August 1944 – Office of the Chief of Ordinance
Terminal Ballistic Data – Volume I Bombing
1st August 1944 – Operation Cobra
The Breakout From The Normandy Beachhead
Tuesday – 1st August 1944 – Operation Cobra, Order Of Battle1
Tuesday – 1st August 19442
At 1200 Hours on 1 August 1944 the Third U.S. Army under command of Lieutenant General G. S. Patton Jr., became operational under a veil of official secrecy, although the enemy had previously suggested the presence in France of this force. In addition to the VIII Corps, commanded by Major General Troy H. Middleton, the Army took operational control of XII Corps, Commanded by Major General Gilbert R. Cook, the XV Corps by Major General Walton H. Walker, the latter three corps being located in the rear area.
The Army’s mission was to drive south and southwest from locations generally in the vicinity of Avranches (T21) and to secure the Rennes (Y05) – – Forgeres (Y37) area, to turn west to capture the Brittany Peninsula and open the Brittany Ports, and to be prepared for further operations to the east.
The Army Commander ordered the VIII Corps (the 8th and 79th Infantry Divisions and the 4th and 6th Armored Divisions) to continue its advance westward and seize Brest (V99) and Quiberon Bay (M99) area. The XV Corps (the 83rd and 90th Infantry Division and the 5th Armored Division) was ordered to move south within its assigned zone, coordinating with the VII Corps (First U.S. Army) and the VIII corps. The XX Corps (the 2nd French Armored Division, upon arrival) was ordered to be prepared to move south on order, initially to the vicinity of Fougeres (Y37). The XII Corps (the 80th Infantry Division, upon arrival) was to continue to stage all Third U.S. Army troops arriving on the Continent and be prepared to move south on order.
Caption reads – August 1944 Normandie France – Population Watching American’s Passing Through Towns
Tuesday – 1st August 19443
Third U.S. Army became operational at 1200, 1st August 1944. Annex 2 (Field Artillery), copy attached as Annex 10, to field Order number 1 established the initial organization of the artillery.
Tuesday – 1st August 19444
Colonel Davis Papers
So, we crossed the channel in LST’s and took over from the ranger battalion the Third Army prisoner of war enclosure. We saw a lot of the shipping there and the barrage balloons and the antiaircraft. It was close enough to D-Day, so that saw many of the results of that day — dead Germans and some Americans that still hadn’t been found and picked up. We started to move and we moved into the beachhead up at St. Jores, a little deeper into Normandy. Then, we were warned very much about picking up anything because it was basically full of mines and booby traps.
Tuesday – 1st August 19445
Third U.S. Army became operational at 1200, 1st August 1944. Annex 2 (Field Artillery), copy attached as Annex 10, to field Order number 1 established the initial organization of the artillery.
Tuesday – 1st August 19446
The Unit departed St. Jacques, France, 1½ mi E at 1030. Bivouacked St. Jores, France at 1200. Unit engaged in operation of PWE #2, TUSA. Weather: Clear. Moral: Excellent.
Tuesday – 1st August 19447
Our next move took us to St. Jores a little deeper in Normandy and on August 1st we assumed our duties of operating the Third U.S. Army Prisoner of War Enclosure No. 2 taking over from the 1st Army’s 2nd Ranger Battalion. The personal – problem of the day was “if I pick it up, will it blow me up” for the place was well mined and booby trapped. The war was close enough so that American and German dead were still in the area.
Tuesday – 1st August 19448
Tuesday – 1st August 19449
St. Jore (France) first P.W. enclosure
Tuesday – 1st August 194410
As Third U.S. Army drove west, south and east across France, Interrogation of Prisoners of War Teams helped obtain enemy information from some 48,000 prisoners at the five Prisoner of War Enclosures.
German POW’s are motor transported from 244th PWE (Prisoner War Enclosure) and taken to Division POW Camp for processing, further interrogation and holding.
No caption – These are German PW’s believed to be arriving at a Corps holding area. The long deep dark line running from left to right in front of the tucks are German PW’s.
Tuesday – 1st August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report11
Battalion departed St. Jacques
Tuesday – 1st August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report12
Battalion arrived St. Jores (took over PW cage)
Tuesday – 1st August 194413
Successively, after a one-day indoctrination period at the St. Jores, France, Prisoner of War Enclosure, the Battalion established and operated Prisoner of War Enclosures for the Third U.S. Army at Avranches, Sens-de-Bretane, Mur-de-Bretagne, Courtalain, Nemoruse and Fresnes.
Initially the Battalion collected prisoners of war directly from the division at regimental prisoner of war collecting points but later, in accordance with Third U.S. Army policy, established, manned an evacuate prisoners from corps’ prisoner of war enclosures.
Tuesday – 1st August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report14
St. Jores, France ¼ mi W
Davis 39 123 574
Dy to sk in 35th Evacuation
Hosp LD
Departed St. Jacques, France
1¼ mi E at 1030 Bivouacked
Present sta 1200. Unit engaged
in operation of Prisoner of
War Enclosure Third US Army
Strength Officers: 6 FLD O & Capt.
1 1st Lt. Pres
1 1st Lt. Abst
2 2nd Lt. Pres
1 2nd Lt. Attached Fr Other Orgs
1 WO Pres
Tuesday – 1st August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report15
St. Jacques ¼ mi E. France
Departed St. Jacques, France
1 ¼ mi E at 1100 bivouacked
Present eta 1230. Unit engaged
in operation of Prisoner of War
Enclosure Third US Army.
Tuesday – 1ST August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report16
St. Jores France ¼ Mi W
Departed St. Jacques, France 1½ mi E
at 1100 bivouacked at present sta
1230. Unit engaged in operation of
prisoner of war enclosure, Third US
Army.]
Tuesday – 1st August 1944 Service Battery Morning Report17
St. Jores, France ¼ mi W
Departed St. Jacques, France 1¼
mi E at 1100 bivouacked at
present Sta 1230. Unit engaged
in operation of prisoner of war
enclosure Third US Army
Strength Officers: 1 Fld O & Capt Pres
1 1st Lt. Pres
1 WO Pres
Strength EM: 29 Pres for Duty
August 194418
Five Prisoner of War Cages were setup along the line of advance at:
| Location | Dates | Number of Prisoners |
| ST. Jores (T-28) | August 1 – 3 | Provisional |
| Avranches (T-21) | August 3 – 8 | 5,000 |
| Sens De Bretagne (Y-17) | August 8 – 20 | 23,000 |
| Burlon | August 16 – 26 | 6,000 |
| Courtalaine (W-06) | August 20 – 31 | 4,000 |
| Nemours (X-27) | August 26 – 31 | 10,000 |
| Total | 48,000 |
Each cage was kept open when the Army moved forward. The older cage was called the “Rear Cage” and the new on the “Forward Cage”. This was necessitated because of the Army’s rapid advance. With the exception of one officer and two enlisted men, all of the personnel of the four Interrogation of Prisoners of War Teams were employed at the cages. During the month these teams received reinforcements of four officers and eight enlisted men.
The Interrogation of Prisoners of War at these cages was handled in three distinct and consecutive phases: (1) Screening of prisoners, (2) interrogation of prisoners and (3) dissemination of Intelligence. The first two processes were guided and governed by the tactical situation as well as by the requests and suggestions of the Army G-2, which were embodied in the Essential Elements of Information brought to the case at regular intervals.
1. Screening: This process took place at the cages and consisted of a quick and complete breakdown into ranks and units of the crowd of newly arrived prisoners. Priority was given to representatives of units whose information would best fulfill the Essential Elements of Information.
2. Interrogation: this process took place in privacy and consisted of the detailed cross-examination of the selected prisoners along lines laid down by the tactical situation and the Essential Elements of Information. Interrogators specialized in units and build up data to show strength, location and planned actions of particular enemy units.
3. Dissemination: interrogation results were compiled and published in report form as annexes to G-2 Periodic Reports.
Wednesday – 2nd August 194419
A directive from the Twelfth U.S. Army Group set forth a mission for the Third U.S. Army to secure the line Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët (T40) – Fougères (Y37) – Rennes (Y05). When this line was secured, forces were to be pushed vigorously into the Brittany Peninsula with the objective of seizing the Quiberon Bay (M99) area and clearing the enemy from the peninsula.
Wednesday – 2nd August 194420
Enemy aircraft bombed the bridge at Avranches (T21) and the dam at Ducey (T30), but the bridge was quickly repaired and there was no damage to the dam.
The XIX Tactical Air command afforded armored column cover for the assault spearheads, performed armed reconnaissance on the front and flank, and covered bridges in the Avranches (T21) corridor to prevent incursion by enemy aircraft.
