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BPlanning

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1Bibliograph7

1-

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11-

BibliographyBibliographyBibliograph7 . . .* see. . . .* so. *. . . . . . ,. . . . .* so. . . . . . .22.# .-

2Introduction

2-

Introduction

22-

IntroductionIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . t. . . . . t. . . . t. . . . . 3:33-

Prelude

:-

3Prelude

3-

Prelude

3-

Prelude

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Planning

8-

Planning

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1Geographical

11-

Geographical

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1Geographical

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Geographical

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1Geographical

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7

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Geographical FeaturesFeatures.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1212.* 1212-

Marshalling

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2Marshalling.

12-

Marshalling

12-

Marshalling.

12-

MarshallingMarshallingMarshalling.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,. . . .1313. .13-

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cord or a history for the period concernedconcorned is non-existantnonexistantexistentnon-exinonexiexit- stantscantstat , and despitedespit-

eall

desp-iteall care used in a five-weekfiveweek- research , and assemblyasseasses b of the materials , itit-

is

it-

sit-

is

it-

sit-

is

it-

sis recognized that the information is nobnotknob complete in all details , and unun-

doubtedly

un-unun-

doubtedly

un-

doubtedly

¬-

doubtedlydoubted involves minor errors of fact.facttact.tact. Therefore before a final officialoffioialofficial-

historyoffi-

cialoffioial-

history

official-

historyoffi-

cialhistory of this phase of the Normandy campaign is prepared , the gaps willwill-

have

will-

able

will-

have

will-

able

will-

have

will-

ablehave to be filledfillertfillet andan the errors corrected.correctedcorrected.-

Realizing

corr-ected

corrected-

.ltealizing

corr-ected

corrected.-

Iteali

correc-

ted.

RealizingltealizinglegalizingItealiItalia zing that moraornofLRolf°° t uulWILhrswithers;; : i.i. :.: rs of the ArmyAr know so little of the compo-compocompo-

dcomp-

ocomp-

osition

comp-

osition

comp-

osition

-d

sitionsitting and missionmismils ion of anC111 infantry Divisionivision , Military Police PlatoonPlat.oon. , I wouldwoul-

dlike

worl-

dlier

woul-

dlike

worl-

dlier

woul-

dlike

worl-

dlierlike to inject a few words on the subject , at this point.point. If one were toto-

look

t-ook

to-

look

t-ook

jAA-

h

;3

look at this unit in 1942 , he would find the following : Personnel included !

72 men and 4 officers , with the following breakdown :

1.1. Platoon Headquarters10Headquarters..10Headquarters.10Headquarters ,.* 0010,. *. menmen.. . . . . . 2 officers.officers.

2.2. Police oectionsectionSection..25. . . . . . . . . 25 men.men. . . . . . 1 officer.officer.

3.3. Traffic SectionSection..3Section..37Section.37Section37*. . . . . . . . 37? menmen.. . . . . . 1 officerofficer.officer.-

All

offic-er

,.

All personnel of this platoonrlatoonRaton are trainedtrainod in both policepolioepolio and traffictraffic-

duties

traf-fic

traffic-

dutiee

traf-fic

traffic-

duties

traf-fic

a

dutiesdutiee , and are interchangeable fortortore these duties as the situation demandsdemand.demand.,.

During combat operationsoperation! the police section operates the prisoner ofot warwar-

cage

wre-

ckage

war-

cage

wre-

ckage

war-

cage

wre-

ckagecage and supplements the traffic section.section. By comparisoncomparilon one oancanDoan readilyreacU.l1reacUl1readily-

see

readi-

ly.

see that this platoon is somewhat larger than a riflerUle platoon ofot an InfantryIntant.17Intant17Infantry-

Rifle

Infan-try

.4..', tt-

RifleRifle CompanyCompanl.CompanlCompany.,. This platoon is attached to DivisionD1 1.1on11on. HeadquarttriHeadquartersHeadquarterHeaRhea quarter.quarter. CompanyCOIQ&IItCOIQIItCompan-

yfor

Compa-

ny

Co )anyany-

for

San-

ford

& !

II-

forF-

orfor mess and administrationadminietrat1on , and isi8i s commandedoommandedomaandedc by the Division ProvostPrOVORPrOVO Uar-UarWar-WarMar-MarGuarUar-

shai

Ma-

rsha

Ma-

rt

- t

r

, .. .

shaiTsaiahaShaShan 1.II. ,"' whoWhtWhatwh

,isi

,

.ee,.a aleoaloea1

,

An.

a IW!aafcacix!.r:' ofaft

,.

th(LW* _gf8iiuL? ttaffstaffet ff ofWt . .thftheftt

.h

,

W.

,Pl" !'!l4ffi_

. 'WrmWrmWarm' N . ,;ftp.

_, ., -+ .IrIr W.W P4rr* * A ; i: r,\ :

r, n . MMMIf'/J/r.lMMIf'MMIfJr.lMI** ' / */ >) rMnMn r' '.' q' rq,

i, tq rf* I ,. I> wttiwattl .S\S.SS'\ t+W"Wt lrvatlarvalrvat'y15lrvaty15" ' j'jj'1/'y15'y15y15/ '

\11\ tw < r1**' Mi 1! * { I\ffNMMiM'Jii'HMffNMMiMJiiHM' 'h p h.h. 1'1' .CC.-

CHe

C-

hen

Q r M,

, . . . . .". He"He-He"- , im3haarigsHara; thebheheth ' followingfolfoolfolA.'OwifolAOwiflaw.(' Mi'ngMing' g responsibilitiesreeponetbilitieert8 Ort i'lit1.81ilit1.81ilit181' . : , , ' " ' ""

' " ', .

i

Y... .. ,.. , ,, . " , , ' . . . . . \, .. , . .II. , . ' :

3.33.-

W.OTOM

3-

WOTOM

.... ,

II-

O

.

. ,. " '

,"

...

.

.

. . .

. " , , ' , ,.. . " ' . , " ,. , \OO\( I .

' '

.' .' dyr'04'Mdyr04M. "", ' ," , '. . .. . ... , ', , . , ' ''' . "/ . . . . rr-rr" .-. . ." r. ,) I.r. " , . _ , ' , " "'" "

,'

, f'f'," . , i, :,

' '

fl , , :" :, .: ,

, 'IIII' " ;I . ,

: ;

1 , .0404-

r

... " - ' , ... . ... ,. . ' " ;. ' .. ,

f,

. . ," " " " " I'I'

*.. f<

,i'\-. '

I'I' .. .. . '. . .. . . . . ._......... H . . W.OTOMWOTOMSWOON- . MJKKX.. ....... . .. .*.... .. ', r. ...wwM.. U.U. ".flllH. A/rl.Arl...../*.*.. .' .M4AMM4AM,..MI-.>.-* MI*..(.Ml.MN.. .. ...*<l . . 1,, ' " . ....t't. ' "'-

, ' " ".. '

.

-,.

'

. .' , .. .. .. ...

. ' , I ,' ,

" '_

'::J ..t"t" "

.

... Li-.ILi.I. .; ,-, lt. .4 yEy-

Eo

y-

o

:

f"--f"ff"-I'

f-I

'"'!"

'-'::: '

-''

j'j.f"Il-

'l. I

'":

:

.."II" ',.; t.a.tat.-

a.'wt-

aw&. .

'www>

. _ . . . . . . ._ . . . _ __ ...11..-

1J.

1-

J1.1LJ.J. . Interior guard ofot the Division command postpost.*.

2.2. Collection and custodyCQltodyCloddy ofot prisonersprisoner.prisoner. of warwar.*.

3.3. EnforcementBntorcementEnticementBinforcePinafore entKent of traffic control regulations.regulationsrelulat1o8.8.

4.4. Apprehension and dispositionlpolltlol1 ofot stragglers and deserters.desertersdesertera.deserteradeserterdesertera.-

S.

deserte-

r

.,

5.5S.S. EnforcementEntorceDentAntecedent ofot police regulationsrelulatlonaregulation among members ofot thethe-military

ch-emistry

the-milita

th-eist

the-military

ch-emistrymilitarymilitamilitia forcestorcestorches and areas occupiedocoupied byq, the troops.troopstroop.troop. .

6.6. Cooperation with civil authorities on plans includingincluding-those

includ-ingthose of police protection , black-outsblackouts- , antisabotagemantissaantisabotag-eactivities

antisabotag-eactivities

antisabotag-eactivitiesactivities and the likelike.,.

7.7? . Control of the civil population , includingincludtng: circulationcirculation-of

circulatio-nof individuals and mass.mass. movements of refugees , whenwhe-ncircumstances

whe-ncircumstances

whe-ncircumstancescircumstances dictate.dictate.

8.8. Criminal investigation activities , custodycustocustom and dispositiondisposition-of

disposition-ot

dispositio-nofot offenders.offenders.

9.9. Coordination with the militarym1lita police in adjacent andand-

higherGa-

ndhiand-

higherGa-

ndhiand-

higherGa-

ndhihigher headquarters.headquarters.

10.10. Recommendations as to location of the straggler line andand-

collectingca-

ncellationand-

collectingca-

ncellationand-

collectingca-

ncellationcollecting points for prisoners oforui'ui' war.war.

11.11. Close liaison with the division engineer unit , the GeneralGeneral-Staff.

Gener-alist

General-Staff.

Gener-alist

Genera-lStaff

Gener-alistStaff.StaffStaff.-

In

Staffi-

ng

.,

In order to more fully appreciate the physical and mental conditioningconditioning-

which

condition-ing

conditioning-

which

condition-

ingwhich this rather unique element of an infantry division enjoyed at the timetime-

of

tim-

etime-

of

tim-

etime-

of

tim-

eof the D-dayDday- assault on the "OmahaOmaha" Beachhead"Beachhead" , Normandy , France , I would likelike-

to

lik-

eto take the reader back in the history ofot the division to November the 8th

19421942.*. Here we find the Division as the "CentralCentral" Task Force"Force" , attacking thethe-

seaport

tel-

eportthe-

seaport

tel-

eportthe-

seaport

tel-

eportseaport city ofot Oran , Algeria in North Africa.Africa. Upon closer analysis !, wew-

efind

de-

fined

w-

efind

de-

fined

w-

efind

de-

finedfind the 26th R.Q.T.RQTR.C.T.RCTQTCRT. . . striking the city fromfroJnfrond the west , and the 16th and 18th18th-

H.C.T.fs

18t-

hHCTfs

18th-

R.C.T.'s

18t-

hRCTs

18th-

R.C.T.'s

18t-

hRCTsH.C.T.fsHCTfsR.C.T.'sRCTsCutoffsCRTs. . . ' attacking from the vicinity of ArzewAre , to the east of the city.cityoi'1.oi1.oi1' . InIn-

the

In-

tec

In-

the

In-

tec

In-

the

In-

tecthe course of three days , hostilities ceased , and Oran felltell to this doubledouble-

envelopment.

double-

envelopnent.

double-

envelopment.envelopment.envelopmentenvelopnent.envelopnent . (1)1(1)-

Looking

1L-

ooking

(1)-

Looking

1L-

ooking

(1)-

Looking

1L-

ooking

( )

Looking at this operation in view of the military policepolicl , we findfind-

the

fi-nd

find-

the

fi-nd

find-

the

fi-ndthe Division Provost Marshal , Lt ColCool Thomas F.F. Lancer , attached 25 men andaDdand-

one

und-

one

aDd-

one

ador-

ned

and-

one

und-

oneone officer to the 26th R.C.T.RCTi.C.T.iCTCRTCT. . . The remaining membersmeabers of the platoon , 454.545r'-

M

45r-

M

.

. ,,r'MrM'.. . .+ Y._rMNMN _+ rwYwrY_ YN. .. , " . .d.d. . .. ... ' I.I.... .. ... TO'TO' . ';V -

1

(1)1( ) A-AA-2A2-? *-p.pp.t.pt. *.. 1), *.. .. ,_ . . . ,. , .

'.' ... I\I\ . ... . . YAY-

ANMwnMI1.M1I1A

Y-

ANMwnMI1M1I1A

*- h,MCKI_MACK JWlJfcr " *.

. ." *', .III\I.IIIIM! \ IM AtfVTV* . . . . ,. . .. "

' ; '. .

. , . .. ,, . . ,, . . ,. . . . . .141-

4MrM11Y1KCaR.t.MtM""_" "" ****** * .&J.J........

,.-ImImMrM11Y1KCaR<-*_*M'*.'.......* . .... .. . . , . .._. .. .

.. ,

" "" """ ', '

... , . . . . ...' ** *.-.1".11" a.aNMwnMI1.M1I1ANMwnMI1M1I1A- pW1M10Mr"pW1M10MrT UIrmI .inriflinriflunrifled.".". r.. M.M_. Yb.wYbwBow. rr.rr.... . .+ 1V,'" .M.M....... . . r.r. nr .a.a." . .. . r.r.. ,. A" . . ":. a******

.,' "

' 'IIII'

, . ' . . . ' . . iV.ww. ' >.. . ... . .. *.. . .. .. . . 1'1' . " ,

. .. - ,

- '-- - '--- '------------- . . " . .. .....tt:s:11s"-

men

s-

men

m-

en

, .),11, ,. . .

...nn. "menmen-men-'"mm" n andendnd 3 officersofficers'trfturf"

8rs'8rs' landed withwith'with'

elementst; '

oft-

thethe 16thi6th '.CC.

Combatmbmb'TembTebate-'Te'TeTe-'Team, and DivisionDivision-

Headquarters.

Division-

Headquarters.

Division-

Headquarters.

7

Headquarters.Headquarters . This operation was our baptismbaptiu ofot fire , and it was.. here thattbatbatthat-

our

stat-

ortbat-

our

Bat-

orthat-

our

stat-

orour amphibious training wasW&IWI& firsttiratirate put to a practical test.testtelt.telttel. The first pripri-prigpri-

soner

pri-

loner

pri-

soner

pri-

soner

¬-

sonerlonersooner ofot war cage , setlet up and manned byb1 the "P.W.PW" . . " section of the militaryaU1t&17aU1t17military-

policemilit-

aryaU1t&17-

police

aU1t17-

police

military-

policemilit-

ary&

police platoon , was established in a French barracksbarrack.barrack. , located approximatelyapproximatelyt-

wo

approximat-

elytwo miles east of Arzew.ArzewAre. (2)2( ) Our interrogation team from II CorpsCorplCorp HeadHead-Hea-

dquarters

Hea-

dquarters

Hea-

dquarters

¬-

quarters began operating in this cage on the 2nd dayday.*. The handling ofotof-

these

ot-

hers

ot-

these

ot-

hers

of-

these

ot-

hersthese prisoners of war was , for the most part , uncoordinated and somewhatsomewha-

thaphazard

som-ewhat

somewha-

thaphazard

som-ewhat

somewha-

thaphazard

som-ewhathaphazard , as might be expected of a new unitunit.*. During this three-daythreeday- enen-

gagement

en-enen-

gagement

en-

gagement

¬-

gagementargument approximatelyapproximate1y 2,3002300, prisoners were processedprocls.edproclsed. , mostoatI ofot whomWham were.ereerewere-

French

whe-

refore

were-

French

whe-

refore

..ere-

FrenchFrench Colonial Troops plus a few French Foreign LegionairesLegionnaires and uniformeduniformed-

public

unifor-med

uniformed-

public

unifor-med

uniformed-

public

unifor-medpublic officials.officials. (3)3(3)-

The

3T-

he

(3)-

The

3T-

he

(3)-

The

3T-

he

( )

The excellent road-netroadnet- in and around the vicinity ofor Oran affordedafforded-

adequate

affo-rded

afforded-

adequate

affo-rded

afforded-

adequate

affo-rdedadequate capacity for all organic and attached vehicles of the DivisionDivision.Division.-

Therefore

Div-ision

Division.-

Therefore

Div-ision

*.

