1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

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area, enemy, after resisting strongly during day,
begins retiring after nightfall.
In Br Eighth Army’s 13 Corps area, 4th Div drives
enemy rear guards from Gioiella. In 10 Corps area,
Germans begin general withdrawal in region between
Lake Trasimeno and the Tiber and are being
pursued by corps. Elements of 6th Armd Div find
M. Pacciano and M. Bagnolo free of enemy.
CBI—On Salween front, regt of Ch Hon 1st
Div, 8th Army, relieves New 28th Div, but in the
process Japanese are able to recover ground lost
during June. Enemy is reinforcing Sung Shan by
infiltration through Ch lines.
NEW GUINEA—On Biak, Co C rejoins 1st Bn,
34th Inf. Preparations are made by 34th Inf to
clear Japanese from cliffs NW of 1st Bn area. Gen
Eichelberger decides that situation on Biak is now
stable enough for him to leave. 1st Bn of 162d Inf,
accompanied by members of 41st Counter Intelligence
Detachment, patrols into innermost depths of
West Caves. A hasty count reveals that at least 125
Japanese have been killed there. This is the last
enemy position that can threaten Mokmer airdrome.
On Aitape front, Maj Gen Charles P. Hall, CG XI
Corps, takes command of TF PERSECUTION at midnight,
27–28. Reorganization and regrouping of
forces is quickly undertaken. Cav RCT 112 arrives
to reinforce TF PERSECUTION, which is threatened
with enemy attack. In Wakde-Sarmi area, 3d Bn of
63d Inf encounters fire from few remaining MG positions
as it mops up on Lone Tree Hill.
SAIPAN—6th Marines, 2d Mar Div, continues to
clear div center against heavy resistance; 8th
Marines, elements of which are relieved by 2d Bn,
25th Marines, starts clearing N slope of Mt. Tapotchau.
27th Div’s 106th Inf again attacks Hell’s
Pocket on div left with 1st Bn and for first time
makes some progress in reducing it. On div right,
other elements of 106th arid 2d Bn, 165th, clear
further ground on Purple Heart Ridge; 3d Bn of
106th, followed by 2d Bn, then drives W across
Death Valley under enemy fire. On right flank of
corps, 4th Mar Div gets additional elements to line
0–6; attached elements of 165th Inf make substantial
progress on div left, but gap develops and bn of
24th Marines is brought forward to fill it. Japanese
decide to make their final stand on N Saipan on
line across island from Tanapag through Hill 221 to
Tarahoha, delaying in current positions as long as
possible while the new line is being organized. On
S Saipan, 2d Bn of 105th Inf concludes operations
against Nafutan Pt, which is declared secure at
1840. 550 Japanese dead are counted. Total number
estimated to have held the position exceeds 1,000,
rather than the 300–500 originally thought to have
been there.
28 June
[ 28 JUNE 1944 ]
FRANCE—21 Army Group: In U.S. First Army’s
VII Corps area, 79th Div, upon relief in Cherbourg,
moves S to U.S. VIII Corps zone. 9th Div continues
preparations for attack to clear Cap de la Hague.
In Br Second Army area, 30 Corps secures Brettevillette
but later loses it to enemy counterattack. 8
Corps expands its Odon bridgehead near Baron and
secures another, near Gavrus; fights to clear enemy
from flanks.
USSR—Soviet threat to Minsk increases as
Second White Russian forces take Mogilev.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, salvage
parties reach Piombino, and the port is made ready
for use by Liberty ships in less than a month. In IV
Corps area, 117th Cav Rcn Sq is withdrawn from
line to participate in Operation ANVIL. IV Corps is
pushing steadily northward, with 34th Div on left
and 1st Armd Div on right, toward Highway 68,
which Cecina R parallels.
In Br Eighth Army’s 13 Corps area, S African
6th Armd Div reaches Chianciano without making
contact with enemy. In center, 4th Div breaks
through enemy positions on Casamaggiore–Frattevecchia
ridge. Elements of 78th Div move forward
on 13 Corps right flank to conform. In 10 Corps area,
Ind 10th Div is relieving Ind 8th Div.
CBI—Vice President Wallace recommends to
President Roosevelt that Gen Stilwell be replaced or
that he be given a presidential representative with
considerable powers as his deputy; suggests that
steps be taken to meet Japanese threat in E China.
In NCAC area, 1st Bn of 42d Regt, Ch 14th Div,
attacks toward Sitapur in order to cut off Japanese N
of Myitkyina.
On Salween front, Japanese planes make their
first appearance, dropping supplies to Sung Shan
garrison.
In E China, Japanese begin assault on Heng-yang
itself and for the first time in E China are being
firmly opposed by Chinese.
NEW GUINEA—Amphibian vehicles conduct rehearsal
for Noemfoor operation. On Biak, Gen
Eichelberger turns over command of TF HURRICANE
to Gen Doe and leaves the island. It is learned that
34th Inf must serve as ALAMO Force reserve for
pending operation, necessitating regrouping of forces
on Biak. 34th Inf continues mopping up. Japanese
begin a second withdrawal (first being on 22d), with
orders to prepare for guerrilla warfare; about this
time begin withdrawing from East Caves. Largescale
infantry action against Ibdi Pocket ends, but
the position is kept under fire from ground and air.
SAIPAN—2d Mar Div continues clearing difficult
terrain N of Tipo Pale and on crest of Mt. Tapotchau.
Maj Gen George W. Griner takes command of