Keyser in Mineral County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
REPLACED
CHECK OTHERS NEARBY
Key Terrain
December 1944
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 12, 2020
1. Key Terrain Marker
Inscription.
Key Terrain. December 1944.
Two Armies, two objectives, one piece of ground... Kesternich.
The Allied Army. While Berlin was the political heart of Germany, the Ruhr Industrial Valley , with its coal mines, blast furnaces, and factories , was the main objective to eliminate Germany's war machine. Once the Allies had a foothold at Normandy, the focus became the Ruhr Valley and knocking out the German industrial base. The Allied main attack would move in the north through France, Belgium and Luxembourg, with secondary attacks in the middle and south of Europe. The German Army Official History of the 78th Division The Germans needed Kesternich, and they sent an overwhelming force to take it.. Meanwhile, the Germans had been planning their own "Ardenne Offensive", an attack to the English Channel, splitting the Allied Forces in two. Their intent was to cut Allied supply lines, seize fuel stocks and material, and annihilate Allied Forces to the north of their salient. Unknown to US Forces, the town of Kesternich was adjacent to the German main supply route in the north for the Ardennes Offensive. Also unknown to the Allies, the German attack was set for December 16, 1944., For two opposing Armies, for two entirely different reasons. one piece of ground , Kesternich , was key terrain!,
Note. Do not be confused by similar names and spellings. For example, Brigadier General Hoge (Combat Command B, 9th Armored Division) and General Hodge (12th Army Group Commander) are two different American generals. The Roer and Ruhr Rivers are two close, but different, rivers in Germany. Please take your time in locating and noting these differences, as it will make your understanding of what Ed Kelley did come to life. What Kelley did was, in fact, heroic , he was the only soldier in the 78th Division to earn the Medal of Honor in World War II. Ed Kelley lived here in Keyser, he studied in the school in front of you, and he walked where you're standing right now. Take the time to understand the importance of what one person, like Ed Kelley, or a group of people, like the men of the 78th Division can do. As Margaret Mead once said, "Never think that a small group of committed individuals cannot change the world; it is the only thing that ever has."
Two Armies, two objectives, one piece of ground... Kesternich
The Allied Army
While Berlin was the political heart of Germany, the Ruhr Industrial Valley with its coal mines, blast furnaces, and factories was the main objective to eliminate Germany's war machine. Once the Allies had a foothold at Normandy, the focus became the Ruhr Valley and knocking out the German industrial base. The Allied main attack would move in the north through France, Belgium and Luxembourg, with secondary attacks in the middle and south of Europe.
By mid-December 1994, US Forces had advanced through France, Belgium and Luxembourg, and had just entered Germany. Germany's Roer River was the last major natural obstacle before striking the main objective the Ruhr Valley. Yet, it was too dangerous for American troops to cross the Roer until they destroyed or controlled the Schwammenauel Dam it controlled water flow between them and their objective. From Generals Eisenhower and Bradley to company commanders and sergeants, US Forces knew that to proceed without control would risk thousands of lives and key supply line should the Germans decide to blow the dam or release flood waters. Simply put, the dam was essential top US success in reaching our number one objective.
Air raids in early December 1944 proved unsuccessful, thereby making a ground assault on that dam through the Monshau Corridor necessary. On the key high ground of the Monshau Corridor ground from which the entire region could be observed and fired upon was the town of Kesternich. The American 78th Division began their assault on Kesternich on December 13, 1944, just three days before the Germans were to launch their biggest offensive since the assault by Allied Forces at Normandy on D-Day.
The German Army
Official History of the 78th Division The Germans needed Kesternich, and they sent an overwhelming force to take it.
Meanwhile, the Germans had been planning their own "Ardenne Offensive", an attack to the English Channel, splitting the Allied Forces in two. Their intent was to cut Allied supply lines, seize fuel stocks and material, and annihilate Allied Forces to the north of their salient. Unknown to US Forces, the town of Kesternich was adjacent to the German main supply route in the north for the Ardennes Offensive. Also unknown to the Allies, the German attack was set for December 16, 1944.
For two opposing Armies, for two entirely different reasons. one piece of ground Kesternich was key terrain!
Note
Do not be confused by similar names and spellings. For example, Brigadier General Hoge (Combat Command B, 9th Armored Division) and General Hodge (12th Army Group Commander) are two different American generals. The Roer and Ruhr Rivers are two close, but different, rivers in Germany. Please take your time in locating and noting these differences, as it will make your understanding of what Ed Kelley did come to life. What Kelley did was, in fact, heroic he was the only soldier in the 78th Division to earn the Medal of Honor in World War II. Ed Kelley lived here in Keyser, he studied in the school in front of you, and he walked where you're standing right now. Take the time to understand the importance of what one person, like Ed Kelley, or a group of people, like the men of the 78th Division can do. As Margaret Mead once said, "Never think that a small group of committed individuals cannot change the world; it is the only thing that ever has."
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 26.382′ N, 78° 58.615′ W. Marker was in Keyser, West Virginia, in Mineral County. It was on West Piedmont Street (West Virginia Route 46) just west of North Davis Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 32 N Davis St, Keyser WV 26726, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in the Eastern Panhandle. It was also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.
Other markers no longer nearby. The First Battle of Kesternich (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Battle of the Bulge (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); D-Day (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); World War II (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Regaining the Initiative (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Kelley Memorial Plaza (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Medal of Honor (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Battle for Kesternich (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another
Photographed by Craig Doda, August 1, 2026
3. Key Terrain Marker Site
marker now near it); The Aftermath of Kesternich / Germans Retreat (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Bridge at Remagen (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named The Bridge at Remagen (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named The Bridge at Remagen (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Encircling the Nazi War Machine & German Capitulation (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on August 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 300 times since then and 19 times this year. Last updated on August 12, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos:1. submitted on July 14, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on July 14, 2020. 3. submitted on August 12, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.