Therefore traffic was not the obstacle it might have beenbeen.been.-

The

ben-

ter

been.-

The

ben-

ter

*.

The 19th of November 1942 found the Division being committedcom ttedted piecepiece-piece-

meal

piece-

meal

piece-

meal

¬-

meal into the battle of "Tunisia"Tunisia" " , with elements of the Division operatingoperating-

under

operat-

ingunder both French and British commands.commands. It wasn'twasnt' until March the lth17thlath?

1943 that we find the Division reconstituted as a whole again , in preparaprepara-prepareprepara-

tion

prepara-

tion

prepara-

tion

¬-

tionion for the attack on GafsaGafaaGaffsGraf , TunisiaTunisia.*. In support of this impending attack ,

the military police were called on for various reconnaissance missions, ,

working closely with the Division Engineer Reconnaissance Section , the G-3G3G3-

and

G3-

and

G3-

and

-

and G-4.G4.G4.0-4.04.0- . (4)4(4)-

Following

4F-

ollowing

(4)-

Following

4F-

ollowing

(4)-

Following

4F-

ollowing

( )

Following the capture of GafsaGaffs on the 19th ofot March 1943 , the DivisionDivision-

attacked

Divis-

ionalDivision-

attacked

Divis-

ional..

attacked anaanuManu captured the little Arab Village ofof'ElofElJoel'EJ.EJ' 1.. GuettarGuitar , extendingextenextend ingKing toto-

the

to-

teto-

the

to-

teto-

the

to-

tethe high ground east of the village , thus threatening the highway to GabesGabeGabes.GabsGable*..

4

This operation was completed on the.21stthe21stthe.the. 21st ofot MarchKarchArch , and resulted in thethe-

capture

th-

eatre

the-

capture

th-

eatre

the-

capture

th-

eatrecapture of approximately 11,00011000, prisoners , most ofot whom were ItaliansItalians.*. TheThe-

"P.W.

Th-

ePW

Th-

rew

The-

"P.W.

Th-

ePW

Th-

rew. . . . . .. ... . . . .. .

"P.W.PWnp.w.npwnw" . . "" "

. . , _cage

. . . "

waswa" .

located.

C !. . .in

. ".KLFl' . GuettarGuitar

. , ,, . . " . . _ , " .approximatea.ppr.ox1u.uapprox1u.uapprox1uuapproximtelyapproximately.

.

" '.

, .. .

..

, ,4&0404&0ards.40ards4&Q/ards.ards.andbardsandrrestpAndreas/ . . ./wast/rrestprrestpwaistrest"aat..otaatotCato" .*" .off . ., ,

III

I

. . . . . . . . . . . . " .". . 'IO.IO' .. , .'(22(, . .

,.

3 , 4)4).

Eye$ye.ee. Witnessitnessfitness,

, Self.Self.*

5.5s.s.

. , . . . . . , , ."'. . . . .Ma.Ma_. u.u. . r. W.. . . ./ F.F...... 1.1.. . . M1

" . , . , . .toto..-

tomen

t-

ome

,- - " -

J

ww-

Divi

d-

iv

\. ":f'f'

!. I

... . . v'v' " ., . . . .. . . . . .- ... . . a1v.1.1OQ\ieadqua1v1.1OQieadqua1v.1.1OQa1v11OQieadqudiehardDiviDiv: . .ioa4ieaA,\ iwikiwi etar'J.-r'J.rJ' ..-.jiliichjiliichiliac. h .1\a.1a.1a.14d14d. fcadLbeencandlenut\ ..JJ. been; ,

. setnot. ....t.t. . up in , . .!a lareClarelame! 4|! date.

_grove$ V t, thethe-

only

tho-

rnily

tthe-

only

tho-

rnily

.. .

' - - . . . . . . . . . ... ' 0"0" . _ _ , . .

only concealmentconcealment. . fortortore miles aroundaround.*. (5)5( S ) ProblemsProblemaProblem of feedingleedingbleeding and evacevac-vacevac-

uating

evac-

uating

evac-

uating

¬-

uatingeating this largelarselars number of prisonersprl.onereprlonerepurloiner. were soon mastered ; howeverhoweyer , a laterlater-

critique

later-

critique

later-

critiquecritique ofot the functioning efat the fmteiieiiit.t... l'-l'll'8.ot'- '8.ot8ot. off the "PW.MPWMnp.w.npw"P.W.PWWPMnw" *. . " sectionseotion inin-

this

lit-

chis

in-

this

lit-

chis

in-

this

lit-

chisthis operation , disclosed the facttact that due to soao manyJII&D1JIID1& prisoners comingcomin-

ginto

commin-

gling

comin-

ginto

commin-

gling

comin-

ginto

commin-

glinginto the cage at one time , sufficient time was not allowed fortortore a thoroughthorough-

search

thoroug-

hfare

thorough-

search

thoroug-

hfare

thorough-

search

thoroug-

hfaresearch of the prisoners , resulting in a& number ofot hand grenades , knives ,

etc.etc. , being found dug into the sand withinwithirlwithal the cagecage.*. Rest assured , fromfrom-

that

fro-

thfrom-

that

fro-

thfrom-

that

fro-

ththat point on, all prisoners , regardless of their number , were thoroughlythoroughly-

searched

thorou-ghly

thoroughly-

searched

thorou-ghly

thoroughly-

searched

thorou-ghlysearched before entrance into the cage.cage. (6)6(6)-

With

6-With

(6)-

With

6-With

(6)-

With

6-With

( )

With the capture of El1 GuettarGuitar the Division was in a position tot.o. drivedrive-

to

driv-

eto the east , and secure the seacoast city of Gabes.GabesGabs. Had this taken place ,

Tunisia and Libya would have beenbean split81'118111' t in half.half... Realizing this possipossi-possposs-

ibility

poss-

ibility

poss-

ibility

¬-

bilityability , the GermanG an coirmandercommandercoriander , Field MarshalMa.rshal. KrwinErwinKarin Rommel ( better know asas-V

a-s

as-

f

a-s

as-

the

as-

hen

as-

the

as-

hen

as-

the

as-

henV

f

the "DesertDesert" Rat"RatRateR t"t" ) decided to launch a tremendous offensive with the entireentire-

elite

enti-rely

entire-

elite

enti-rely

entire-

elite

enti-relyelite Tenth Panzer Division of the Africa Corps to ward off this threatthreat.threat.-

This

thr-eat

threat.-

This

thr-eat

*.

This offensive started on the 23rd2.3rd. of March , and had such momentum that itit-

was

vi-

tas

it-

was

vi-

tas

it-

was

vi-

taswas not completely stopped until two of the field artillery battalions ofof-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

tenthe Division , the 5th , and 32nd were run over.over. (7)7( ) As a direct result ofof-

this

O-

tisof-

this

O-

tisof-

this

O-

tisthis action the military police traffic section , with traffic controlcontrol-

stations

confro-

ntations

control-

stations

confro-

ntations

control-

stations

confro-

ntationsstations located along the El1 Guettar-GabesGuettarGabesGuitarGabs- road , operated as a stragglerstragglerl-

ine.

stragg-

lerline.line. These stragglers were stopped as they drifted back , fed , and returnedreturned-

to

returne-

dto their respective units.unitsunits.-

Following

units.-

Following

units.-

Following

.

Following the British 8th Army'sArmysArms' successful campaign in Libya , a meetmeet-meet-

ing

meet-

ing

meet-

ing

¬-

ingKing of the American and British forces was Affectedttectedeffectedtested) along thet.he. El1 Guettar-GuettarGuitarGuettar-

Gabes

Guttura-

lness

Guettar-

Gabes

Guttura-

lness

Guettar-

Gabes

Guttura-

lness

-

GabesGabs road on the 14th of April 1943194)1941943.) *. (8)8(8)-

The

8T-

he

(8)-

The

8T-

he

(8)-

The

8T-

he

( )

The 19th ofot April found the Division attacking in the north ofot Tunisia ,

toward the town ofot Mature.Maturetlature.tlaturestature. In order to accomplish this , the Division waswa.wawas-

completely

wa-

.completel.f

wa-

scompletvij

.

completelycompletel.fcompletelfcompletvijcompleting,., motorized , and a 340-mile340mile3J+Q-mileQmile-- movementI1Ov nt was controledcontrolledc t,

.b1b1.by the M.P.MPK.P.KP. .

" -' ... . . .. "" 4" . M.M,.. iM... ..

t.,

*...

.t.

..j..

(

..,

.

.. . . .

.

.uu.. .

__.

. . ...... , . '9MVg1T_

.... "% - " \ '" ' ., 4.4_."r

. r'" . . vuMMM'vuMMM_. . ' . e.e, . . . . . . .MM. 4e .MM. .

(55( s.s,. 6)6) iyeEyeye$ e Witness , Self ); (77(7s7s( , 8)8) A-3A3- >, P.P. 22.2*.

... .mm. .. ,*,, <..nv..... <,, i -KI:... . .Hr.,.> >. ... .,

. . . .q.q. . 0 . " . . . , . . . . "66-

J

6.6.

. . . . .-

-.. . ..... '

<

' ...,';)

. . . . . . . . . ., . . . .. . _. _ . ... .. . .. , .. .. . . . . .. . . _. . .. ._. . . .\0.0.\ . '. , ... . . . . ," .. . . .w.wue4. .. . r" "= w. R'-R'R_-. .' .a.aaa. ...+

_-uu_- '.llyyrwr4llyyrwr4__ __f.,11, <1.1.. .. . n . n .- r.r'"+ NIf/kNIfkIf-( / wv-wrrWraworrywart +w..rwwrwww-+ wM- + -1414-.rr"' iw. . .; .. y'IyI-':_ .+

.? rIP' "

:'.w::l.l' ' ' - wr-wr_wrY- Yr.r-'-+ w 'V--'VV'-Vtraffic

V-

trafficT-

raffic'V .r.eMlMr"reMlMremmer.l.l - "-*+M."f/M."fM-

."ftraffic

M-

ftraffic*-"*,)/

traffic sectionsection.*. This proved to be oneOM of the mostlILOstEliot effectiveeffecti.effectieffect.,.. tacticaltacticalm-

ovestacti-

caltacticalm-

ovestacti-

caltacticalm-

ovestacti-

calmoves ofot the 1stlot DivisionDiv1sion in1n the Tunisian CampaignCampaign.*. In this areaare.are. theiiheicierthe-

Division

tel-

evision

iihe-

Division

the-

Division

tel-

evision

_

II-

u..w

Division became engageden&aaectenaaectanapaest& in some.... ofot the bloodiest battles in Tunisia1'uD1.ia1uD1.ia1uD1ia' . , inin-

cluding

in-inin-

cluding

in-

cluding

¬-

cludingclouding assaults on hillsh1lls 523 , 350 , and 409.4094D9.4D9. FinallyPi'1"Pi1' " ] 1 on May 7th 1943194.3. *,

the day which the Division had looked forward to fortortore so long , the citycity-

of

cit-yof Tunis fell , and the Division was relievedrelieved.*. (9)9(9)-

Following

9F-

ollowing

(9)-

Following

9F-

ollowing

(9)-

Following

9F-

ollowing

( )

Following the relief by the 3rdJrdRd UU.U*. S.S. Infantry DivisionvisionD1 , we findfind-

the

fi-nd

find-

the

fi-nd

find-

the

fi-ndthe Division movingmoving'moving'backmovingbackmoving'

back toward Oran.Oran. These moves were by combat teams ,

and the major townalongtownsalongtonaldownscaling* the route of march were patroledpatrolled by M.P.MP. . detailsdetails-

which

deta-

ilsdetails-

which

deta-

ilsdetails-

which

deta-

ilswhich were sentlent ahead of these columnscolumns.*. Establishing itself in the vicinityvicinity-

of

vicinit-yof Oran , the Division immediately began training and planning for itsits-

third

bi-

ttier

its-

third

bi-

ttier

its-

third

bi-

ttierthird campaign and second invasion , the island of Sicily.Sicily. Following comcom-co-

mpletion

com-

plet10n

co-

mpletion

¬-

pletionplet10nplatoon of the planningpl ng stage , the Division moved to the vicinity of StaouliStolidStaouli-

Algeria

Staouli-

Algeria

Staouli-

AlgeriaAlgeria , approximatelyapproxLrapprovalapproxapron .ii. telyatelyelylately 17 ndlwadiesendwaysroil & westW t: of Algiers.Algiers. Here , afteraitergaiter completioncompletion-

of

completi-

onof small scale landing maneuvers , the Division loaded into transports ,

L.S.T.'sLSTsLasts. . . ' , and L.C.I.'sLCIsCPIs. . . ' , for the impending assault on Sicily.Sicily. The 9th ofotof-

July

so-

ftly

ot-

July

b-

otfly

of-

July

so-

ftlyJuly 1943 found the Division moving toward the southernsouthemSouth shores of Sicily ,

and at 0245 on the 10th , (10)10( ) the 26th and 18th R.C.T.sRCTsR.C.T.'sCRTs. . . !' were assaultingassaulting-

the

assaulti-ngthe fortified coastlinec09.st1inec09st1ine. of the island in the vicinity of "CllaYCllaY"Gi1birGi1birClaY"GilGilGail" << l{ On thethe-

w

the-u

thre-

w

th-e

the-

1st

the-

1stwu..;,

1st day of this operation the Provost Marshal sent 15 men into Gila as aa-

security

s-

ecurity

a-

security

s-

ecurity

a-

security

s-

ecuritysecurity uetail.uetailentail. As evening closed in , the Germans sent a number of tankstanks-

into

trans-

ient

tanks-

into

trans-

ient

tanks-

into

trans-

ientinto the town , apparently to reconnoiter and test the defense of the eses-

tablished

88-88es-es88-

tablished

es-

tablished

¬-

tablishedabolished beachhead.beachhead. The HangersRangers , who had actually secured the town , werewere-

able

wear-

able

were-

able

wear-

able

were-

able

wear-

ableable to render two of these tanks useless with bazooka firetire ; however , thethe-

rest

the-

reat

the-

rest

the-

reat

the-

rest

the-

reatrest ofot the tanks moved back into the interior , unmolestedunmolested.*. In a laterlater-

critique

later-

critique

later-

critiquecritique of this operation it was pointed out that had this group ofot MPsAmpsMPsh-

adPas-

ha

M.P.MPX *. P.'sPsP.'s-

had

Psh-

adSh-

ad

*. *' .

had some antitank grenades they may_y have neutralisedneutralized a few of those tankstanka.tankatanks.tank*.

(11)11( ) The rest of the Sicilian added verveer litLielittlet ofo interestin erestmerest toto-

the

t-ote

. , ,, __ . _ _ _ . _ ' _ '_ ' _ . . . _ _ _ . " . ' .campaign

" " _ w.-w.w-

.q.

