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Memorial 82nd Airborne Division Mook

At the Town Hall in Mook is a plaque placed by the 82nd Airborne Division.
Text on the Plaque:

AIRBORNE

IN HONOR OF THE MEN OF THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION WHO WERE WILLING TO PAY
THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR OUR FREEDOM
LEST WE FORGET

TER NAGEDACHTENIS AAN DE MANNEN VAN DE 82STE AIRBORNE DIVISION DIE BEREID
WAREN DE UITERSTE PRIJS TE BETALEN VOOR ONZE VRIJHEID
OPDAT WIJ NOOIT VERGETEN

17-09-1944 - 17-09-2009

German counterattack at Mook
On September 20, the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment was in defense of the south-east front of the 82nd Airborne Division near Mook. A German counterattack started in various places at Wyler, Beek and later also at Mook. The Germans from Kampfgruppe Hermann managed to drive the Americans out of Mook and break through the lines with three tanks.

The War Diary of the 5th Coldstream Guards states: "During the morning enemy to the west of the Maas at Cuyk started to mortar the railway bridge and cross over by the ferry half a mile to the south, were they joined with some more Germans moving east, and put in an attack on Mook. By 1430 hrs they were reported to have driven the Americans out of Mook."

The Kampfgruppe reported at 2:10 pm that both Mook and Riethorst, just to the south, had been captured. Two hours later its troops had advanced to a line Mook-Breedeweg. With this attack the bridge at Heumen was threatened and with it the allied advance route.

ColonelBill Ekman, commander of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment asked for, and received support from, the tanks of the British Coldstream Guards. No. 3 Squadron of the 1st Battalion was sent to Mook. Ready for a counterattack. The infantrymen of the 5th Battalion were also sent to Mook. However, the Americans had already organized a counterattack that evening with support from the British tanks and expelled the Germans from Mook again.