History 1944 - August - 244th Field Artillery Battalion

Fort Sill Field Artillery Journal – August 1944h

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 1st August 1944

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 8^th and 79^th Infantry Divisions and the 4^th and 6^th Armored Divisions) to continue its advance westward and seize Brest (V99) and Quiberon Bay (M99) area. The XV Corps (the 83^rd and 90^th Infantry Division and the 5^th 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 2^nd 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 80^th 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

Disposition And Movement Of Third U.S. Army Troops And Enemy Divisions August 1, 1944
From Third U S Army After Action Report

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944³

Third U.S. Army became operational at 1200, 1^st 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 – 1^st 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 – 1^st 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 – 1^st August 1944⁷

Our next move took us to St. Jores a little deeper in Normandy and on August 1^st we assumed our duties of operating the Third U.S. Army Prisoner of War Enclosure No. 2 taking over from the 1^st Army’s 2^nd 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 – 1^st August 1944⁸

The first prisoner of war enclosure was opened 1^st August in the vicinity of St. Jores (vT2785). This enclosure was taken over from the 482^nd Military Police Escort Guard Company, First U. S. Army and contained thirty-four prisoners of war. The 244^th Field Artillery Battalion opened this enclosure.

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944⁹

St. Jore (France) first P.W. enclosure

Tuesday – 1^st 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 – 1^st August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report¹¹

Battalion departed St. Jacques

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report¹²

Battalion arrived St. Jores (took over PW cage)

Tuesday – 1^st 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 – 1^st August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report¹⁴

St. Jores, France ¼ mi W
Davis 39 123 574
Dy to sk in 35^th 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 1^st Lt. Pres
1 1^st Lt. Abst
2 2^nd Lt. Pres
1 2^nd Lt. Attached Fr Other Orgs
1 WO Pres

Tuesday – 1^st 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 – 1^ST 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 – 1^st 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 1^st 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.

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 2nd August 1944

Wednesday – 2^nd 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 – 2^nd 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 – 2^nd 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

August 1944 – Office of the Chief of Ordinance
Terminal Ballistic Data – Volume II Artillery Fire

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 3rd August 1944

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944²³

The prisoner of war enclosure in the vicinity of St. Jores (vT2785) was closed 1359 August 3, 6,352 prisoners of war having been evacuated through it.

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944²⁴

The Battalion departed St. Jores France.

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944²⁵

Arrived Avranches.

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944²⁶

Unit departed St. Jores, France at 1345. Arrived PW #1, TUSA, at 2100 at Avranches. Unit engaged in operation of PWE #3, TUSA. Weather: Warm & Clear: Morale: Excellent.

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944²⁷

Arrived Avranches (France) afternoon, attack, Flares Luftwaffe at night also

Thursday – 3^rd 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 – 3^rd 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 – 3^rd August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report³⁰

Avranches, France 6 mi N
Gunter, Aaron L. 57 517 483 Sgt.
(atchd from 647^th QM Troop Transport C.)
Dy to lost to Hosp LD
Harris, Joseph C. 55 699 807 Pfc.
(atchd from 847^th QM Troop Transport Co)
Dy to trfd to 35^th 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 1^st Lt. Pres
1 1^st Lt. Abst
2 2^nd Lt. Pres
1 2^nd Lt. Attached Fr Other Orgs
1 WO Pres
Strength EM: 94 EM Present For Duty
27 Attached FM Other Orgn
121 EM Total

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report³¹

Avranches, France 2 ½ mi N. vT251194
Departed St. Jores, France ¼ mile W at
1600 bivouacked present station 2130.
Unit engaged in operation of Prisoner of
War Enclosure Third US Army.

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report³²

Avranches, France 6 mi N.
Departed St. Jores, France ¼ mi W at 1600
bivouacked at present sta 2130. Unit
engaged in operation of prisoner of war
enclosure Third US Army.

