The 36th Division artillery had also taken the convoy under fire, and friendly fighter-bombers took several swipes at it, as well. As 3d Infantry Division troops advanced through the debacle they saw almost unbelievable carnage. An estimated 1000 horses were pulling carts, or trailing behind motor vehicles, tied by ropes. Many of them had been taken from the French. When the shells came down, most of them were killed. A few, some with entrails dragging or otherwise wounded, had to be put out of the way with merciful bullets. Some were unharmed, and nosed incuriously about the bodies of their dead fellows, or grazed peacefully in the pastures next to the road.

Smashed, fire-blackened trucks, halftracks, and sedans- some still burning or smouldering-clogged the road. The bodies of dead Germans, many of them also fire- blackened, lay among the ruins, or alongside the road where they had been cut down by artillery while trying to make good their escapes.

On the railroad which paralleled the highway at a distance of several hundred yards sat six giant railway guns. Four of them were the familiar 280mm monsters, sisters to the "Anzio Express." Two of them were gigantic 380mm pieces. All had been left standing, intact. Along the entire length of the scene of destruction an outrageous odor of burned and burning wood, scorched metal, stinking dead and singed flesh and clothing assailed the nostrils. Even the "avenues of smells" along some of the roads on the Anzio Beachhead in late April and early May, with their dead sheep and cattle, had not been such an affront to the nose.

Enemy materiel captured or destroyed also included 20 75mm AT guns, 12 88mm AA guns, and 8 or 10 self- propelled guns. Prisoner total for the three days was over 1000. As it had been all the way up from the coast the enemy order of battle, as indicated by units of PWs, was still a miscellaneous assortment from 338th Infantry Division, 198th Infantry Division, 189th Reserve Division, with the recent addition of 11th Panzer Division, 716th Infantry Division, 148th Reserve Division, and 244th Infantry Division. There were also other elements, too numerous to mention.

The Battle of Montelimar had been costly for the German l9th Army.

Thus far nothing had been said regarding the reception of American troops by the French populace.

Veterans of Africa, Sicily, and Italy suddenly found themselves in a country in which sincere friendship and joy at liberation was expressed so vividly as to leave no doubts regarding the feelings which prompted these emotions. It was the wholehearted, warm conveyance of gladness of a proud, individualistic race once again made free.

After nearly two years of association with Italians, Sicilians, and Arabs, the genuineness displayed by Frenchmen high and low was like fresh air in a cave. Always it was. tonic to morale.

When a Frenchman offered a soldier his bottle of wine there was a slight deference in his manner, but there was also apparent pride and happiness at being able to do something for his liberators. It was as if he said "Here, m'sieu, it is about all I can offer you. I cannot give you strength when you face the enemy, although I wish I could. I cannot sustain you when you falter on the long march. That, too, I wish I could do. I can but offer you this wine, and with it try to convey the feeling of gratitude which I and my countrymen have for you." This attitude, throughout, could not but help give most soldiers some realization of why they were fighting. Freedom must be a wonderful thing. Here were those who had once had and lost it, once again to have it restored to them. The sight of their happiness was a thing to behold.

Since elements of the 45th Infantry Division had patrolled as far northeast as Voiron and found no enemy there, the 3d Infantry Division prepared itself for an administrative move of over ninety miles.

Intelligence from the F.F.I. (which proved very accurate) at this time was as follows "Civilians report that the enemy has pulled the bulk of his infantry out of Lyon, and that the city contains only scattered rear guard armored units. Many enemy troops were withdrawn west of the Rhone. Two civilian reports indicate the enemy is building up his forces along the Loue and Doubs Rivers, sixty miles north of Bourg. All bridges across the Doubs are guarded, and Frenchmen are not permitted to cross to the north (probably because F.F.I. forces are stronger in the south). The enemy is reported to have sizable garrisons in Dijon, Dole, Besancon, and Belfort. The last three towns are on the Doubs River and lie in the enemy's apparent escape corridor to Muhlhaus (Mulhouse)."

