At the conclusion of training in July, 1944, they prepared for movements to the point of embarkation at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts.
The 778th departed the United States on 5 September 1944 aboard the SS Conte Grande (renamed USS Monticello AP-61 in 1942).
[2] The Battalion was attached to the Ninth Army, and spent over a month in encamped at SE Valognes, France living in pup tents, while rain poured almost daily.
The 778th Tank Battalion was reassigned as a task force of George S Patton's Third Army, and saw its first day of combat on 15 November 1944, participating in the Battle of Metz.
On the east side of the river were the adjoining cities of Saarlautern-Roden, Fraulautern, Ensdorf, and Lisidorf, and just beyond the cities, mountainous slopes rose up, covered with the Dragon's Teeth, mine fields, and concrete and steel pillboxes disguised as houses, all comprising the German West Wall, or Siegfried Line.
The advance of the battalion was stalled out because of a shortage of supplies, so during the months of December, 1944 to February, 1945 the 778th tankers defended a bridgehead over the river, to prevent the Germans from pushing US forces back and creating a natural barrier.
[7] The objective of the 94th was the destruction of the Seigfried Switch line of defenses, which in that sector was defended by the 11th Panzer “Ghost” Division.
By the time hostilities had ceased, some of the tanks of the battalion had traveled over 3000 miles,[13] and had taken part in the following European campaigns: Northern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, and Central Europe.