Private Bernie Sevel, a scout for C Company, 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Divisionthe Tough Ombresshot round after round as the plane closed the range. Our superior artillery and the determination of the infantry repulsed it without gain. Bazooka teams tried valiantly to dislodge the enemy tanks but one by one fall to enemy fire. 13 june (D+7) : Thus the 1st Bn with 3 Rifle Companies committed was unable to force its way into or through BEAU COUDRAY. Private First Class Orville E. Johnson 359th Infantry Regiment 06/29/1944 Private First Class Elmer O. Jones 359th Infantry Regiment 12/13/1945 Private Bernard R. Kadlec 357th Infantry Regiment 12/12/1944 Private Eugene P. Kane 358th Infantry Regiment 07/16/1945 Private First Class Thomas F. Keeley 359th Infantry Regiment 11/10/1944 Particular attention was paid to the bridges opposite the towns of Chef du Pont (330938) Les Dupres (330933), and Grainville (315997). 90th Infantry Division. CT 9 remained attached to the 4th Infantry Division. The provisional company, after weathering two hours of concentrated shelling, extended its dispositions to the SE to prevent further enemy infiltration which previously had caused a great deal of harassment and to firm contact with elements of 121st Cav Sq, outposting the left flank and rear of the Div zone. 29-31 July 1944. Corps order assigned a new mission to the 90th Division. Regiment directed that E Company, under the control of the 3rd Bn and supported by tanks, attack at once to relieve the situation of I and L companies. 90th Rcn Tr was in turn attached to it for assistance in its mop up operations to the W. By 1800 the battalion, in a well coordinated maneuver, had seized LITHAIRE and its garrison of 75 Boche. As stated above, the 2nd Bn 359th Inf did not possess sufficient power to break out and it was consequently decided to commit the 2nd Bn 357th Inf in column of companies through its left to give added drive to the bogged down attack. K Company broke out of the woods and reached a position overlooking the road to LASTELLE, the battalion objective. G Company on the battalion right by-passed this resistance and by dusk had drawn abreast of the 3rd Bn 358th Inf. The casualties suffered by a typical American infantry regiment serving in World War II were horrendous. Consider adding a topic to this template: there are already 2,745 articles in the main category, and specifying|topic . By nightfall, the entire Regiment had been committed. 357th Inf: During the early part of the day, the three battalions in line (in order from right to left, 3rd, 2nd 359th Inf, 1st) on Division order maintained their positions on the eastern portion of the FORET prepared to initiate the attack pivoting on the 1st Bn. In tribute to this battalion it is considered that its gallant action in the face of great odds on this day broke the German main line in the FORET and occasioned their withdrawal along the entire Division front 24 hours later. 16 june (D+10) The 358th and 359th Infantries continued to defend their sectors. All efforts to force the stream line were repulsed, and the battalion secured for the night on the positions it had won by mid-afternoon. 359th Inf: The 359th (-) remained in Division Reserve. 1st july 1944 The situation was sufficiently critical in the area of the 3rd Bn 359th Inf that the 2nd Bn 358th Inf was directed to move to occupy the high ground from which the 3rd Bn, 359th Inf had jumped off in the morning, filling the gap between the 2nd and 3rd Bns of 359th Inf. The Boche, between the 1st and 3rd Bn 359th Inf were active and small scale attacks against the 3rd Bn continued fromt eh E and S. Enemy mortar and artillery fell everywhere on the Division front. 1st Bn advancing S encountered comparable resistance and eventually halted for the night a few hundred yards to the left front of the 3rd Bn. 90th Inf Div had reached its assigned objectives and with them secure the 1st Phase of the VIII Corps offensive ended. 358th Inf: On that same day, Erich Hartmann, the highest-scoring fighter ace in history, along with a squadron of the elite Jagdgeschwader 52 fighter wing (the highest-scoring fighter wing in history), surrendered to the 90th. 20 june (D+14) [2] World War II ft. 391.5 RECORDS OF THE INFANTRY 1815-1942 2,286 lin. Group A moved to or remained at anchorage in Dartmouth-Salcombe Bay and the English Channel. Elsewhere, the units adjusted their lines and made preparations for a continuation of the attack on the morrow. It continued its advance to the W, holding for the night in the clear, on a predetermined line through the E slope of the FORET. The 90th and 83rd Inf Divs, still abreast, were directed to maintain positions and await further orders. The axis of the 90th Division was to attack the PERIERS -ST SAUVEUR LENDELIN Road. Commanding General A gap existed between the right of the 3rd Bn and left of the 3rd Bn 358th Inf and into the gap the Boche probed vigorously. Prisoners taken during the morning provided evidence of the presence of other German Paratroopers, the cream of the Nazis, in the Div zone. Normandy American Cemetery. At 1930 a German attack drove a wedge between the 2nd Bn 358th Inf and 3rd Bn 359th Inf but counterattack restored the lines. 