REUNION 21 - PROGRAM

Record of 508th Participation In Normandy Operations (page 2 of 12)

^{Group IV, about 200 strong, organized south of DZ and fought its way north to a point 500 yards east of PICAUVILLE. This group then seized a position on the high ground south of GUEUTTEVILLE, occupying the area previously designated for the Force A reserve ( 1st Bn ). During the afternoon of D Day Group W fought off the combined attack of a large German force reinforced with tanks and SP guns. Able only to contact Group S, Major Warren broke off the action at about 1900 and joined Group S about 1000 yards east of PICAUVILLE. Group S originally consisted of about a platoon, which fought a battalion of Germans reinforced with ^ tanks and a battery of light artillery during the whole morning of D Day, just north of PICAUVILLE. About noon Group S broke off the action and moved east, picking up about 150 officers and men, and occupying a defensive position east of PICAUVILLE where It was joined by Group W. The group consisted of about 400 officers and men from various organizations, with only three LMGs, one BAR, one 60 mm mortar tube, and no other heavy weapons. On D night Group S moved under cover of darkness in two columns abreast to Hill 30, which is just west of the MERDERET and south of GUEUTTEVILLE, and organized the hill for all around defense.
Group G secured the east end of the causeway across the MERDERET at CHEF DU PONT and occupied a position defending the bridge there, after routing about a company of Germans who had been defending the town and the bridge from well dug defensive positions.}

^{7 June ( D + 1 )}

^{In the morning Group L attacked north, clearing the area from its previous position to NEUVILLE-AU-PLAIN. Having accomplished this Colonel Lindquist marched the unit down to CHEF DU PONT on Division order, reorganized the position already occupied by Group G, and began the job of mopping up the numerous German strongpoints surrounding the town. At 2330 hour a patrol under Lt. Ling cros­sed the MERDERET RIVER, contacted group S on Hill 30, and returned to the Regimental CP on the early morning of D + 2.
Group S had completed organization of the position on Hill 30 by 1300. Patrols wiped out a number of German mortars and ar­tillery pieces nearby, retrieved equipment from bundles in the vici­nity, and blew down telephone lines going west. Unfortunately none of the ten or so bundles retrieved contained heavy weapons, rations, or medical supplies, the items Group S needed badly. Radio contact was made with Group G, located In the vicinity of CHEF DU PONT. Two platoons reinforced from Group S established a roadblock on the west end of the causeway from CHEF DU PONT during the evening of D + 1. The area surrounding Hill 30 was under con­trol of Group S by 2000 hour on D + 1.}

^{8 June ( D + 2 )}

^{Patrols were dispatched from the Regimental CP ( CHEF DU PONT ) at 0937 hour to contact the 101st A/B Division at LE PORT and CARQUEBUT. These patrols encountered strong German resistance at both localities, so Captain Taylor took two companies down there early in the afternoon. Both companies marched into CARQUEBUT with the high and inaccurate fire of the Germans buzzing over their heads. The Germans had moved into the buildings of the town but came out with their hands up just as the assault groups were about to move in and wipe them out. Captain Taylor’s force killed ap­proximately 15 Germans and captured 6 officers, 7 NCO's, and 102 privates, a force much stronger than his own. Captain Taylor then sent about half of his command down to mop up the Germans in LE PORT. This was accomplished that evening with the capture of}

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