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report³³

Avranches, France 6 mi. N.
Waldrop, Hoyt 34 248 836 Pfc. Code T
Dy to lost to Hosp
Departed St. Jores, France, ¼ mi. W at
1700 bivouacked at present Station 2100
Unit engaged in operation of Prisoner of
War Enclosure Third US Army.
EM Present for duty 120; EM Absent 0
Officers: 4

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 4th August 1944

Friday – 4^th August 1944³⁴

A prisoner of war enclosure was established at Marcey (vT2517) 4^th August, 1½ miles northwest of Avranches (vT2817).

Friday – 4^th 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 – 4^th August 1944³⁶

No change

Friday – 4^th 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 – 4^th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report³⁸

Avrancehs, France 6 mi. N.
No Change
EM Present for duty 120 EM Absent 0
Officers: 4

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 5th August 1944

Saturday – 5^th 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 – 5^th August 1944⁴⁰

No change.

Saturday – 5^th August 1944⁴¹

The 437^th and 472^nd 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 3^rd August. One platoon from each of the 647^th and 442^nd Quartermaster Truck Companies was utilized for transporting prisoners from the Division Collecting points to the enclosures.

Saturday – 5^th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report⁴²

Avranches, France 6 mi N

Davis, Robert W. 39 123 574 Pvt.
Sk in 35^th Evacuation Hosp LD to trfd to
35^th 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 – 5^th 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 – 5^th August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report⁴⁴

Avranches, France 2½ mi N, vT251194
M/R of 3 – 4 August 1944 as reads “Station
Avranches, France 6 mi N”. Changed to
read “Station Avranches, France 2½ Mi N,
251194”

Saturday – 5^th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report⁴⁵

Avrancehs, France 2½ mi. N vT251194
M/R of 3 – 4 August 1944 as reads “Station
Avranches, France 6 mi. N” changed to
Read “Station Avranches, France, 1½ mi. N
251194”
EM Present for duty 122; EM Absent 0
Officers: 4

Saturday – 5^th August 1944 MD Detachment Morning Report⁴⁶

Avranches, France 2½ mi N, vT251194
M/R of 3 – 4 August 1944 as reads “Station
Avranches, France 6 mi N changed to read
“Station Avranches, France 2½ mi N. 251194

German POW’s are provided water ration. 244th Cpl. supervises as a German POW pours the water.

Saturday – 5th August 1944
1st Lt. Marriott – V-Mail (Photo Mail) Home, From the ETO

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.

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 6th August 1944

Sunday – 6^th August 1944⁴⁷

No change

Sunday – 6^th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report⁴⁸

Avrancnes France 1½ mi N vT251194
One offier and 19 EM atchd from 442^nd and
443^rd QM Transport Co for rat, qrs and adm
(See atchd roster)

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 7th August 1944

Monday – 7^th 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 – 7^th 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 244^th Field Artillery Battalion (operating personnel of the enclosure) were killed and several were wounded.

Monday – 7^th 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 244^thField 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 – 7^th August 1944⁵⁴

During the night of 7^th August and early morning of the 8^th 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 244^th 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 244^th. 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 – 7^th August 1944 HQ & Hq Battery Morning Report⁵⁷

Avranhes, France 2½ mi N vT251194
NO CHANGE

Monday – 7^thAugust 1944 MD Detachment Morning Report⁵⁸

Avrances, France 2½ mi N. vT251194

Disposition And Movement Of Third U.S. Army Troops And Enemy Divisions August 7, 1944 – From Third U S Army After Action Report

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.

Monday – 7th August
1st Lt. Marriott – Letter Home, From the ETO

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

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 8th August 1944

August 8, 1944 – 12^th Army Group Plan⁶⁰

Tuesday – 8^th 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 – 8^th August 1944⁶²

Prisoner of War Enclosure Number 1, Avranches (T2817), was closed on 8^th August, 3,157 prisoners of war have been handled during the period 4 to 7 August inclusive.

Tuesday – 8^th 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 8^th of August, the Battalion, without exception, dug fox holes – deep and narrow.