Wednesday – 2nd August 194421
No change.
Wednesday – 2nd August 194422
Colonel Davis
They were mostly German prisoners. We learned, for instance, that the SS Troopers had always been tattooed right under their arms with their blood type. It was a very small dot. They were the only ones of the Germans who had that mark on them. So, when we got prisoners into the prisoner of war enclosure, we always had a session to delouse them and get them showers under buckets of water, and we had them march through with their arms over their heads. We would just note everybody who had a dot on there, and then we segregated them because they were the famous SS Troopers.
Caption reads – August 1944 Normandie France – French People Looking Over American Equipment
Thursday – 3rd August 194423
Thursday – 3rd August 194424
The Battalion departed St. Jores France.
Thursday – 3rd August 194425
Arrived Avranches.
Thursday – 3rd August 194426
Thursday – 3rd August 194427
Arrived Avranches (France) afternoon, attack, Flares Luftwaffe at night also
Thursday – 3rd August 194428
On August 3rd we picked up the cages and moved through demolished Haye de Puits and established PWE #3, 2 1/2 miles north of Avranches. We bivouacked on both sides of the main supply route of the Armor which was now on a new rampage. Here war came to the 244th. Spearhead were funneling through this small “Avranches Gap” west to Brittany, east to Le Mans and south to Rennes. The Battalion was in a real hot spot. The main effort of the Germans was to cut this supply route through Avranches at the point where the Battalion was sitting.
Captain reads – August 1944 – Normandy France – French People Cheering The American’s Passing Through
Thursday – 3rd August 194429
Byron G. Rogers
On August 3, 1944, we moved thru and demolished a town, and settled at Averanches. It was here war really came to the 244th. Night air raids were routine, as “Bed Check Charlie,” (the German Planes) kept us up at nights. On August 7, 1944, we got a “stomach full” of the war. The German planes were making a run on the 244th Battalion. They came in droves, and one by one our guns ceased firing, as they had been hit. For two ground shaking, stomach knotting hours, the raid continued. Low flying planes bombed and strafed the battalion installations repeatedly as we dug deeper into the too shallow foxholes. I was covered up with dirt and mud in my foxhole, and the guy next to me was killed. When the bombing let up some, my best friend, Bill Morris, couldn’t find me and began searching. He found me covered with mud and dirt in my foxhole. He made sure I was OK, and continued shooting the Germans. I was a little scared, but otherwise OK. At this point we only had rifles, and limited artillery so we could not shoot down the German planes. The artillery we had was German and Russian guns, (heavy artillery) taken from the dead soldiers, and POW’s we had captured.
The next morning, August 8, 1944, we rounded up 1500 POW’s, who had been turned loose to seek shelter from their own planes. We counted 21 dead and 55 wounded POW’s. Our battalion lost much equipment and some of our men during this raid. We left that day, capturing towns and more prisoners, while bypassing Germans. It was during this time that I noticed a German flag flying over what used to be a German Headquarters building. I retrieved the flag, and when I got the chance, sent it home to my Mother. I still have the flag today, with a bullet hole from when we captured the town.
The German Battle Flag referred to above. Note: The flag shown here is in new condition, but I took the photo with the sun shining through it making it look bleached in spots.
Thursday – 3rd August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report30
Avranches, France 6 mi N
Gunter, Aaron L. 57 517 483 Sgt.
(atchd from 647th QM Troop Transport C.)
Dy to lost to Hosp LD
Harris, Joseph C. 55 699 807 Pfc.
(atchd from 847th QM Troop Transport Co)
Dy to trfd to 35th Evacuation Hospital
Departed St. Jores, France ¼ mi W at 1545
Bivouacked at present Sta. Unit en-
gaged in operation of Prisoner of War En-
closure Third US Army
Strength Officers: 6 FLD O & Capt.
1 1st Lt. Pres
1 1st Lt. Abst
2 2nd Lt. Pres
1 2nd Lt. Attached Fr Other Orgs
1 WO Pres
Strength EM: 94 EM Present For Duty
27 Attached FM Other Orgn
121 EM Total
Thursday – 3rd August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report31
Thursday – 3rd August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report32
Thursday – 3rd August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report33
Friday – 4th August 194434
Friday – 4th August 194435
Demontighy (Pfc. Joseph L. Demontighy), Dela Rossa (Pvt. Frank T. Dela Rosso) of A Battery hurt, Turner (S/Sgt. Louis Turner) and Jones (Pfc. John Jones) killed by Luftwaffe bomb
Friday – 4th August 194436
No change
Friday – 4th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report37
Avranches, France 6 mi N
Derych, William J. 32 159 249 Tec. 4
Phillips, Oscar E. 34 369 433 Tec. 4
Above two men dy to temporary dy Hq, TUSA
Friday – 4th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report38
Avrancehs, France 6 mi. N.
No Change
EM Present for duty 120 EM Absent 0
Officers: 4
Saturday – 5th August 194439
Nightly air raids were the routine and “Bed Check Charley” kept us up when we wanted to sleep. At this point we discarded ties and took war seriously.
Saturday – 5th August 194440
No change.
Saturday – 5th August 194441
The 437th and 472nd Prisoner of War Escort Guard Companies reported to the enclosure at Marcey (vT2517) for duty per paragraph 2, TA Number 4, Headquarters, Twelfth U. S. Army Group, dated 3rd August. One platoon from each of the 647th and 442nd Quartermaster Truck Companies was utilized for transporting prisoners from the Division Collecting points to the enclosures.
Saturday – 5th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report42
Avranches, France 6 mi N
Davis, Robert W. 39 123 574 Pvt.
Sk in 35th Evacuation Hosp LD to trfd to
35th Evacuation hosp as of 3 Aug 44
Mayor, Adolph M. 39 123 506 Tec. 4
Bubanks, Robert R. 34 248 903 Pfc.
Gaskin, John R., Jr. 34 420 558 Pfc.
Collinsworth, Charlse C. 35 612 967 Pvt.
Above four men dy to temporary dy VIII
Corps.
M/R of 3 & 4 Aug 44 as shown EM strength
atchd from other orgn as 27 present for dy’
2 absent, 27 present for dy, 29 present and
absent.
M/R of 3 & 4 Aug 44 as reads “Station
Avranches, France 5 mi N” change to read
“Station Avranches, France 2½ mi N 251194
Saturday – 5th August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report43
Avranches, France 2 ½ mi N. vT251194
M/R of 3-4 August 1944 as present Station
Avranches, France 6 mi N changed to read
Station Avranches, France 2 ½ mi N, 251194
Dela Rossa, Frank T. 32 958 579 Pvt. Code M
Dy to lost to Hosp LD wounded in action.
Demontighy, Joseph L. 31 446 211 Pvt. Code 9
Minor arm wound remained dy.
Strength: 122 EM, 4 Officers
Saturday – 5th August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report44
Saturday – 5th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report45
Saturday – 5th August 1944 MD Detachment Morning Report46
German POW’s are provided water ration. 244th Cpl. supervises as a German POW pours the water.
Dear Folks,
Just 30 minutes to write you and Jane a letter – if I want it to go out today. I just finished
censoring the Battery mail and have all the impressions of one hundred brains. I wish I could cram it all onto this one page.
All of us are in fine shape. We haven’t been getting a lot of sleep or any steaks, but we’re all as happy as the Army will let us be. I’ve been keeping my fox hole pretty warm – “Bed Check” Charlie came over again and gave the area a going over. I slept there most of it. Once I bounced like a rubber ball – but went to sleep right after it. All the men got quite a kick out of it – all of us were scared, but at least we can laugh about it. Our mail is way behind us. Haven’t had a letter since I was in England. Sure do miss it too. More this after.
Love – your Son.
Sunday – 6th August 194447
No change
Sunday – 6th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report48
Monday – 7th August 194449
Battalion bombed and strafed by enemy aircraft from about 2230 to 2400. Two enlisted men killed in Battery “C”. Three Injured.
Monday – 7th August 194450
Air raid – got two men of “C” Battery and a lot of German PW’s.
Monday – 7th August 194451
Strafed and bombed
Monday – 7th August 194452
During the night the enclosure at Marcey (vT2517) near Avranches (vT2817), was subjected by the enemy to a combined bombing and strafing attack. A perimeter guard was established as quickly as possible, and as a matter of safe-guarding prisoners of war from the devastating attack they were permitted to leave the enclosure and seep protection in the surrounding area. Twenty-one prisoners of war were killed and eight-two wounded. Two enlisted men of the 244th Field Artillery Battalion (operating personnel of the enclosure) were killed and several were wounded.
