The 14th Tank Battalion was unexpectedly thrust into a key role crossing the Rhine River when, on 7 March 1945, they unexpectedly captured the Ludendorff railroad bridge at Remagen and thus established the first Allied bridgehead over the Rhine. A Company/14th led the advance across the bridge and established fighting positions on the eastern side, repelling multiple German counterattacks by armor and infantry. After ten days of withstanding enemy attacks by ground, air and waterborne forces, the Ludendorff Bridge failed; however, by this time, two additional pontoon bridges had been established and the bridgehead reinforced, allowing the unimpeded movement of U.S. forces into Germany. For their actions in helping seize and hold the railroad bridge and establishing the first Allied bridgehead over the Rhine, Captain George P. Soumas, First Lieutenant C. Windsor Miller, Sergeant William J. Goodson, and First Lieutenant John Grimball were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. The entire battalion was awarded its second Presidential Unit Citation.