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944⁶⁴

Early morning the Battalion departed Avranches France.

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944⁶⁵

Battalion arrived Sens-de-Bretagne France. PWE #2

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944⁶⁶

Left Avranches (France), arrived Sens-de-Bretagne (France)

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944⁶⁷

Prisoner of War enclosure Number 2, at Sens-de-Bretagne (vY1377) was opened on 8 August.

Tuesday – 8^th 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 8^th 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 – 8^th 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 – 8^th 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 – 8^th 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 – 8^th 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 – 8^th 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

Tuesday – 8th August 1944
1st Lt. Marriott – V-Letter Home

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,

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 9th August 1944

Wednesday – 9^th August 1944⁷⁵

No change.

Wednesday – 9^th August 1944⁷⁶

The 2^nd Platoon of the 443^rd Prisoner of War Processing Company reported for duty at Prisoner of War Enclosure Number No. 2 at Sens-de-Bretagne (vY1377) on 9^th August.

Wednesday – 9^th 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

Wednesday – 9^th August 1944
Believed to be from the Chicago Tribune

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 10th August 1944

Thursday – 10th August 1944
Field Manual, FM 6-135 – Forward Observation

Thursday – 10^th August 1944⁷⁸

No change

Thursday – 10^th 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. 3^rd U. S. Army
Cohen, George 12 150 141 Pvt Code A-FA
Asgd and jd from Hq, 3^rd U. S. Army
Strength Officers:
6 FLD O & Capt.
1 1^st Lt. Pres
1 1^st Lt. Abst
2 2^nd Lt. Pres
1 2^nd Lt. Abst
2 2^nd 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

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 11th August 1944

Friday – 11^th August 1944⁸⁰

No change.

7th to 11th August 1944 – Normandy Front⁸¹

Friday – 11^th 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 1^st Lt. Pres
1 1^st Lt. Abst
2 2^nd Lt. Pres
1 2^nd Lt. Abst
2 2^nd 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

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 12th August 1944

Saturday – 12th August 1944⁸³

No Chage

1st to 12th August 1944 – Breakout Into Brittany⁸⁴

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 – 12^th August 1944⁸⁷

The Army Commander ordered the VIII Corps (8^th and 83^rd Infantry Division, 6^th Armored Division, and supporting troops) to continue the mission of clearing the Brittany Peninsula, including the relief of the 5^th Infantry Division at Angers (087). He ordered the XII Corps (4^th Armored Division, 35^th 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 – 12^th 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, 3^rd 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, 3^rd U.S. Army is deleted
Strength Officers:
6 FLD O & Capt.
1 1^st Lt. Pres
1 1^st Lt. Abst
2 2^nd Lt. Pres
1 2^nd Lt. Abst
2 2^nd 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 – 12^th 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

Saturday – 12th August 1944
1st Lt. Marriott – V-Mail (Photo Mail) Home, From the ETO

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

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 13th August 1944

Sunday – 13^th 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, 80^th Infantry Division, and 7^th Armored Division) was to advance on Chartres (R30). The 80^th 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 83^rd 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 6^th Armored Division continued to contain Brest (V99) while other elements relieved the remainder of the 4^th Armored Division at Lorient (G72)

Sunday -13^th August 1944⁹¹

No change

Sunday – 13^th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report⁹²

Sens de Bretegna, France 2.7 mi W vY069775
Garland, Max L. 01 165 292 1^st Lt.
Hightower, William W. 01 179 097 2^nd 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 1^st Lt. Pres
1 1^st Lt. Abst
2 2^nd Lt. Pres
1 2^nd Lt. Abst
2 2^nd 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

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 14th August 1944

14th August 1944 – Disposition And Movement Of Third U.S. Army Troops And Enemy Divisions⁹³

Monday – 14^th 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 – 14^th August 1944⁹⁵

Prisoner of War Enclosure Number 4 was established at Brûlon (vK0936) on 14^th August.

