On 18 September 1944 the 17th built a bridge across the Geleenbeek stream near Kathagermolen as all the bridges across the stream around Schinnen had been destroyed by the retreating German army.
During the construction, the engineers were fired on by enemy machine gun emplacements in the treeline on the far bank.
The gunfire missed the engineers and a US tank responded, firing several high-explosive rounds into the trees and silencing the enemy guns.
Two 60 feet beam bridges were completed: one at Kathagermolen and one at Schinnen.
The 17th saw frequent action fighting in Alsace.
On 26 November 1944 at Ciney, Belgium, as part of the Ardennes Offensive, Gen. Collier was ordered by Gen. Harmon to hold Ciney with the combined forces of the 2nd Armored Battalion, the 41st Armored Infantry, the 2nd Bn.
66th Armor, a platoon from "A" Company of the 17th Engineers, and another platoon from "A" Company of the 702d Tank Destroyer Bn.
The 17th Armored Engineers was ordered to secure Merzenhausen and Barmen to cut off communication lines to the Roer as part of Operation Queen.
In Lonlay-l'Abbaye the 17th blew up a bridge in center of town before moving on to blow up an enemy ammunition dump.
On 18 September 1944 the 17th built a bridge across the Geleenbeek stream near Kathagermolen as all the bridges across the stream around Schinnen had been destroyed by the retreating German army. During the construction, the engineers were fired on by enemy machine gun emplacements in the treeline on the far bank. The gunfire missed the engineers and a US tank responded, firing several high-explosive rounds into the trees and silencing the enemy guns. Two 60 feet beam bridges were completed: one at Kathagermolen and one at Schinnen. The 17th saw frequent action fighting in Alsace. On 26 November 1944 at Ciney, Belgium, as part of the Ardennes Offensive, Gen. Collier was ordered by Gen. Harmon to hold Ciney with the combined forces of the 2nd Armored Battalion, the 41st Armored Infantry, the 2nd Bn. 66th Armor, a platoon from "A" Company of the 17th Engineers, and another platoon from "A" Company of the 702d Tank Destroyer Bn. The 17th Armored Engineers was ordered to secure Merzenhausen and Barmen to cut off communication lines to the Roer as part of Operation Queen. In Lonlay-l'Abbaye the 17th blew up a bridge in center of town before moving on to blow up an enemy ammunition dump.
17th Armored Engineer Battalion