July 11, 1944, The Engineers with the details from the battalion are laying barbed wire in the front of King Co. The men are working hard at night on this detail meanwhile they received fire from the enemy occasionally. At 0110, Patrol of Item Co returned. Heard voices at [716638] believed to be from Charlie Co. At 1510, a combat patrol was laid on. Lt Eggebrecht and one squad to go to a point at [724588]. Their mission was to knock out an enemy machine gun, capture a prisoner and get identification of the unit to our front.
Weather: rainy, it is very muddy underfoot. Casualties: 3 Abs Sick, 1 nervous exhaustion, 4 WIA, and 1 self-inflicted wound, Capt Chaplin received a mine shell fragment wound in the leg however not badly enough to require leaving his company. Visitors: Col Seitz, Maj Hafermaltz
July 12, 1944, Charlie Co of the Engineer rendered invaluable service in the preparation of defensive position and installation. Details of men from the battalion working with the Engineer have laid mines from [723859] to [72***] and from [724259] to [725259]. At 0330, the Patrol returned. They observed wires at [719658] and found them in a minefield at [723958]. One man lost his leg and another was slightly wounded by AP mines. Men found barbed wire at the following points [720058] and at [724759]. These are connected by a trip wire. At 2100, Sgt Lamphear of Love Co reported enemy 81-MM (8-CM) mortar. This was registered with effective results. They scored a direct hit and several on the bracket.
Weather: cloudy. Casualties: 4 WIA and 2 malaria.
July 13, 1944, During the early morning patrols (Item Co) reported considerable pounding in the vicinity of 713558. This was also reported to White Battalion and we were informed by them that these noises are generally followed by a heavy artillery barrage. At 0330, our artillery laid harassing fire on this area. At 1200, Maj Rippert called the Battalion. He informed us that we were being relieved by the 3/11-IR. Our line companies are to begin their move at 0130 July 14. About 2030, HQ Co began the march. At 2130, we arrived at the assembly point approximately 2½ miles from our old position to await the relief of the rest of the Battalion.
Weather: very rainy. Casualties: 2 malaria, 8 WIA, and one KIA.
July 14, 1944, At 0730, our line companies moved out under the cover of darkness followed by HQ Co. We traveled about twenty-five miles to an area near Mestry. Most of the day has been spent setting up camp and generally cleaning up. Col Seitz visited our new area about noontime today.
Weather: warm and sunny. Casualties: 2 sick to hosp.
July 15, 1944, Battalion is pretty well settled in their new location. The men spend the day taking showers, doing laundry, and general details around the camp.
Weather: clear and warm. Casualties: 3 malaria and 2 abs sick.
July 16, 1944, We enjoyed a late chow this morning having hot cakes for breakfast. Both Protestant and Catholic services were held in our area.
Weather: damp and chilly. (071644) Casualties: 3 men were sent to the hosp with 1 Abs sick.
July 17, 1944, We spend this morning on a hike that lasted approximately 3-H. This afternoon was payday. The first since a partial payment was on May 27.
Weather: good. Casualties: 2 malaria, 1 self-inflicted wound, and 2 Abs sick. Visitors: Capt Kelly, Regiment, and Col Seitz from 1600 to 1700.
July 18, 1944, Today has been spent doing routine drills and usual camp duties. At 1400, Capt Uffner and Lt Tenenbaum reported to Battalion from the 41st replacement Battalion.
Weather: warm and sunny. Casualties: 2 malaria and 1 absent sick.
July 19 1944: Men spent the morning hiking. The afternoon has been devoted to routine camp duties. Col Learnard visited the CP.
Weather: the sky has been cloudy and overcast all day however no rain so far. Casualties: none.
July 20, 1944, Men doing regular camp duties. At 1000, Movement orders were received. Advance detail consisting of one officer and one NCO left at 1000. At 1300, there was a meeting of all company commanders at the Battalion CP. At 1600, Chaplain Flynn came down to hold mass in the Battalion area. The regiment notified us that the Red Cross would be down at 1600 to serve donuts & coffee. At about 1800, Col Seitz visited the Battalion. At 2145, the afternoon was spent at Battalion Motor Pool. At 2330, we moved out. Men bedded down for the evening.
Weather: rained all the time. Casualties: 2 malaria and 2 abs sick. Visitors: Chaplain Flynn, Col Seitz.
July 21, 1944, Men had hot chow for breakfast and were allowed to pitch tents. The day was spent camouflaging tents and digging slit trenches. 14 men returned from the hosp today.
Weather: rainy. Casualties: 1 malaria. Visitors: Col Seitz and Col Sutherland.
July 22, 1944, Men had routine camp duties. Twenty-one men returning from the hosp. At 1900, there was a meeting of all the company commanders at the Battalion.
Casualties: 6 malaria and one Abs sick. Visitors: Capt Clisson and Capt Murphy.
July 23, 1944, The day was spent doing regular camp duties. Church services were held in the Battalion area.
Weather: fair today. Casualties: none. Visitors: Maj Hafermaltz.
July 24, 1944, Men doing regular camp duties.
