781st Tank Battalion (USA) Coy A attempted to retake Sessenheim
At dawn the next morning the 3rd Battalion of the 411th Infantry of the I03rd Division attempted to retake the town. The Battalion attacked out of a woods to the southeast. Aiding in the attack were eight tanks of Company A of the 781st Tank Battalion.
The infantry left the woods first and crossed the snow-covered field toward the town. Just as they were about to enter it the tanks joined them and then the Germans opened up with the guns of their Tiger tanks, which had been dug into positions during the night.
The American tanks were equipped with 75 and 76-mm. guns and when they saw the huge German tanks they opened fire.
"I saw the shells bounce off the turrets," said one of the tank gunners. "They were dug in so far that was all we could see. Then they opened fire at us and one after another our tanks were hit. It was like shooting clay pigeons."
In the face of the tank fire the attack withdrew and although another attack was ordered for that afternoon it was cancelled when instructions were received that the 79th Division with Task Force Linden would withdraw to the Moder River near Haguenau and set up new defenses there.
The plan provided that immediately after leaving the main line of resistance the regiments of Task Force Linden were to be placed under the direct control of the 79th Division. The 232nd Infantry was to go into corps reserve with its command post at Bossendorf. The 222nd Infantry was to continue on the 79th's left flank and take up positions behind the Moder River and northwest of the city of Haguenau. The 313th Infantry of the 79th Division was to defend Hagueneau and the area on either side of it while the 242nd Infantry would be on its right, southeast of Haguenau. To the right of the 242nd Infantry would be the 315th Infantry of the 79th, occupying the right flank of the division. Left of the division was the 103rd Infantry Division and on the right the 36th Infantry Division.