Monday – 7th August 194453
We received our first taste of possible our “stomach full” of war. The 2300 hour air raid started in the usual fashon but the throbbing engine noises were making a run – – not of the bridges – – not of the towns – – but of the 244th Field Artillerey Battalion. Planes came over in droves and one by one the Ack Ack ceased fire. For two dust filled ground shaking stomach knocking hours the raid continued. Low flying planes bombed and strafed the Prisoner Enclosure and Battalion installation repeatedly as men dug deeper into shallow fox holes. When the dust cleared the battalion rounded up 1500 prisoners who had been turned loos to seek shelter from their own plains. Damage was survived and 21 dead and 65 wounded prisoners of war were counted. Our Battalion lost much equipment and marked up our two “Killed in Action” entries.
Monday – 7th August 194454
During the night of 7th August and early morning of the 8th August the Prisoner of War enclosure at Marcey (T21), three miles northwest of Avranches (T31), was subjected to enemy bombing and strafing attack. Twenty-one German prisoners were killed and sixty-two wounded. Two enlisted men of the 244th Field Artillery Battalion, operating personnel of the enclosure, were killed and several others were wounded. A perimeter guard was established as quickly as possible and to safeguard the German prisoners from attack they were permitted to leave the enclosure and seek protection in the surrounding area. This raid led to a policy of lighting prisoner of war enclosures in emergencies only.
Interview with Robert Bishop55
And I think it was August the 2nd we moved into Avranches in Normandy, and this was on the main supply route to the coast, and it was a pretty busy outfit, a lot of activity, especially in the air. And we continued transporting prisoners from the front, and our cage was much larger. It held a 115 POW’s. Bedcheck Charlie would come over and raise the devil with us at night time keeping us awake, and I do remember on August 7th Bedcheck Charlie didn’t show up at 10:00 but I think all his buddies did, and they started bombing straight in our area, and I jumped into a hole, landed on top of Lieutenant Anderton, our executive officer. We hunkered down in that hole there as far as we could get, and wasn’t long after that that a German soldier jumped in on top — top of me, and I had my rifle barrel stuck right at him and he yelled “prisoner, prisoner,” and I thank God that I did not pull the trigger, and he was crying and shaking and he was visibly shook and he had a slight wound on his right knee. It wasn’t too serious, and he spoke fairly good English, and we asked him how old he was, and he said I’m 17, and he kept saying, “Hitler no good; Hitler no good.” And of course, I agreed with him, so did Lieutenant Anderson. And what bothered us a lot, Lieutenant and myself, that our antiaircraft was very busy when they first come over. They were throwing up a lot of stuff. One by one they seemed to be silent, and I was kind of hoping it was because of the lack of ammo, but I’m afraid that was not the case. And well, after about two hours of this, around midnight I think it was, the — a — everything let up. The planes were still in the area and flying around but was fairly quiet on the ground, and Lieutenant Anderton left to check on the troops and see what damage there was, and like I said, there was still planes flying over — over in the area and I stayed with the POW until daylight. Took him to a kitchen area or what was left of it, and we had some K-rations and sat there eating, and they — a guard detail came along and with some other prisoners and he picked up the one that was with me. And then we found out that the German lifted off the bomb straight into their own POW cage, and when our commander saw what was happening, he ordered the gates open to at least give the prisoners some chance of survival, and we found out that there were 21 of them that had been killed and over 60 of them were injured, and an order came down for two men from each gun crew to report to the POW cage, and I guess this was to clean up the area so the prisoners could be put back in. After my two men came back, he said don’t ever put me on a detail like that again. He said it was horrible. It showed on their faces, too, that it must have been kind of gruesome up there. But I was still in the kitchen area and with some other troops there and they — lo and behold, oh, blood and guts himself, General Patton drove up in the jeep. I think there were two men that were with him, two sergeants, and I think our officers must have had an inkling of his arrival because they were right there waiting for him and they went over and started talking with him, and I did hear him say, “from now on you’re going to dig your foxholes deep and narrow,” and he didn’t have to tell us. We did. And the amazing thing about this was all the prisoners that were in the cage were accounted for, either killed or wounded or returned. Now that is something. While we lost two men in our battalion and quite a bit of equipment. And you know, after I got home from the war, I thought about this young German soldier quite a bit, and I wished I had gotten his name and address so I could contact him later. But at that time, we weren’t thinking much about being pen pals.
Monday – 7th August 194456
Colonel Davis Papers
We then moved on and established prisoner of war enclosure Number Three, which was about two-and-a-half miles north of Avranches. We were on both sides of the main route and the Armor, which was now on a rampage.
Here, war came to the 244th. The rules of Warfare called for lights to be put around fields where the prisoner enclosure was. To do this, we had been furnished a number of cast iron tanks for holding water; I guess there must have been 100 of them. They had water and carbide to form gas; when you lit the gas, if formed a light and these were placed around prisoner of war enclosure all around the perimeter. As I said, there must have been 100 around the prisoner of war enclosure, which was about the size of a football field more or less. A great number of these lights placed 40 or 50 yards apart all the way around. We also had to use white sheet-like material to put down on the ground in large letters, “PWE,” so that airplanes coming over could see that it stood for prisoner of war enclosure and was, of course, not to be attacked. We did all of that at Avranches.
Right below Aranches was a bridge – a marrow road and bridge there. General Patton’s Third Army had already gotten one armored division across that bridge, fanning out toward the Brittany peninsula. They were busily trying to get more armor across there as it came over across the channel. The Germans were attempting to cut that bridge and knock it out, so that they would be able to stop General Patton from getting across the bridge in force and spreading out. The Germans on the night of 6-7 August launched wheat was later known as the Mortain breakthrough. They were trying in some force to break through and knock the bridge out so that they didn’t have armor coming across. We were stationed very close to the bridge. I guess it was about a quarter mile of less from the bridge, all lighted up like a Christmas tree at night. My CP was an old bombed-out brick house; the whole top floor had been knocked out. We had dug slit trenches around the outside of the perimeter of the PW unit. We had 1,500 Germans in there. I had finished Inspecting on the night of 6-7 August and gotten Into my sleeping bag in the CP there, about 11:30 at night. I had just barely gotten down into the sleeping bag when right on the brick wall outside, machine gun bullets — 20mm bullets — hit. It was the German air force attacking the prisoner of war enclosure. So, I got up and went down to the prisoner of war enclosure and saw that the German prisoners were frantic. The machine gun bullets, and the 20mm bullets, had struck the PW cage.
Of course, they were up against the fence and couldn’t get out. So, I had the prisoner of war Interrogators — I called them and they got into their jeeps with their bucket loudspeakers and told the prisoners over the loudspeaker system that we were going to open the cage doors and let them out, and to go into the woods surrounding the PWE, but not to go any further into the woods, because there were troops around the outside. That was not true. We had no troops around there, but we did open those doors of the cage, and about the time they started wot another wave of Messerschmidt’s came over. I dived into a slit trench and was very happy to see a German dive right on top of me! But, it was a very busy two hours. My battalion had been bivouacked round on the other side of the road – but some distance from the PWE — and the Germans were dropping 100-pound and 500-pound bombs as well as firing these machine guns. So, we lost several of our battalion vehicles, including a great, big maintenance truck of the battalion which was a sad lost. Two of our men were killed there. When this was over we called in the forward ambulances from the Third Army, and 21 of the Germans had been killed in the enclosure, and 67 of them wounded in various degrees. We got then all off to the advanced medical facilities for Third
Army and started to gather up and herd the Germans back into the enclosure. When we tallied up the count, we accounted for all but 50 of the Germans. Fifty of them we couldn’t get back. They were probably SS troopers who wanted definitely to get away from being prisoners.
The next morning about daylight, General Patton came up with his entourage — he had about 20 jeeps with the MP’s and his Ivory-handled pistols. I had sent my executive down to Lucky Forward, which was the Third Army Prisoner of War Forward Command Post (CP), in the night, right after the attack. I told them what had happened, so General Patton had come up to see the whole thing and talk to me about what had happened. Then later, after the war, he wrote about the incident in his first book about the war. It was called The War As I Knew It, by General Patton. In talking with him, his son-in-law was a West Point classmate of mine and we talked about him quite a bit. He was a prisoner of war; he had been captured down in North Africa at Kasserlne Pass and had been a prisoner of war.
Monday – 7th August 1944 HQ & Hq Battery Morning Report57
Monday – 7th August 1944 MD Detachment Morning Report58
August 194459
A captured German Colonial, Staff member of the Seventh German Army, made the statement under G-2 interrogation that the American breakthrough at Avranches (T-21) was looked upon by the Germany Staff as exceptionally daring.
