Memorial

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Col Anthony J. Touart attended the Infantry School for Officers in 1923. His career went from
2nd Lieutenant in 1917, 1st Lieutenant in 1919, Captain in 1920, Major in 1935, Lieutenant-Colonel in 1940 and Colonel in 1941. He was the commanding officer from the date the 414th Infantry regiment was active again.

On 1 March 1945 the Headquarters of 2nd battalion was situated in Sindorf. The Assistant C.O. of the division, Coll Smith, was visiting the H.Q. when a grenade fell on the Headquarters. Col Touart, Col Smith and Lt Col Cummins, the C.O. of the 2nd Battalion were killed.

On the eve of the Erft crossing, Colonel Anthony Touart was host at a little dinner at an old German farmhouse, the rear CP of the 414th Regiment. General Allen and Brig Gen George A. Smith Jr., who had just come over from the 1st Division to replace Brig Gen Bryant E. Moore as assistant Division Commander, were guests of honor. Handsome, debonair Tony Touart, the idol of his regiment, was a delightful host. The roast liberated chicken was excellent, and when the party broke up, about 2030 hours, the officers were in fine spirits.

At 0330 the attack went off. General Allen was at the forward CP of the 414th, in a factory building on the edge of Sindorf, General Smith and Colonel Touart were at the battalion CP in the center of the town. There had been a Gargantuan artillery preparation with all the guns of 1st and 9th Armies shooting for miles around. A few German shells had come in, but had hardly seemed noticeable in the din of our own. Then there was a phone call and Major Fred J. Flette, the S-3, came in and said, ´There had been a direct hit on White Battalion CP. General Smith and Colonel Touart and several others have been hurt´. ´How bad is it?´, the General said. ´Pretty bad sir, I´m afraid´, said the Major in his flat voice. ´They are digging them out´.
Another call added that two battalion Commanders and the executive officer of the supporting artillery battalion were among the victims. It was a catastrophe - the doughs were just coming to grips with the enemy in the darkness a few hundred yards ahead, with virtually the entire regimental command knocked out. But the General gave nobody time to think of catastrophe. With angry aggressiveness, he put everybody to work. There were calls to Division. Kelleher was ordered up from the 415th to take over the regiment. A message was sent to Colonel Welcome P. Waltz, of the 413th: There has been an accident over here. Impel your attack with all possible aggressiveness, and be prepared to help on your right, if necessary´.
The outside door opened and Lt Manfred Schnier, dazed and covered with brick dust and blood, stood framed there for a moment like a figure from Journey´s End. He staggered and blurted, ´General Smith and Colonel Touart are dead´.

His son, Anthony J. Touart Jr. also became a Lieutenant Colonel of the Artillery in the US Army and served in Korea in Cambodja and the Congo.

He was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy.