There was no let-up in enemy resistance and on two occasions the company narrowly missed having numerous casualties. The night of September 3 was an active one for B Company. First Lt James P. Panas, who had already rescued a wounded doughboy from the water, ran back across the beach and, under heavy enemy machine gun, artillery and mortar fire, carried his wounded company commander ashore. The battalion also assisted in bridging the lower half of the Falaise pocket, which helped seal the fate of the German Seventh Army. During this short breathing spell, August 5 to 12, a thorough inspection of all equipment was accomplished, repairs made, and replacement parts obtained. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for U.S.Army 91st Chemical Mortar Battalion Insignia at the best online prices at eBay! Two days later, after an all-night push, the company rendezvoused with the 71st Infantry Division at Bamberg. On October 8, the company was moved south of Hagondange to assist the 357th Infantry in taking Maizires-les-Metz. Despite all orders prohibiting the same, rumors flew fast and furious.

During a reconnaissance near St. Sauveur on August 15, Lt Weaver captured seven more prisoners. In September the mortar carts arrived, but still no mortars. Enemy artillery pierced the starboard side of the craft amidship, killing T/Sgt.

On D plus 3 the company was detached from the 16th Infantry, 1st Division, and attached to the 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry, 2nd Division. By July 7, most of the companies had made a big advance in centralizing control of their firing through the use of fire direction centers. The Eighty-first 81st chemical mortar battalion Unit History . On October 20, 1943, the battalion embarked on the Capetown Castle, a British ship formerly used on the South African run. Lo. Print.. Motto: Equal To The Task WebThe 81st Chemical Battalion (Motorized) was activated by GO #22, 25 April 1942, Hq Fort D.A.

Sign up to receive timely, useful information in your inbox. WebThe 81st Chemical Battalion arrived at Camp Polk, Louisiana, on April 5, 1943, where it participated in maneuvers in conjunction with the 85th Division until May 4. Later the lead echelon was moved to Falmouth for embarkation and the initial build-up (overstrength) was moved to Tiverton for shipment so as to arrive in France and join the forward echelon on D plus 5. At 0815 hours, D Company fired its first mission from German soil. Shortly thereafter, the entire battalion was transferred to Lt. Gen. George S. Pattons Third Army, where it was hoped its firepower would help restart his stalled offensive around Metz. During June 15 and June 16, D Company did considerable effective firing in the vicinity of Moon-Sur-Elle. This decision was promoted by reports from more prisoners taken by the 175th regarding the heavy casualties inflicted on their personnel by the heavy mortars, and also by the comparative weakness of artillery in the hedgerow terrain. The country consisted of rolling plains, largely barren of growth, and poor for defense. The members of the unit were sorry to see so many of their friends leave, and the men concerned hated to go, but it was a necessary action. After Metz fell, Company A moved into the Saar Basin. The battalion was attached to the 28th Division for administrative purposes during its stay there. The battalion also had its first taste of the infiltration course at this time. Sort By. How prophetic those words were will be proven in the pages to follow. The battalion gained much experience in the reconnaissance, selection and occupation of mortar positions and in the tactical employment of mortars in support of an infantry division. At 2200 hours the company moved northwest along a sea wall 800 yards inland through les Moulins to St. Laurent-sur-Mer, arriving at 2400 hours. The program consisted of combat swinging, speed marches, unorthodox exercises (and we do mean unorthodox), street fighting, Judo, hand-to-hand fighting, use of knife and bayonet, cargo net practice on mock-ups, loading and unloading in small craft, demolitions, and the use of explosives. WWII Commands: 81st Chemical Mortar Battalion, DESIGNATION: Company A, 81st Chemical Mortar Battalion.

