[geds]

Tower Hill in the Tear Drop Battle at the Moselle River crossing March 14-16, 1945. Companies I and L had to climb 2900 ft, almost straight up after capturing and securing the town of Alf. I Company’s engagement was the costliest of the Moselle crossing resulting in 9 deaths and 34 casualties, resulting in a unit effective strength of 164 – down from the assigned strength of 186. German losses were 14 POWs and 60 killed; an undetermined number were able to escape in boats across the Moselle River. Many regrouped in the town of Zell and were killed or captured there.

The engagement involved three false surrenders by the Germans who raised a white flag of surrender and then fired on Co. I GIs who exposed themselves to accept the surrendering troops.

The tower – called the Prinzenkopf – was used as an observation post and was subsequently destroyed after the battle.