REUNION 21 - PROGRAM

Record of 508th Participation In Normandy Operations (page 3 of 12)

^{more prisoners. By this time Group L was redisposed and now oc­cupied a position east of the MERDERET from LE PORT to the rail­road bridge one kilometer north of CHEF DU PONT.} 

^{Group S, on Hill 30, engaged German infantry on three sides. The Germans attacked the road block on the west end of the CHEF DU PONT causeway all day with about a battalion, plus tanks, mor­tars, and artillery. They were driven out after dark by a night attack made by Lt. Millsaps with Lt. Polette and a 30 man combat group. During the attack about 30 Germans were killed in hand to hand fighting and the remainder withdrew. No prisoners were taken. All other fighting was done on the outpost line. Being short of ammunition the outposts withheld their fire until they saw the enemy, and the Germans soon became too cautious to show themselves. By about 1600 the Division artillery had gotten into position on the other side of the MERDERET. Patrols with SCR 300 radios then direc­ted artillery fire which was adjusted on German groups attacking the positions. Lt. Albright wiped out a battery of infantry howit­zers which were bunched up on a road preparing to occupy firing positions.}

^{9 June - ( D + 3 )}

^{During the morning there was no activity worthy of note ex­cept the destruction of small enemy groups by patrols sent out by Group L and Group S. Both groups were acting on orders from Divi­sion to defend in place. At 1200 hour Lt. Colonel Mendez entered the perimeter of the defense on Hill 30 with ten men. He had been on the move with this small group since D Day, ambushing Germans and destroying communications as far west as BONNEVILLE.}

^{At 1130 Colonel Lindquist received verbal orders by phone to move one battalion immediately to the road junction three kilometers west of STE MERE EGLISE to assist in establishing a bridgehead across the river at LA FIERE. That afternoon Group L moved out, crossed the MERDERET by the causeway south of LA FIERE, mopped up the area between GUEUTTEVILLE and Hill 30, and occupied position on the right flank of Group S. Now the regiment had a bridgehead protecting the two crossings of the MERDERET. A provisional group, made up mainly of cooks, supply, and motor pool personnel, took over the area pre­viously held by Group L less Company H. The regimental rear CP remained at CHEF DU PONT with the forward CP on Hill 30. At 1900 regiment received the plans of the 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, to pass through our lines west of CHEF DU PONT at 0400, D + 4 in an attack across the causeway with the mission of seizing ETIENVILLE.}

^{10 June - ( D + 4 )}

^{The 358th Infantry Regiment arrived at CHEF DU PONT at 0005 and moved into the forward assembly area in preparation for the attack at 0400 hour. The 358th moved across the causeway at 0510 encountering no resistance. At 1700 hour the rear regimental CP moved to Hill 30. By 1800 hour, 10 June 1944 ( D + 4 ) the 508th Parachute Infantry was for the first time assembling as a regiment in one area since the drop on D Day, 6 June 1944. This reorganiza­tion took place on Hill 30 west of the MERDERET RIVER. Company H was still protecting the south flank of the division at LE PORT, and a detachment of eighteen men under Lt. Hardwick had been left at the bridge at CHEF DU PONT.}

^{11 June 1944}

^{This day was spent in reorganizing the units, reallocating weapons and issuing ammunition in preparation for future operations.}

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