. _ . ...... " . .- -_.. _very- .- . _ . . "

?:! . u..wuw. .

q.q. . ... . .- thethe.-, . "._. turtour "lmelmelame"lmeoflmeofLeo""' . . ' -ofof-ofn-

aDon-

na

. ' .:J.i-tal'N-"ftIJ.ital'NtalN"ftIftItalonft. - ' - " : 4e.4e. . +..hh. t.MtM. ' '. 'AA' UJUUl 1 . -- . . '"-the"turi1"'i.1.1'611.theturi1i11611.the"turi1"'i.1.1'611.theturi1i11611q.the"turi1"'i.1.1'611.qtheturi1i11611.titi* " . MQ.MQ.

.. U'U. 'StaJWrtStaJWrtStalwart'StaJWrt-

traffic

StaJWrt-

traffic

,. ,.,,,',, ,___ . . ...

_ _ ,. na =_ T .s,.'- ..& ' :..., :. :" '... . . . . " . . " -- . . . tiH'1'Iia7rtiH1Iia7r' ' ' '''r'' " .ff" ": iclili-

cltraffic

c-

alorific

'

traffic hazards , and routine security details in towns within the DivisionDiviaionDivination-' - ... . . . , . . _ . . . . . . . . " , . . -

,

(99( , 10)101U ) A-3A3A-JJ- , p.pp"p." '

*? i; (11)11CUj'CUjCU(Ll.Ll. )'

Fwd$ye ttitawatiaraWlii + nd6n s ,. Self.SelfJelfElf.

7.77.0-

.

.

.. . . ... . ... ..- ' '' ''' .. ,, ' . .. . . .. . .. . .

b&bu-

e4

zone of actionaction.action"j,. ,. ...... ...... -.. .-.."u1a. 1Ak4K-' '' \ *-' h"WhW414"414.'"" 4"4" .o'IAAt"oIAAtoatJ'WWA'JWWAWA. '' " " -"j"jj-"' "j-

MMj-

MM

M-

Mll"' ' ''1K.1K'' .11. i ,

..*..

. .....,. MMm "*'". f< tIf.tIf_tiff>.*, immvHMimamVd W0"W0. ." t4'K/Mt4'Kt4KM*.JJ! '%' / 1y....M..... W1Aw*., .......... . .. t :. 1 .. 1Ir J.J. :-": 1011 -

. ,.

. ..A.A. ,

Following the 37 day; Sicilian campaigncaapa11D the DivisionDivi.vi.ion movedmoyed into anan-

area

A-

ndrea

an-

area

A-

ndrea

an-

area

An-

dreaarea westwelt of LioataL1.oataL1oataLdaataEliotLat. , on the south.outhouth. coastCOAst.,.. with DivisionDiY1.lonDiY1lon. headquarters beingbelDibeliebeing-

set

bein-

gsbelDi-

set

bel-ie

being-

set

bein-

gsset upu.p. approximatelyapproxiuteJ.1approxiuteJ1: . 1 mile north ofot the odorous village ofot PalmaPalms did1di-

Montiehiaro.

d1-

J.lontichiaro.

d1-

Jlontichiaro

di-

Montichiaro.Montiehiaro.MontiehiaroJ.lontichiaro.JlontichiaroMontichiaro.MontichiaroMonteBlotchierMortician. . Here the M.P.MPIi.P.IiPIi. . Platoon began training fortortore the "bigbig" show toto-

come

tw-

osome

to-

come

tw-

osome

to-

come

tw-

osomecome , and on October 23rd23rd.,. the entire division boarded British transportstransports-

in

transporti-

ngin the AgustaGust harbor , and sailed for England.England., (12)12(12)P-

RELUDE

12P-

RELUDE

(12)P-

RELUDE

12P-

RELUDE

(12)P-

RELUDE

12P-

RELUDE

( )

PRELUDE TO D-DAYDDAYDDA-

YImmediately

DDA-

YImmediately

DDA-

YImmediately

-

Immediately upon our arrival in England the division headquartersheadquarters-

was

headquart-

erswas setset.. up in the.the. small village of BlanBlancBlandfordBradfordBlandfBland<UordUrduordFord , approximately 40 miles northnorth-north-

west

north-

west

north-

west

¬-

west of BournmouthBurnout , and within a very few days this headquarters becamebecam.becambecalmbecame-

a

becam.-

a

becam-

e

becal-

m

.a bee-hivebeehive- of activity , indicating that something big was in the offingoffing.offing.-

The

offi-ng

*.

The threetbreetree regiments , billeted in private homes and hotels in the south ofof-

England

fe-

nlands

of-

England

fe-

nlands

of-

England

fe-

nlandsEngland , immediately inauguratedinauguratinaugurated an intensive training program.program. The M.P.MPM.P-

.Platoon

M.P-

.Platoon

' .P.P. .-

P.Platoon

.

Platoon was billeted in the vicinity of the division command post , and, notnot-

to

mo-

tto

not-

to

mo-

ttoto be outdone by the other elements of the division , they too , started anan-

intensive

an-

ointments

an-

intensive

an-

ointments

an-

intensive

an-

ointmentsintensive training program including : rifle marksmanship , schooling inin-

chemical

in-

dexical

in-

chemical

in-

dexical

in-

chemical

in-

dexicalchemical warfare , waterproofingwaterprowaterproof ting of vehicles , command post exercises , andand-

the

ant-

hem

and-

the

ant-

hem

and-

the

ant-

hemthe like.like. (13)13(13)-

Policing

13P-

olicing

(13)-

Policing

13P-

olicing

(13)-

Policing

13P-

olicing

( )

Policing the division zone of responsibility , and maintaining thisthis-

rather

thi-

rstier

this-

rather

thi-

rstier

this-

rather

thi-

rstierrather elaborate training program , presented a number of problems , the mostmost-

of

mo-

st

most-

of

mo-

st

most-

of

mo-

stof which were solved by'by' rotating the men fromtromtromp sub-stationsubstation- duty , to dutyduty-

at

dut-

yat the division command post.post. In this manner the provost marshal was ableable-

to

tablet-

opto carry out his mission of policing the area , and training his men at thethe-

same

thre-

esome

the-

same

thre-

esome

the-

same

thre-

esomesame time.time. (14)14(14)-

In

14-

In

( )

In addition to the necessary traffic patrols , town policing , andan-

dinterior

an-

ointer

an-

dinterior

an-

ointer

an-

dinterior

an-

ointerinterior guard missions , the U.P.'sUPsM.P.'aMPaM.P.lsMPlsMPImpels. . ' were called on for a 24-hour24hour- guard onon-

a

Mo-

na

%....

a rather elaborate and highly secret planning room , set up initially; fortortorefor-

i

fr-

i. . . . . . . . _ . . .. . ,

_. -- "' . . ... . - . , . - ,...--

.:: = :;

. .. . . . , , ;:;-.

.. '- ' " - - I "-- .QQ. . . . _

."

. . ..LL.

. . . . ..( il firji"firjifiji_ -.ti..ti.-;..

:

......

.L.L, ."

. fr fTV'ft7MCiaitifTVft7MCiaiti{ ";, --i'411i'411i411-'-' '

. ..;:-;

"

; '

..,.-

.

-

-[- '

-1Ilt.

".

-

..:-J'J'J>iiiiiinriiiiiP

."..I.1I.1I1.fiiXf----fiiXffixfiiXf1. .* .

- -. . .- - = ::'

1 . ' 'tt' : " -.It.It- . I1f , ,_ I J ...."__ _ ",,, ..J.J. . ..f.--.f..f.-

L.- " -

, ... .____ . . . . . .11. < 11\111-

1zone

\

. . . . . - ; -. . . . .--- . . . .- . . . . . - "

. .. . . . . - .---,- --

.. .-

.

-. ,.-----

,

. ,

, .

.

..

.

..:

. , ,

- - :- 7.7- .: .

.

-15:,;:..

-".

. " ' : ' - - '

. . .

- - " -, " '" o.o.

, . , .. ....

\V'II' /

'

. uv00M-

AIMAIMIA.......,.1IIIIWr1IIIIWrIM.WhMFIMWhMF.. 4RrM/b.4RrMb.4RrMb./ . a'a.,' "i' wI r Ins 1_ ..,. ' . ' .

,

.::r.. :..'.;w.yrwyrwry"'." y !RWAyOIVj"" ....I. .

, . .l M... " .rr. :.'r:' .

,

":."

. . " ,ri.riri.1NMr. ... ' . |/1NMr1NMr|/M< - #..N. ' .yy%... MM.... MtWMMMI......... iHi4v.v......+. <. . '.

' n'''. ,. .w.w._i .+ .FA111/r.FA111r.FA111FA111r...i..llliil../. .Kwi1..r.._iriiiiiiriiTitirritantYY1R 't'btb' -' rRiRi-TitTit- h t.r4Mtr4M'':.','

.IMMIIHIMDIMINISHINGIMYMY' MMYMMMAMMYn mainIrWrMIYCirrin . eY..y. av/iWWYw.1wiWWYw.1waviWWYw.1waviWWYw1w-/iWWYw-

.1wthe

iWWYw-

1wthe

nmifciimisfiling, . i.{....

the division staffstaft.staftstaff.taft*. A secret security "Bigot"Bigot" " card was issued to specificspecific-

personnel

spe-cific

specific-

per.onnal

spe-cific

specific-

personnel

spe-cificpersonnelper.onnalperonnalpersonal. within thetbetube divisiond1v111on by the G-2G2- section.etionetioneton.. of the division generalgenera-

lstaff

gener-

alist

general-

staff.

gener-

alist

general-

staff.

gener-

aliststaffstaff.*. Entrance into this planning room was permitted only to thosetbol.tboltool. personsper.oneperonepronepersons-

properly

per-sons

per.one-

properly

persons-

properly

per-sons

.

properly classified under this system , and during the earlyearlrearl planning stagesstages-

only

stag-

esstages-

only

stag-

esstages-

only

stag-

esonly a limited number of personnel were briefed in the operation ; however ,

as D-dayDday- approached additional personnel were briefed as necessary.necessary. (15)15(15)-

In

15-

In

(15-

)n

15-

n( )

In]n Marchlarch of 1944 we found ourselves busilybus preparing for a full scalescale-

landing

sala-

aming

scale-

landing

sala-

aming

scale-

landing

sala-

aminglanding maneuver.maneuver. This first dress rehearsal , called exercise "Fox"Fox" " , disdis-daisdis-

played

dis-

played

dis-

played

¬-

played all phases normal to an amphibious landing , including : waterproofingwaterproofing-

of

waterproofi-

ngof vehicles , movement to the marshalling areas , movement from the marshalmarshal-marshal-

ling

marshal-

ling

marshal-

ling

¬-

ling area to the ship , a sea voyage to the landing area , an assault landinglanding-

on

landin-

gon theth beach , and the follow-up.followup.fellow-up.fellow- . This exercise and the one to follow werewere-

held

wee-

ded

were-

held

wee-

ded

were-

geld

wer-

gildheldgeld at SlaptonLampoon Sands , which had been set aside as an assault trainingtraining-

area

traini-ng

training-

area

traini-ngarea for the American forces.forces. TheThsThis choice of this area was due largely toto-

the

to-

teto-

the

to-

teto-

the

to-

tethe fact that the conditions prevailing at SlaptonLampoon Sands were similar toto-

what

to-

wboat

to-

what

to-

wboat

to-

what

to-

wboatwhat was expected on the planned landing area on the French coast , includinclud-includeinclud-

ing

includ-

ing

includ-

ing

¬-

ingKing the tide , the beach , the terrain , the road-netroadnet- , the hedgehedge"rowshedgerows"rows , andand-

the

ant-

hem

and-

the

ant-

hem

and-

the

ant-

hemthe likelike.,. (16)16(16)-

The

16T-

he

(16)-

The

16T-

he

(16)-

The

16T-

he

( )

The nd1.d1d2nd;. and last exercise "Fabius"Fabiusuplabius"uplabiusFabianslullabiesuplabius"JuplabiusJlullabies" "

J, which'Which' tooktook. . place on May 3rd to thethe-

6th

the-

6th

the-

6th6th , was identical with the first ; however , on a somewhat larger scale.scalescale.-

In

sca-

le

.

In this exercise the traffic section was put to an extreme test trying toto-

keep

t-oke

to-

keep

t-oke

to-

keep

t-okekeep the division transportation moving along the high-bankedhighbanked- , one-wayonewayoneway-

English

oneway-

English

oneway-

English

-

English roads.roads. As a result of this factor traffic became one of the majormajor-

problems

major-

problems

major-

problemsproblems in the planning of the actual invasion.invasion. (17)17(17)-

Looking

17L-

ooking

(17)-

Looking

17L-

ooking

(17)-

Looking

17L-

ooking

( )

Looking momentarily at the "big11big11"big"big" " picture we.ee. find the groundgroWldgrowled forcesforces-

with

forc-

esforces-

with

forc-

esforces-

with

forc-

eswith General Sir Bernard Montgomery'sMontgomerysKontgomery'sKontgomerysMontgomery' 21st Army Group planning to assaultassault-

the

assa-ultthe NormandyNor.manqyNormanqy. beach at 3:3: main points , utilizing 6 reinforced infantry divdiv-div-

isions

div-

isions

div-

isions

¬-

isionsvisions , and .333 AirborneirbKirby r divisions.divisionsi . 21stst Armymy Group fieldedfielde twotwo.lrmieatwolrmieatwo-ArinieatwoArinieawormierSardinia"ArmiesArmies".- , thethe-t

the-r

thef-t

ethe-r, ,, .. , .,,. r.,. .nn.rrara - :. c.c"-. _. . .. . . . t.u.cuc<.M4.:...:< w. ._.. . w_..*.., . *.. , .rr*. " -"

,. . . . ". -.

.

-. .. .. . . . -BB+-_*rw.rw.r . ", . *.*_. . *.". . ru.ru..fY-ril.fYrilaril.

...-..... tt-ttttJKffJU.!..,-_..*,. JKffJUiw ... .

*. , .1'.11..".1'.r.I ' . VWftWlv14NY1......., .. .... ' , L*,. . <t 4.M4Mnw_. *: fc . i

_. %

_linOlin OMfcMC I.I...wrwr., *+ tAWHMW.MWtAW, ,.. .. <

_& * m.win. . ..UWSOWmamavwnr.amavwnrCustom

.

f.*.*..*. , . 4*.<..*&...<-.r.--.r.rf-1WttTetttr.*....-

r.i"t..U

r-

itUr-

itual. u*.*. <_

. ew.-wew.w(,( *...-.._-w_ . M.M*..., -_. <+*,. <.. . , . 'NtfNtfNt'_

***** ****"**'*"_**"".'*..'*. T-VTVTV-

v"T-

VvV-

v... . -.... _u'u- '

... .

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._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . , . . . , . . . . , . .. . .. , , , . , .- - '' - ' v"v; " "

" i u :;a ' .wwysfTiafflaiwwysfTiafflai.wwysfTiafflairmMi* ' " "; - " " " -rmMirmMiramming- ; murtfc.imurtfciMauricio( ** * * *w t * MWWWW- * " i .MM * : * m + zxw * ! * r u ;i> a raz ; ; .aa :i"t..UitUsitu1st13t; U'U' ,*

'OsOsSoS.S. Army:Y-YY"thYthMythand ,

"thththe .BitBitBritish; h 2nd2niA2niA.Th"e2niAThe( Army.ArmyAr; r :. -.Th"e.Th"eTheThe 1stletttSU.U111.111. -SSS.S-LArmYLArmYSLArmYArmYSammy. ArrayArmy ,: underd command

rw. ... . I . . . . , ,. ,

(1515(15)( ), 16 , 17)1717.1717)'o17o).'.) . .syeyee WitnessWitnesa , ., SelfSett.SettSetS lf'lf' ,.. . . .