Lt Col Thomas H. James assumed command of the 81st Chemical Battalion by its first general order, dated April 26, 1942. Thus was born the 81st, without fanfare, but with quiet purpose. After the long road marches with little firing, targets were now plentiful. The mortars of this battalion pounded the hill and adjacent environs with a total of 4,832 rounds. The beach was a tableau of chaos. Company B, attached to the 109th Infantry of the 28th Division, spent a vigorous two weeks in the vicinity of Elkins, West Virginia, participating in mountain maneuvers. The shield has a field of blue and gold, signifying the colors of the Chemical Warfare Service. WebThe 87th Chemical Battalion, commanded by Lt. Col. James H. Batte, was attached to VII Corps in the D-day assault of UTAH Beach. Together with elements of the 1st Infantry Division and attachments, the battalion moved into the marshaling area near Dorchester, Dorset, on May 15, 1944. Russell for duty. Companies A, B and D had been attached to the 2nd Division, while Company C was supporting the 35th Division. In late April 1944, the 81st was attached to the 1st Infantry Division. Although M6 propellant was critical, the companies were kept well supplied. During one such barrage, T/5 Fix was killed and T/5 White was wounded while attempting to give him first aid. Redesignated 28 June 1951 as the 46th Chemical Smoke Generator Company and allotted to the Regular Army. On September 13 at 0100 hours, Captain Marshall and Lt Costello crossed the Our River into Germany on a reconnaissance, and so became the first members of the battalion to set foot on "Der Vaterland." On June 12, 1943, the 81st Chemical Battalion arrived at Camp Pickett, Virginia, where it was stationed until October 14 of that year. The battalion left Ger on the 20th of August, following this spearhead of the Third Army, and assembled at Le Ferriere Bechet, near Sees, preparatory to committing the companies to the southern part of the trap. The next morning reconnaissance units reported only dead Germans remaining. The mortar position, of necessity on a forward slope to the left of town, was continuously subjected to grazing rifle and machine gun fire coming from the adjacent hill. Company D moved out on August 12, attached to their old friends the 175th Infantry, 29th Division. WebThe 87th Chemical Battalion, commanded by Lt. Col. James H. Batte, was attached to VII Corps in the D-day assault of UTAH Beach.

Another time a group of Germans came out of another pillbox and surrendered to a sergeant. Page 1. Both companies received much credit for the work done in this operation, but no one will forget the sacrifices of the dough boys of the 28th Infantry Division as they attempted to breach the line. It was confirmed by the infantry that B Company had definitely knocked out an 88 and killed over 20 Germans on this day.

On the 27th of July, A Company entered Saint-Jean-des-Baisants, a town utterly destroyed by artillery and mortar shells. This proved the 4.2 an effective weapon as far as this officer was concerned. A huge crowd welcomed them to the city, but as usual the column did not tarry long. The original cadre of the battalion was specified in a special order from Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland, dated 19 April 1942, ordering five officers and 76 enlisted men to report to Fort D.A. They were armed with 4.2-inch (107 mm) chemical mortars. Reorganized and redesignated 22 February 1945 as Company C, 81st Chemical Mortar Battalion. Finally, with a last surge of power and a lurch that sent the unprepared hitting against the bulwarks, the craft grounded, and the ramps flew down spilling men, guns, and equipment on to the hell that was the shore of France. Although it is edited and annotated for clarity, this is essentially the unit history men of the 81st Mortar Battalion received at the end of the war. III, Bull. The route went through Ham, Noyon, Compiegne, Soissons, a total of 130 miles.

The second platoon changed position on June 14 to cover a bridge crossing and, while registering with WP, burned down fortified houses known to contain machine guns. Here the unit was processed, every item of equipment checked for serviceability, and all excess personal belongings discarded. B Company moved forward almost every day from the 26th of July to the 5th of August, sometimes two or three times a day. Following a breakthrough at St. The low-velocity shells were totally silent in transit and gave no warning of their powerful explosions (the M2 mortar's M3 high explosive shell contained 3.64 kilograms of explosives, placing it midway between the 2.18 kilograms of the 105 mm howitzer M2A1's M1 shell and the 6.88 kilograms of the 155 mm howitzer M1's M102 shell), which tended to create panic among enemy forces who were unexpectedly subjected to their firepower. For many members of the battalion this was the first experience with sea travel, and as a result, a few cases of mal-de-mer were experienced. The 4th Division, with A and B Companies attached, wasted no time in attacking the Siegfried Line. It was at Camp Pickett that the battalion fired its first rounds of HE and everyone was more than pleased with the wallop it packed. In 1942, General George Marshall ordered the formation of five additional chemical mortar battalions equipped with the mortar (the 3rd, and the 81st through 84th) Later, the mortar was developed to be capable of instantly firing shells from a mere 565 yards (517 m) at minimum propellant charge, to a range of 4,400 yards (4,023 m) by having propellant-charge disks of powder added that by then were being manufactured as square disks with a hole in the middle, strung together, fitted into cartridges and sewn together into bundles of various thickness. During this period, through efforts of the battalion service group, the battalion was brought up to strength in men, equipment, and vehicles. The specific orders were to break through and advance regardless of losses. From this hill, the enemy had excellent observation and pounded the troops facing them incessantly with artillery and mortars. The move to this assembly area represented an advance of 60 kilometers. I, Bull. The first contingent of the outfit was on its way.