Monday – 14^th August 1944⁹⁶

Moved to Mur de Bretagne (France), length of stay one month

Monday – 14^th 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

Monday – 14th August
1st Lt. Marriott – V-Mail (Photo Mail) Home, From the ETO

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.

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 15th August 1944

Tuesday – 15^th 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

Tuesday – 15th August 1944
1st Lt. Marriott – V-Mail (Photo Mail) Home, From the ETO

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.

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 16th August 1944

Wednesday – 16^th August 1944¹⁰⁰

No change.

Wednesday – 16^th 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 – 16^th 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 16^th August.

Wednesday – 16^th August 1944¹⁰²

Plane liaison was established between this section and Prisoner of War Enclosure Number 2 at Sens-de-Bretagne (vY1377).

Wednesday – 16th August 1944
1st Lt. Marriott – V-Mail (Photo Mail) Home, From the ETO

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

Location – Yvré-l’Évêque, France. Just south and east of Le Mans, France on D314 Av. du Mans.

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

Location – Yvré-l’Évêque, France. Just south and east of Le Mans, France on D314 Av. du Mans.

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 17th August 1944

Thursday – 17^th August 1944¹⁰³

No change.

Thursday – 17^th 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”

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 18th August 1944

Friday – 18^th August 1944¹⁰⁵

No change.

Friday – 18^th 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 1^st Lt. Pres
1 1^st Lt. Abst
2 2^nd Lt. Pres
2 2^nd Lt. Attached Fr Other Orgs
Strength EM:
91 EM Present For Duty
5 EM Abst
46 Attached FM Other Orgn
140 EM Total

Friday – 18^th 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

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 19th August 1944

17th to 19th August 1944 – Closing The Argentan-Falaise Pocket¹⁰⁸

Saturday – 19^th August 1944¹⁰⁹

No change

Saturday – 19^th August 1944¹¹⁰

Prisoner of War Enclosure Number No.2 at Sens-de-Bretagne (vY1377) was closed on 19^th August, 17,407 prisoners of war being handled by this Enclosure during the period 8^th August to 19^th August.

19^th 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
442^nd and 443^rd QM Transport Co for rat, qrs
and adm as of 18 Aug 44. (See attached
roster)

19^th August 1944 “MD” Detachment Morning Report¹¹²

Sens de Bretagne, France 2.7 mi W. vY0786778
No Change

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 20th August 1944

Sunday – 20^th 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 20^th than it was outdistanced.

Sunday – 20^th August 1944¹¹⁴

The 741^st Field Artillery Battalion reported to Brûlon Enclosure (vZ0936) on 20^th August and began orientation preparatory to assuming duties at the Enclosure.

Sunday – 20^th August 1944¹¹⁵

Unit departed Sens-de-Bretagne 0800. Arrived Courtalain 1700. Unit engaged in operation of PWE #5, TUSA.

Sunday – 20^th August 1944¹¹⁶

The Battalion departed Sens-de-Bretagne, France.

Sunday – 20^th August 1944¹¹⁷

The Battalion arrived Courtalain France. PWE #5

Sunday – 20^th 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 – 20^th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report¹¹⁹

Courtalain, France ¼ mi W vW084635
One officer and 27 EM reld from atchd from
647^th 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 – 20^thAugust 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 – 20^th 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 – 20^th 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.

Sunday – 20th August 1944
1st Lt Marriott – V-Mail (Photo Mail) Home, From the ETO

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 –

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 21st August 1944

Monday – 21^st August 1944¹²⁴

Seventeen artillery liaison aircraft arrived from the United Kingdom, the first such replacements to be received.

Monday – 21^st August 1944¹²⁵

Prisoner of War Enclosure Number No. 5 was established at Courtalain (vW0964) on 21 August.

Monday – 21^st August 1944¹²⁶

No Change

Monday – 21^st August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report¹²⁷

Mur de Bretagne, France ½ mi E vX056695
Holmes 34 339 637 Pvt.
Dy to sk in 53^rd Evac. Hosp LD

Monday – 21^st 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.