99.9*.6. ', VIIWVII. , ,_/ ". , , , , , "u.urAAraga" . . M.IM.IMIMI

_. . YM.YM_.' .AAAA. ...

_r7.rr7r.. ". , ,, n.n' , . -..nYmwnYmwNY. ) ,*,"- ' . I' . ..

..-........... ........' . trfifctiiaitwadfrtitit lJiAli aw.1It.aw1It.aw1It. . ._

. :,. r .1a1a. :t " .Q'Q; ' . ....r"-.r.r"r.r. av"_.m--pgtaflrmpgtaflrpigtail..--,-. r-.M.r.M.- _

;" . . "_ " _.,*-+*-'

with two CprpsCrpICorpsCpI, , the 7th7tb CorpsCorp.Corp. on the right and thet.he. 5th CorpsCorCora,. on the left.leftleft.-

The

lett-

erleft.-

The

lett-

er. .

The 7th Corps would land one division north ofot the VireVireo BstuaryBltuaryEstuaryBlurry on "Utah1Utah1"Utah"Utah"Utah1-

beach

Utah1-

beach

"Utah"-

beach

Utahb-

eachUt-

ah"Utah"-

beach

Utahb-

eachUt-

ah" *"

beach , and assisting this assaultI.saaultIsaaultSault. were the 62nd82nci82nd and 101stlOlatlOla Airborne.Airborne. DivisionsDivision.Division. ,

landing during the earlyearl1 hours ofot June 6th at Ste-Here-EgliseSteHereEgliseSte-Mere-EgiiseMereEgiiseSateEliseGuiseSteSate - er.-EBl1s.erEBl1s.er.EBl1s.EBl1s.- , . and northnorth-north-

west

north-

west

north-

west

¬-

west of CarentanCretan respectivelyrespectively.*. (18)18( ) On the "Omaha"Omaha" " beach , to the easteaateat ofotof-

the

of-

ten

ot-

the

ot-

her

of-

the

of-

tenthe VireVireo Estuary , 5th Corps , under command of MajorJlajorLabor General GerowGrow , was toto-

assault

t-

arsalto-

assault

t-

arsalto-

assault

t-

arsalassault with the 1stlet Iu.u) . S.S. InfantryInfant Division reinforcedreinforced.*. The Corps1Corps'Corps' mismis-milsmis-

sion

mis-

sion

mis-

sion

¬-

sionscion was to push straight south establishing a beachhead , and forming aa-

continuous

c-

ontinuous

a-

continuous

c-

ontinuous

a-

continuous

c-

ontinuouscontinuous front with the British on their left flankflank.*. The beundrybcundryboundryboundary be-bebe-

H

Be-

th

b-eI

b-

Ibe-

tween

-

tweenteen these two Armies ran from a point west ofot Port-en-BessittPortenBessittPort-en-Be88iBe88iBessiePort-en-BessiePortenBessie- - HI) generallygenera11Jgenerally-

south

gener-ally

genera11J-

southsouth through FormignyFormigny.Forming*. (19)19(19)-

The

19T-

he

(19)-

The

19T-

he

(19)-

The

19T-

he

( )

The BritishBritiBrith 2nd ArmyAr planned to attack with the 50th InfantryInfaptry DivisionDivision-

on

Divisio-

non the right , the 3rd Canadian Division in the center , and the 3rd BritishBritish-

Division

Bri-tish

British-

Division

Bri-tish

British-

Division

Bri-tishDivision on the left flank.flank. To protect the British left flank againstagainst-

attack

aga-inst

against-

attack

aga-inst

against-

attack

aga-instattack from the east a brigade of the 6th British Airborne Division waswas-

to

was-

te

was-

to

was-

te

was-

to

was-

teto be dropped across the OrneHorne River.River. (20)20(20)-

General

20-

General

(20)-

General

20-

General

(20)-

General

20-

General

( )

General Montgomery'sMontgomerysMontgomery' intention after seizure of the initial beachhead ,

was to hold in the area south of CaenCan while the U.U. S.S. 1st Army maneuveredmaneuvered-

to

maneuver-

edto cut off the CotentinContenting Peninsula and capture Cherbourg.Cherbourg. (21)21(21)-

In

21-

In

( )

In the 5th Corps sector , the initial assault unitun.itunit., ( Force 0"0non" " ) consistedconsisted-

of

consiste-

dof the 1st Division , reinforced to include four infantry regiments with strongstrong-

attachments

strong-

attachments

strong-

attachmentsattachments of artillery , armor , and engineers.engineers. This reinforced DivisionDivision-

included

Divi-sion

Division-

included

Divi-sion

Division-

included

Divi-sionincluded the 16th and 18th R.C.T.'sRCTsR.O.T.'sROTsCRTs. . . ' of the 1stlet Division , the 2nd and 5th5th-

Ranger

5th-

Ranger

5th-

RangerRanger Battalions , and the 115th and 116th R.C.T.fsRCTfsR.C.T.'sRCTsCRTs. . . ' of the 29th InfantryInfantry-

Division.

Infa-ntry

Infantry-

Division.

Infa-ntry

Infantry-

Division.

Infa-ntryDivision.Division. The remaining R.C.TRCTR.C.T.CRT. . *. ofor the 1stlet Division was attached to thethe-

29th

the-

29th

the-

29th29th Division which betaaebeeaaebeemebetakebreakagebema a part of the follow-upfollowup- forcetorcetore (Force HB"B"BVIP" ") .* (22)22( ) >

20 21)21) A-lAlA-11 . 5 (22)22( ) A-iAi- . 8.8.(1818( , 19 , , - , p.p ; , p.p. . . . .. . . . . . .... . . .... ._. ....

..

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.

..... , ...

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..___Ii.1 . .NN._. . . M

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* ' lY*'.,.,. <.+

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,ryvly'lVryvlylVdryly1'-1'11''t"'t*-''; -

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The

...,, , ,. . . . . . ..... .. . , ,,,. ,. . . . , , .... , , . , .. ,. ,. . . . .w. .AIIIAIII*, * *.*..<, *. +" ** * !1IIIIIi.1IIIIIi# . A. .,..*.*.*. .i IKIIMJBIKINI..* MM004"004<, *,"> * .AfwiHAfwiH.AI'IJ'I\.AI'IJ'IAIIJIAweighIII.AI'IJ'I'dA n' r'r' \' MwlMewl**.% '"''vv-

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' y*" r.r It"' rr..l.rr..l-

.PLANXW

>. "

PLANNINGPLANXWPLAX( PHA3EPHA3ZPHA3E-

The.. ..., ... ... . . _ , , . .... ___ J . ./IiIIiI/ r

__ J_ * . ..LItLIt..L-

ItDog

l-

ido

K. /tiywtiywtidy,/ .

.

..

..'. M , . . . .

.., " ", --11-- ' p'J-6thr"IJp'JpJ6thr"IJ6thrIJ' ;- " " J""IlV'1'JIlV1" " ' ' " rrtuloAartful) Uul'-lUul'UullUsual'-

The Omaha Beach waswalwail dividedvidedd1 into six sectors.ector.ectorhector. . , from rightrigbt to leftleftIi-

I

lef-t

:

Dog Green , DogDog'VbDogVbDogWhiteWftteWafted\'Vb'VbVb\' !te, Dog Red , EasyEaIYEasily Green, EasyEaeyLeakey Red , and FoxFox.. GreenGreen.Green.-

The

Reen-

ter

Green.-

The

Reen-

ter

*.

The general plan of the 1stlet Division waaW&3W3wasWada& to have two regiments attackattack-

abreast

attac-

kable

attack-

abreast

attac-

kable

attack-

abreast

attac-

kableabreast on this beachbeach.*. On the two eastern sectorslectors ( Easy Red and FoxFox-

Green

Ox-

ygen

Fox-

Green

Ox-

ygen

Fox-

Green

Ox-

ygenGreen ) the 16th R.C.T.RCTR.C.TCRT. . . would attack with two battalion landing teams abreast ,

the 2nd Battalion on the right , and the 3rd)rd Battalion on the left.left. TheThe-

1st

The-

1st

Th-

elet

Hel-

met1stlet Battalion , in support during the beach assault , would move throughthrough-

the

thoug-

htthe 2nd Battalion to capture the village ofot FormignyFormigny.Forming,. The 116thl16th RegimenRegimen-Regime-

ntal

¬-

taltail Combat Team on the right would likewise attack with two battalionbattalionl-

anding

batta-lion

battalionl-

anding

batta-lion

battalionl-

anding

batta-lionlanding teams , the 3rd Battalion on the leftlertalert , the 2nd Battalion on thethe-

right

he-

ight

the-

right.

he-

ight

the-

right.

he-

ightrightright.*. The 1st Battalion was to land on Dog Green , proceed along the highhigh-

ground

hig-

hroad

high-

ground

hig-

hroad

high-

ground

hig-

hroadground to the west , and capture the high ground in the vicinity of Maisy.MaisyAaisy.AaisyMissyDaisy.

(23)23( )

The'rherherhea' two Ranger Battalions had a special missionmi8 lon to the west of thethe-

main

Ath-

enian

the-

main

Ath-

enian

the-

main

Ath-

enianmain landings.landings. The 2nd Ranger Battalion would land in the vicinity ofof-

Point

of-

fprint

of-

Point

of-

fprint

of-

Point

of-

fprintPoint Du Hoe , scale the cliffs , and neutralize the known enemy fortifiedfortified-

battery

forti-fied

fortified-

battery

forti-fied

fortified-

battery

forti-fiedbattery position there.there. If this assault proved successful the 5th RangerRange-

rBattalion

Range-

rBattalion

Range-

rBattalionBattalion was to land just west of Dog Green , and assault the enemy positionposition-

at

position-

alat Point de la1a PerceePearce , on the right of the 1st Division zone of action.action. (24)24(24)-

In

24-

In

( )

In support of this assault on Omaha Beach the Division Provost MarMar-Ma-

rshal

Ma-

rshal

Ma-

rshal

¬-

shalshale decided to land two officers and 2628 men on sector Easy Red at H ft 8080-

V

80-

iiiinutes.

80-

iiiinutes

80-

winutes.

80-

winutes, V\.

iiiinutes.iiiinuteslliinutes.lliinuteswinutes.winutes. Of this group ORBouo officer and 14 men would'Would' proceed up the E-lEl1-11FrlFurlEl-M

11t-.

11-t

-M-MM-

exitE-

xit$ t.tF.FF.-

M

F-

.exitF-

eint-

. >.. .

exit to the entrance of ),H.-LaurentH.LaurentI.IH.H. -LaurentiLaurentLaurent ; the remaining officer and 14 men were-werewere-

to

wher-

eto

were-

to

wher-

eto

-

to proceed along the beach to thehe E-3E3- exit and establish.atablishatablishcatabolism. control postsposts-e

poss-e

posts-

inland

posi-

tional

posts-

inland

posi-

tional

posts-

inland

posi-

tionale

inland to the village of Colleville.CollevilleCollectible. In the yent"ventventyenta," that either one of thesethese-

groups

Hes-

perus

these-

groups

Hes-

perus

these-

groups

Hes-

perusgroups were unable to accomplish their mission'81on , oneODe more officerof icerdicer and 1414-

men

14-

men

14-

men

\

men would land on EasyEaIYEasily Red at H ft 230 minutesminute.minute. , to move up to either E-lElB-1B1Fri- oror-

E3

Ii

,

Iii

i

M.. .

_ E-3E3-3.exit.exite# .: .

.

. . .II.Ifj,, by chancychangechance; ;, all ofo thesejthesethesebe ssiPjaaJfeUM.e.13m4f1.1er1e13m4f1.1er1e13m4f11er1..' _ _

_ . ,*.. thetbeUmtubeUmy-

.'XIl

Um-

yXIl

Du-

mmy

regaining.regainingt't' ' '

.

.:"

.:

"

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' ' _ "_ wu , .

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.' - -. .Ywnrwrr.r.ldLYwnrwrrrldL.TO-m.TOm... -*.--< <.nnji.unrtinnjiunrtiinjunction.. _. + M.YMY. +.4M.* iiI&AA& 1*ftmtmMI IIHIiiiiiI"I"1 e. . k.1111*. t J..pJp-. . <"> miiSi.niK'-miiSi.niK'miiSiniKmiiSi.niK'imiiSiniKimission' -.' i.to*. > +>S44bW; < uKniM-Unum -t. '. +nnw.MrrYwMrrYwryiinliinlaid ItrOON'11IItrOON11IIMISIMI m n m' *i.wiw+ A + y4 OAJDOA.' 4- AU" 41I.* ', IIVMq.IIVMqIVp M *MlM.is&PMlMisPLamias**_ *_ * .tfotfoto<& lit"litIR*"I" '4.4.Il4Il*.> <" njtfNJ+ "+"kn *. i.W frh; *.tI. -.IIIoi".IIIoi"IIIoi.yWthl.kMyWthlkM-* MUIMAUI"" II. nr11I'.1l> i1m iliin.iliinIlionL'L WMl

_MlMliMali|1N" " " i""iiir'iiiiriMWeMw| ' +wwAft< n ilUtdiluteil-

Utelements

.J.--.J.4'W4W.-

J.elent.

- A-AA-

elements

E-

lements

-

)elementselent.elentrelent_ . ofot the platoon would taketalc.talc. over the assigneda..ignedaignedaligned.. missionmilliol\milliolmillivoltmilliollanci1D&milliollanci1D\, landinglanci1D&lanci1Dlanding-

at

lanci1D-

&.7

lanci1-

D7

landing1O-

WN

landin-

g&

, . . . . . .:

....... ' :-.7.7-. - 1.. _ . . _ . . .": ! '

.'JJ' i_ .: :,, ':::.... ':" ; ,,

''::":'

, .::;:., ,;:..... .::.. . . :

.:; ;.:.. . ._ . :: .

. ." ' ." " :

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.

..:

1OWN.: , .:AqqWMWM% I'II'1'

.

01411010141-

101at

. . ._ . . . -1-1- """""""' 1-

at-

at H + 300.300. minutea.minuteaminute.minuteminutes.minutes. . (25)-

In

25-

In

(25)25(25)-

In

25-

In

( )

In a seriesser1es ofot conferencesconferenc.conferencconference.. with the Provost MarshalKarshal ofot the Engineer-

Special

Engi-neers

EngineerEngineerH-uu

Engine-er

EnIEMI e.l'el. '-HuuHuuiL.iLHumus- . . .-...

.f h< 11M* > cc4co..a.co..-

a.Special-444-

Special.

j

Special Brigade Group , it was deoideddecided that they would initiallyinitiall1 controlcontrol-

the

contr-

olthe beach as fartar back as&ss& the main exitsents from the beachbeach.*., fattateViramiCfataleiambicin ft *. TheTbeTube 1stletlet-

Division33-

Division3-

DivisionDivision M.P.'sMPsM.P.rsMPrsAmpsMrsK.P.KP. . ' 8 would control the exits E-lEl1-11E-1- , E-EFEandEland- , and inland asa8 fartar asas-

the

as-

hen

as-

the

as-

hen

as-

the

as-

henthe tactical situation dictated.dictated. In other words ifit the assault elementselements-

made

eleme-

nts

elements-

made

eleme-

nts

elements-

made

eleme-

ntsmade favorable progress into St Laurent and CollevilleCoilevilleCollectible the M.P.'sMPsK.P.'sKPsAmpsKips. . ' would-

follow

work-

fellow

wouldwould-

follow

work-

fellow

would-

follow

work-

fellowfollow closely.closely. (26)26(26)-

The

26T-

he

(26)-

The

26T-

he

( )

.