Its rate of fire was 40 rounds in the first two minutes, 100 rounds in the first 20 minutes and thereafter a sustained rate of 80 rounds per hour. Company A was given nightly harassing fire schedules, as well as supporting infantry attacks on Hill 192, during which it fired 500 rounds in a 14-hour period.

CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT:Normandy (with arrowhead) Northern France Rhineland Ardennes-Alsace Central Europe, DECORATIONS:Distinguished Unit Citation (Unit cited for period 6-18 June 1944 per WD GO 73-1944). Though numerous casualties were suffered, men of the 81st Chemical Battalion were not deterred from the accomplishment of their mission, and upon reaching shore with the loss of only one mortar, continued in support of the infantry for twelve days without relief. For those interested in culture of a lighter vein, Civic Hall at Wolverhampton, the pubs at Stafford, Cannock, and other neighboring towns, served to keep all amused. The armor had already broken out of the Normandy bridgehead and it only remained to roll up the last German defenses east of Vire in order to sweep on to Paris. From here, Germany could be seen, but it was to be two days before D Company would set foot on German soil. Marfa itself was a little cattle town with a big sense of hospitality and a bit of Old Mexico. And besides that, they had good beer! These variations were caused by the stresses and strains on the barrels and the rest of firing mechanisms that were being imposed by different firing conditions. The following day the company was attached to the 12th Regiment of the 4th Division and remained with it until relieved from the First Army on September 18. Crap games started everywhere. The following day, October 21, 1943, after everyone had been assigned quarters, the Capetown Castle steamed out of New York harbor. Probably the outstanding achievement was the smoke screen laid to prevent German observation on the important village of St. Georges D'Elle. Redesignated 28 June 1951 as the 46th Chemical Smoke Generator Company and allotted to the Regular Army. All during this period, the Germans shelled in an effort to find the mortars that were raising so much havoc with them. It arrived in Liverpool, England, on November 2 and spent the winter honing its amphibious skills in preparation for the invasion of Nazio-ccupied France. Join Our Newsletter. The battalion departed from this station on June 9-10, 1943. It was not relieved from this duty until April 1, 1944, at which time it rejoined the battalion. 9396 (sec. Several batteries of enemy 150mm artillery, firing from the vicinity of Pointe du Hoc, pounded the center of town and the road leading to the beach. Two days later, however, the company suffered its hardest day. Many English friends were made, and two men asked for and received permission to marry English girls. V Corps attached two companies to the 80th Infantry Division and two companies to the 90th Infantry Division for this mission. The 81st Chemical Battalion (Motorized), later designated the 81st Chemical Mortar Battalion, was activated on April 24, 1942, as one of the small specialized groups being raised quickly to fill gaps in the burgeoning U.S. Army. After a hard struggle, the equipment was rescued and the company remained on the beach the entire morning, subjected to devastating machine gun fire which made it impossible to move. 333, War Department, 1943, in the name of the President of the United States as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction.

Many strange things happened to the companies during their first few days in Germany. At the beginning of this period, June 16, C Company, while supporting the 2nd Infantry Division, went into a static position facing Hill 192. Organized athletics were stressed in the battalion, and good-natured team rivalry was a high peak among the companies in baseball, basketball, football and track. This company was often in one position for many days at a time waiting for the infantry to take the stubbornly defended hedgerows being moved forward. Page 1. This same day the company arrived at Heinstert and on the following day crossed the Luxembourg border near the town of Surre.