Monday – 21st August 1944
1st Lt. Marriott – V-Mail (Photo Mail) Home, From the ETO

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

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 22nd August 1944

Tuesday – 22^nd August 1944¹²⁹

The 738^th field Artillery Battalion was relieved from duty at the Brûlon Prisoner of War enclosure (vK0934) on 22 August and assigned to its primary mission.

Tuesday – 22^nd August 1944¹³⁰

The 734^th Field Artillery Battalion reported to Courtalain (vW0964) Enclosure on 22 August for prisoner of war escort duty.

Tuesday – 22^nd 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 24^th 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 – 22^nd August 1944¹³²

No change.

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 23rd August 1944

Wednesday – 23^rd August 1944¹³³

On 23^rd August 1944 the III Corps departed from Presidio of Monterey, California, for Camp Myles Standish, embarking on 5^th September at Boston for overseas duty. (Advance party sailed on 11^th August from Fort Hamilton, and debarked at Utah Beach, Normandy, on 28^th August after spending five days in the United Kingdom.) Upon arrival at Cherbourg on 15^th 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 – 23^rd August 1944¹³⁴

No change

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 24th August 1944

Thursday – 24^th August 1944¹³⁵

2^nd Platoon, 441^st prisoner of War Processing Company, reported for duty at Courtalain (vW0964)

Thursday – 24^th August 1944¹³⁶

No change.

Thursday – 24^th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report¹³⁷

Courtalain, France ½ mi W vW084635
Murphy, Edmund C. 0 278 607 Capt.
Dy to Sk in 39^th Evacuation Hosp LD
Sikes, Thomas R., Jr. 34 359 743 Tec. 5 Code A-FA
Hosp to dy reassigned and rejoined.

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 25th August 1944

16th to 25th August 1944 – Drive To The Seine River¹³⁸

Friday – 25^th 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 25^th August, 8,771 prisoners of war being handled from 14^th to 25^th August.

Friday – 25^th August 1944¹⁴⁰

Departed Courtalain, France at 1130 via motor convoy. Arrived Nemours, France at 1800. Distance marched 100 miles. Weather: Fair: Morale: Excellent.

Friday – 25^th August 1944¹⁴¹

The Battalion departed Courtalain France.

Friday – 25^th August 1944¹⁴²

The Battalion arrived Nemours France.

Friday – 25^th 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 – 25^th 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”.

Caption reads – “A heavily bombed town we stayed in“. Byron Rogers

Friday – 25^th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report¹⁴⁵

Nemours, France, 3 mi SE vX313738
Murphy, Edmund C. (Hosp) 0 278 607
Sk in 38^th 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 1^st Lt.
3 2^nd Lt.
1 WO.
Strength EM: 91 EM Present For Duty
1 Attached Unassigned
3 Absent
89 EM Total

Friday – 25^th August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report¹⁴⁶

Nemours, France 3 mi S.E. vX313738
          Departed Arrou, France 1 mi NE W vW094660
          via motor convoy 1200. Bivouacked present
          sta 1800. Distance marched approximately 100 mi.

Friday – 25^th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report¹⁴⁷

Departed Arrou, France. vW089659, via
motor convoy 1030. Bivouac present Sta
1600. Distance marched 100 mi.

Friday – 25^th August 1944 Service Battery Morning Report¹⁴⁸

Nemours, France 3 mi SE, vX315756
Departed Arrou, France 1½ mi N.E.
vW100659 via Motor convoy 1200.
Bivouacked present Sta 1800. Distance
marched approximately 100 mi.

Friday – 25^th 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 –

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 26th August 1944

26th August to 11th September – Pursuit To The German Border¹⁵⁰

Saturday – 26^th August 1944¹⁵¹

Prisoner of War Enclosure Number 6 was established three miles east of Nemours (vX313738) on D225 on 26^th August.

