On 28 December 1945, the Battalion moved to St. Avold, where it was attached to the 95th Infantry Division and given the task of preparing defenses to block any enemy penetration in the vicinity of St. Avold. This was the period of the German Ardennes offensive, and according to information received from prisoners of War, the next attack was to come in the St. Avold vicinity.

        The Battalion Commander, his staff and Company Commanders, after carefully reconnoitering the terrain, chose points from which to defend the city in case of an attack, and the companies dug into position. Ever since the Rangers crossed the beach on "D" Day, they had always wished for an opportunity to protect a strong point against enemy attack, vowing that they could really show the Krauts how it should be done, -- and this looked like that opportunity. It must be confessed that the Rangers actually hoped that the Krauts would try to take St. Avold. But fortunately or unfortunately, the Rangers did not get their wish, -- not in St. Avold. However, they did have that opportunity later in the year, at Zerf, and they definitely proved their point.

        On January 1st, at 0315 hours, an alert came; an enemy attack of undetermined strength was taking place in the 106th Cavalry Group sector, and if the enemy could penetrate the Cavalry defenses, the Rangers in St. Avold would have to stop the advance. All units manned positions. However, the situation in the 106th Cavalry Group sector was clarified by 1000 hours and it proved to be a small counter-attack, easily repulsed by the Cavalry.