3rd Bn 358th Inf, when its front had been covered by their advance, was released from 359th Inf control and rejoined its Regt. Here is the history of the 90th Infantry Division, of which the 359th was part. American planes bombed Pont lAbbe at 1700. The Divisions residual elements were located at Bournemouth, England, while Group A (Composed of foot elements of the 1st and 3rd Battalions 359th Infantry Regiment and forty vehicles) was located at Camp Syon Abbey in Devonshire, England, and attached to the 4th Infantry Division. . However, the infantry was not at the LD at the prescribed hour and the preparation fires were not followed up. Shortly after midnight a paratrooper battalion, scaled the wooded south slopes of the nose occupied by the 1st Bn, 358th Inf and launched a noisily fanatical assault which retook the high ground driving the 1st Bn back onto the reverse (N) slope. 2nd Bn initiated relief of the 3rd Bn and elements of 1st Bn, 357th Inf at 1500 while 3rd Bn extended to the left to equalize sectors relief was completed and sector responsibility passed to CO 358th Inf at 1800. Given thus a breathing spell, the Division entered upon an extensive program of reorganization, rehabilitation and training. At 1400, the 3rd Bn 358th Inf attacked SE into the heavily wooded reverse slopes of the FORET. 30 june (D+24) Along the entire front, aggressive patrolling was conducted by the respective units in their defensive sectors. The . The attack to assigned objectives was continued at 0645. Effective patrolling was conducted by the 359th Infantry covering a three mile sector. It remained in a position of readiness immediately rearward of the 1st Bn. First elements of the division saw action on D-Day, 6 June, on Utah Beach, Normandy, the remainder entering combat 10 June, cutting across the Merderet River to take Pont l'Abbe in heavy fighting. 2nd Bn attacking on a narrow front which permitted the employment of only 1 Co encountered heavy resistance almost at the LD. 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division 388; 753 . B Co was committed wide on the right of the 1st Bn. 357th Inf: After defensive action along the river Douve, the . [4] Blue signifies the Infantry branch. The instinct for self-preservation outweighed obedience to orders and posed insurmountable obstacles to rapid reorganization. Whether the Boche were forewarned of the impending attack or whether the inactivity on the remainder of the Corps front permitted him to concentrate all available artillery on the attack area has never been accurately determined; the bitter fact remains that the heavy artillery fire which began at H-Hour and continued throughout the day from the outset disrupted and disorganized the assault echelons and foredoomed the failure the well planned and well coordinated attack. The 1st Bn 358th Inf would consolidate the nose and reorganize as a regimental reserve. On 12 August, the division drove across the Sarthe River, north and east of Le Mans, and took part in the closing of the Falaise Gap, by reaching 1st Polish Armored Division in Chambois, 19 August. 359th Inf: The existing road to the ISLAND was denied by the Boche infantry, supported by SP guns, who held the far approach. 2nd Bn upon being covered by the advance of the 359th Inf sideslipped to the left and assembled S of GORGES as regimental reserve. The 359th (-1 BN) was released from assignment to the 4th Infantry Division and reverted to the control of the 90th Division on 10 June. The 3rd Bn sustained a counter-attack before it could organize its objective and repulsed it with difficulty. The remaining Company assembled in the valley directly in rear of the leading two. 2nd Bn, ont he left, made excellent progress during the early hours, reaching the RR within its zone enroute to La BUTTE. A Company on the extreme left received heavy MG fire from its left front the moment it moved forward. Nickname: Tough 'Ombres; during World War I, the division was called the Texas-Oklahoma Division, represented by the T and O on the shoulder patch. VII Corps was being reoriented for an attack S out of the peninsula, on the left of and it conjunction with VIII Corps. Campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland. [2] On April 1, 1959, the regiment was reorganized as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System