Saturday – 26^th August 1944¹⁵²

No change

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 27th August 1944

Sunday – 27^th August 1944¹⁵³

In the VIII Corps Zone the attack on Brest (V99) continued against stubborn resistance. The 2^nd, 8^th, and 29^th 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 5^th 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 4^th Armored Division advanced toward Châlons-sur-Marne (T54) with Combat Command “A” reaching vicinity of Mesnil (Y39) fifteen miles northwest of Troyes (Y27).

Sunday – 27^th August 1944¹⁵⁴

The 2^nd Platoon, 441^st prisoner of War Processing Company was relived from duty at Prisoner of War Enclosure Number 5, Courtalain (vW0964) by Advance Section, communication Zone,

Sunday – 27^th August 1944¹⁵⁵

No change

Sunday – 27^th 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 1^st 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
647^th FA Bn
Strength Officers:
5 FLD O & Capt.
1 1^st Lt. Pres
1 1^st Lt. Abst
3 2^nd Lt. Pres
1 WO
Strength EM:
89 EM Present For Duty
5 EM Abst

Sunday – 27^th 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

Sunday – 27th August 1944
1st Lt. Marriott – Mail (Photo Mail) Home, From the ETO

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

Sunday – 27th August 1944
1st Lt. Marriott – Letter Home, From La Belle France 1400

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.

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 28th August 1944

Monday – 28^th August 1944¹⁵⁸

No change.

Monday – 28^th 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.

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 29th August 1944

Tuesday – 29^th August 1944¹⁶⁰

No change.

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 30th August 1944

Wednesday – 30^th 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 – 30^th August 1944¹⁶²

No change

Wednesday – 30th August 1944
1st Lt. Marriott – V-Mail (Photo Mail) Home, From the ETO

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.

Wednesday – 30th August 1944
FM 6-150 Organic Field Artillery Air Observation

HQ Twelfth Army Group Situational Map – 31st August 1944

Thursday – 31^st August 1944¹⁶³

No change.

Thursday – 31^st 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 – 31^st August 1944 Service Battery Morning Report¹⁶⁵

Nemours, France 3 mi SE, vX313738
Humphries 34 358 747 Cpl.
Dy to sk in 104^th Evac Hosp LD

