvenir bring-backs, scrapbooks, and miscellaneous mementos (showcased) were items directly acquired from his estate. Thank you for your service, CPL. Roxburgh.