Awards and Decorations 
to Units of the 83rd

Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon
329th Infantry Regiment

Attached is an extract from the War Department General Order cited for award of the PUC. The action described is also covered extensively in a detailed, fully illustrated article in Issue 48 (1985) of After the Battle Magazine ("Surrender on the Field of Battle: Group Elster, Beaugency, France, 1944.", pp 1-6). 
J. McGrath - Historian

CMH Extract of Paragraph 24, General Order 11, War Department, 30 January 1946 

The Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, 329th Infantry Regiment, is cited for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy from 4 to 16 September 1944.  On 4 September 1944, the Intelligence and Recon-naissance Platoon crossed the Loire River into enemy-held territory, with the mission of scouting enemy positions and movements. After about 6 days of ex-tended patrolling through an area some 70 miles wide and 100 miles deep south of the Loire River, the platoon received word through French Informants in Issoudon, France, that a large force of approximately 20,000 Germans was moving eastward in an attempt to escape through the Belfort Gap into Germany. 

Racing through enemy territory, heedless of the threat of capture or annihilation which faced them at every turn, the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon boldly effected a contact with the commander of the German forces and convinced him of the desirability of surrendering his force to the American Army.   While the platoon leader returned to the regimental command post for instructions, the platoon was charged with the mission of maintaining contact with the enemy force and restraining the local FFI from making any premature show of force.   Armed with but a few rifles, machine guns, and pistols, this courageous group virtually contained the entire enemy force by their sheer audacity and bold and aggressive patrolling. 

Constantly patrolling the area, tracking down rumors of other enemy groups, being sniped at by isolated enemy armed with burp guns, and having their vehicles sabotaged by collaborationist French, the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon held on to their prize until arrangements could be made to have the German commander meet with an authorized American representative.  This meeting occurred on 11 September 1944 at the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon command post at Romorantin.   Arrangements were made to have the German force proceed to three assembly areas along the Loire River where they would formally surrender and turn in their weapons.  

The long trek to the river began with the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon acting as guides, flank guides, and liaison agents with the French forces along the way.   Only the timely intervention of the men of the platoon prevented frequent outbreaks by the FFI who were not familiar with the situation or the terms of the surrender.  Finally, on 16 September 1944, at Beaugency, France, the German commander surrendered himself, his troops, and all of their equipment to Major General Macon, Commanding General of the 83d Infantry Division, acting on behalf of the Army commander. 

The outstanding gallantry of this intrepid group of soldiers in arranging and executing the first and largest mass surrender of the war up to that time is without parallel in the annals of military history.  The courage and devotion to duty of every man of the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, 329th Infantry Regiment, reflect the finest traditions of the armed forces of the United States.

(General Orders 221, Headquarters 83d Infantry Division, 2 November 1945, as approved by the Commanding General, United States Army Forces, European Theater (Main).