The disorganized withdrawal precipitated by the Avranche (T-21) breakthrough continued through August. Except in a few local areas and around the important port cities of Brittany, the enemy never succeeded during the period in establishing a cohesive front line despite piecemeal commitment of many Infantry and Panzer Divisions, including two divisions from Italy.
Dear Family,
Just finished a V-mail to Don and Uncle Art. I wrote to Don a week or so ago, but didn’t think it would hurt to try it again. As yet uncle Arts letter to Augusta hasn’t shown up – so you can see the mail is rally all tied up. I don’t know when we’ll hear from the US because we have moved twice and expect to do it again. When it does come I ought to have at least a dozen. I’m sitting in the command car under an apple tree – it is real cool and comfortable. The only thing wrong is that I sprained my right ankle again. This time it went up like a balloon. It’s tough on the walking, but it’s just my luck.
Took a little trip the other night – six trucks my ¼ ton and I spent 12 hours going just seventy miles. Got to stop!
Well – back again – 3 hours later. Had to make another trip out into the country. To get back to the last paragraph – we cruised around the dark countryside, looking for something (I can’t tell you what). It was spooky – going thru freshly bombed towns which were deserted, never quit knowing what to expect. All of a sudden we crept around a curve bordered with hedgerows and skylined was a German “Tiger” tank looking right at us!! Sgt. Reeves snapped up his carbine & jacked one in the chamber – I did the same Outlaw – the driver, just hung on false alarm – it was all burned out – had been hit with some A.T. gun. We journeyed further down the road – saw some more tanks – turned around and came back – the rest we looked over at 0630. All this happened in a town behind our lines – but the trick is no one know where the front actually was – the whole picture was changing too fast for anyone to follow. In spite of what I’ve written I’m taking real good care of myself and my men. We are cautious as you can understand. Each day we learn more and more. Capt. Torres & Jr. both had a real time – it’s too complicated a story to tell you. Some other time maybe. I haven’t had a bath for a few days so I guess I’ll knock off for today.
My regards to one and all –
You’re loving
Son.
If my letters frighten you or cause you to worry – I won’t give you any of the dope – I thought you might like to know what I’m doing to earn my money. Speaking of money – expect $165.00 gov’t check plus about $80.00 or $90.00 by cable – I have some money but I don’t need a darn thing besides there isn’t anything to buy. T
Tuesday – 8th August 194461
Unit departed Avranches 1000. Arrived present station (Mur-de-Bretagne) 1430. Unit engages in operation of PWE#4, TUSA. Weather: Clear: Morale: Excellent.
Tuesday – 8th August 194462
Tuesday – 8th August 194463
The next morning, we executed the military maneuver known as “Lets get the Hell out of here” and moved to Sens de Bretagne. On this day, the 8th of August, the Battalion, without exception, dug fox holes – deep and narrow.
Tuesday – 8th August 194464
Early morning the Battalion departed Avranches France.
Tuesday – 8th August 194465
Battalion arrived Sens-de-Bretagne France. PWE #2
Tuesday – 8th August 194466
Left Avranches (France), arrived Sens-de-Bretagne (France)
Tuesday – 8th August 194467
Prisoner of War enclosure Number 2, at Sens-de-Bretagne (vY1377) was opened on 8 August.
Tuesday – 8th August 194468
Our convoys produced Wrong Way Corrigan who captured town, by-passed Germans and on occasion made tracks for the Calvary in the attempt to gather prisoners from the fluid front of the Third Army. Baker battery was detached to handle the Brittany prisoner of war camp during the battle of Brest while the rest of the Battalion moved east about one hundred miles to Courtalain. this was the first of a series of long jumps behind Patten’s racing Army.
Tuesday 8th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report69
Sens de Bretegna, 2.7 mi W vY069775 France
Departed Avranches France 2½ mi N
251194 at 1000. Bivouacked present
Station 1400. Distance marched 35 mi.
Unit engaged in operation of Prisoner
of War Enclosure Third U.S. Army
Tuesday – 8th August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report70
Sens de Bretegna, France. 2.7 mi W vY074795
Departed Avranches, France 2 ½ mi N 251194
at 1130 bivouacked at present sta 1600.
Distance marched 35 mi. Unit engaged in
operation of Prisoners of War Enclosure
Third US Army.
Tuesday – 8th August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report71
Sens de Bretegne, France, 2.7 mi W vY078783
Departed Avranches, France 2¼ mi N 251194
At 1100 bivouacked at present sta 1500.
Distance marched 35 mi. Unit engaged in
operation of prisoners of war enclosure,
Third US Army.
Tuesday – 8th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report72
Sens de Bretagna, France 2.7 mi. W. vY073778
Turner, Louis 34 249 341 S/Sgt. Code M
Jones, John F. 33 361 928 Pfc.
Dy to Killed in Action
Hurley, John G. 20 140 018 Sgt. Code 9
Dy to Hosp LD LIA
Departed Avranches, France 2½ mi. N
251194 at 1100 bivouacked at present Sta
1430. Distance marched 35 mi. Unit
engaged in operation of Prisoner of War
Enclosure third US Army.
EM Present for duty 119; EM Absent 1
Officers: 4
Tuesday – 8th August 1944 Service Battery Morning Report73
Sens de Bretegna, 2.7 mi W vY074782 France
Departed Avranches, France 2¼ mi N
251194 at 1130 bivouacked at present
Sta 1500. Distance marched 35 mi.
Unit engated in operation of Prisoner
of War Enclosure Third U.S. Army.
Tuesday – 8th August 1944 MD Detachment Morning Report74
Sens de Bretegna, France 2.7 mi W vY076778
Departed Avranches, France, 2½ mi N.,
251194 at 1100 bivouacked present sta
1450. Distance marched 35 mi. Unit
Engaged in operation of Prisoner of
War Enclosure Third US Army.
Caption reads – Avranches
Dear Family,
Hope you haven’t been worried while you haven’t heard from me. It’s just that we’ve been on the go so darn much. Reeves, Outlaw and I just got back from XXXXX where we had a detail. The Battalion got XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX while we were gone. It was our “Baptism of Fire”. Galway lost a couple of trucks, Wink had worse luck, I talked to him last night and he was low in spirit. Baker has been lucky. We are now digging our fox holes about 10ft. deep. Was in a little French town that had never had an American soldier in it – they treated us like heroes. The car was covered with flowers, we had some cider, later on helped a rather wealthy man open his first bottle of 1929 champagne since 1940. They are all so kind to us – and really very happy to see us in their part of France. I hope you are all well – I know I’m getting a lot thinner!! My love to one and all Yours
Tom.
L to R. Unknown, CWO Joseph G. Hamilton, S/Sgt. Norman J. Reeves, Capt. John W. Coyne, Jr., Tec. 5 Leo H. Sevigny, Capt. Richard E. Galway, WOJG Harry J. Greer,
Wednesday – 9th August 194475
No change.
Wednesday – 9th August 194476
The 2nd Platoon of the 443rd Prisoner of War Processing Company reported for duty at Prisoner of War Enclosure Number No. 2 at Sens-de-Bretagne (vY1377) on 9th August.
Wednesday – 9th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report77
Sens-de-Bretagne, France 2.7 mi W vY073778
Burley, John G. (Hosp) 20 140 018 Sgt. Code T
Sk Hosp LD to lost to Hosp
EM Present for duty 119; EM Absent 0
Officers: 4
Thursday – 10th August 194478
No change
Thursday – 10th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report79
Sens de Bretegna, 2.7 mi W vY069775 France
Murphy, Edmund C. 0 278 607 Capt. Code 9
Reld from assignment as S-3 2162-6 and asgd
to S-2 9301-5 as of 6 Aug 44
Humphrey, Robert G. 0 254 639 Capt.
Reld from assignment as Asst S-3 2162-5 &
Asgd to S-3 2162-6 as of 6 Agu 44
Coyne, John W., jr. 0 369 215 Capt.
Reld from assignment as S-2 9301-5 and asgd
To Ass’t S-3 2162-5 as of 6 Aug 44
Shiffler, Bernard E. 33 503 514 Pfc. Code A-FA
Asgd and jd from Hq. 3rd U. S. Army
Cohen, George 12 150 141 Pvt Code A-FA
Asgd and jd from Hq, 3rd U. S. Army
Strength Officers:
6 FLD O & Capt.
1 1st Lt. Pres
1 1st Lt. Abst
2 2nd Lt. Pres
1 2nd Lt. Abst
2 2nd Lt. Attached Fr Other Orgs
1 WO Pres
Strength EM:
89 EM Present For Duty
7 EM Abst
46 Attached FM Other Orgn
135 EM Total
Friday – 11th August 194480
No change.
Friday – 11th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report82
Sens de Bretegna, 2.7 mi W vY069775 France
Hardman, William T. 34 339 540 Tec. 4 Code 1-8
Reduced to gr of Pvt.
