1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 3 JULY 1944 ]
CBI—In NCAC’s Myitkyina area, Gen Wessels
withdraws the Chinese forces directed toward Sitapur
in order to strengthen N flank, toward which
enemy is reported to be moving in strength. Fighting
during the past week has resulted in little change
in positions, although Ch 150th Regt and 236th
Engrs have gained a few hundred yards.
On Salween front, Chinese troops begin assault
on Teng-chung in violent monsoon rainfall. 348th
Inf of Ch 116th Div, 53d Army, reduces 7 pillboxes
4 1 /2 miles NW of the city. Previous medium-level
and skip-bombing attacks on the city have done
little harm to enemy in dugouts.
In E China, Japanese halt attack on Heng-yang
to await arrival of arty at front.
NEW GUINEA—At Noemfoor, after extremely
heavy and effective naval gunfire and air bombardment
of assault zone, which started 80 minutes before
H Hour, TF CYCLONE (RCT 158, reinf) lands
at 0800 on N part of island in Kamiri airfield region
without opposition. Gen Patrick assumes command
ashore, relieving Adm Fechteler, who directed the
amphibious phase; after inspecting Kamiri airdrome,
requests that reserves—503d Para Inf—be
dropped there. Light resistance develops as assault
bns of 158th Inf move cautiously inland, mopping
up as they go, but beachhead—800 yards deep and
3,000 yards wide—is secured. Arty is landed and
put into use, and work is begun on Kamiri airdrome.
TF CYCLONE inflicts over 100 casualties on enemy
while suffering only 3 men killed, one of them accidentally.
At Aitape, RCT 124 of 31st Div is assigned
to TF PERSECUTION as reserve.
SAIPAN—On extreme left of corps, 2d Marines,
2d Mar Div, easily seizes Garapan, which has been
leveled by bombardment. Gains of 800–1,200 yards
are made in div center and on right. In 27th Div
zone, 106th Inf advances some 400 yards on left
flank and 3d Bn of 165th about 1,700 yards on right
flank, but 3d Bn of 105th is held up by enemy strongpoint
in center. 1st Bn, 105th, released from reserve,
bypasses the strongpoint and makes contact with
right flank units. Assault elements of 4th Mar Div
advance right flank 1,500 yards against negligible resistance.
After nightfall, Japanese fall back to their
final defense line on N Saipan.
3 July
FRANCE—Field Marshal Guenther von Kluge
relieves Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt as German
Commander in Chief West.
21 Army Group: U.S. First Army opens general
offensive, to become known as the Battle of the
Hedgerows, on W flank. VIII Corps, in driving rain
that prevents air support and hampers movement,
[ 223 ]
attacks southward down W coast of Cotentin Peninsula
toward La Haye-du-Puits with 79th, 82d
A/B, and 90th Divs, from W to E, abreast. Progress
is limited by firm opposition in hedgerow country,
but 82d A/B Div gains Hill 131, NE of La Hayedu-Puits.
USSR—Minsk falls to Third and First White
Russian Fronts.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps
area, 34th Div begins drive on Leghorn, employing
135th Inf on left, 442d in center, and 168th on right,
and meets strong resistance. 3d Bn, 135th Inf, pushes
into S edge of Rosignano, beginning bitter battle
for this enemy stronghold SE of Leghorn. In zone
of CCA, 1st Armd Div, Cos K and L of attached
361st Inf take over attack on Casole d’Elsa but are
unable to enter the town. In FEC area, Siena falls
to 3d Algerian Div during morning.
In Br Eighth Army’s 13 Corps area, 78th Div
finds Cortona undefended and is passed through by
6th Armd Div.
CBI—Gen Stilwell, replying to Gen Marshall’s
inquiry of 1st, expresses no eagerness for a field
assignment in China and comments on situation in
China.
11 Army Group: In 33 Corps sector of Br Fourteenth
Army area, Ukhrul falls to troops of Ind 7th
Div and 23d LRP Brig, but enemy remains near
this important communications center.
NEW GUINEA—On Noemfoor, moving E along
N coast, 2d and 3d Bns of 158th Inf extend beachhead
perimeter some 1,800 yards toward Kornasoren
airfield. 1st Bn of 158th Inf patrols S of Kamiri R,
eliminating some stragglers. 1st Bn, 503d Para Inf,
moving from Hollandia in C–47’s, drops on Kamiri
airfield and takes responsibility for central sector
of the airfield defenses. Casualties during the airdrop
are extremely high, almost 10%, although
enemy offers no opposition. On Biak, elements of
Co E, 542d Engr Boat & Shore Regt, and Co E of
163d Inf push into East Caves with unexpected
ease. Patrolling throughout the caves is continued
during next few days. Japanese 18th Army issues
plan for attack in force across Driniumor R on
the mainland, beginning night 10–11. RCT 124,
31st Div, begins landing at Aitape, final elements
going ashore on 6 July.
SAIPAN—VAC pushes quickly toward 0–7 line.
On left flank, 2d Mar Div is being pinched out as
27th Div, making main effort, veers NW toward
Tanapag Harbor. Attacking with 106th Inf on left,
1st Bn of 105th in center, and 3d Bn of 165th on
right, 27th Div gains positions commanding Tanapag,
although enemy strongpoint is delaying elements
of 106th Inf near boundary of 2d Mar Div.
4th Mar Div encounters heavy fire from Hill 721
and nose jutting S from it, which holds up 3d Bn