The 116thll6th R.C.T.'sRCTsR.O.T.lsROTlsCRTsROTs. . . ' zone of action was to be covered byqy M.P.'sMPsY.P.ISYPISAmpsYIPS. . ' of thethe-

wr

eth-

erthe-

hI'1'athe-

hI1athe-

29th/w//rwr/hI'1'ahI1ahI'1'a-

29thhI1a-

29th/'/,' , '''/' 'UU-

29th29th DiviDivDivisionion , coming in at H +10?'9. and following the assault elements asas-

closely

a-

scots

as-

closely

a-

scots

& 11-

closelyclosely as possiblepossibleJ); Their main mission being to initiate1nit1 te control of-

traffic

af-

tereffect

ofotof-

traffic

af-

tereffect

ot-

traffictraffic ( tactical) , guide personnel and vehicles into vehicle transit areas ,

and to establish and operate collecting points for prisonersprisonensofof war.war. (27)27(27)G-

EOGRAPHICAL

27G-

EOGRAPHICAL

((27)-

GmGRAPHICAL

27G-

mGRAPHICAL

(27)G-

EOGRAPHICAL

27G-

EOGRAPHICAL

)

GEOGRAPHICALGmGRAPHICAL FEATURESFEATURE-

SIn

Featur-

esIn the zone allotted to VthVt Corps fortortore this impending large-scalelargescalelargescalel-

anding

largescalel-

anding

largescalel-

anding

-

landing operation , vewe* findindbind only one favorable landing area.area. A five-nilefivenilefive-milemilefivemile-

stretch

fivenile-

stretch

five -* 1818-

stretch in the east to PointePointed dede-

la

De-

lla

de-

la

De-

lla

de-

la

De-

lla

stretch of beach extends from Port-en-BessinPortenBessinBlessing- - , ,

la PerceePearce , in the west.west. This stretch of beach is closed at both ends byby-

rock

br-

ock

by-

rock

br-

ock

by-

rock

br-

ockrock ledges and cliffs averaging 100 feetteetteeth in height.height. On this five-milefivemilefivemile-

interval

fivemile-

interval

fivemile-

interval

-

interval of favorable landing beachb68Ch , VthVt Corps planned its assault landland-land-

ings

land-

ings

land-

ings

¬-, . .

ingsdings , designating the area as "Omaha"Omaha"o""Omaha1Omaha1"Omaha'Omaha" "'*. Beach.Beach. The beach slopes quite gentlygently-o

gentl-y

gently-

below

gen-

tlygently-

below

gen-

tlybelow high-waterhighwater- mark , and on a lowloV4 tide approximately 300 yards of firmfirm-

sand

fire-

man

firm-

sand

fire-

man

firm-

sand

fire-

mansand iaieis exposed.exposed. On this tidal flat the Germans constructed numerous-r

numerou-s

numerousnumerou-

sKmderwater"obstacles

numerou-

sKmderwaterobstacles

numerou-

serwater

nume-

rousr ; :i*Kmderwater"obstaclesKmderwaterobstaclesderwater'staclesderwaterstaclesdrafterserwaterjerkwater'" staclesstales including the Element tiC"tiC"C"C"0 %" , a gate-likegatelike- structure ofotof-

p"r

of-

pr

offp-

rint

ot-

reinforced

tr-

ansformed

of-

reinforced

o-

rificereinforced iron frames with iron supportsj8upport8supports,;'p-"rp"rrp"-

rreinforcedpr-

reinforcedp-

renticed-"

heavyeavyheavy loolobolopy10'10loopy'"* driven into the sand-

at

sad-

at

sandsand-

at

sad-

at

sand-

at

sad-

atat such an angle that the mine-tippedminetipped- ends pointed seaward , and hedge-hogshedgehogshedge-hogehogehoggedhedgehoge-

made

hedgehogs-

made

hedgeh-

oghedgeh-

ogs

- ;

/

made of steel rails and strongly set into the sand.sand. (28)28(28)t(28)i(28)-

At

28-

At

(28)-

At

28-

At

(28)-

At

28-

At

( )'

. . .

t/

i/

At four pointspoi ts'tsts'ong"tsongsong'alongong"ongFongong"maongmaTonga

"

Omahama Beach'Beach' B chchsmchasm-smsm-smallsnailh'"wohwowho' ::"

woodeddeddeed ravines slopesiopeelope backback-w.

bac-k

b ck'ck'

*w.w* .., .,,* ,"'.. .,_ . . !.. ' " ... . .. . ...

. ' ..... . .. ..- ' ' .! ' * *. ' ' ' ''. .'_" 1IT*

.!'II'_ JgSiyGasify'*.*.*'!!! ! "**fl.>

.l'tlkltlktalk'.

... "'I\'II' /!' ,, \ *..l'l'. ."::"' !\ *..'. . .1A.1A.1A. v.1A.'I""f'ei|.*..*...-. .'( MaW'MaW\ ' **" 'vv' ''''' ' . yrt'yrtyurt..."' ',.. <..-'I""f''I""f'If-r.-Mtr.Mt. -'" ' " "nc' <'rdwrd'' *** *-* * 4-4- . .**. . "JSLtjuJSLtjuJustus" . -..:..: "jj". T'T'.rw.rw.::.u.u. . *t. -tt'TT! f 'jyjy ?_ " ':.

ujF-VujFVUFO.

!

._. .

! -_.._ ._.',..SjSj;,wu..r.wururn

?

.;-...-.L.v"rilttijLvrilttijLevitating

..;.

;:ca.ca_ ;

.

:

" Y.Y.. '+jy'JjyJjay. '

.

!. .

f.ifi.7-.7.7-wu..r. 7-wur '! -

... . . ..

SISKSIS,7r..Y7r.Y7rY_., . . . y_ .II., / ' ,. . ' .....Ir'Ir,.,' .

_. .... .M.M. ....

!aN - Y..n.w..r.r..nYnwrrnUnworn.. . .. . ..... - ,+ . ..IIb..rr.IIbrrLibrary.. ...._.. . . wVarawar.. ...,. Wr_ r J j'j' I'I"' J j

:2525f251:25 , 26, 27)27) Eye Witness , SelfSelfj; (28)28( ) A-3A3- , p.pP . 3.3*o> .

. . . . . . . . .

. " ' -" " ''::' _-. .. . . . . . . . , . . . . - . - - -- -

.n.n. . ,. . ... . ._ ,. 1111t.. . -t.t.--..%.. . IWr..yIWryWry... .. . . .. . . . . .w.w.. . ,. -. .a.a-. ... . r.r-- . . . ._-. .-.ii. ., . .MYJJMYJJMY-. .*... ., w_ ... . " 414> ...]"}; '""ww" ....->-. . . .. , . . .YY.. . M- 1-1.--. . .. .M. . _- , . .. . . ' . '

.rr. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . 11 .. . 1W1-

Wwwft_

wwftwaft >_ .+ .*.. N) . ., I.I. '

. . a... . . ,.

. . .-. . WerM4. . . Appal.OWNAppleton/ .OWNOWN..... r. i.i04W.... Y...,MafMa.. . ..W'W.. ' 40,004000' ..., 0M.0M. 101-

0inland

. ' . . . . , . , . y..pyp.. ".'. ., MY..0"MY.0" .". . . *"""' r.r.. A.-i1Frhi1FrhAi1Frh.... ... .. Appal/AppalAppall . j, .. . . , 'jj , ..---... . . . .",,"oo"owt"owtwt,",' -wt"wt"wt.-. . ..-"& HW.AftHWAftWAft-.- 1.00100, ... OW... b.b. . r. l'l.' .' . . . . , . . . . .. . .- .. , . . . " . " . . . , . . .- . , , . . . . .

v\v-

MMUW

. . .JJ>. lJlJiI-

f

lif-

eMMUWMMMopiIfif tem' .*...IMI/.IMIIAMBI...IMIwlf./ wlfwolf** *':wy'!:.nn. q "warwar" =iwr a *" 'i en'aenaLena!r'* *=+n +

..:=r-al rw.rw._ ." . . .* '

.

>:xkDked* :,"..:r:,:k...;

.;..,., ry.wrywcry*,. *L, , w...tr:;.

, ,

.. .., .

.;: ,: ",:.;x..r.wxrwraw:.:. . ,!:.=+ r--=-- ____,_'_ . . _ _ . . . . .. " "

_. ' ' '''.

,

.

"MM",--

. . _....

_"_... . , '

... ._ .

. , . .. .... . ... .... . ,.. .. . ._ . . . _' " . .

inland and provide naturalDaturaAtria! corridors for exit from the beachbeach.*. ThoseThe.eTheeTheseThos-

ecorridors

The.e-

corridors

Thes-

ecorridors

.corridors were keyke, areas both in the plan ofot attack and in the arrangeanuge-anugearrange-Langearrange-

ment

anuge-

mant

auge-an

arrange-

ment

¬-mentmantmeantmanta of defenses.defensesdefense.defense. . The advance inland1Dland ofot assaulting'IaultingIaultingFaulting&' units would dependependdepend-

on

depe-nd

epend-

on

depend-

ant

e

on opening these exit roads fortortore traffic and supply from the beachbeach.*. (29)29(29)-

Looking

29L-

ooking

(29)-

Looking

29L-

ooking

( ) rr-

Looking

L-

ookingLooking at the road-netroadnet- south or inland from the beach , we findtindtined twotwo-

main

wo-

man

two-

main

wo-

man

two-

main

wo-

manmain laterals : a 15-foot15foot- hard-surfacehardsurface- road paralleling the coast fromfrom-

Vierville

ro-omier

from-

Vierville

ro-omier

from-

Vierville

ro-omierViervilleVirile to St.St. Laurent to Port-en-BessinPortenBessinPort-en-BeesinBeesinBlessingBesting- - , and a still better road runningrunnin-

glaterallyrun-

ningrunnin-

glaterallyrun-

ningrunnin-

glaterallyrun-

ninglaterally from IsignyHissing to FormignyForming to Bayeux.BayeuxBateaux. (30)30.30).30(.

) The north-southnorthsouth- roadsroads-

extending

rea-sserted

roads-

extending

rea-sserted

roads-

extending

rea-ssertedextending up from the beach were secondary8econda in nature and characterizedcharacterized-

steep

characteri-zed

byby-

steepb-

yteby-

steepb-

ytesteep shoulders , and in many places , by high embankments.embankments. As a result ofotof-

this

O-

tisot-

this

G-

oths

of-

this

O-

tisthis very poor north-southnorthsouth- road-netroadnet- , it would be necessarynece8sa to do a greatgreat-

deal

grad-

ualgreat-

deal

grad-

ualgreat-

deal

grad-

ualdeal of engineering work in the development of suitable north-southnorthsouth- axials.axialsaxilsaxials.-

Ones

hailst-

ones

axials.-

Once

hailst-

oneaxials.-

Once

hailst-

one.

OnesOnce 'upup' up the steep slopesslop s bordering the beach , we find a gently rollingrolling-

plainrolli-

ngrolling-

plainrolli-

ngrolling-

plainrolli-

ngplain divided into numerous patches of land by hedgerows , which areire the-uni-theunithi--uni-thiZunithintheuni-versal

thun-ders

theuni-

versalthun-

dersthiuni-

versalthin-

kers--- -

versalversa substitute for fences in this country , and vary in character alal-

most

a1-a1al-ala1-

most

al-

most

¬-most as much as do the of theshapes fields.fields. Some are low bushes , somesom-

eare

smea-

red

som-

eare

smea-

red

som-

eare

smea-

redare thick walls of tough briarybriabriar hedge , and still others are dikes of earth.earthearth.-

(3D

earth-

3D.

(3D3D(31)31( )

UARSHAIXBiGMARSHALLDlGMARSHALLINGMarshallUARSHAIXBi-

GWith

MARSHALLDl-

GWith

MARSHALLIN-

GWith

Marsh-all

Marshall-ingWith the completion of the planning and coordination phase we findfind-

thefi-

ndfind-

thefi-

ndfind-

thefi-

ndthe M.P.MP. . Platoon moving into the marshalling area on May 22, 1944.1944. TheThe-

platoon

Te-

lethon

The-

platoon

Te-

lethon

The-

platoon

Te-

lethonplatoon was split up according to the plan , and sent to "Blocks"Blocks" " , withinwithin-

the

with-

inwithin-

the

with-

inwithin-

the

with-

inthe marshalling area , corresponding to the ships which they would be on.onon.-

The

M-

onte

on.-

The

M-

onte

on.-

The

M-

onte

.

The first section , two officers and 28 men , went to Area D-8D8- , Block 4 , fortortorefor-

loading

fol-

iatingtor-

loading

tre-

adingfor-

loading

fol-

iatingloading on L.S.T.LSTST. . . 1420.1420#420.420. (32)32(32)-

The

32T-

he

(32)-

The

32T-

he

((32)-

The

32T-

he

)

The 2nd group to land , 1 officer and 14 men , went to Area D-8D8D--8--- , Blockm.ockmock. 66.6,.,

for loading on L.C.T.LCTCTL.O.LO. .! . #138.138138.-

The

138-

The

138-

.Thi

138-

Thi

.

- . . . . . . 'M.M' . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . ' ". .. . . . . . . . . ..

. . .. . _ 'ThThTheThiThai

'

3"rd3rd"rc "grotlptgrotlptgrot.gggroupot p ::to6Taitd/-f6Taitdf:= =1amiid-iiidiid-/ ': '

- :"officerofficerofficoff3.cer-off3.cerofficeoff3.cerandoff3cerand". r'r' :-"

and1d-1d1d"lnen''w1dlnenw- '

4'"lnen'-'w"lnen'lnen'wwlinen"

men]';;- '

wentntMtM tot "Area"bAreabArabArear r:1-m6r:1r1m6"

D-6D6,.-: 6; ,;' -

HCoclcColicBCcck'IIBCcckIIBCcck'IIIBCcckIIICockBCcck'II-w'r

BCcckII-wr

Cocki-er

, :'ii11' 1' :

.. _ _. . , ... , . , .... ...... ... . . ...... .

.. ... ... . . .

. . ,. .

. - . . .- - ,.... . ". .--. . w'rwr.. ' ,..I,

MMW_MW .W'W' ' " 1 "' F;' ".: r " w.w:;_ * , . _ . .. . .. .. .. ..

-' ,

r. .' ........-.....,;;;.;; : --.n..n.-" '-: _ . .tt 'A I.I : / *. ' ll wrV4"AwrV4A-rX.

7/77tw.7tw/,

tw.tw, , .

