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ASSAULT CROSSING SITE on the Vire River, where the 117th In · lantry made their attack on 7 July. Before the attack, the open ground 011 both sides of the stream tVas a Ilo·man's land between the opposing forces, and a hunting grollnd lor sharpshooters. 13 BRIDGE ,IT ST·FROMOND over the Vire River is being used on 8/uly by elements 01 the 3d Armored Division. TI,e Germam failed to destroy this bridge, repaired here tvith treadway.
The road bridge across the Vire at St-Fromond had been only partially destroyed by the enemy artillery and, since it afforded the quickest means of transporting artillery and vehicles across to support the infantry advance, the engineers decided to span the gaps with tread way bridging. At 0830 one officer and six enlisted men of the 247th Engineer Combat Battalion, aided by two Brockway trucks, began this operation under enemy sniper, mortar, and artillery fire. Despite these harassing conditions, they made the bridge ready by 0930. Additional bridges to speed the American buildup across the Vire in the wake of the assault waves were needed early in the attack. A Roating tread way in the vicinity of St-Fromond, south of MAPNO·3 14 the existing bridge, was constructed by a company of the 247th Engineer Combat Battalion. The enemy did not put any fire upon this operation and the bridge was completed in four hours. An infantry support bridge to the north of the existing bridge was constructed by the equipage platoon of the 503d Light Ponton Company and one platoon of the 247th Engineer Combat Battalion. Artillery fire was directed upon this construction, but no damage resulted and the work was completed in one hour. During these bridging operations, the Corps Engineer troops suiIered 15 casualties. Before noon all three battalions of the II7th Infantry were across the Vire, followed by the 2d Battalion of the II9th Infantry, and the front of the THE FIRST DAY'S BRIDGEHEAD Night positions, 7 July 1944
Page 2 and 3: ST-LO (7 July -19 July 1944) Americ
Page 5: WAR DEPARTMENT Historical Division
Page 10 and 11: THE JULY OFFENSIVE ST-LO, capital o
Page 12: eluded the Viro River and aimed at
Page 15: Near! y 15 miles wide at the start,
Page 18 and 19: XIX CORPS ATTACKS WEST OF THE VIRE
Page 20 and 21: units and to close quickly with the
Page 26: ing into Normandy in mid-June, the
Page 34: 12th Paracl!t/te Regime1lt. Germall
Page 37 and 38: off, the 1St Battalion following at
Page 39: 3 0
Page 45: while the 3d Battalion was hit by a
Page 51 and 52: of the 3d Battalion were ambushed a
Page 53: 1(1 Oeser! MAPNO.8 @JORCn •
Page 57: yond the Mont-Castre hills, one of
Page 66: FIXING DHIOLITIONS to blow a gap th
Page 70 and 71: corners, and spray the lateral hedg
Page 72:
attack with two battalions in colum
Page 76:
The 2d Platoon of Company A attempt
Page 80 and 81:
Army to give it the 14/h Parachute
Page 85:
Atter hard fighting, the 2d Battali
Page 89 and 90:
On 13 July the claim was made that
Page 91 and 92:
35TH DIVISION, 12-14 JULY "'" MAP N
Page 93:
pressed, they could retire easily t
Page 97:
from the high ground across both st
Page 100 and 101:
geant. In the 120th, the strength o
Page 102:
supply problem. But the main ports
Page 107:
mingled, and artillery fire was har
Page 110:
to enemy movement or maneuver, Gene
Page 115:
the battalion that night and return
Page 118 and 119:
penetration. General Gerhardt did n
Page 120:
manding the 3d Battalion, was given
Page 123 and 124:
the regiment was finally ordered to
Page 126 and 127:
further was launched. The attack wa
Page 128 and 129:
have the honor to announce to the C
Page 130:
The I13th Cavalry Group, in corps r
Page 133 and 134:
clinging to the idea of mailltamtll
Page 135 and 136:
CONCLUSION A GENERAL OFFICER WRITES
Page 137 and 138:
of them could be withdrawn from the
Page 140 and 141:
., Hay.-du.PuifS L8$$01 I X FIRST X
Page 142:
-1 ....... --- Gr(lll/".$ (11'1' 38
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