The Division now became a part of Lt. Gen. Patton’s Third Army, a part of the 20th "Ghost" Corps. They entered the line in 19 October in the Moselle River bridgehead sector, east of Moselle and south of Metz. They patrolled the Seille River near Cherminot and were repulsing enemy attempts to cross the river.
The 2nd Battalion, 378th Regiment’s first try at offensive action lasted three days, three days in which the Maroun Marauders had uncorked Fort Yutz and the more formidable Fort d’Illange, Thionville east of the Moselle and three more towns, all in the face of stiff German opposition. No sooner had the 378th’s 2nd Battalion finished the Thionville bridgehead operation than the unit became part of Task Force Bacon, together with the 1st Battalion, 377th Infantry; the 95th Reconnaissance Troop and Company D, 378th Tank Battalion.
Task Force Bacon was commanded by a man who could never hope to win a German popularity contest. He was Col. Robert Bacon, who played so much hell with the Germans they undoubtedly had a bounty out for his scalp. He whipped his troops down the east bank at Moselle into Metz like a lawn mower cutting grass.
The Colonel moved fast, his itinerary read like this: jumping off November 16, Task Force Bacon roared through Tremery, Aysur Moselle, Boussee, Rurange and Montrequienne. Next day, six additional towns felt the Task Force’s fiery breath as doughs paced past the halfway point to Metz. Col. Bacon was given a self-propelled 155, but he didn’t use it exactly as the books say its supposed to be used. His idea of correct range for the big gun was about 200 yards. Result was that a considerable number of buildings required remodeling later.
Task Force Bacon blazed into the outskirts of Metz the same night, later spanning the Seille River, which streams the city. A pitched battle in the heart of town followed.
Task Force Bacon had its share of heroes. One in particular was Sgt. Walter Low, Company G, 378th Regiment, Smokey Junction, Tennessee, the first 95th G I to receive the Distinguished Service Cross. The action which produced the award was a short, daring and life-saving combination of guts and bluff. Two unmapped pillboxes near Fort St. Julien popped up surprisingly in the path of Company G’s advance. While his platoon pressed forward, Low and two others pulled out of the formation to investigate the pillboxes.
When equally surprising machine-gun fire blocked the platoon’s front over an open field, the pillboxes completed a squeeze play by pumping lead to the rear of the platoon. The pillboxes had to be liquidated or the platoon was in for a chop-up. A steady stream of fire forced his mates to the dirt, but Low pellmelled squarely on the objective, hand operating the sticky bolt of his M-1. Sixteen Germans occupying the strong point either were scared or bluffed. Nonchalantly, Low flushed them out, frisked them for arms. Advancing on the adjoining bunker, he bagged another 16. Adding the 32 Germans to a passing column, Low rejoined his outfit, which now was free to advance.