Arnette, Leslie T. 34 248 877 Tec. 4 Code 1-N
Aptd Tec 4
Tyler, Curtis E. 38 325 938 Pvt. Code 1-0
Aptd Tec 5
Strength Officers:
6 FLD O & Capt.
1 1st Lt. Pres
1 1st Lt. Abst
2 2nd Lt. Pres
1 2nd Lt. Abst
2 2nd Lt. Attached Fr Other Orgs
1 WO Pres
Strength EM:
89 EM Present For Duty
7 EM Abst
46 Attached FM Other Org
142 EM Total
Saturday – 12th August 194483
No Chage
Lt. Marriott’s “Carte Michelin Les Grandes Routes” Road Map Showing Roads Traveled By The 244th In Its Efforts To Pick Up And Transport German PW”s, First To Sens-de-Bretagne France, Then To Mûr-de-Bretagne France, As The U.S. Army Advances West Through Brittany Toward Brest
Interview with Robert Bishop85
Well, during the Battle of Brest, the B Battery was detached to move to a little town called Mur-de-Bretagne near the coast, and this was also on the main supply line, and this area was much quieter than the one we had just left, and the Captain said, well, we’re going to be here for — and to take a break, but we couldn’t understand why we should have a break. We didn’t have half as much combat time as a lot of the other outfits. And it wasn’t long, you know, some of the young children from the town came down into our area for GI goodies, and we happily obliged them, and we gave them some concentrated chocolate bars and gum and Sergeant — Mess Sergeant Williams — he was a swell guy. He had sliced up extra bread for these children and just loaded it with marmalade, and boy, that was a great treat for them. It wasn’t long that we had eight or ten visitors at least at noontime and at night. One evening just before dark our Captain told us to take cover around a huge field that had been not too far from where we were and said to be on the lookout for German paratroops, and during the nighttime, we did hear a lot of planes come over, and it was a really moonlit night, so almost like daytime, and but thank God, no paratroops. And so the next day we left, returned back to the — our outfit, and we found out later that the German paratroops did make a drop on this field and raised havoc in the town and along the supply route. We often wondered about the little children and their families, too, if they had survived.
Saturday – 12th August 194486
Colonel Davis Paper
We moved on, following the Third Army armored divisions and it was quite frantic. There weren’t any real front lines in that dash of General Patton’s through there at that time. We had many strange experiences. The armored divisions, when they were crashing through, never sent prisoners toward the rear with guards. They just told them to stick their hands up, get on the roads, and come back. So, we came up, and I had 75 two-and-a-half ton trucks spread out to pick up prisoners. We put, I think, approximately 75 German prisoners in one two-and-a-half ten trucks – – they could hardly breathe – – to bring them back to the enclosures. We were often out by ourselves end we were on the fringe of the Third Army many times.
Saturday – 12th August 194487
The Army Commander ordered the VIII Corps (8th and 83rd Infantry Division, 6th Armored Division, and supporting troops) to continue the mission of clearing the Brittany Peninsula, including the relief of the 5th Infantry Division at Angers (087). He ordered the XII Corps (4th Armored Division, 35th Infantry Division, and supporting troops) into action for the first time. It was to concentrate southeast of Le Mans (V46), prepared to operate north, northeast or east, and to protect the south flank of the Army.
Saturday – 12th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report88
Sens de Bretagna, France 2.7 mi W vY069775
Whetro, Harley C. 16 150 581 Pfc. Code 1-8
Reduced to gr of Pvt.
Shiffler, Bernard E. 33 503 514 Pfc. Code J
Remark in M/R of 10 Aug 44 as reads “Asgd
and jd from Hq, 3rd U.S. Army is deleted
Cohen, George 12 150 141 Pvt.
Remark in M/R of 10 Aug 44 as reads “Asgd
and jd from Hq, 3rd U.S. Army is deleted
Strength Officers:
6 FLD O & Capt.
1 1st Lt. Pres
1 1st Lt. Abst
2 2nd Lt. Pres
1 2nd Lt. Abst
2 2nd Lt. Attached Fr Other Orgs
1 WO Pres
Strength EM:
87 EM Present For Duty
7 EM Abst
46 Attached FM Other Orgn
140 EM Total
Saturday – 12th August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report89
Sens de Bretegna, France, 2.7 mi W vY074795
Leonard, John J. 33 501 242 Sgt. Code T
Dy to lost to Hosp LD
Dear Folks,
Boy – this week sure did whiz bye. I don’t know where the time goes, but it sure moves fast. I’m sitting in my foxhole – (a real good one too) with the evening sun shining down on me. I got in from a trip about an hour ago – I’m a Liaison Officer with one of the Inf. Division and it paid its just dividends today. It seems the
– “Redacted” –
else of news so guess I’ll close for now. Hope you are all well and drop me a line or two. Mail isn’t coming thru right now but guess it will.
Love your Son Tom
Sunday – 13th August 194490
The XII Corps (4th Armored Division and 35th Infantry Division) was ordered to advance east on Orleans (F62) and protect the south flank of the Army within the corps zone. This was the XII Corps’ first operational mission.
The XX Corps (5th Infantry Division, 80th Infantry Division, and 7th Armored Division) was to advance on Chartres (R30). The 80th Infantry Division, less detachments, was to move to an assembly area in the vicinity of Evron (Y96) – Montsurs (Y89) and await orders.
In the VIII Corps zone the 83rd Infantry Division continued its attack on the Citadel in St. Malo (S71). The advance on Dinard (S71) progressed to within two miles of the city. Task Force “A” continued to protect the beaches, northeast of Morlaix (R4l.) and lines of communication in Brittany. Elements of the 6th Armored Division continued to contain Brest (V99) while other elements relieved the remainder of the 4th Armored Division at Lorient (G72)
Sunday -13th August 194491
No change
Sunday – 13th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report92
Sens de Bretegna, France 2.7 mi W vY069775
Garland, Max L. 01 165 292 1st Lt.
Hightower, William W. 01 179 097 2nd Lt.
Lockridge, Gordon W. 29 433 802 Tec. 3
Eubands, Robert H. 34 248 903 Pfc.
Gaskin, John R., Jr. 34 420 558 Pfc.
Collinsworth, Charles C. 38 812 257 Pvt.
Above 2 O’s and 4 EM temporary dy VIII
Corps to dy, as of 12 Aug 44
Strength Officers:
6 FLD O & Capt.
1 1st Lt. Pres
1 1st Lt. Abst
2 2nd Lt. Pres
1 2nd Lt. Abst
2 2nd Lt. Attached Fr Other Orgs
1 WO Pres
Strength EM:
91 EM Present For Duty
3 EM Abst
46 Attached FM Other Orgn
140 EM Total
Monday – 14th August 194494
Battery “B” departed Sens-de-Bretagne at 1200 an arrived Mûr-de-Bretagne 1700. Battery engaged in operation of PWE TUSA. Distance marched 75 miles. Weather: Warm & Clear: Morale: Excellent
Monday – 14th August 194495
Monday – 14th August 194496
Moved to Mur de Bretagne (France), length of stay one month
Monday – 14th August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report97
Mur de Bretagne, France ½ mi E vX056695
Departed Sens de Bretegns, France 2.7 mi
W 078783 at 1200 bivouacked at present
sta 1700. Distance marched 75 mi. Unit
engaged in operation of prisoner of war
enclosures Third US Army
Dear Family,
I had just finished my letter of the 12th when my first mail came in. I got two letters from you – July 28 – August 1st. I’ve just starting to write to Jane when a call came in. Reeves, Autlaw and I took off and just got back. Nothing unusual happened but we’re sure we’ve had a glass of very fine wine made in France. Red wine, white wine, Triple Sec, Cognac, Champagne, all pre-war. Slept in a real live bed – night before last – god – what a treat! A real hot shower also made us feel great. The war news sure looks good. We all are going great guns. Know you all are in the best of health. Am waiting for your pictures – I know they’re on the way. Just got two letters again. You & Peg #21. Sorry about Jack.
Much love to all
Tom.
Tuesday – 15th August 194498
On this day Supreme Headquarters officially announce for worldwide dissemination the fact that the Third U.S. Army was operational on the Continent, under command of Lieutenant General G. S. Patton Jr.
Tuesday – 15th August 194499
No change
Dear Family,
Capt. Coyne is a father again – another girl – it was long overdue so you can see he was quite elated. He got a bottle of Bordeaux wine and we all had a drink to the new member. Later on he and I went over to a lake for a bath – it was quite wonderful. I changed all my cloths and now am searching for a laundry. Got a letter from you and Peg – also later on one from Aunt Ruth. I’ll try to get a note off to her in a few days. At least I got a letter from Jane – dated the 20th of July. I was so happy to hear from her. Reading her letters are just like talking to her. Its real cool here – simply perfect weather. The war news this morning really gave us a thrill. More later on. My love to all
Tom.