August 1944

Battalion Journal Report
1 August to 31 August 1944

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
244^thField 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, 244^th 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
244^th 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
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
PFC Harry G. MacDuffee, B Battery, 244^th 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, 244^th Field Artillery - Battery Record
244^thField 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
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Part 19, Provost Marshal, Section III – Prisoner Of War Sub-Section, 6^th 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
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
W. U. (Doc) Savage Letter, December 15, 1949
PFC Harry G. MacDuffee, B Battery, 244^th 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[
244^thField 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, 244^th 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
244^thField 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
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
244^thField 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
244^th Field Artillery Battalion Journal Journal August 194
244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
From Third U S Army After Action Report
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
Third Army After Action Report - Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal, Page 5
PFC Harry G. MacDuffee, B Battery, 244^th Field Artillery - Battery Record
244th F.A. Battalion Battery B Morning Report
Third U. S. Army After Action Report, Volume I, Chapter 3 – August Operations Page 32
244^th Field Artillery Battalion Journal August 1944
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II Part 12 Engineer, Page 5
Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Part 19 Provost Marshal, Page 5
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
244th F.A. Battalion Battery A Morning Report
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ& Hq Morning Report
244th F.A. Battalion Battery MD Morning Report
United States Army In World War II, The European Theater of Operations, The Supreme Command, Forrest C. Pogue, Page 782
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal, Page 5
244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
244th F.A. Battalion Battery MD Morning Report
Department of The Army, USH&EC, USAMHI, 202-244th 1945, “History of The 244th Field Artillery Battalion During World War II
Third Army After Action Report - Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal, Page 5
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
W. U. (Doc) Savage Letter, December 15, 1949
W. U. (Doc) Savage Letter, December 15, 1949
Serving Inn 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 C Morning Report
244th F.A. Battalion Battery SB Morning Report
244th F.A. Battalion Battery MD Morning Report
Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume I, Operations, Chapter 3, August 1944, Page 37
Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal, Page 5
244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal
244th F.A. Battalion Battery B Morning Report
244th F.A. Battalion Battery C Morning Report
Third Army After Action Report - Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal, Page 5
Third Army After Action Report - Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal, Page 5
Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Part 12 Engineer, Page 5
244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal August 1944
War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Headquarters III Corps After Action Report, December 1944, Page 1
244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal
Third Army After Action Report - Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal, Page 5
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
United States Army In World War II, The European Theater of Operations, The Supreme Command, Forrest C. Pogue, Page 783
Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Part 19, Provost Marshal, Section III – Prisoner Of War Sub-Section, 6th July 1944
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
W. U. (Doc) Savage Letter, December 15, 1949
W. U. (Doc) Savage Letter, December 15, 1949
Department of The Army, USH&EC, USAMHI, 202-244th 1945, “History of The 244th Field Artillery Battalion During World War II
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 C Morning Report
244th F.A. Battalion Battery SB Morning Report
244th F.A. Battalion Battery MD Morning Report
Mediterranean and European Theaters of Operation In World War II, Gene Thorp
Third U.S. Army After Action Report, Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal, page 5
244^th Field Artillery Battalion Journal August 944
Third U. S. Army After Action Report, Volume I, Operations - Chapter 3 – August Operations, Page 46
Third Army After Action Report - Volume II, Part 19 – Provost Marshal, Page 5, 6
244th Field Artillery Battalion Journal
244th F.A. Battalion Battery HQ & Hq Morning Report
244th F.A. Battalion Battery B Morning Report
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
244th F.A. Battalion Battery B Morning Report
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
Third U. S. Army After Action Report, Volume I, Operations - Chapter 3 – August Operations, Page 47
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
244^thField Artillery Battalion Journal
PFC Harry G. MacDuffee, B Battery, 244^th Field Artillery - Battery Record
244th F.A. Battalion Battery SB Morning Report

History 1944 – August

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

Tuesday – 1st August 19443

Tuesday – 1st August 19444 Colonel Davis Papers

Tuesday – 1st August 19445

Tuesday – 1st August 19446

Tuesday – 1st August 19447

Tuesday – 1st August 19448

Tuesday – 1st August 19449

Tuesday – 1st August 194410

Tuesday – 1st August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report11

Tuesday – 1st August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report12

Tuesday – 1st August 194413

Tuesday – 1st August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report14

Tuesday – 1st August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report15

Tuesday – 1ST August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report16

Tuesday – 1st August 1944 Service Battery Morning Report17

August 194418

Wednesday – 2nd August 194419

Wednesday – 2nd August 194420

Wednesday – 2nd August 194421

Wednesday – 2nd August 194422 Colonel Davis

Thursday – 3rd August 194423

Thursday – 3rd August 194424

Thursday – 3rd August 194425

Thursday – 3rd August 194426

Thursday – 3rd August 194427

Thursday – 3rd August 194428

Thursday – 3rd August 194429 Byron G. Rogers

Thursday – 3rd August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report30

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

Friday – 4th August 194436

Friday – 4th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report37

Friday – 4th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report38

Saturday – 5th August 194439

Saturday – 5th August 194440

Saturday – 5th August 194441

Saturday – 5th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report42

Saturday – 5th August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report43

Saturday – 5th August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report44

Saturday – 5th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report45

Saturday – 5th August 1944 MD Detachment Morning Report46

Sunday – 6th August 194447

Sunday – 6th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report48

Monday – 7th August 194449

Monday – 7th August 194450

Monday – 7th August 194451

Monday – 7th August 194452

Monday – 7th August 194453

Monday – 7th August 194454

Interview with Robert Bishop55

Monday – 7th August 194456 Colonel Davis Papers

Monday – 7th August 1944 HQ & Hq Battery Morning Report57

Monday – 7th August 1944 MD Detachment Morning Report58

August 194459

Tuesday – 8th August 194461

Tuesday – 8th August 194462

Tuesday – 8th August 194463

Tuesday – 8th August 194464

Tuesday – 8th August 194465

Tuesday – 8th August 194466

Tuesday – 8th August 194467

Tuesday – 8th August 194468

Tuesday 8th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report69

Tuesday – 8th August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report70

