▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁as ▁approved ▁by ▁the ▁Command ing ▁General , ▁European ▁Theater ▁of ▁Oper ations , ▁is ▁confirmed ▁under ▁the ▁prov isions ▁of ▁section ▁IV , ▁Circ ular ▁No . ▁ 3 3 3 , ▁War ▁Department , ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁in ▁the ▁name ▁of ▁the ▁President , ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁as ▁public ▁evidence ▁of ▁des erved ▁honor ▁and ▁distinction . ▁The ▁c itation ▁reads ▁as ▁follows : ▁ ▁The ▁ 2 9 1 st ▁Engine er ▁Com bat ▁Battalion ▁is ▁c ited ▁for ▁out standing ▁performance ▁of ▁duty ▁in ▁action ▁against ▁the ▁enemy ▁from ▁ 1 7 ▁to ▁ 2 6 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁in ▁Belg ium . ▁On ▁ 1 7 ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁at ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁the ▁German ▁Ar den nes ▁break - through , ▁the ▁ 2 9 1 st ▁Engine er ▁Com bat ▁Battalion ▁was ▁assigned ▁the ▁mission ▁of ▁establish ing ▁and ▁man ning ▁road block s ▁south ▁and ▁east ▁of ▁Mal med y , ▁and ▁with ▁the ▁defense ▁of ▁the ▁town ▁itself . ▁The ▁batt alion ▁set ▁up ▁essential ▁road block s ▁and ▁prepared ▁hast y ▁def enses . ▁Short ly ▁there after , ▁numer ically ▁superior ▁enemy ▁inf antry ▁and ▁arm ored ▁columns ▁moving ▁in ▁the ▁direction ▁of ▁Mal med y ▁were ▁engaged . ▁Though ▁greatly ▁out number ed ▁and ▁constantly ▁subject ed ▁to ▁heavy ▁enemy ▁art illery , ▁mort ar , ▁and ▁small - ar ms ▁fire ,