Wednesday – 16th August 1944100
No change.
Wednesday – 16th August 1944101
By 16 August the necessity for a new prisoner of war enclosure east of the Brulon (vZ0833) site was indicated. The site was selected in the vicinity of Courtalain (vW0964) approximately one mile north of the town. Reconnaissance was made on 17 August. The site was located on a stream in a large pasture. It was rectangular in shape and was approximately 750,000 square feet in size.
Wednesday – 16th August 1944[note]Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal, Page 5[/note]
Prisoner of War Enclosure Number 5 was established at Mûr De Bretagne (vX0569) on 16th August.
Wednesday – 16th August 1944102
Plane liaison was established between this section and Prisoner of War Enclosure Number 2 at Sens-de-Bretagne (vY1377).
Dear Folks,
On the road again – I’m beginning to get saddle-sore from riding in that darn jeep. Have been away from the Battalion & Battery for four days. We “scrounge” our meal whenever we can. We buy eggs and bread and hope to have bacon in a day or so. Just finished dinner – cooked it our self. Boiled potatoes, peas, pork & gravy (I swiped it for the LST) and an egg. Hot bad eh? Someday it’s good – others awful. I’m losing pounds each day. Hope to get a load of mail from the Battery when I go back. We may make it tomorrow – it all depends on what turns up and how important it is. Did a little shopping today – will pass it on when I have time – it isn’t much, but after all – there isn’t much here – to buy. Bye for now much love to one and all.
Your
Tom.
Caption reads – “Falaise Gap near Le Mans France.”
Panzer identification from front to back: Self Propelled Antitank Gun, Panzer Jäg. IV für 7.5 cm Pak 39 (L/48) (Panzerjägerkanone 39); Half Track Sd.Kfz. 251 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251); Self Propelled Antitank Gun, Panzer Jäg. IV für 7.5 cm Pak 39 (L/48) (Panzerjägerkanone 39). Panzer identification courtesy of Favrice Avoie
Caption reads – “Falaise Gap near Le Mans France.”
Panzer identification from front to back: Marder III Tank Destroyers; Self Propelled Antitank Gun, Panzer Jäg. IV für 7.5 cm Pak 39 (L/48) (Panzerjägerkanone 39); Panzer IV, Panzerkampfwagen IV (Pz.Kpfw. IV). Panzer identification courtesy of Favrice Avoie
Caption reads – “Falaise Gap near Le Mans France.”
Panzer identification from front to back: Hummel Sd.Kfz 165 self-propelled gun (artillery, 155 mm); Half Track Sd.Kfz. 251 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251); Self Propelled Antitank Gun, Panzer Jäg. IV für 7.5 cm Pak 39 (L/48) (Panzerjägerkanone 39). Panzer identification courtesy of Favrice Avoie
Thursday – 17th August 1944103
No change.
Thursday – 17th August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report104
Sens de Bretegna, France 2.7 mi W vY074795
Leonard, John J. 33 501 242 Sgt.
Remark in M/R 12 Aug 44 as reads “Dy to
Hosp LD”. Remark in M/R 17 Aug 44 as
reads “No Change” Corrected to read
“Hosp to lost to Hosp LD”
Friday – 18th August 1944105
No change.
Friday – 18th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report106
Sens de Bretegna, France 2.7 mi W vY069775
Eubanks, Robert E. 34 248 903 Pfc. Code 1-8
Reduced to gr of Private
Boyland, Edward T. 32 874 703 Pvt. Code 1-7
Aptd Private First Class
Strength Officers:
6 FLD O & Capt.
2 1st Lt. Pres
1 1st Lt. Abst
2 2nd Lt. Pres
2 2nd Lt. Attached Fr Other Orgs
Strength EM:
91 EM Present For Duty
5 EM Abst
46 Attached FM Other Orgn
140 EM Total
Friday – 18th August 1944 MD Detachment Morning Report107
Sens de Bretegna, France 2.7 mi W. vY076778
Reed 34 249 106 Tec. 4 Code 1-8
Rd to gr of Pvt.
Bardoli 39 039 252 Pfc. Code 1-0
Aptd Tec. 5
Saturday – 19th August 1944109
No change
Saturday – 19th August 1944110
Prisoner of War Enclosure Number No.2 at Sens-de-Bretagne (vY1377) was closed on 19th August, 17,407 prisoners of war being handled by this Enclosure during the period 8th August to 19th August.
19th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report111
Sens de Bretagne, France 2.7 mi W vY069775
One officer and 1 EM reld from atchd from
442nd and 443rd QM Transport Co for rat, qrs
and adm as of 18 Aug 44. (See attached
roster)
19th August 1944 “MD” Detachment Morning Report112
Sens de Bretagne, France 2.7 mi W. vY0786778
No Change
Sunday – 20th August 1944113
This was the first of a series of ling jumps behind Patton’s racing Army. The cage was no sooner opened on the 20th than it was outdistanced.
Sunday – 20th August 1944114
Sunday – 20th August 1944115
Unit departed Sens-de-Bretagne 0800. Arrived Courtalain 1700. Unit engaged in operation of PWE #5, TUSA.
Sunday – 20th August 1944116
The Battalion departed Sens-de-Bretagne, France.
Sunday – 20th August 1944117
The Battalion arrived Courtalain France. PWE #5
Sunday – 20th August 1944118
Byron G. Rogers
We traveled 100 miles to Courtalain. This would be the first series of “Long Jumps” behind General Patton’s racing Army.
Sunday – 20th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report119
Courtalain, France ¼ mi W vW084635
One officer and 27 EM reld from atchd from
647th QM Troop Transport Co for rat, qrs
And adm. (See attached roster)
Departed Sens de Bretegna, France 2.7 mi
W vY069775, 0800 via motor convoy. Biv-
ouacked present Station 1700. Distance
marched approximately 170 miles.
Sunday – 20th August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report120
Arrou, France 1 mi N.E. vW094660
Departed Sens de Bretegna, France, 2.7 mi
W vY074795, 0800 via motor convoy. Bivouacked
present Station 1530. Distance marched
approximately 170 miles
Sunday – 20th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report121
Courtalain, France 1¾ mi. SE vW118630
Departed Sen de Bretegna, France, 2.7 mi W.
vY073778, 0800 via motor convoy. Bivouacked
present Station 1800. Distance marched
approximately 170 miles.
Sunday – 20th August 1944 Service Battery Morning Report122
Arrou, France 1 ½ mi N.E.
Departed Sens de Bratagna, France
2.7 mi W vY074782, 0800 via Motor
Convoy. Bivouacked present Station 1600.
Distance marched approximate-mi 170 miles.
Sunday – 20 August 1944 MD Detachment Morning Report123
Courtalain, France 1 ¼ mi W. vW084638
Departed Sens de Bretagne, France
2.7 mi W. vY074795 at 0800 via
Motor Convoy. Bivouacked present Sta 1700. Distance marched approximately 170 miles.
Dear Folks,
Just a short note to let you know all’s well. Just finished breakfast a little while ago – bacon, eggs, jam, bread, coffee. Not so bad eh? We have to go shopping for more eggs and bread today. Saw Torres yesterday – first time in a week. Haven’t seen any of the other officers since last Sunday. The three of us are going to move again in an hour or so. Saw some American Nurses yesterday – gosh – but did they ever look good. Almost stopped in order to have one of them just say hi! What a place for a plumber to make a million dollars!! There isn’t a toilet – (flush) in the whole of France. Also – my observations are complete – the gals here set right on the leather “like” seats while the English gals sit on their skirts. Not bad eh! More later
Love, Tom.
No caption –
Monday – 21st August 1944124
Seventeen artillery liaison aircraft arrived from the United Kingdom, the first such replacements to be received.
Monday – 21st August 1944125
Prisoner of War Enclosure Number No. 5 was established at Courtalain (vW0964) on 21 August.
Monday – 21st August 1944126
No Change
Monday – 21st August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report127
Mur de Bretagne, France ½ mi E vX056695
Holmes 34 339 637 Pvt.
Dy to sk in 53rd Evac. Hosp LD
Monday – 21st August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report128
Arrou, France, vW089659
Location of Bivouac area moved from
Courtalain, France 1 ¾ mi S.E.
vW118630 to present Sta. Distance 2 mi.
Dear Family,
Just a very short note. I’m well but real cold at the time. It feels like winter today. I got a letter from Peg written at Waterworld, Michigan. You all have been simply swell about writing. Keep it up cause it makes me very happy. I must close – the contact car is leaving in a very short time.