Tuesday – 8th August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report71

Tuesday – 8th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report72

Tuesday – 8th August 1944 Service Battery Morning Report73

Tuesday – 8th August 1944 MD Detachment Morning Report74

Wednesday – 9th August 194475

Wednesday – 9th August 194476

Wednesday – 9th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report77

August 1944 – Office of the Chief of Ordinance
Terminal Ballistic Data – Volume I Bombing

Tuesday – 1st August 1944 – Operation Cobra, Order Of Battle¹

Tuesday – 1st August 1944²

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944³

Tuesday – 1st August 1944⁴
Colonel Davis Papers

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944⁵

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944⁶

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944⁷

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944⁸

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944⁹

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944¹⁰

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report¹¹

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report¹²

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944¹³

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report¹⁴

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report¹⁵

Tuesday – 1^ST August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report¹⁶

Tuesday – 1^st August 1944 Service Battery Morning Report¹⁷

August 1944¹⁸

Wednesday – 2^nd August 1944¹⁹

Wednesday – 2^nd August 1944²⁰

Wednesday – 2^nd August 1944²¹

Wednesday – 2nd August 1944²²
Colonel Davis

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944²³

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944²⁴

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944²⁵

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944²⁶

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944²⁷

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944²⁸

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944²⁹
Byron G. Rogers

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report³⁰

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report³¹

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report³²

Thursday – 3^rd August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report³³

Friday – 4^th August 1944³⁴

Friday – 4^th August 1944³⁵

Friday – 4^th August 1944³⁶

Friday – 4^th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report³⁷

Friday – 4^th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report³⁸

Saturday – 5^th August 1944³⁹

Saturday – 5^th August 1944⁴⁰

Saturday – 5^th August 1944⁴¹

Saturday – 5^th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report⁴²

Saturday – 5^th August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report⁴³

Saturday – 5^th August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report⁴⁴

Saturday – 5^th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report⁴⁵

Saturday – 5^th August 1944 MD Detachment Morning Report⁴⁶

Sunday – 6^th August 1944⁴⁷

Sunday – 6^th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report⁴⁸

Monday – 7^th August 1944⁴⁹

Monday – 7th August 1944⁵⁰

Monday – 7th August 1944⁵¹

Monday – 7^th August 1944⁵²

Monday – 7^th August 1944⁵³

Monday – 7^th August 1944⁵⁴

Interview with Robert Bishop⁵⁵

Monday – 7th August 1944⁵⁶
Colonel Davis Papers

Monday – 7^th August 1944 HQ & Hq Battery Morning Report⁵⁷

Monday – 7^thAugust 1944 MD Detachment Morning Report⁵⁸

August 1944⁵⁹

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944⁶¹

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944⁶²

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944⁶³

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944⁶⁴

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944⁶⁵

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944⁶⁶

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944⁶⁷

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944⁶⁸

Tuesday 8^th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report⁶⁹

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944, Battery “A” Morning Report⁷⁰

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944 Battery “B” Morning Report⁷¹

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report⁷²

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944 Service Battery Morning Report⁷³

Tuesday – 8^th August 1944 MD Detachment Morning Report⁷⁴

Wednesday – 9^th August 1944⁷⁵

Wednesday – 9^th August 1944⁷⁶

Wednesday – 9^th August 1944 Battery “C” Morning Report⁷⁷

Thursday – 10^th August 1944⁷⁸

Thursday – 10^th August 1944 “HQ & Hq” Battery Morning Report⁷⁹

Friday – 11^th August 1944⁸⁰