Weather: nice for a change. Casualties: 1 malaria, 1 Abs sick. Visitors: Gen Wyman, Col Sutherland, Capt Kohout, Maj Hafermaltz, Lt Reuben.
July 25, 1944, Regular routine camp duties. At 1000, one of the greatest air armadas ever seen in France passed on its way to a bombing mission. At 1900, a mass was held in the Battalion area.
Weather: fair. Casualties: 2 malaria and 1 Abs sick.
July 26, 1944, The day has been quiet. Except for the rumble of artillery up ahead and planes overhead, the war seems distant.
Weather: cooler today though still sunny and bright. Casualties: 2 malaria and 2 abs sick. Visitor: Maj Hafermaltz.
July 27, 1944, The morning was rainy and the skies were cloudy and overcast. The men spent the day doing the necessary details in preparation for a move. At 1600, the Regiment notified us to be ready to move out at 1900. At 1700, Capt Washburn of the 745th Tank Battalion with a company of tanks was attached to our Battalion. At 2000, we left our area near Saint-Jean-de-Daye and traveled approximately 12 miles by convoy to an assembly area near La Duquerie. At 2130, we arrived and were met here by Col Seitz. The men dug in and bedded down for the night.
Weather: cleared this afternoon and it was warm. Casualties: none.
July 28, 1944, At 0430, chow was served this morning due to orders from Regiment for Battalion to be ready to move on 30 minutes’ notice after 0530. At 0945, Capt Kelley visited CP. We now have the 3rd Platoon of the 635-TDB attached to our Battalion. At 1210, we left La Duquerie. Convoy was led by Item Co followed by King, Mike, Love, and HQ Co. At 1345, we traveled 8 miles to an area where we detrucked. From this point on we moved forward by foot approximately one mile to a position 1000 yards north of Savigny. Item Co encountered slight resistance en route and one of our tanks was knocked out by the enemy fire. Companies sat up along the line with Item Co to our left, Love Co in front, and King Co to our right. At 1530, Artillery OP reported enemy tanks at [314515]. The type and number of tanks are unknown due to a lack of observation. Enemy forces to our front consist of one battalion of Fallschirmjäger and a motor pool company serving them with supplies. We have captured 18 prisoners, 4 of one SS Artillery Regiment, 3 of the 3.Co 945.IR 353.ID, seven of the 6.Fallschirmjäger-Regiment and 4 of the motor pool company. At 2105, Maj Carvey our former executive officer visited our CP. At 2320, King Co patrol to [305565] returned. They exchanged small arms fire with the enemy at [305575]. We were informed today that Capt Hughes is now a Major. The weather has been nice except for a light rain about noontime. Casualties for the day were 9 men wounded, 2 of the men attached to us from the 745-TB were KIA, and 1 wounded.
July 29, 1944, At 0150, Maj Rippert notified our Battalion that White Battalion was attacking this morning. Col Daniels desired a close tie-in with Love Co and our mortars. At 0340, Lt Baker reported his patrol found nothing at point [314565] where enemy tanks had been reported. He believed that the enemy had withdrawn to a road junction at [312566]. Patrols that were sent out by Blue 6 from Love and King Co’s at 1015 were unable to contact the enemy. At 1830, we were alerted to move. At 2210, our convoy left the area near Savigny. At 0015, after traveling approximately 17 miles we arrived at an assembly area near La Doublière where we bedded down for the night waiting for orders to move into the attack in the morning. The weather continues warm with very light showers during the day. Casualties for the day were 3 WIA and 1 Off Abs sick.
July 30, 1944, At 0930, we left an assembly area near La Doublière by foot led by Love Co with Item, King, Mike, Co’s, and HQ Co following. Our mission is to secure the high ground in the vicinity of a stream crossing at [359424] for the VIII Corps. Love Co moved forward and took the area on the west side of the crossing. Item & King Co’s supported by Mike & Hq Co moved on along the main road and attacked the stream bed and a portion of the main road along the west slope where they met stiff resistance from artillery, mortars, and small arms fire. The area was full of snipers that continued to harass our troops as they moved. Our fighter planes strafed and bombed ahead of us hoping to break down the enemy’s resistance. At 1600, Item & King Co’s reached their objective. At 1800, positions of Item & King Co’s along the ridge were fairly secured. At 1805, Love Co was ordered to disengage themselves on the west side of the river and rejoin the Battalion in the vicinity of La Fouber-Dière to secure the rear of our Battalion position. At 1900, the Battalion CP & HQ Co arrived at a new position near Tour Deval Les Bois. At 2230, they arrived in this position. Artillery was still falling on our positions. The Battalion took 32 prisoners during the day. They were members of the 275.ID and Arty and the 945.GR. The weather is still nice except for very light showers in the morning. Casualties for the day were 39 WIA, 1 abs sick and 8 men KIA.
July 31, 1944, 0130, Item Co was contacted this morning by Red Battalion. They are on our right flank. We took two more prisoners of the 943.GR this morning. At 1600, we were alerted to move and loaded on trucks at 1725. The kitchens brought hot chow for supper. The men bedded down to try to get a little sleep before moving out. Casualties for the day: None. It has been warm and sunny.