Love to one
Tuesday – 22nd August 1944129
Tuesday – 22nd August 1944130
The 734th Field Artillery Battalion reported to Courtalain (vW0964) Enclosure on 22 August for prisoner of war escort duty.
Tuesday – 22nd August 1944131
On 22 August the necessity for a new prisoner of war enclosure was indicated in the vicinity of Nemours (vX2676). Work was started on 24th August and completed on 26 August. Because of a lack of concertina wire, the 130st Engineer General Service Regiment was given the task of dismantling and returning to the depot all wire consigned in the Brulon (vZ0833) site.
Tuesday – 22nd August 1944132
No change.
Wednesday – 23rd August 1944133
On 23rd August 1944 the III Corps departed from Presidio of Monterey, California, for Camp Myles Standish, embarking on 5th September at Boston for overseas duty. (Advance party sailed on 11th August from Fort Hamilton, and debarked at Utah Beach, Normandy, on 28th August after spending five days in the United Kingdom.) Upon arrival at Cherbourg on 15th September 1944, the Corps was assigned to the Ninth U. S. Army. Headquarters was established in the town of Carteret, Normandy, and for six weeks the Corps acted as representative of the Ninth Army on the Cotentin Peninsula, assisting in the reception and processing of all troops of the Twelfth Army Group as they arrived on the Normandy beaches.
Wednesday – 23rd August 1944134
No change
Thursday – 24th August 1944135
2nd Platoon, 441st prisoner of War Processing Company, reported for duty at Courtalain (vW0964)
Thursday – 24th August 1944136
No change.
Thursday – 24th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report137
Courtalain, France ½ mi W vW084635
Murphy, Edmund C. 0 278 607 Capt.
Dy to Sk in 39th Evacuation Hosp LD
Sikes, Thomas R., Jr. 34 359 743 Tec. 5 Code A-FA
Hosp to dy reassigned and rejoined.
Friday – 25th August 1944139
Prisoner of War Enclosure Number 4, located vicinity of Brûlon (vZ0936), two miles south of Joué-en-Charnie, Sarthe, France (K0936), was closed on 25th August, 8,771 prisoners of war being handled from 14th to 25th August.
Friday – 25th August 1944140
Departed Courtalain, France at 1130 via motor convoy. Arrived Nemours, France at 1800. Distance marched 100 miles. Weather: Fair: Morale: Excellent.
Friday – 25th August 1944141
The Battalion departed Courtalain France.
Friday – 25th August 1944142
The Battalion arrived Nemours France.
Friday – 25th August 1944143
On the 25th we moved one hundred miles to Nemours. Here we rested and enjoyed the french hospitality for the first time.
Friday – 25th August 1944144
Byron G. Rogers
On August 25, 1944, we moved another 100 miles to Nemours, where we finally received some much need rest, and enjoyed the French hospitality for the first time. We drove through Paris, France and I drove my 2-1/2 ton truck under the Eiffel Tower. We had not received our tractors or guns at this time.
While moving through the French countryside, we would go into heavily bombed and destroyed towns. We would find old barns and houses to sleep in so that we could get out of the cold weather, and snow. Then we would leave for another “long jump”.
Friday – 25th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report145
Nemours, France, 3 mi SE vX313738
Murphy, Edmund C. (Hosp) 0 278 607
Sk in 38th Evacuation Hosp to lost to
Evacuation Hosp
Harvey, Robert K. (Hosp) 33 301 272
Hosp to dy, atchd unasgd
Departed Courtalain, France ½ mi W vW084635
1130 via Motor Convoy. Bivouacked
Present Sta 1800. Distance marched 110
Strength Officers: 5 FLD O & Capt.
2 1st Lt.
3 2nd Lt.
1 WO.
Strength EM: 91 EM Present For Duty
1 Attached Unassigned
3 Absent
89 EM Total
Friday – 25th August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report146
Friday – 25th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report147
Friday – 25th August 1944 Service Battery Morning Report148
Friday – 25th August 1944 MD Detachment Morning Report149
Nemours, France 3 mi SE, vX315738
Departed Courtalain, France ¼ mi W.
vW084635 1150 via motor convoy. Biv-
ouacked present station 1800. Distance
marched approximately 100 miles.
No caption –
26th August to 11th September – Pursuit To The German Border150
Saturday – 26th August 1944151
Saturday – 26th August 1944152
No change
Sunday – 27th August 1944153
In the VIII Corps Zone the attack on Brest (V99) continued against stubborn resistance. The 2nd, 8th, and 29th Infantry Divisions had surrounded city on three sides while Tank Force “B” attacked the Daoulas Peninsula (W19) and Crozon Peninsula (V98) south of the city.
In the XX Corps zone the 5th Infantry Division advanced to the northeast toward Reims (T37) along the Nogent-sur-Seine (X89) – Épernay (T25) road, leading elements reaching the vicinity of Barbonne (T01) five miles south of Sézanne (T02).
In the XII Corps zone the 4th Armored Division advanced toward Châlons-sur-Marne (T54) with Combat Command “A” reaching vicinity of Mesnil (Y39) fifteen miles northwest of Troyes (Y27).
Sunday – 27th August 1944154
The 2nd Platoon, 441st prisoner of War Processing Company was relived from duty at Prisoner of War Enclosure Number 5, Courtalain (vW0964) by Advance Section, communication Zone,
Sunday – 27th August 1944155
No change
Sunday – 27th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report156
Nemours, France 3 mi SE vX313738
Harvey, Robert K. 33 301 272 Cpl. Code J
(atchd unasgd)
Reld from atchd unasgd and asgd to Btry “B”
this Bn
Garland, Max L. 01 165 292 1st Lt.
Lockridge, Gordon W. 20 433 602 Tec. 3
Eubanks, Robert B. 34 248 903 Pvt.
Above O and Two EM dy to Temporary dy
647th FA Bn
Strength Officers:
5 FLD O & Capt.
1 1st Lt. Pres
1 1st Lt. Abst
3 2nd Lt. Pres
1 WO
Strength EM:
89 EM Present For Duty
5 EM Abst
Sunday – 27th August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report157
Mur de Bretegne, France ½ mi E vX056695
Harvey, Robert K. 33 301 272 Cpl. Code A-FA
Reasgd & jd from atchd unasgd Hq Btry
this Bn.
1st. Sgt. Ray Cormier postcard home
1st Sgt Raymond Cormier (20 140 083)
Btry. A 244th F.A. Bn.
APO 403 c/o Postmaster
New York N.Y.
Dear Rachel
This gives you an idea on the postal Cards that they have here. Everything is ok here. Hope you are the same.
Love
Ray
Dear Folks,
Sunday again. I’m at an Evacuation Hospital just for a visit – the Red Cross has a service set up here – so the music, papers and writing facilities are of great joy to me. The pictures came last night!! Boy it is just swell. Thanks loads. It is very cleverly done – how did you ever remember to include the house. Now I can picture how home really is. Sorry to learn the heat is so bad – it’s cold here – a jacket is always within reach. The gang over here sure are pounding it to the Boshe – aren’t they? Sure miss all of you, your letters are simply the end of a perfect day for me. It takes’em 10 days.
Love to all
Tom
Dear Family,
It’s been a long time since I’ve written a letter hasn’t it? Lots of V-Mail but no air mail. I can’t remember if I’ve given you a picture of this country. I’ve done an awful lot of driving around in the month I’ve been here – seen a whole lot but I’m afraid I don’t remember too much. Sitting here in the car – it’s hard to remember what I was doing last week that might interest you.
The country is a mass of winding 3rd grade roads bounded by thorny hedgerows – the houses around the road – practically making an obstacle. The farms are pretty, but peculiar. They are large stone houses with slate roofs – one gathers that the owner must be well off, but it turns out that the house contains two or three families, a lot of cows & houses and a hay loft. The children are plentiful, showing there are no pubs or movies in which to idle away the idle hours. The beds are a scream – they are huge box like jobs – with the entrance on one side – it’s a hole about 3’ x 3’ with a curtain – the whole thing is cleverly done – once inside you are really in for the duration – these airtight deals would never do near Boston. The people get along well though! They cook on a hearth burning fagots (twigs, etc-) this wood burning develops the wrists and one knee cause you have to break the stuff up. Their food is very simple. The women really work – a man marries here for the strength and endurance – not for looks – as a blind man can easily see. She works in the field, cares for the cows & chickens, cooks and washes cloths – cloths – wash – nuts – they just beat the dirt out – with clubs. Their Electrolux is an open pool (water never changed) a large, flat rock like surface and a paddle – a good pair of knees and strong arms & back (no brains) also helps. First – dunk the clothes – soap sparingly and beat the hell out of the soggy mess. Buttons go first – then the seams. Hope it isn’t a long war – we’ll all be nude (can’t spell “naked”) now the city folks are different – they use more soap only. Their houses overhang the street – and a rain coat or umbrella is the solution while driving between a row of houses. As I told you – sometime ago – they have no organized plumbing – the open windows – – – ! the only real good thing here is their wine – and you all know it’s history. I haven’t tasted any for a couple of weeks. Guess I’d better get on the ball.