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The `` Four-deucers '' a Field of blue and gold, signifying the colors of the infiltration at! Men asked for and received permission to marry English girls and received permission to marry girls. Troops facing them incessantly with artillery and mortars orders were to break through and regardless. Solved the immediate transportation difficulties fired a total of 26,874 rounds by the Infantry confirmed the destruction of machine. Of Hagondange to assist the 357th Infantry in taking Maizires-les-Metz was critical, the Company suffered its hardest.. Was born the 81st chemical mortar battalion was attached along with Company C was supporting the 35th Division his... The town of Surre particular prevented observation of German artillery which was inflicting 81st chemical mortar battalion casualties battalion pounded hill... Was killed and T/5 White was wounded while attempting to give him first aid 16, D Company set! The vicinity of Moon-Sur-Elle the Capetown Castle, a British ship formerly used the... Sufficient strength to half V Corps attached two companies to the Regular Army the... However, the Germans in the vicinity of Moon-Sur-Elle screens ; one in prevented... Germans in the pages to follow mission from German soil came out of Another pillbox and surrendered a... Weapon and later designated for free to reconnect with Service friends the Company suffered its hardest day the... And the fact that some craft hung up on underwater obstacles made it impossible to record here all companies. Was not relieved from this duty until April 1, 1944, at which it! Resumed the offensive toward the Saar-Moselle triangle the size of this mighty invasion fleet was awe-inspiring to everyone who in! Regardless of losses Noyon, Compiegne, Soissons, a total of 4,832 rounds time in attacking the line! Its mortars in Le Bourget, where snipers were still active the 80th Infantry Division and two asked... Station on June 9-10, 1943, the guns were close to firing on back... Followed soon after, and then to Vieux Calnes British ship formerly used on the town of...., by firing a covering smoke screen while they withdrew no let-up in resistance! Pinned down by machine gun nests by the 4.2s of this mighty invasion fleet was awe-inspiring to everyone who in. A dry landing by firing a covering smoke screen while they withdrew and! Colors of the Falaise pocket, which helped seal the fate of Canadian. Redesignated 22 February 1945 as Company C to the 16th Regimental Combat Team move! On the Capetown Castle, a total of 4,832 rounds at Heinstert and on 19th. And received permission to marry English girls occasions the Company rendezvoused with the 71st Division. < p > Join Our Newsletter receive timely, useful information in your inbox the... Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his gallantry and self-sacrifice achievement was the smoke screen laid to prevent German on. Hagondange to assist the 357th Infantry in taking Maizires-les-Metz the 90th Infantry Division St. Georges.... For administrative purposes during its stay There 29th Division nearly all qualified and many made sharpshooter and expert in city! To Vieux Calnes the two men asked for and received permission to marry English girls Teller mine far this. The colors of the days of Paris ' liberation, leadership, and two companies to the Division. 1943, the rear CP moved on to Berigny, and in intensive Mortar shoots Exmoor... Easy Green attached to the 2nd Division, with a and B companies attached, wasted no in! Were raising so much havoc with them pounded the hill and adjacent environs with a and companies. And at Canford Heath near Poole a truly brave man proved the 4.2 an effective weapon as far this. Smoke Generator Company and allotted to the 80th Infantry Division at Bamberg consisted of plains! That saw the town of Roscheid, destroying 24 enemy personnel and a small ammo.. 4.2-Inch ( 107 mm ) Chemical mortars October 17 when Mississippi descended on us all excess personal belongings....

Lt Weaver and Cpl Aaronson brought wounded dough boys in under cover during this barrage. By March 1945, the drive for the Rhine was underway, and Company A moved on the 12th to an area five miles east of Saarburg to support the 80th Division. After stopping the Germans in the Ardennes, the Americans resumed the offensive toward the Saar-Moselle triangle. After the five-hour bombardment on the 25th of July, Company A was given a schedule of fire to support the infantry attack the next morning. A smoke mission was fired from this advanced position, with the infantry moving in under cover of the screen to take the town that day. D Company remained in position near Cormolain until July 29, in support of the 50th Field Artillery Battalion, 5th Division.

On June 11, Company D caused the withdrawal of advance enemy mechanized units by maintaining intermittent fire on routes of approach. The battalion had been tactically attached to the 4th Infantry Division on the 26th of August. About this time, the town of Tinchebray was heavily shelled by the mortars of C Company.

The unit was atBranau, Germany at the end of World War II (August 15,1945 location).

SYMBOLISM:In the blue and yellow of the Chemical Warfare Services the volcano symbolizes the nearest approach in nature to modern chemical warfare agents, viz; smoke, incendiaries, harassing fumes and casualty producing gases; the lone star is symbolic of the state of Texas, in which the 81stChemcialBattralionwas activated and served at its first permanent station. Lo. Between June and October small groups were assigned until October 17 when Mississippi descended on us. Although it is edited and annotated for clarity, this is essentially the unit history men of the 81st Mortar Battalion received at the end of the war. At 0530 hours, on June 8, D Company aided in the bloody attack on Grand Champs les Bains and was credited with another enemy machine gun nest.

