UNIT JOURNAL, 508TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY
OPERATION ”NEPTUNE”, NORMANDY
28 MAY TO 15 JULY 1944

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1930 hour --- CO to IP.
1945 hour --- 1t Bn passing through CP.
2000 hour --- Column halted.
2139 hour --- 3rd Bn 505 gong through our units along the road.
2200 hour --- 1st Bn and Reg Hq Co moving forward.
2310 hour --- Moved into new CP location.
2315 hour --- CP established, 1st Bn furnishing security.
2320 hour --- Gen Gavin in CP.
2345 hour --- Gen Gavin out.
2350 hour --- Called for staff representative from each Bn.
2400 hour --- Weather cold and clear; morale high; effective strength 1052; loss report 5 KIA;90 wounded.

0030 hour --- Bn representatives in.
0045 hour --- S-3 and Bn staff repr moved into house across the road  Div to notify us at 0300 if we are to jump off in the morning. Med Aid station also in this chateau.
0100 hour --- Overlay of proposed attack plan issued to Bn COs.
0500 hour --- Bn not to jump off until ordered.
0600 hour --- Orders from Div to jump off at 0630hr.
0615 hour --- Bns notified to depart.
0700 hour --- 1st Bn moving out.
0730 hour --- Both 1t and 2d Bns moving forward.
0730 hour --- Received word that Lt. Col. Alexander was wounded and evacuated from 2d Bn.
0800 hour --- TD men assisting in the security of the CP installation.  Light MG moved up onto the outposts.
0840 hour --- Gen Gavin in, contacted CO.
0900 hour --- Capt Breen, our Regt S-2, killed when jeep ran into road mine.
1005 hour --- CG into CP.
1033 hour --- CG out.
1055 hour --- 3d Bn pinned down from enemy fire from 1st Bn objective.
1115 hour --- 3d Bn still pinned down.
1200 hour --- S-4 to Rear Train.
1300 hour --- Our artillery which is firing over our heads were laying some rounds short, they landed very close.
1310 hour --- Casualties of Bn heavy.
1405 hour --- Gen Gen out.
1415 hour --- CO to 3d Bn.
1440 hour --- CO in, contacted Gen Gavin and left for Div.
1500 hour --- Bn S-4s attempting to get to their Bns.
1530 hour --- Adj with 2d Bn S-4 to go to 2d Bn.
1530 hour --- 3rd Bn strength:: Hq Co 6, 101; G Co 2-19; I Co 1-25.
1600 hour --- Enemy mortar and artillery fire falling close to CP, no casualties.
1635 hour --- CO in from Div.
1700 hour --- Aid station working very strenuously, a lot of injured being brought in.
1730 hour --- Adj in from 3d Bn.
1800 hour --- Meeting of Bn COs with CO.
1830 hour --- Meeting over.
1900 hour --- CG in CP, contacted CO.
1910 hour --- CG out.
2000 hour --- 5 prisoners taken to PW enclosure.
2100 hour --- S-3 out to 2d Bn of 507th, which is attached to us.
2130 hour --- Bns moving out, 1st Bn to the rear of Regt CP.
2200 hour --- No enemy action.
2230 hour --- CO 1st Bn in.
2330 hour --- Lt. Hager in from Div.
2400 hour --- Weather clear and chilly; morale excellent; even tho they suffered high casualties today they are still aggressive and willing to try anything; strength 75-780. Five officers killed today -- Capt Simonds, Capt Breen, Lt Lehman, Lt Cook, Lt Daly.

0030 hour --- CO 1st Bn out.
0100 hour --- Gen Gavin did not stay in CP tonight.
0700 hour --- No casualties during night.
0700 hour --- Gen Gavin in.

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