The weather here is just fine – so far. It’s really been very cool every day. Warm clothes are always needed. Three covers at night are not always enough. As yet I’ve only felt bad two days – it was very rainy and I ached all over. Couldn’t take a deep breath – found a Doc and had him listen to the lungs – all OK – so of course he gave me a hand full of Aspirin and sent me packing. I feel good as gold again.
Had a real treat for supper. Fried chicken w/pot & gravy, beans and cake – tea candy. Not bad for the E.T.O.
The Capt. moved the Battery this aft. don’t know where yet – as my messenger hasn’t come in yet. Cpl. Tredrick my old driver is with me again – he’s a much better driver that Autlaw his big trouble is that he never remembers where he has been – so we get lost (darn these modern inventions) well – it’s vital we remembers cause once in a while people are libel to take a shot at you. I’ve really never been on a safer job in my life. It’s just like being home. I‘m not saying this to ease your mind – I mean it. More later on
Much love to all
I’m going to a movie in 10 min. “Cover Girl” Your
Son.
Monday – 28th August 1944158
No change.
Monday – 28th August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report159
Mur de Bretagne, France ½ mi E vX056695
Gable, A. 34 580 597 Pvt.
Dy to conf Bn Stockade awaiting tria
violation of AW 61, 96.
Tuesday – 29th August 1944160
No change.
Wednesday – 30th August 1944161
As the enemy withdrew closer to his own border reports indicated that he would make a determined stand once repaired fortifications were reached. The following forts in the Maginot Line – Metz (U85) vicinity were reported reequipped by the Germans and prepared for attack from the west: Fort De Mousson at Pont-A-Mousson (73); St. Blais between Corny (U74) and Jouy Aux Arches (U75); Fort De Foire in the vicinity of Nancy (U81); Plapperville, two kilometers from Metz (U85); Fort Jeanne D’Arc on an elevation just north west of Rozérieulles (U86); Ancy Sur Moselle, in the face of the Fort at St. Blaise (U75); Fort De St Julien Les Metz (U85); on the elevation at Saulny, between Metz (U90) and Briey (U84); and at Queuliu, suburb of Metz (U85). The enemy was also reported to be moving troops of all types from the west and south toward the east with screening forces along the Loire River in the Angers (087) – Orleans (F62) area. Poitiers (U47) and Tours (P76) were reported to be focal points of enemy movement from south and west toward the east.
Wednesday – 30th August 1944162
No change
Dear Family,
Am having “Bunshy” the Red Cross gal at the hospital, wrap up a pair of shoes – if you paint’em, plant some small flowers in them and presto – something for the porch. Your house being French the shoes the same – perhaps they will go together. I ‘may get some other stuff in a few days – it depends on whether or not my dough lasts. Things that cost a hell of a lot at home here are dirt cheap. Perfume – for instance – Coty, Scarpperali (?) Caron – ect – my – what a Christmas, I have the cutest thing for Jane. A hat – very small (for the back of her head) all embroidered with sequins, gold thread, a little lace – the velvet is deep blue – wait till you see it. Love to all
Tom.
Thursday – 31st August 1944163
No change.
Thursday – 31st August 1944164
So far we have lost Rankin (Tec/4 Link C. Rankin), Corrigan (Pvt. Corrigan), Cimbulich (Pvt. Cimbulich), Cpl. Rosen, Holmes (Pvt. William Holmes) and only Harvey (Cpl. Robert K. Harvey) has returned
Thursday – 31st August 1944 Service Battery Morning Report165
August 1944
For comments, questions, corrections, update or to send information, please use –
contact.the.244th@gmail.com
- XII Corps Spearhead of Patton's Third Army, Lt. Co. George Dyer, Map No 1
- Third U. S. Army After Action Report, Volume I, Operations - 1 August 1944 - 9 May 1945, Chapter 3 – August Operations Page 16
- Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Staff Section Reports, Part 9 Artillery, August 1944, Page 3
- USAMHI Archives, Colonel J. Davis Interview
- Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Staff Section Reports, Artillery Part 9, Page 3
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal
- Department of The Army, USH&EC, USAMHI, 202-244th 1945, “History of The 244th Field Artillery Battalion During World War II
- Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Provost Marshal Part 19, Section III – Prisoner Of War Sub-Section, Page 5
- PFC Harry G. MacDuffee, B Battery, 244th Field Artillery - Battery Record
- Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Provost Marshal Part 19, Section III – Prisoner Of War Sub-Section, Page 5
- W. U. (Doc) Savage Letter, December 15, 1949
- W. U. (Doc) Savage Letter, December 15, 1949
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion After Action Report, 1 December to 31 December
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery A Morning Report
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion Battery B Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery SB Morning Report
- Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Staff Section Report, Part 3, G-2 Section - August, Page 13
- Third U. S. Army After Action Report, Volume I, Operations, Chapter 3 – August Operations Page 18
- Third U. S. Army After Action Report, Volume I, Operations - Chapter 3 – August Operations, Page 19
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal Report August 1944
- Colonel Davis Papers
- Third Army After Action Report - Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal Page 5
- W. U. (Doc) Savage Letter, December 15, 1949
- W. U. (Doc) Savage Letter, December 15, 1949
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal
- PFC Harry G. MacDuffee, B Battery, 244th Field Artillery - Battery Record
- Department of The Army, USH&EC, USAMHI, 202-244th 1945, “History of The 244th Field Artillery Battalion During World War II, Page 2, 3
- Serving In Harm's Way, A Record of My Service In The U.S. Army and WWII, Byron G. Rogers jr., January 2006
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery A Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery B Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery C Morning Report
- Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Part 19- Provost Marshal, Page 5
- PFC Harry G. MacDuffee, B Battery, 244th Field Artillery - Battery Record
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery C Morning Report
- Department of The Army, USH&EC, USAMHI, 202-244th 1945, “History of The 244th Field Artillery Battalion During World War II
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal
- Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Part 19, Provost Marshal, Section III – Prisoner Of War Sub-Section, 6th July 1944
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery A Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery B Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery C Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery MD Morning Report
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal
- W. U. (Doc) Savage Letter, December 15, 1949
- PFC Harry G. MacDuffee, B Battery, 244th Field Artillery - Battery Record
- Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal, Page 5
- Department of The Army, USH&EC, USAMHI, 202-244th 1945, “History of The 244th Field Artillery Battalion During World War II
- Third U. S. Army After Action Report, Volume I, Operations - Chapter 3 – August Operations, Page 24
- Library of Congress, American Folklife Center, Veterans History Project
- USAMHI Archives, Colonel J. Davis Interview
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery MD Morning Report
- Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Staff Section Report, Part 3 G-2 Section – Chapter 3 August Operations, Page 10
- From United States Army In World War II, The European Theater of Operations, The Supreme Command, Forrest C. Pogue, Page 512[
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal
- Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal, Page 5
- HQ, 244th F.A. Bn., APO 403, Major Carey A. Clark Commanding, Letter to Officers and Enlisted Men, History of the 244th, 26th June 1945
- W. U. (Doc) Savage Letter, December 15, 1949
- W. U. (Doc) Savage Letter, December 15, 1949
- PFC Harry G. MacDuffee, B Battery, 244th Field Artillery - Battery Record
- Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal, Page 5
- Department of The Army, USH&EC, USAMHI, 202-244th 1945, “History of The 244th Field Artillery Battalion During World War II
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery A Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery B Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery C Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery SB Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery MD Morning Report
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal
- Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal, Page 5
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery C Morning Report
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal
- United States Army In World War II, The European Theater of Operations, The Supreme Command, Forrest C. Pogue, Page 515
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal August 1944
- From United States Army In World War II, The European Theater of Operations, The Supreme Command, Forrest C. Pogue, Page 779
- Library of Congress, American Folklife Center, Veterans History Project
- USAMHI Archives, Colonel J. Davis Interview
- Third U. S. Army After Action Report, Volume I, Chapter 3 – August Operations Page 27
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery A Morning Report
- Third U. S. Army After Action Report, Volume I, Operations - Chapter 3 – August Operations, Page 28
- 244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal Journal August 194
- 244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
- From Third U S Army After Action Report