to consist of 1st Battle Group, a subordinate unit of the 90th Infantry Division. Meanwhile the 3rd Bn (moving to the attack through the zone of the 2nd Bn 358th Inf) was swung to the right to position it directly in rear of the 1st Bn. Martee, Robert Raymond, d. 14-Jun-1944, First Lieutenant, 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, Missouri, Plot F, Row 11, Grave 9, Bronze Star, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal (Army), Purple Heart, Silver Star, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge The date was April 2, 1945, and Sevel and another scout had just paddled across the Werra, approximately 100 miles northeast of Frankfurt in the heart of Germany. By dar, Regiment had completely readjusted and positioned all weapons to support the attacks of the 357th and 359th Infs by fire. 2nd Bn had moved 1 company forward under cover of darkness to outpost its LD generally along the line vacated by the 1st Bn 358th Inf in its slideslip to the right. 79th Inf Div on the right flank of the Corps had sustained enemy counter-attacks W of LA HAYE DU PUITS throughout the day. Fighting slowed down at 2300. The 357th Infantry fought fiercely throughout the day, but due to the ferocity of the enemy, they were able to make very little gain. Accordingly, the 357th Infantry was given the task of seizing and holding the line from Gourbesville to Beauval, while to the 359th went the task of holding that part of the line which ran from Raven (225012) to Haut David (208012). [2], 1st Battalion, 359th Regiment was subsequently reallocated from the Army Reserve to the Regular Army. This website is only in its very early stages, aiming to give a full spectrum of data on World War II fighting units, including details on organization, commanders, and literature. WW_REG_HIS Both regiments secured their positions and gained firm lateral contact to prevent the infiltration southward of by-passed enemy elements. Corps order gave the Division the mission of attacking to the West on 10 June to seize the high ground East of the Douve River in the vicinity of St Sauveur le Vicomte to deepen the Corps bridgehead. 359th Inf: The entire attack plan had been promised upon the rapid movement of the leading waves across the barren approaches to the ISLAND and the quick overrunning of its first line of defense. 1st june (D-5) : 12 june (D+6) : At 0500 the Division continued its attack, concentrating on the capture of the town of Gourbesville. By midnight, all foot elements had closed into allocated positions in the Divisions Assembly Area Turqueville Reuville Audonville Le Hubert Ecoquenesville with the Division CP set up at the village of Loutres. 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division 37; 298; 315; 382; 664 . 2nd Bn 358th Inf by Division order was scheduled to revert to regimental control at such time as it should be passed through by the advance of the 2nd Bn 359th Inf. It reached the crossroads without difficulty but was ambushed by flanking MG and Tank fire as it moved to the ground beyond. B Company, adjacent to and on the right of A Company, had been reinforced by 5 medium tanks and was set up as the main effort. ft. The Bn Commander, Lt Col. Kilday reorganized his men and laid the foundation of plans which resulted in the recapture of the town. During the afternoon and night, arrangements for the passage of elements of the 8th Div through the 359th Inf zone were completed. CHERBOURG itself had fallen and the 4th and 9th Divisions were completing mop-up operations on the Citys flanks. 359th Regiment Lineage. At 1045 the 3rd Bn, having been covered by the advance of the 8th Inf Div across its front, was relieved from attachment to the 359th Inf and returned to Regtl control. There were a few pictures taken by those few men who can do their job plus under any conditions; but the pictures were unable to be located. After our return to civilian . Captured officers reported that it would attack on 8 July on a NE axis to recapture the FORET DE MONT CASTRE. On our left, in 3 days stiff fight, the 83rd Inf Div had made only limited progress. Alerted immediately the enemys general withdrawal had become apparent, the troop went into action at 1200. The remainder of the regiment, after being covered by the advance of the 357th Inf, assembled in the vicinity of ST JORES as Division Reserve, closing in that area at 2100. The attack was finally postponed until the next day, and in lieu thereof plans were completed for the relief of the Engr Bn by the 3rd Bn under cover of darkness. Corps order called for elements of the 82nd Airborne Division and the newly arrived 9th Infantry Division to pass through the 90th Division and secure the Douve River in our zone. Debouchment from the bottleneck represented by the corridor, was contingent upon the prior capture of BEAU COUDRAY and its successful assault was necessary preliminary to the further development of Regimental Plans. During the early morning hours the SEVES R overflowed its banks and became unfordable in most spots. Regiment was alerted to pass through 358th Inf the following day and continue the attack S through BEAU COUDRAY. The 79th Infantry Division on the Corps right remained abreast of the 8th Infantry Division. The Boche engaged our infantry with hand grenades and close range MG fire from trees, spider trap holes and carefully camouflaged dug-in positions in the tangled under growth, inflicting heavy casualties. 