1942 - US Army Center Of Military History

[ 6–7 JULY 1944 ]
92d Div and a Brazilian div may be expected as reinforcements,
former about 15 September and latter
by end of October.
In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps area, 135th Inf of
34th Div gains about half of Rosignano as stubborn
fighting continues; 442d secures positions on ridge
some 2 miles E and 1 mile N of Rosignano; 168th
and 363d Regts maintain and consolidate positions
to right.
In Br Eighth Army area, 13 Corps meets stiffening
resistance all along line. Efforts to break
through to cut Highway 69 W of Arezzo fail. 4th
Div takes Tuori. In 10 Corps area, Ind 10th Div
reaches Umbertide. Germans are again withdrawing
in front of corps. In Pol 2 Corps area, Badia falls
to 3d Carpathian Div.
CBI—On Salween front, Ch 8th Army (82d,
103d, and Hon 1st Divs), which has assembled E
and S of Sung Shan, begins assault on that enemy
stronghold after night-long arty preparation. 2 Ch
regts attack at dawn and make limited gains, which
they lose to Japanese counterattack.
NEW GUINEA—On Noemfoor, 1st Bn ( — ) of
158th Inf, on Hill 201, repels the only major counterattack
offered by Japanese during the Noemfoor
operation early in morning and virtually annihilates
the enemy force of 350–400. 2d Bn, 158th, prepares
to land at Namber airdrome, on SW coast, while
other elements of TF CYCLONE continue search for
enemy. In Wakde-Sarmi area, elements of 63d Inf
take crest of Mt. Saksin.
SAIPAN—VAC begins final phase of assault on
island with 27th Div on left and 4th Mar Div on
right. 27th Div’s 105th Inf pushes slowly forward
along coast and in coconut grove to E, but is stopped
on right by deep canyon, called Harakiri Gulch,
ideally suited for defense. 165th Inf tries in vain to
enter the canyon on left but has little action on
right. 4th Mar Div advances with 24th Regt on left
and 25th on right, after 23d clears to line of departure
in morning; is almost unopposed as it drives
about 1,200 yards from line of departure to its
objective for day, since enemy has been unable to
establish line in this region.
6 July
FRANCE—21 Army Group: U.S. Third Army
establishes hq in France at Nehou. Corps assigned
to it are: VIII (now with U.S. First Army), XII,
XV, and XX.
In U.S. First Army area, VIII Corps continues to
close in on La Haye-du-Puits, which is nearly
enveloped, but enemy is putting up a staunch defense.
VII Corps commits 4th Div to W of 83d
as attack toward Priers continues against unabated
opposition.
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USSR—Elements of First White Russian Front
occupy Kovel, from which Germans have withdrawn.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army’s IV Corps
area, 135th Inf of 34th Div continues clearing
Rosignano; 168th breaks into Castellina and takes
it; cuts road from there to Chianni; 363d overruns
Hill 634 (M. Vase) NE of Castellina.
In Br Eighth Army area, 13 Corps is still meeting
strong opposition below Arezzo, but 4th Div takes
Poggio all’Olmo. 10 Corps advances rapidly until
halted by new enemy delaying line. In Pol 2 Corps
area, 3d Carpathian Div seizes Osima.
NEW GUINEA—On Noemfoor, after naval and
air preparation, 2d Bn of 158th Inf makes amphibious
assault on Namber airfield and takes it
without opposition by 1240. Arty liaison plane lands
there soon afterward. Aus P–40 sq arrives at Kamiri
airdrome for operations. Vigorous patrolling of
Noemfoor discloses few enemy. On Biak, loudspeakers
are moved into East Caves in effort to
induce Japanese to surrender. The few remaining
alive are found to have abandoned their positions
there. RCT 124 of 31st Div completes movement
to Aitape from Oro Bay.
MARIANAS—In preparation for invasion of
Guam, Gen Holland Smith attaches 77th Div to
III Amphib Corps.
SAIPAN—After futile attempt by 27th Div to
draw abreast 4th Mar Div, new orders are issued at
0900. 27th Div zone is limited in W coastal area to
point just beyond Makunsha village; extends inland
to include valley running S of it, dubbed Paradise
Valley, and Harakiri Gulch. Marines are given responsibility
for rest of island to NE. Some progress
is made toward Makunsha on left, but efforts to
overrun Harakiri Gulch and push to coast via Paradise
Valley are largely futile. 4th Mar Div attacks
with 23d, 24th, and 25th Regts abreast, from left to
right, in expanded zone, making rapid progress
against sporadic resistance except on left, where 23d
Marines is strongly opposed while attempting to
push into Paradise Valley from W and is out of
contact with 24th Marines. 24th Marines gains
1,400–1,800 yards. 25th Marines moves quickly up
E coast, assisted by naval gunfire, to Mt. Petosukara;
accepts surrender of 700–800 civilians.
U.S.—President Roosevelt, accepting recommendations
of JCS of 4th, radios Chiang Kai-shek
as suggested.
7 July
FRANCE—21 Army Group: In preparation for
all-out assault on Caen by Br Second Army, heavy
bombers of RAF BC attack in force, night 7–8,
dropping 2,662 tons of bombs on military targets.