' > <<<6/t6t 4..e.e4tMMhffliIMiMMMM0MMMJMMVHHP4tMMhffliIMiMMMM0MMMJM-

MVHHPtarlowfrfln.4.1.41.414 'f1llf1ll Iii II r J l JJLLJILL .w.w 'rivmurim-"* kvwftN.kvwftN*mH_% * >* : - - I M

." "" : " --'J"'J"J--: ' " : __ . -. .,..--_ -tarlowfr-flntarlowfrfln"tv"i.ohCtw'ontviohCtwontallowflan-.-. " "-. aa&-aa&aa& - ' L.1T.Tntt397rivmuL1TTntt397rivmu- ' - ....w.w. "' -... qKM-KM, " 1 ----- _, WW..R._ .AA-AAA-

A(29)

A-

A29

..-......... .,.. -,...-,.. .,_.... -.M.a_

M.a-ZU Ma-ud . ..., ._ -7.7.-.. . r .. 1 4.4., ./, ,., .,,>. KVi"KViotIoo"-otIoo"otIooViontootIoo"-'J" otIo-oJ ont-o ""'-. i. .. <'*.. -. . .. .-ZU-ZUZU11aa&orsaaorsagars: ors L.1T.Tntt397L1T.Tntt397L1TTntt397l-C1'-1C1'C11lC1'1lC11; .:G:;. T:: .L.WLW. .

'".

" ... . (29)29( ) A-lAlA-l,) pV'p.pl' s.-s.s.ihsigh.-

. .

'IfcjIC:ih' ; (30)30(O}?U) A-lAlA1-l.l,._

p.p1>.' " 1717l|; :, (31)31(31)Y31Y(33( )) , . "A-lt"AAlt'AIMAIM"'A'1A1A'1-

a

A1-

a

.

-' J'J' ''JfJf#: r. I6yt3.t6-r'"tt2).t6rtt2.t6t6r'"tt2)rtt2-VIM'" : *) WM'rjjrrjjrP' :'lt.qultquletup.* wa ' KAomUdgiAloudKAomUdg-

iSelf.' '' :; '

'' ;

Self.Selfs.s. .

--... . . . .-. . a.. r. r..1.r1.r1.. .... .,. . ,. ., .. 'atat.'.. 13.131.3...

. . . . . . ._. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . - .. .. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...w.w. . . . . .

. . . .. . . _____..4.4.4. ...

I

.II.. . . ... ... . . . . ..... ., . . .... .. .. .. ,. . . .

___ , I . . _ ..... "". , . .... . . . . .. . . , .*v M14xbjA

. .mp. > ..- . , . At,.. , Itl,.Il. . Iw.,...,+.. ... .MM_. wMMJiMt_,.. . AA-_!. YIMr-Yin- J, . I4,. .. ..*.. . *-. -* ...---- ' 4-*"

%

--

.*"' '' '' " ' ' -__

<_-" * nu.nu!-.t..t.-*. .AdoAdo f -.arar Js y.y- y. ww-+ wA_

" ' rrNw.awa.rrNwawa. . -l1lil1lir.wrwr.-wTha

. ,

.. .

.

.

. . .'jj'-- . .. ,

, . . . '.

.5&iL.4jHa5iL.4jHa5iL4jHaThaThai& J.MaawiMaawiMalawi. t.hth;. ,JMi&JMiMIJMi&caMJMicaMMica_. &: -caMcaM-.

_-. fc-- lrqttp+ tit-tittitGf"titGftit- ""tt" Gf"Gf4W.164W16.-011011- "',i'ttfTtMifnaltittfTtMifnaltniO."ul1rdniO.ul1rdniOul1rd- '- ." = M2'222' r rreaareareaarea ; - -

.' 0* 1.1\1-

.Block

1-

Block)

,.

Block 5 , to load on L.S.H.LSHLASH. . . (33)33(33)-

On

33-

On

(33)-

On

33-

On

( )

On MaylI&ylIylaylily& 242J.2J. mapsmapaNapa ofot the landing area were drawn , and all personnel werewere-

thoroughly

mer-

itoriously

were-

thoroughly

mer-

itoriously

were-

thoroughly

mer-

itoriouslythoroughly briefed.briefed. At this time all men were given an overlayoverlqoverlap with thethe-

complete

the-

rmopile

the-

complete

the-

rmopile

the-

complete

the-

rmopilecomplete plan of traffic circulation , and each man was familiarized withwith-

his

with-

ies

with-

his

with-

ies

with-

his

with-

ieshis specific part in that plan.plan. In addition , this overlay showed the popo-

sition

po-popo-

sition

po-

sition

¬-

sitionsitting of the prisoner of war cage , and vehicle transit areas.areas. They werewer-

efurther

wer-

efurther

wer-

efurtherfurther briefed in the location of the Division Command Post , and majormajor-

supply

ma-jors

major-

supply

ma-jors

major-

supply

ma-jorssupply dump areas , though this information was not included in the overlayoverlay-

for

overla-

bor

overloverlyoverl-

for

overl-

ordfor security reasons.reasons. (34)34( )

THE VOYAGEVOYAGE-

On

Voya-

geOn theth night of 2-323- JuneJunJuan , all four of these elements of the M.P.MP. . PlaPla-PlaxPla-

toon

Pla-

toon

Pla-

toon

¬-

toonton moved out of the marshalling area to the Portland harbor where theythey-

boarded

hea-

dboard

they-

boarded

hea-

dboard

they-

boarded

hea-

dboardboarded their respectivespectivezespectivespecie craft.craft. At approximately 1700 , 2nd of June , thethe-

author

he-

ather

the-

author

he-

ather

the-

author

he-

atherauthor with 28 men and 1 officer boarded L.S.T.LSTST. . . #420 , and moved out intointo-

the

inst-

ate

into-

the

inst-

ate

into-

the

inst-

atethe already crowded harbor , where we dropped anchor and waited for thethe-

"big"

th-

ebig

her-

bing

the-

"bigll

the-

bigll

th-

rillthe-

"big"

th-

ebig

her-

bing"big"big"bigllbigllbill" " day.day. The 3rd of June , spent on board ship proved uneventful ; howhow-how-

ever

how-

ever

how-

ever

¬-

ever , the 4th of June presented another picture.picture. Byay noon of the 4th thethe-

weather

the-

reafter

the-

weather

the-

reafter

the-

weather

the-

reafterweather looked quite bad.bad. The English Channel is well known for the unun-

predictable

un-unun-

predictable

un-

predictable

¬-

predictable nature of its weather and , on this one occasion , during thethe-

period

ch-

eerio

the-

period

ch-

eerio

the-

period

ch-

eerioperiod covered by this monograph , it lived up to its reputation.reputation. RoughRough-

weather

Rou-

ghest

Rough-

weather

Rou-

ghest

Rough-

weather

Rou-

ghestweather , accompanied by strong winds and rough seas , made it necessary toto-

postpone

to-

pspinto-

postpone

to-

pspinto-

postpone

to-

pspinpostpone D-dayDday- for 24 hours.hours. By this decision D-dayDday- was changed from June

5 to June 6.6. (35)35(35)-

On

35-

On

( ) .

On the eveningareningcareening of the 4th it was pouring rain, the wind whippedwhippe sprayapra7spray-

over

spr-ay

apra7-

over

spray-

over

spr-ayover the decks ofot the smaller shipsshipeship around us , andaD blottedblottec1 out the facestac.tactackfaces-

of

fac-es

..of the men in the boats.boats. On the afternoonatt.moonattmoonPatton. ofot the 5th5tb , the ship cojnandercommandercojnander-

received

comma-

ndeered

co.cocommander-

we

commandee-

red

.. d.d..

received orders to moveJDOveDOve out of the, . .

harbor , andaDd.aDdsad.sad.. withinw1t.b1n..3.w1tb1n3.w1tb1n3vithin.,3.vithin3.vithin3: . . .3Jiour. hourlOur $* w..88we* wrwv.wvwsre. .*_ . . . _*..

. . allraJ.l.aJlallalallrr-

.

al-

l

a.

.l. . ,

.. _ .0-00-

t

- . _ . - - , - .- . . . .0".00. " " - . . - . '- -_ . . . . .__ . . . . . . .

,__ . _ . _ . __ :- .p-.p.p-

0

p-

0

-

- , .. r.r..t"t. "".. 4ft-4ft4ftvff-tt- .. -.:***#:!&" , vffff. .'.9lo1 . .rj2M:.

.=' ,

tt. _.

*guejague_ . _ _ . . ..r.r.

.

. . . _hgM..._

' ljgttai,_ , . _ . .!.*. . . .gta3B' 131011131011-

M

,;- '::tIi.tIitipi..__.

" . .... .

., --1ft-rr -

(33)33( ) Personal Knowledge , SelfSeltSmelt ; (3434( ,3434, , 35)35) Eye$ye WitnessWitnea8, , Self.Self.. . , . " . . , . . . . f, ' . ,. . >. . . . . . . . . . . -. . ' " vmwmw-- . ." >"< -.

. .

" '.

.

:.

:.

. . . , . : .

14.14lJt.lJtalt..rr.

. . . . ..... . . . . . . _ . . . :,., .. . . . ...rr.MM-MM_ -_ .*. ' ry11rm. * .4N4N."*" '.*. '.*.*\.. . . . . . . _ . . . , .";:'11"-11"1111"-

J

11-

J

'MM' " .,t.'- 7q. ...-MMMM-

.r

M-m

aa-

.i'rM0MPVV

a-

irM0MPVV

..

'.>,

L*. . .. .. .. . , . ... ... . . .,.. ,.. . .. .. . . f.f. . _NI... Ia'Ia... .' fr.fr.. . i,i-

4I

. . . ', . ._ . ,... . .. ., yaY'yaYyea.' r. ' * 471 M M ' r.

'. . . . . . ., . .... .. . . .... . ., . . , . r. Y. ." .''DD r. 1 -.II

. ' , .. ... . . ' y0.y0 i.i ", r.r Nw.Nw-. . .. , .. --- . , . .. .*. %.*. . "> . . . *.*. ._ * <... ./. *...*.. . " <, - *. . . .... "I.I" . ._ ' -- ' ''-' ' W,44-V4WW'aW,44W44V4WW'aV4WWa,-- - .nn :

. ......... "... a*_* ***_"*

... W"l1'l1" ' --_ - .,- .....- . . "".>)WII'IIIII' JKM'WJJJJKMWJJJA.'IAI."'(, , ' ;

'.:

"

.: :.::"-': = .::."::" :;: .':' _. .--: . , .

4I4-

Ithese

. , . . ..

- i ''* nwmiw1 *****' .- H-H-- "* ' " " "

. *'"' ** > *Sf* A* vYYt7i'Yt7i- "/t7i't7i't7i-/ ti*' '"l*"a1- ' rLtwrelit'"- 1N7" 'jy! !" v.i'rM0MPV-V.irM0MPVV.i'rM0MPVirM0MPVV.i'rM0MPVV-1JtM

irM0MPVV1-JtM

' < - -*" ,V . .": .MM *** aY** +*IMIFIWIMF*w' _vtirofvireo1JtM - ' ;Vt.Vt ;- W-"Wi.iF-oFo- " "ttifiTottifiTotidbittffi-'ftnV6ytffi'ftnV6yftnV6ytiff'ii ydtro1; c b ;mYAK - 83xwrirOT"tttrar3xwrirOTtttrar eontOyonto destroyersr coulduldauld be seen movingIIDvingIdling fast up and downdow-

nthese

don-

atesdown-

L

dow-

n

thesetheee columnscolumnacolumnar , and frequentlyfreqfare .ntl1ntl1. a flight of fighterf1lhter planes would crosscrosarosa overover-over-

head.

over-

head

over-

head.

over-

head

*-" ,

headhead. (36)36(36)-

After

36-

After

( ) 7)7) " Dy*. y.y- -* _ _ . _

.AQ.1-.AQ1-.AQ-1._ _ _ _ _ _ _*.j.- _ _.. .:;

jAfterAtterLatter the evening meal last minute checks on equipment were made , 11,

and the men bedded down fortortore the night.night. At approximatelyapprox1ma.telyapprox1mately. 0200 , on the 6th ,

the ship slowed down to a stop , and upon inquiry , I found that we werewere-

about

where-

abouts

were-

about

where-

aboutsabout 9 miles fromtromtromp "Omaha"Omaha" " Beach.Beach. An early breakfast was served at 0300 ,

and at 0400 the men were ordered to secure equipment for a call to theirtheir-

station

tear-

staintheir-

station

tear-

staintheir-

station

tear-

stainstation which wasas on the port side of the ship.ship. Looking ogtoptRoget over the roughrough-

seas

roug-

hens

rough-

seas

roug-

hens

rough-

seas

roug-

hensseas I could see salvo after salvo leave one ofot the battleships , followedfollowed-

by

follow-

edby a red arc across the sky, a bright flash somewhere along the beach , andand-

the

anth-

em

and-

the

anth-

em

and-

the

anth-

emthe return of the sound.sound. Further inland the sky was aflameaflam , apparentlyapparently-

from

apparen-

tlyfrom the activity of the paratroopers.paratroopers. (37)37( ) At 0530 my two reinforced squadssquads-

were

squ-

adswere loaded into an L.C.A.LCACA. . . , and lowered into the water.water. As wew swung clearclear-

we

clearw-

eedwe Joined other L.C.A.'sLCAsLucas. . . ' bobbing about among the big transports stretchetretch-etretchstretch-stretch-

ing

etretch-

ing

stretch-

ing

stretch-

ing

¬-

ingKing out as far as one could see.see. A brisk northeast wind whipped up thethe-

waves

he-

aves

the-

waves

he-

aves

the-

waves

he-

aveswaves and salt spray drenched us.us. Overhead we could hear bombers , andand-

nearing

en-

dearing

and-

nearing

en-

dearing

and-

nearing

en-

dearingnearing the warships , broadsides fromtromtromp the heavy guns smacked our eardrums.eardrumseardrums.-

Moving

eardr-ums

eardrums.-

Moving

eardr-ums

eardrums.-

Moving

eardr-ums

.

Moving toward a large transport , we circled three times and added moremor-

eL.C.A.'s

mor-

eLCAs

No-

relcomor-

eL.C.A.'s

mor-

eLCAs

No-

relcomor-

eL.C.A.'s

mor-

eLCAs

No-

relcoL.C.A.'sLCAsLucas. . . ' to our wave.wave. As we moved closer toward the shore the men beganbegan-

to

beg-

anto get seasick , and soon many of them were vomiting on all sides.sides. Near-NearNear-

ing

Near-

ing

Near-

ing

-

ingKing our line of departure our L.C.A.LCACA. . . began shipping water from the heavyheavy-

seas

heav-

yset

heavy-

seas

heav-

yset

heavy-

seas

heav-

ysetseas ; however , the craftfecraftcraftbcrafted pumps were turned on and they seemed to carrycarry-

the

car-ry

carry-

the

car-ry

carry-

the

car-rythe load.load. (38)38( ) The men soon became drenched and chilled by.by

., the heavyheavy-

spray

hairs-

pray

heavy-

spray

hairs-

pray

heavy-

spray

hairs-

prayspray , cramped by ttwthe-thetttwoimmobilitytheimmobilityhemophilic- in the craft , and weakened by seasickness.seasicknessseasickness.-

1't

seasickness-

1t

.

11't1tt' SufficestoSuffimtoSufficesSufismSui'ficeSuificeSuffice' to state , they were not in the best of condition fortortore the comingcomin-

gstrenuous

co-mings

comin-

gstrenuous

co-mings

comin-

gstrenuous

co-mingsstrenuous action on the beach.(39)beach.39beach39. ( ) Nearing the beach I could make out thethe-

E

the-

I

the-

ir

the-

Er1

I

E-r1Er1l exit andd within 400 of the shore we could see harmlessharml688 fountainsfountains-

of

fountai-

ns

E& yards.. . . . . . . , - .. , . . - . . - . . . .

-:.1.1.1. . .