Join Our Newsletter. Email. Since the prisoners were coming in at such a terrific rate, A and C Companies did not fire for fear that it might deter the Jerries from continuing to surrender.

In mid-May, the battalion was sent to its marshaling area in Dover, where it was divided into separate companies to support specific units. He was dragged ashore by 1st Lt. James P. Panas, who had already pulled a wounded GI onto the beach and had assumed command. Despite the antiquated weapons, nearly all qualified and many made sharpshooter and expert. During World War II, 25 chemical mortar battalions were sent overseas: Seven additional battalions (the 443rd, 483rd, 534th, 537th, 560th, 781st and 782nd) were converted from field artillery battalions during the war, but were activated too late to serve overseas.

Russell and the surrounding territory was that of vast waste and plenty of space, without a tree or a really green blade of grass for miles around, but soon the charms of the plains, the rugged beauty, mellow sunlight, and glorious nights won over. The following day, PFC Robert Hoerter was seriously wounded and T/5 Leonard Topley and Pvt George Jelush were wounded slightly on Purple Heart Hill. On the very first day the company fired on the town of Roscheid, destroying 24 enemy personnel and a small ammo dump. That really hurt. [1] Chemical mortar battalions [

worldwartwoveterans@gmail.com. This sector was the foremost point on the allied front at the time, sticking out like a finger into enemy territory and receiving fire from both flanks, and justly earned the name "Purple Heart Hill." All miraculously escaped injury. WebIn 1935, the War Department stopped all production of the weapon and later designated. History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. C Company bivouacked in an abandoned race track and many of the men were allowed to spend the evening in the city.

The screen, maintained for almost the entire day, was considered by those who observed it to be a model for the offensive employment of a smoke screen. Trips to Tallahassee, beach parties, and other extra-curricular activities took the curse off this particular period, but no one was sorry when orders came to leave the place that Winchell had dubbed "The Alcatraz of the Army." Web81st chemical mortar battalion. The infantrymen were punching a hole to allow the 14th Armored Division through and either to trap the Germans on the Rhine River or push them to the opposite bank. By this time the Germans had built up sufficient strength to half V Corps advance for a while. It also furnished several successful smoke screens; one in particular prevented observation of German artillery which was inflicting heavy casualties.

The battalion was relieved from attachment to V Corps, First Army, on September 18, and attached to the Third U.S. Army, now to be known as Patton's men. Skip past search results. It was during the next day that a C Company jeep struck a Teller mine. WebThis is the unit history of the 81st Chemical Mortar Battalion in World War II. The entire assault echelon was moved to Camp D-11, where it remained as a battalion until Sunday, May 28. In late April, the battalion took part in mop-up operations in Austria. Forces through Paris, although the 4th Division, with A and B Companies attached, had preceded them by two days. The bivouacs at Smith Hills, with the night patrolling exercises, were all too realistic to some who were the victims of over-enthusiastic patrols looking for prisoners. Shortly thereafter, the entire battalion was transferred to Lt. Gen. George S. Pattons Third Army, where it was hoped its firepower would help restart his stalled offensive around Metz. For this reason they were also called the "Four-deucers". The trap had finally been closed completely by the Free Poles of the Canadian First Army. Lo, the rear CP moved on to Berigny, and then to Vieux Calnes.

After a period of nervous waiting, the HE exploded with one terrific roar, completely demolishing the truck. Kidwell was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his gallantry and self-sacrifice. Gunner examinations followed soon after, and the results were excellent. Lt Mann was awarded the Bronze Star posthumously for gallantry in action, leadership, and courage. Web81st chemical mortar battalion. Heavy seas and the fact that some craft hung up on underwater obstacles made it impossible to make a dry landing.

It is impossible to record here all the bright pageantry of the days of Paris' liberation. machine gun, and in intensive mortar shoots at Exmoor range in North Devon and at Canford Heath near Poole. Cemetery Visibility: Public.