11 june (D+5) : Soon they would be storming Utah beach. [2] It took part in several campaigns, including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes Alsace, and Central Europe. These troops subsequently withdrew to allow tanks to fire into the buildings in SEVES. Gen. Inactivated: 27 December 1945 at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts. The swamp to its immediate front caused the 358th to experience great difficulty in its advance. The three battalions were now firmly linked and our hold on FORET secure. K Company on the extreme right reached the road and attempted to turn E on the road to roll up resistance in front of the other companies, but withering fire hitting both exposed flanks made this an impossibility and it withdrew to its original position. Soldiers of the US 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry "T+O" (Texas and Oklahoma) Division gather for a picture below deck in LCI(L) 326 (Landing Craft Infantry) the night before the big invasion. Regimental System, redesignated as the 359th Regiment, and reorganized to consist The new offensive would begin as soon as troops became available from the CHERBOURG area and the artillery ammunition situation clarified. 357th and 359th Infs holding in place supported the attack by fire and drew in turn considerable enemy reaction. . Find their stories here on Fold3 and here on the Delaware's World War II Fallen website. The 357th Infantry occupied its defensive sector. 3rd Bn executed similar maneuver on the left flank of the 2nd Bn and in this wedge formation the Regiment advance to its initial objective cutting the PERIERS CARENTAN Road, 2 Kms SW of RAIDS. 359th Inf: The Divisions Regiments continued to hold their positions. The 1st Bn followed in trace behind 3rd Bn to LONGUET. Here again, a Boche counterattack spearheaded by tanks struck the BN right, disorganizing G Co and widening the existing gap between the 1st and 2nd Bns. 391.3.5 Records of the 11th-15th Cavalry Regiments. Assistant Division Commanders: Brig. This situation together with fire which continued to fall on both banks accentuated the difficulties attendant upon resupply of ammunition to the 1st Bn and G Co. At first light there was still no tank crossing and only a handful of ammunition had reached the assault trips. 15 june (D+9) 1st Bn, in position unsuitable for a jump off; supported the attack to the right two battalions by fire, but made no advance. Thus, it is not the 359th Infantry Regiment that is missing, but its regimental history. [4] The regiment's coat of arms incorporates the oak tree and fleur-de-lis. G Company, in Battalion Reserve, moved to the rear of E Company. Enemy Artillery was active in the 357th Infantry area. Upon order of Corps, the Division attacked on 10 June 1944 with the object of seizing the high ground east of the Douve River. F Co was attached to the 3rd Bn in position to back up the greatly reduced latter unit. 3rd Bn was moved into position in rear of gap between 1st and 2nd Bn in preparation for its commitment 4 July to relieve the 1st. Shortly before dusk all 4 companies consolidated on their original positions and the regimental front became established. 358th Inf: FAQ | The 358th, with two Battalions abreast, made an assault against the town of Pont lAbbe (Etienville) from the East. 27 July 1944 The units continued to improve their defensive positions. The 90th and 83rd Inf Divs, still abreast, were directed to maintain positions and await further orders. Subsequently the remainder of the Engr Bn was attached and C Co moved into the line to reinforce B Co. 359th Inf: 1st Bn remained in its original position until the reserve Bn of the 121st Inf had come abreast of it and then moved left to an assembly position as Regimental Reserve. 357th Inf: ABMC Headquarters 2300 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: 703-584-1501 Bn halted forward motion after cutting main lateral road on ISLAND awaiting armored and antitank support. The two regiments continued to push forward upon the opening of the new day. Moved from its positions on the Div left flank to maintain contact with the 121st inf on the Div right. 