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XIX CORPS ATTACKS WEST
OF THE VIRE (7-11 JULY)
XIX CORPS' A IT ACK was to be opened by
the 30th Division, Maj. Gen. Leland S. Hobbs
commanding. Immediate objective was the atea
of St-Jean-de-Daye, including the important crossroads
just south of that village and the small elevation
to the east. Possession of the road junction
would open the approaches to south and west on
the two principal highways north of the hills that
begin at Hauts-Vents. (See Map 1.)
In launching its attack, the 30th Division faced
initial water obstacles along its whole front. Beyond
the Vire-Taute Canal and the Vire River
was a band of open country, mainly swamp or
marshland, giving way toward the south to typical,
lush hedgerow terrain. The Division's plan called
for a two-pronged assault which entailed crossings
of both the Vire River and the canal: the II7th Infantry
was to spearhead the crossing of the Vire at
0430, while the 120th Infantry opened its drive
across the canal at '345. The II9th Infantry, with
the exception of one battalion guarding the Rank
along the east bank of the Vire from Aire to la
Meauffe, was to support the Vire crossing and
then follow the 117th Infantry.
The Opening Assault (7 July)
Since the "7th Infantry's attack was the crux of
the Division's effort, intensive groundwork was
laid for it. The "7th Infantry's commander ordered
every commissioned and noncommissioned
officer of his regiment to study the details of the
attack on a large sand table on which the plan
9
through the lirst phases had been completely outlined.
Two practice exercises in river crossings
were also held.
The plan of the "7th Infantry provided for its
2d Battalion (Lt. Col. Arthur H. Fuller) to cross
the Vire at 0430, 7 Jul y, with Company Eand Company
F abreast. Company G was to support on
the left and cross at a ten-minute interval after
Company F. Engineer guides and 16 assault boats
were provided by the 105th Engineer Combat Battalion
for each of the leading companies. Scaling
ladders, with hooks at the ends, were specially de- .
signed by the engineers as a means of getting from
the river up the steep banks, which were about
eight feet .high on both sides of the Vireo
The day of the attack was foggy and overcast,
with intermittent showers. (See Map 2.) At 0300
the leading companies of the 2d Battalion moved
out from their assembly area, one mile east of
the river. At 0330, XIX Corps Artillery (Brig.
Gen. George D. Shea) opened up a heavy concentration
on the enemy lines, nine artillery battalions
searching out hostile gun positions which were
known or suspected to be present. At 04'5 both
Corps and Division Artillery, together with the
92d Chemical Mortar Battalion, moved lires close
to the front lines and pounded all known or suspected
enemy installations.
By this time the infantry had reached the last
hedgerow, 400 yards across open lields from the
river bank. Here the leading companies met their
engineer guides and picked up their assau lt boats.
With each boatload of 12 carrying its own craft,