,. ' .. . , ... . .- .-- , , , . , .. - . ' . . . . . . . . . .- . , .- .

... - . -

.. . . . . . .- - . . ,. - . . . .. .

. . -- -...-- _ . . . . . . . . . . .- .. . . . ' . . . . .

, -

of spray fromfrom.. shellsasshellacsshallashellsshall _as. thejthEZthethe! .1p1p. j.J.ip.Qa.JipQa. . . jje.4jje4.. . jNQU"d.WlNQUdWlrQundround. " .

.. , _ uar.uarguar.A.JkAJkAk.. . itoyiftoyitoyifjgatoying>>!

__-jgajgaGA- .LaLa. > *e.tcretcretc. :; :: ''' '

:' '''' .. .

. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............--

.. ._ .. . wrr.wrrrr._.+

": _. ,r .. ,r.r. . rw.. . . ._+ .r..r.rr. .". . , ., . ,. . .

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".--. . + - ' .

. .. ..

_-,.,. .. . -.

-- ; ' -. . ' " . " - - ' - - - ' :

(3636( , 37 , 38 , 39)39J9)J939)} Eyee Witness , Self.SelfSelt.SeltSmelt.

. . . . .

.,

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t.t..... .......

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1ULICH4IVA..i11-

ULICH4IVAi1-__ .

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. .ULICH4IVA..i1ULICH4IVA.i1ULICH4IVAi1* * *. "oame-"oameoamefoamed"oamevV".voamevVveiUlei : vV".vvVvvv" "" "' 'vnvr'vnvrnever' '" .... o ' "

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.l

l-

.We

'. .. ... .. ,;, :. .:- ..: :

l44-

WeWe soon found ourselves among these ebstackesebstagkesobstaclesrestageseb8ta es , and the naval personnelpersonnel-

operating

pers-onnel

personnel-

operating

pers-onnel

personnel-

operating

pers-onneloperating the craft began to maneuver around the morelOre prominent onesones.ones-

.All

comme-

nsally

ones-

.All

comme-

nsally

*.

All of a sudden we came to an abrupt haltihungalthoughhalt Kung.Kungf hungruphunger. up on an obstacleobstacleI1JOurJOur-

attention

Fo-urteen

OurOu-

rattention

Fo-

urteenOu-

rattention

Fo-

urteenattention was focused on the L.C.A.LCACA. . . on our immediate right as it hadhad-

apparently

had-

apparently

had-

apparentlyapparently hit a mine and began to sink.sink. Realizing that we were a sittingsittingd-

uck

sitti-ng

sittingd-

uCk

sitti-ng

sittingd-

uck

sitti-ngduck I ordered the craft abandoned ; however , before I had finished thatthat-

order

the-

atrethat-

order

the-

atrethat-

order

the-

atreorder the right front part of the craft was hit by either an artilleryartillery-

shell

artill-ery

artillery-

shell

artill-eryshell or a mortar round , wounding 14 of my 28 men , making them ineffectiveineffective-

for

ineffecti-vefor the restr st of the operation.operation. (40)40( ) This explosion blew the ramp offoft ,

so we proceeded to move out through it.it. As we hit the water we found itit-

to

it-

oit-

to

it-

oit-

to

it-

oto be over our heads , so we\ e had to swim approximately 20 yards to firmfirm-

footing

for-

mfitting..

- 1: -uu-.oJ"-.oJ"oJ.oJ"I.o-

J"footing.o-

Jfooting<"'-- I;

" (

footing.footing.,,N,MovingNMovingMovesMovNov up the sand toward the beach , the enemy dropped three moremore-

of

More-

no

more-

of

More-

noof my men with machine gun fire , and 1I arrived at a little shelf on thethe-

beach

Th-

ebes

the-

beach

Th-

ebes

the-

beach

Th-

ebesbeach with but 11 men and one officer capable of further action.action. WhileWhil-

ereorganizing

Whil-

ereorganizing

Whil-

ereorganizingreorganizing this small group we could hear a machine gungWlgal firing off on ourou-

rright

out-

right

ou-

rright

ou-

tright

ou-

rright

out-

rightright front $; in fact , we could see men on our right drop to the sand fromfrom-

its

fro-

nts

from-

its

fro-

nts

from-

its

fro-

ntsits effect.effect. Still we could not locate it ; finally one of my men thoughtthought-

he

thoug-

hthe spotted it at the base of the slope to our right front.front. It looked likelike-

a

ike-

aa pill-boxpillbox- , but no aperture could be seen.seen. In a few moments a half-trackhalftrackhalftrackhalftrackc-

ame

halftra-ck

half -tracktrack-trackc-

ame

tra-ckcame up to the shore.shore. I pointed the target out to the crew and they tooktoo-

kit

tool-

kit

too-

kit

tool-

kit

too-

kit

tool-

kitit under effective fire.fire. Firing from the pill-boxpillbox- ceasedc asedasked and the halfhalt-halthalf-half-

track

halt-

track

half-

track

half-

track

¬-

track moved on down the beach toward the D-3D3- draw ; as it neared this drawdra-

wit

dra-

w

dra-

wit

dra-

w

dra-

wit

dra-

wit received a direct hit and began to burn.burn. In the meantime the machinemachine-

gun

machi-

negun in the pill-boxpillboxpin-boxpin- opened up again.again. Soon a tank camecue into view and somesome-some-

one

some-

one

some-

one

¬-

one apparently pointed the target out to the tank crewcrew.*. With one roundround-

a

rotund-

aa camouflage net was blown from the pill-boxpillbox- exposing the aperture , andand-

two

Sa-

nto

and-

two

Sa-

nto

and-

two

Sa-

ntotwo more rounds neutralized it.it. (41)41(41).n-

.

41-n

( )- N'N' " , --.M..M.M.- - . . ... . . _ ' . . . . . .__ ._ ..... . . _ _ ,. . , . . . . . . ..__. _ . ._ .___. ._ _ . . .

-.n..n.-. , . . . . . .. . ... . r . . .rr. _ .. .. .. . .r ... .,. -..rr. -__.. .. .1.1.11.. . .. -. wa..wnu..aa.u.- ., .. 11 ... . . . . . .._., .. . ..a.a.-N'N'N-.... _ r..r..a.. '. _.. .

_... .. ...... .

_.... ..._.. . _.. . _ .rrr-

r.r.dxwk.- .. # . *-mtvrmtvmtvruntfntL- *-*- -untfntLuntfntLintently-untfntLiunstinting(40741)40741(\ I.vtJIvtJCivet40..A--J".j.-AJ"-.j.

< <-\ii\ iiiii" ...

imm.immimam

..). <.. .r.dxwkrdxwkradix. .

Eye$&i4l1Wi4l1W&

.wiwWIjrere;

>:w*.*< > .

witness.ww.}

MM

1.l1lp

..t..n-.t..n*.

tnbow-ii..ii.. sswrsward-naiKiiNatick

v.::gAn

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.

. . ---'r'rr---- '- " ---- . '

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IM

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" . .

At thisthi.thithin. point I decideddeoided to send.IndIndIndo. Lt Bradford and 7 manmen down the beach. . . .

.. ... . . ., . ,. . ,. . ,. . .. . ,. ,. . , . .. . . . , , ,. . , .. . ,. . .. ...,. . . . . . .

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' . . .: . *. ".>.' " ".. .

. '. ". " -..w_* * ..titi>.*. .w.w. .ww. q.q. ,

- ,. t. v,. . ' t't.tt.' ' :" tf _. . ,". . . . . :. . .rr....,. _.. w.ww.www. ._. ,.,;. Jil.JilJill.:!' L.re/isWfL.reisWfLireis. _ */ M.MO,4dfO4dfO,4df"iCVO4dfiCV.44r .rArAA.I-"iCV"iCViCViV-: : "Ih..wIhwIwo:. : >:- -

to thethi..eastthieasttheistthi..eastandti, .'®eastast , and--and- -

up the B-3B31-311-11draw-) draw to postpoet the men along the beach , andamiamid ,upup-

the

U-

teup-

the

U-

teup-

the

U-

tethe draw asa8 fartar as possiblepo.libl.poliblpossible.pliable. . *. At approximatelyapproximateqapproximate 1110 1I proceededp oceed.doceeddceded. up the E-lEl1-11E-1Eld-

raw

Re-

draw

11d-

raw

E1-

draw

-

draw posting one slightly woundedwoWldedwolfed man at the entranceentrance.toentrance.entrance .to the draw , andand-

moved

An-

dover

and-

moved

An-

dover

and-

moved

An-

dovermoved forward with three men toward 3t8tSt Laurent.Laurent. Another artilleryartllle1'1artllle11' roundrOWldgrowledround-

drove

groun-

dcover

rOWld-

drove

round-

drove

groun-

dcoverdrove us to the groundgroWldgrowled , but not hitt/inghittinghitttinghittingittKing/ it soon800n enough , the three menmen-

were

me-

aner

men-

were

me-

aner

..00..0-

were

0-

werewere wounded , one badly, the other two only slightlyslightly.*. (42)42(42)-

By

42-

By

(42)-

By

42-

By

(42)-

By

42-

By

( )

By this time the chestcheat wound , which I hadad received on the craft , bebe-

gan

be-bebe-

8an

be-

gan

¬-

gan8anEgan giving meruenue a little pain , so I administered the morphine surretsurest , whichwhich-

we

whi-

chwe were all equipped with , into my arm.arm. Within a very few moments I feltfelt-

much

fe-

ltfelt-

much

fe-

ltfelt-

much

fe-

ltmuch better , and moved on up the draw toward St Laurent with my last twotwo-

men.

wo-

men

two-

men.

wo-

men

two-

men.

wo-

menmen.men. One of these men I posted on the bluff overlooking the beach , thethe-

other

te-

ther

the-

other

te-

ther

the-

other

te-

therother I posted in front of the designated Division Command Post.Post. ReturnReturn-Return-

ing

Return-

ing

Return-

ing

¬-

ingKing to the beach I found that Brig.Brig. General WillardMillard G.G. WymanWynn , assistantassistant-

division

assis-tant

assistant-

division

assis-tant

assistant-

division

assis-tantdivision commandercOlrunandercoriander of the 1st Division , had established a C.P.CP. . in a pillpill-pill-

box

pill-

box

pill-

box

¬-

box at the entrance to the E-lElE-11- draw.draw. (43)43( ) It was'Was' now about 1400 hours andand-

vehicles

can-

dleholders

and-

vehicles

can-

dleholders

and-

vehicles

can-

dleholdersvehicles of all types were waiting to move up the draw toward St Laurent ,

so I moved down to the nearest vehicle , which happened to be a half-trackhalftrack- ,

and sitting on the right front fenderfonder , led the column from the beach upup-

the

U-

teup-

the

U-

teup-

the

U-

tethe E-lElX1-1X11-l draw into a hastily picked vehicle transittrantrain 1t area , about 300 yardsyards-A

yard-s.l.WlW1&VU1&V-

Ufrom1V-

Ufrom,' ., .l.-

Wfrom

,&. \AA\ *

from the Division Headquarters , which wasNbeingwas\beingwasbeingwanderingwas,\ being set up a few hundred yardsyards-

east

arse-

nals

yards-

east

arse-

nalseast of St Laurent.Laurent. At this point I began to get a little tired , andan-

dfelt

Ha-

ndel

an-

dfelt

Ha-

ndel

an-

dfelt

Ha-

ndelfelt perhaps I was just hungry , so I sat down in the vicinity of thethe-

Division

tel-

evision

the-

Division

tel-

evision

the-

Division

tel-

evisionDivision Command Post , and opened a "K"KilK"ilK" " rationration.*. I didn'tdidnt' appear to bebe-

hungry

b-

egun

be-

hungry

b-

egun

be-

hungry

b-

egunhungry at all , so I started to get up , but 1 felt so80 dead-tireddeadtired- that I justjUltjUtjust-

couldn't

just-

couldnt

jUlt-

couldn't

jUlt-

couldnt

just-

couldn't

just-

couldntcouldn'tcouldnt' find the energy to do soso.soso.-

b

so-

b

*. I guess 1I sat there for a few moments/-momentsmomental-momentalmomentmoment-sU

momen-ts

momental-

A

momen-

t

moments-

and

mome-

nts//--

U\UUvt.Duvetb t.t. \ . vt.vtvt.-

andv-

itav t.t. ."

and&ftdftdtd& (finally/1\finally1finally1fellfinally.: :iI/ 'I\'II'IfellIfellFell'

\, fell over on mytq sideside.side.-

ptWae

*. A Medic gave me_ another shot ofot mormor-moormo-

rphine

mor-

(44)

mo-

r44

mo-

rphe

mo-

rphed

¬-

phineptWaephepinepotagephew and placed me in a fox-holefoxholetox-hole.toxhole.ox- ,. (44)44(44).-

u"

44-

u

( )

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T-

he"

The rest of this monographmonograpn will.111111. deal with the follow-upfollowup- elementse1.e1.. ataBata of-

the

of-

ten

ofof-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

tenthe platoon , the 1stlot group of which , landed at approximatelyappro.x1mate11103Qapprox1mate11103Q. 1030 on EasyEasy-

Green

Meas-

urement

Easy-

Green

Measu-

rement

Easy-

Green

Meas-

urementGreen where theytheY'rantheYranterrain' ran into artillery , mortar and small-armssmallarms- fire.firetire.tire. LtLt-

Zaniewski

L-

itanies

L-

tzani..1d

L-

tzani1d

Lt-

Zaniewski

L-

itaniesZaniewskizani..1dzani.1dzani1dZanies.... and hishiehide 14 men tried to move to the eastealltdealt toward thethe1B-1B1E-1E-11- draw ;

as& 11 they moved down the beach enemyeneD176nWW fire forced them to the ground , andand-

they

Ant-

hony

and-

they

Ant-

hony

and-

they

Ant-

honythey sought protection ofot the shelf which ran laterally along the beachbeacb.beacbbeach.beacb.-

At

beach.-

At

back-

bit

bacch-

ant

*.I

At 1700 this group had made its way up to the E-lElE-11- draw and by 174017JJJ theythey-

arrived

the-

atricthey-

arrived

the-

atricthey-

arrived

the-

atricarrived at the Division Command Post , located in a little draw approximately

300500 yards east of St8t Laurent SurSlur MereKere.KereMere.Ere,. This group was more fortunate-

than

fortun-ate

fortunatefortunate-

than

fortun-ate

fortunate-

than

fortun-atethan the leading element in theth e landing , and were able to hang on to aoireIOI'eIOIesoreZaireIoliteaoire-

of

Cai-

ro

IOI'e-

of

IOIe-

of

Ovie-

do

sore-

of

sor-

e' ,

of their equipment.equipment. (45)45(45)-

The

45T-

he

((45)-

The

45T-

he

(45)-

The

45T-

he

)

The 3rdJrdRd and largest group landed at approximately 1130 on Easy Red ,

along v/ithvithwithitch/ most of the vehicles of the platoon includingincludlI : 14 i-toniton1-ton1- truckstrucks-

and

truc-

ks

trucks-

and

truc-

ks

trucks-

and

truc-

ksand 2 3/4-ton34ton/ - trucks.trucks. These veniclesvehicles were combat-loadedcombatloaded- and carried mostmost-

of

mo-

st

most-

of

mo-

st

most-

of

mo-

stof the platoon1splatoon'splatoons' equipment.equipment. This equipmentequiJ2lent} was badly needed and includedincluded-

the

includ-

edthe Route markers , traffic lanterns , franco plates , flashlights , batons-

for

bato-

ns

batonsbatons-

for

bato-

ns

batons-

for

bato-

nsfor night traffic , command post signs , etc.-

The

dete-

cted

etc.etcetc.-

The

dete-

cted

etc.-

The

dete-

cted

.

