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UNIT JOURNAL, 508TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY
OPERATION ”NEPTUNE”, NORMANDY
28 MAY TO 15 JULY 1944
(2 of 19)
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6 June
(Cont'd) |
0600 hour --- Moved north from Division area.
0655 hour --- Ran into stiff enemy resistance.
0800 hour --- Unit still advancing slowly under fire.
0845 hour --- Artillery fire pinned down the forward sections of our column, we attempted to flank the fire and proceeded but the fire shifted with us.
1035 hour --- The entire column was halted.
1110 hour --- Sent out patrols to contact lt. Hager’s column which was to advance forward on our left. Major Reeder with the forward element was pinned down by MG fire.
1200 hour --- All elements contacted, started withdrawal. Started move back to Force A CP. All men having difficult time traveling due to the lack of rest.
1315 hour --- All men reached the Force A CP.
1330 hour --- Men told to eat hurriedly because we would be moving out, most of them completed.
1335 hour --- Moved out by way of the railroad tracks. Moving south to the lower bridge across the Merderet River.
1400 hour --- No enemy encountered.
1535 hour --- Arrived in Chef-du-Pont, set up CP 300 yards west of town in an orchard.
1600 hour --- A number of our men in this vicinity, all attempted to get out [sic] CP which is to be an assembly area.
1700 hour --- Attempting to get a strength figure from the units.
1800 hour --- Patrols out, guards out to bridge. Troops eating and washing for first time. No enemy action.
2400 --- Estimated loss report to Div: Captured 3; killed 3; missing, not known; wounded, evacuated, 2; wounded not evacuated 3; prisoners, not known; outlaws apprehended, none; strength 859; date; 7 June 1944
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7 June 1944 |
0600 hour --- Moved north from Division area.
0655 hour --- Ran into stiff enemy resistance.
0800 hour --- Unit still advancing slowly under fire.
0845 hour --- Artillery fire pinned down the forward sections of our column, we attempted to flank the fire and proceeded but the fire shifted with us.
1035 hour --- The entire column was halted.
1110 hour --- Sent out patrols to contact lt. Hager’s column which was to advance forward on our left. Major Reeder with the forward element was pinned down by MG fire.
1200 hour --- All elements contacted, started withdrawal. Started move back to Force A CP. All men having difficult time traveling due to the lack of rest.
1315 hour --- All men reached the Force A CP.
1330 hour --- Me told to eat hurriedly because we would be moving out, most of them completed.
1335 hour --- Moved out by way of the railroad tracks. Moving south to the lower bridge across the Merderet River.
1400 hour --- No enemy encountered.
1535 hour --- Arrived in Chef-du-Pont, set up CP 300 yards west of town in an orchard.
1600 hour --- A number of our men in this vicinity, all attempted to get out [sic] CP which is to be an assembly area.
1700 hour --- Attempting to get a strength figure from the units.
1800 hour --- Patrols out, guards out to bridge. Troops eating and washing for first time. No enemy action.
2400 --- Estimated loss report to Div: Captured 3; killed 3; Missing, not known; wounded, evacuated, 2; wounded not evacuated 3; prisoners, not known; outlaws apprehended, none; strength 859; date;
7 June 1944
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8 June 1944 |
0315 hour --- Message 1, 300 enemy seen at 370920 --- 82 Div.
0405 hour --- M/2 to Div --- Patrols contacted 2nd Bn 0300 --- CO.
0500 hour --- M/3 to Co G, 300 enemy seen at 370920 --- CO.
"
0505 hour --- M/4 to CO --- Holding positions maintain contact with unit on right flank --- Company G.
0525 hour --- M/5 to CO, no enemy seen at 370920 --- CO.
0700 hour --- Message to BNs to move on one-half hour notice.
0735 hour --- Message to Div. Request aerial resupply for a Bn at 286969.
0800 hour --- Jeeps sent out to locate equipment in the nearby fields. Loads of equipment brought in.
0945 hour --- M/7 to Div. Unknown number of MG on road 319329.Six 120 mm guns, over 100 MF in vicinity of Picauville --- S-2.
1000 – Trucks through from the beachhead with ammo and a few of our men.
1030 hour --- Message received from Div that correspondence was to go to CG 82d Div instead of Force A.
1200 hour --- CG into CP.
1210 hour --- CG out.
1215 hour -– M/9 to all Bns FO #3 issued --- CO.
- 2 -
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