10 june (D+4) : 357th Inf: Memories and recollections of events and lives come and gone. After an uninterrupted advance of 2 Kms it encountered a heavily defended strong-point in a sunken road midway between LA SALMONNERIE and ST GERMAIN. Although reinforced by tanks, it was unable to reduce this pocket of resistance. Battalion concurrently allotted to the Regular Army, World War I: St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne; [2] It was organized in September and assigned to the 180th Infantry Brigade, a unit of the 90th Division. 357th Inf (Less 3rd Bn), moved by infiltration across the DOUVE RIVER causeway to a new assembly area vicinity of APPEVILLE. The 358th Infantry was ordered to move into an assembly area approximately 1000 yards to the east of Gourbesville. The book is well written and helps fill in some of the time gaps in "Show Me The Hero". Observers with the 2nd Bn 359th Inf, utilizing the excellent defilade observation available, directed heavy fire into the German positions in vicinity of BEAU COUDRAY. Demobilized 24 June 1919 at Camp Bowie, Texas. Late that day the 8th and 79th Inf Divs were ordered to follow by marching and motor the 4th and 6th Armd Divs respectively, clearing the W half of the NORMANDY PENINSULA and driving on AVRANCHES. The supporting units were ashore D plus 4. 5 june (D-1) : The movement of the 1st Bn 358th Inf obliquely across its front in the vicinity of LA COUTRIE stopped further progress. Share a testimony from a relative or a friend, veteran or civilian, resistance member, ally or German, actor or witness of History. D-Day and Battle of Normandy Encyclopedia. Status Killed in Action. By noon it was on the E edge of LITHAIRE and had taken a total of 50 prisoners. The main effort was to be made on the left the zone of the 90th Division. 121st Inf did not come abreast and consequently no attack was made. Jun 10, 2022 - My Grandaddy's division in WWII, 358th, Easy Co. 90th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia, Army Battle Casualties and Nonbattle Deaths, Final Report (Statistical and Accounting Branch, Office of the Adjutant General, 1 June 1953), United States Army Center of Military History, Memorial Plaque honoring the 90th Infantry Division's liberation of Flossenburg, Tough 'Ombres! 7th Armd Div on the right while holding in place was to support the attack with all available artillery. 2nd Bn 359th Inf jumped off parallel to and on the left of the 3rd Bn 358th Inf when the latters advance had brought them abreast. > SECTION 3 - NORTHERN FRANCE . The 358th Infantry continued its attack upon Point lAbbe with the plan of eventually pushing on to occupy the high ground beyond the town. Was assigned continued responsibility for the spit of land on the Division left and maintenance of contact with the 4th Inf Div. > Headquarters 90th Infantry Division APO 90, U.S. Army. From its the N of the ISLAND fired through the day in support of the 359th Inf. U.S. Military Units That Served in WWII. The 359th Infantry Regiment landed on Utah Beach on D-Day. Today, a memorial wall at the former camp honors the 90th as the liberators of Flossenbrg concentration camp. The 79th Inf Div on the extreme right of the Corps had taken LA HAYE DU PUITS and was consolidating its positions. Shoulder patch: A khaki-colored square on which is superimposed a red letter "T", the lower part of which bisects the letter "O", also in red. At 1300, C and B Cos ignoring flanking machine gun fire jumped to the ISLAND and overcoming the immediate resistance advanced S about 1 Km. 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division 37; 298; 315; 664 . 90th Rcn Tr: . It reported that the companies were under continuously heavy pressure and were very low on ammunition. Verbal orders were given to continue the attack the following day. 90th Inf Div, attached to VIII Corps, held the left of the Corps Sector with dispositions generally as follows (See Plate 1). 359th Inf: The situation in the vicinity of the Divisions equipment had been put ashore, and shortly befor3e dark, the 90th Division was set in motion towards jump off position for the morning. From this position in a coordinated effort with the right Regt of the 83rd Inf Div, (fsth Inf), RCT 357 would attack SW along the CARENAN PERIERS Road, cutting off the Island and making contact with the 359th Inf N of PERIERS. The 357th conducted mop-up operations in the town of Portbail. At 25 1100, under cover of a tremendous bombardment, VII Corps initiated its assault from W of ST LO. Major Operations: St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne. 361st Fighter Group 12 . Fortunately, D-Day was postponed for a minimum of 24 hours by unfavorable weather.