The L.C.T.LCTCT. . . containing these vehicles was unable to come close to thethe-

shore

Ch-

eshire

the-

shore

Ch-

eshire

the-

shore

Ch-

eshireshore due to the gradual slope of the sand.sand. As a result , 5 of thethetonTheok-tonkton4-ton4ktont-

rucks

4tont-

rucks

-tonton-ton-

trucks

con-

structstrucks did not make it to the shore , drowndingdrowning out about half way in.inin.-

Some

wi-

nsome

in.-

Some

wi-

nsome

in.-

Some

wi-

nsome

.

Some of the men in this group tried to salvage these water-loggedwaterloggedwaterlogged- vehicles ,

and finally managed to retreiveretrieve two of them beforebelore further efforts werewere-

made

sere-

nade

were-

made

sere-

nade

were-

made

sere-

nademade impossible by the rising tidetide.*. Arriving on shore they received mortarmortar-

and

morta-

red

mortar-

and

morta-

red

mortar-

and

morta-

redand artillery fire which varied in intensity , but forced them to the near-

bank

ne-

arnearDearnear-

bank

ne-

arDear-

bank

Dear-

bornbank fortortore protection.protection. Captain ReganEgan and his 47osn471BD47men moved on up thethe11-113-13-11- drawdraw-

to

dr-at

draw-

to

dr-at

draw-

to

dr-atto the Division Command Post arriving there at about 1800lBOOr1600.1600BOOrr. (46)46(46)-

In

46-

In

( )

In the meantime Lt ColeolCoolgeol LancerLanoerLanier had arrived on thetbetube beach with the pla-plaplanpla-

toon

pla"-

N

pla-

N

-. - .... .... , . ... " . . . . . ...... , . . , ' . . ---- . .........

.:

,

"

. . _':'

,

"NN" "

,itoonton" :

.headquartersq .tjirL"tjirLtwirl. ! ,

"

. andan alter. t.t..aa. . ,']jffiftpjt.jt. i Jt mWmll.llM. i "NN"M.MMM.#

__ 3VII **ft ; _- -_ ; , _ . .; ; . .

,.,

- . ' ' : ' ' :. - "=: iimii - ani".ianiianti":. '

;>' .-! *., )liiM"iliiMilimo*. .

"

. i yj' iw.:. .. .Trt"JTrtJTart.

";: < i ii. .MiSMiss :.

::: : . . .. ..ss. . . ."; E.

: . . . Nfu.fur.\r.r..r.wYR.R., ..\ . .r.wYrwYwrY. ...bb. + . !.'+w.VwwwVwwwww. w.n.r.wnrowner. .. . ." '

. . .

. . . . r r.r.wr.rrwrarrow=. . ..=.+*':.:. .n.n:. '.

:.:. ,.:. :. :

.

' ';. :. r.r.

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/

(4545( *, 46)46) Personal Knowledge , SelfSelf.,.

. . . '18.18'' . '

.

. " . . . . . . .. . . ... '. . , " . ' " , ' . . , . , . "

-! - "'* II.II.' ,11,. MiiwwummMinimumriW1, 7 . . .ll. r > '. tl/1MRitl1MRi(../*>...-!

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>

. .:

*.

y*.,i<rt.t *' '' *; ftf-

t"proceeded

f-

tproceeded

".) J . I

1

. . , . . . , . .. . . . ..

... . . w- . . . . . . .. . .- , . . .... .

,

. .

. . . .. . . . . . . .

, ,

, - . "

\+ i c.c + r r.r

." r

,nlwvNW" M + N W ' ' a' .77 - Y ! '. ' KV rrMwarm tr.rvr..wtrrvrwTrevor rw/rwrwMMlM!/ MMlMMl .rr ' '' ' WrYrWryer .w.rrW.wr.wrrWwrworrywart

"proceededproceeded'Proceeded't .'ei.deidReid( . 'up-thea'upuptheathecaup the1tfiethefie I3L-11-:i drawdraw' 'ttto) .ttthe1 DiI81oDivision,CommandilWanfPMilan( PostPost.t.t*. Thereib rt'rt'

}Heii'iiii''reor"iireordirere ' 'reor"reorrear'

reor-reorrearreor-e

remor-

sereor-

ganized

reor-

ganized

v -":;.}

e iganizedaniseed the Platoon , repostedropostedreposedroostedr.r. OstedHosted the ExitsLiltst.t. , seteetet up hishiaia interior guard ofof-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

ten

11-

l.

1-

ll.l.!

the Command PostPOltPot , initiated the posting ofot signslignaalign along the beach and upup-

the

U-

teup-

the

U-

teup-

the

U-

teII-

'f

I-

f

It

the draws , and organized the Prisoner ofot War squad1forsquad'forsquadforsquadsquad ' for the establishmente.tabl1abmentetabl1abmentestablishment-

of

e.tabl1abment-

ot

etabl1abment-

ot

establishme-

nt

. t'ff'f-

c.

f-c

'.c.cc-

.the

c-

ither

ofot a "P.W.PW" . . ".. cage the next dayday.*. Looking the tactical situation overoverheoverheadoverhe-

laid

overh-

ead

hehe-

laid

el-

apid

he-

laid

el-

apid

,

laid plans for the employment ofot the platoon fortortore the close fallow-upfallowupllo1f-upllo1ffellow-upfellowt - ofotof-

the

of-

ten

of-

the

of-

ten

L

the assault elements of the Division beachheadbeachhead.beachhead.-

As

beachhe-

ad

*.

As a short summarysumma one could say that heavy seas , landing of elementselement.elementelements-

on

element.-

on

elemen-

ts

eleme-

nt

.on the wrong beaches , intense fire from well entrenched positions , thethe-

drowning

het-

erodyning

the-

drowning

het-

erodyning

the-

drowning

het-

erodyningdrowning out of the vehicles , tanks and artilleryart1l1e J, abnormally high casualcasual-casua-

lties

casua-

lties

casua-

lties

¬-141-

4I

1-

4served

ties among the offieereofficersofficerofficensandofficesand N.C.O.'sNCOsN.C.0.'sNC0.sNC0sNachos. . . ' , failure to get the beach exits open ,

congestion on the beach , difficulties of making full use of naval gun firetirefire-

because

fire-

breaks

tireb-

ecause

stre-

etcars

fire-

because

fire-

breaksbecause of fear of inflicting casualties on our own troops , lack of suffisuffi-sufisuffi-

cient

suffi-

cient

suffi-

cient

¬-

cientclient gaps in underwater obstacles , and beach obstacles , failure of aerialaerialb-

ombardment

aerialb-

ombardment

aerialb-

ombardmentbombardment to dislodge or silence manymany beach fortifications , had inflictedinflictedm-

any

inflict-

edinflictedm-

any

inflict-

edmany casualties and delayed the progress of our unitsunits.units.A-

NALYSIS

units.A-

NALYSIS

*.

ANALYSIS AND CRITICISMCRITICISM-

In

Criticis-mIn analyzing this operation I QOdo so in the light of previous operaopera-opera-

tions

opera-

tions

opera-

tions

¬-

tionsions of this same sort , namely the amphibious landing in North Africa andand-

in

band-

ing

and-

in

band-

ing

and-

in

band-

ingin Sicily.Sicily. Under those conditionscunditions 1I feel that I could write a great dealdeal-

about

D-ella

deal-

about

D-ella

deal-

about

D-ellaabout the vast improvement in amphibious warfare , and therefore considerconsider-consider-

ably

consider-

ably

consider-

ably

¬-

ably less from a critical angle ; however , a number of glaring mistakesmistakes-

were

mista-

keswere made.made. Some of them are :

1.1. The Air Corps in their pre-assaultpreassault- bombardment plans , designeddesigned-

to

design-

edto neutralize all known gun positions and demoralize enemy troops in thethe-

beach

Th-

ebes

the-

beach

Th-

ebes

the-

beach

Th-

ebesbeach defenses , did not accomplish this mission.missionmi..ion.miionminion.. .

2.2. I severely criticize the planning of the initial line-uplineup- on thethe-

assault

he-

adsail

the-

L

Eth-

el

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. ,. . . . .. . . . .. . .

\I

.- " " " '".

- - ' *.. .

.. - .. .. ..

-, ... .... ... _ .'. . " ' - ,. " ' ' . . .

.;;, . .

= : : : -.6.6..6. ' 'tt' f \ 't.\'t.t't."TTtTTtatty\ : "TTTT + ' 'hvhv " 'o.o'. . - . . . . assaulta.a"38"ul-

'u-l"-ul'.6., " *, wvwtvea.wtvea* o ....cau.-u.cau.u. ; .;:-

.:3: : r.r.r&trt;; &.''L.L' ..

'DD { . , J.J." " ._ .JNMIl..IdJNMIlId. . . +& .. -\ Y.JlYJlJCL. ! b-

'

b _ r'r'" 'TT.... ':'_"ir1iir1i" ..::.;;; ...x.x. . , . !t ...

...amt.amt....S&S&

. . . , .;:..<;:.. , ....

;;.:..

. . . ' ... . , ... . , _- ... . ... . ,, '

. .- V'lVlWtsskTask'

ft.ft*.

'ft&, . tattll."Ift'Jrn.ttllIftJrn±l"worslworslords". " ' . &E"E" '"a$awpgawp ttrtri; ", f-th8"-61h.fth861h.fth8"th861h.61h-J&J&"-*%&&;,& . im-imime4ifa&ime4ifa.a.a. .-

. e4ifa&e4ifa* &. to) 'll'landid .feesi&SfeesiSfreesias. 'bb.feesi&S-

Company

feesiSC-

ompany

siifi'siifiiii& ' I.I ; ' yo ' '

EL CompanyCOll/.panyCOll.panyCallpanky/. of tnethetnfotinetenfold 116th.116th11 6th . Confusion"ConfusionConfusiou"ConfusiouConfusiot " is normal on a beach and this line-uplineuplineups-

erved

line-ups

e-upup-

served.

us-

hered

I

servedserved.. only to magnifymagniJ."ymagniJymagniCy:." thet confusionvonfusi'ion.vonfusiionntusiintuit' n.n*. -. .- , . , .

,

1919.19*.

'jWWWW"", ... .

rr-

j.

.

r"4" '

. 1-vw1vw_.- "Mt-nMtn-.. 4itJIM-* MtftrMfr... <|<"('iirtjiiMnxi1I.I1II(. !! (| :.I'I. ' '!"IiIi" |!! .

'. ll1fiVJWtt*

_

'\ '*. HWW.4I.1"4I.14I1WW. ).. " * ...dWIIBP111..* .* WHBWWII . .. |. .UUIIJII.UUIIJII. 4MNAViWPi'fMipejMMRr4MNAViWPifMipejMMRr, .'*, MMl'MMlMl' 1JiMMRpMrlJI..olJIoClio.. . H.IIII. J r.r.-M * * KflffFluff!! WW-

X

I

. . . .. . . . .. . .

. .. , ., ' .. , . , - " :-;f ""-XX-""-CttlticlCttlticlXCttlticlCatalytic'ii' > - l.1i.1l1i.1l1i1..+j.j. j,3.U..Hj3U.Hj3UH, . Ut *.... ax*ju .11:.Jor.hs-.hsJourJorJiot.Orient.

- '..-Jiot.Jiot.4LJot-% . takingta--ki--I'Vintot-ak-i- -nc'intoncintoMcIntosh- '

' Into accountaccount-&CCaccountthaaccount& Unt..tbAUnttbANetball.- . thathan .ttat.tretare janr0janr0r-

unning

* r : :.-. ..- _ :. . . .

runningrunniI18 laterally eastward alonga10r18 the beach in landing the InfantryIntantry elementselements.elements-

.Practically

element-

s.Practically

*.

. .Practically allallotof the mialandedelandedmainlandlandedmielu1mi <i4M1 craft were.ereere. east.atat.. of theirheirt target pointsIpoint.JpointJpointspoint. )

4.4. One criticismcritioism ofof the enemy.enemyeneJD1.eneJD1. In preparing hishiehide defensive positionspositions-

along

positio-

nalpositions-

along

positio-

nalpositions-

along

positio-

nalIII

along this sector ofot the coast , he depended too heavilyheavilY'' on a relativelyre1ativel1relatively-

thin

re1ativel1-

thin

relativ-elythin line of fortification.fortification., In contrast to the teachings here at The InIn-

fantry

In-InIn-

fantry

In-

fantry

¬- I

fantrygantry School of establishingeetabliehingreestablishing a defensive position in depthlJdepthldepth! 1"

,/

5.5. The amphibious'lphibiouslphibiousphobias&' exercises held over a beach similar in nature to thethe-

Oraaha

the-

ocrat

the-

Omaha

Ta-

homa

the-

Omaha

Ta-

homaOraahaOmahaNorah Beach gave the men invaluable experience for this operationoperation.operation.L-

ESSONS

opera-

tion

operation.L-

ESSONS

opera-

tion

,.

LESSONS LEARNEDLEARNED-

As

Learn-

ed

"'tt'

As might be expected , the operation of the militarymil1.ta.rymil1ta.rymil1tary. . policepolic platoon onon-

the

M-

onte

on-

the

M-

onte

on-

the

M-

onte

,)

;!

the Omaha Beachhead uncovered numerous lessons in combat operations worthyworthy-

of

wort-

hyof consideration.consideration . Outstanding among these are :

?(: *' i\ii-1.i-

1'\'>''

1.1. AmphibiousR.mphibiousRmphibioushmphibious. exercises ore * a beach similar in nature to the beachbeach-

on

beac-

onon the enemy'senemysenergy'senergysenemyenergy' shore ii.eie. a invaluable.invaluable..

22.2,. Therherhea use of a relatively smokeless , flashlessfleshless powder aided thethee-

nemy

He-

nley

thee-

nemy

He-

nley

,:

."

enemy considerablyconsiderably. ,. ,.ii.

.';

33.3,. In ana.n. amphibiousamphibio11S assault , if a craftcrartcrate becomes hung UP on an obob-

stacle

ob-obob-

stacle

ob-

stacle

¬-

staclestale , move out fast , before the enemy zeroes in on youyou.,.

4.4. Once on the beach , move aggressivelygreDsivelyrestivelya inland , andan0 get away fromfrom-

the

frot-

hed

from-

the

frot-

hed

from-

the

frot-

hedthe curtain of fire placed on the beachbeach.,.

55.5. If at all possible , do not plan to use units of similar desig-

nation

desigdesig-designdesig-

nation

desig-

nation

¬- Pt

nation sidesi.de. by sidestde.stdeside.std,.

6.6. Thorough knowledge of map reading cannot be over-emphasizedoveremphasizedover-emphasized.emphasized.- ,.

7.7? . To be effective , a defensive position must be established in depthdepth.,.

88.8,. Replacements for key positions should be trained at least 2 deepdeep.deep-

.It

depi-

ct

,.

It takes time to train officersotficers and men for technical Jobsjobs.,.

9.99.rVhere9rVhere. rVhereWhererevere, possible , men should be drawn from Rifle CompaniesCompanieeCompanied fortortore M.PMPM.P.M.P.W-

4.0

MPW-

40

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