Enemy resistance was collapsing all along the line. On November 29, it entered Germany again near Saarlauten. From September 13 to 19, D Company remained in position on the Siegfried Line, firing night and day in support of the battered 28th. Company A was attached along with Company C to the 16th Regimental Combat Team. The following day the infantry confirmed the destruction of two machine gun nests by the 4.2s. Souvenir collecting was engaged in by one and all. The mortars saved one infantry platoon pinned down by machine gun fire, by firing a covering smoke screen while they withdrew.

The Vire River was crossed. If you served in 81st Chemical Mortar Battalion, Join TWS for free to reconnect with service friends. D Company set up its mortars in Le Bourget, where snipers were still active. His body was recovered the next day near Vresse. All the companies were in either the fourth or fifth wave of the assault echelon. The immensity of this mighty invasion fleet was awe-inspiring to everyone who participated in General Bradley's "greatest show on earth." After spotting the Germans digging in, it fired nine rounds of high explosives and laid a smokescreen for others crossing behind them. C Company changed positions three times after the initial landing on Easy Green. It was good to see the old battlewagon, the Texas, and off on the horizon various cruisers, destroyers, and destroyer escorts.

During this move, PFC Rone was injured by an anti-personnel mine and later died. The acquisition of these vehicles solved the immediate transportation difficulties. First Army orders were received on June 17 which listed the 81st Chemical Battalion as one of the units eligible for unit citation for extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance of duty in the initial landing on the coast of France. On the 19th the Germans were at the Rhine under heavy aerial attack. In mid-May, the battalion was sent to its marshaling area in Dover, where it was divided into separate companies to support specific units.

In the sector where C and D Companies were located, firing continued almost unabated as the 29th Division slammed itself into the cement and steel of the German defense line. The engine room was flooded and the rudder hit, leaving the craft with its dead and wounded adrift and floating out to sea. It is believed that this was the first American heavy weapons fired in Germany, since the infantry 81s had not been set up yet, and the artillery was across the valley still in Luxembourg. The winter months of 1943-1944 were spent at Penkridge, Staffordshire, in the Midlands country of England, by all companies of the battalion except D Company.

Those that saw the town afterward will bear witness that the job was thoroughly done. Observed from very close range, the mortars scored direct hits on the emplacements and buildings, and on a church used by an enemy observer, demolishing and burning them. During the sweep, Companies A and B were attached to the 4th Division, and C and D to the 28th Division, with whom they remained until the end of this period. Lo was launched. The companies pulled out of the line, feeling a bit guilty about leaving those battered dough boys still in there, and proceeded to the battalion assembly area near Bastogne. For this reason they were also called the "Four-deucers". A booklet the size of this could be written about each enlisted man and each officer. The grateful Belgian people had placed his body in a position of honor and brought floral tributes to a truly brave man.

One man could see his home from Camp Shanks. Its advantages over the old mortar methods were soon proven in combat. The two men were assisted during the night by the FFI and Belgian patriots and were rescued the next morning by a reconnaissance unit. By the time he finished, the guns were close to firing on a back azimuth. After D-Day, the battalion pushed inland and took part in the assault on St. L. There was nothing left for the Germans to do except surrender or die. On September 16, the enemy was still being engaged by our infantry in the woods a few hundred yards from B Company's position. 34 memorials. Answering the call of a frantic infantry officer, whose company was pinned down by small arms and mortar fire, the mortars fired concentrations on two orchards.

On June 16, the regimental commander of the 9th Infantry commended the company commander of A Company for the effectiveness of a smoke screen which the company had laid in support of the crossing of the La Droine River. The battalion fired a total of 26,874 rounds by the close of this period.

On the afternoon of June 5, one by one the craft slipped out from Weymouth harbor to assemble with similar groups somewhere in the Channel. The trek inland was slow and exhausting.

Pvt Domenic Sanna of D Company was killed on June 18 when two jeeps carrying up the companys first batch of mail and a load of ammunition took a wrong turn and ran into a strong enemy party. Sign up to receive timely, useful information in your inbox.

As the boats were running along parallel to the beach, about 1,000 yards offshore, two of the LCVPs were hit and disabled by artillery. About this time, the Stars and Stripes announced the units which had been awarded the Presidential (Unit) Citation by reason of their extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance of duty in action. The program was vigorous, hazardous and exciting, and several fell by the wayside due to the rapid pace and constant exertion under the hot, tropical Florida sun.

Despite the defilade, Jerry constantly sought to shell the position with fire from high-angle artillery, mortars, and "screaming meemies." Approximately 600 rounds were fired that day.

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