The 15th Infantry's 3d Battalion moved out at 1915, August 31, to relieve the 45th Division roadblock at St. Etienne and to screen the road net to Bourgoin. The 2d Battalion relieved 179th Infantry (45th Division) at Bourgoin, and 1st Battalion left its assembly area, but remained in regimental reserve.

The 30th Infantry entrucked and moved by motor to an assembly area northwest of Voiron. All units had closed in by 0035, September 1. At 1130 the regiment began a move by motor to the vicinity of Cremieu, preparatory to moving west on Division order.

The 7th Infantry remained, guarding the smashed motor column until shortly after noon, September 1, when the regiment entrucked and moved first to an assembly area near Trepts, then re-entrucked and moved to a new area east of Leyment, where it closed in by 2400.

The 15th Infantry, 3d Battalion leading, commenced moving at 1930 to an assembly area near Lagnieu. Company I rode on tank destroyers. 1st Battalion followed and 2d Battalion commenced its move during the morning of September 2.

Meanwhile 30th Infantry already had swung back into action. The 3d Battalion engaged the enemy in a firefight at Pont de Churuy, killing seven enemy and taking two prisoners. At Janneyrieas, while 3d platoon, 3d Reconnaissance Troop engaged the enemy, Company L flanked the enemy position and captured ninetynine prisoners, an AT gun, and three trucks. The fight lasted until about 2100, September 1. 3d Battalion protected a front from Loyettes through Charvieu, with a strong outpost at Colonbler. Contact was made with the 143d Infantry in Catzian at 2100. The 2d Battalion, at 0600, moved out from regimental reserve to relieve 3d Battalion, 179th Infantry, on the regimental right flank.

The 1st platoon, 3d Reconnaissance Troop, after outposting Cote La Andre, moved out on the morning of September 2 to investigate the roads southwest of that town, and was recalled at 0700 to reconnoiter the road northwest of Amberieu to Chalamon, Villers, Striver, and Chatallon, during which reconnaissance it encountered some light enemy resistance.

During September 2-3, 15th and 7th Infantry Regiments remained in assembly areas with reinforcing trucks, prepared to move out on Division order. The 30th Infantry assembled during the same I period. The 7th Infantry sent patrols to the north during the night but failed to make contact with the enemy. A patrol from 30th Infantry went north on a main highway through Neuville-sur-Ain and contacted a platoon of the 3d Reconnaissance Troop and a unit of 180th Infantry. The patrol continued north and found the bridge across the Suran River blown; continued on to Villereversure, Simandre-sur-Suran and Treffort, and was told by the F.F.I. that Cruislat was also clear of enemy. A patrol from Company I crossed the bridge at Villereversure, and failed to make enemy contact. Another patrol went northwest on the road to Charlamonte with the same results. The 1st platoon, 3d Recon, continued on its mission of September 2. It was held up at a bridge across the Ain River. The Division Battle Patrol outflanked the resistance by crossing the river south of the bridge; and took and held the town of Gevrieu across the river.

The enemy apparently was still rapidly withdrawing. The 3d Infantry Division once again entrucked and conducted a march of over seventy-five miles to contact the enemy.

At 1345, September 3, 7th Infantry led the move. The march objective was north of Lons-le-Saunier. The 3d Battalion closed into position at 2300, September 3, 1st Battalion at 0050, and 2d Battalion at 0055, all without incident and without the slightest contact with the enemy. Upon arrival the regimental Battle Patrol conducted reconnaissance to the north and northeast from Poligny to investigate reports of enemy, but failed to make contact.

15th Infantry moved in order 1st, 2d, and 3d Battalions, crossing its initial point near Lagnieu at 2200, and closing into its new area northeast of Lons-le-Saunier at 0615. It advanced from St. Denis to Amberieu to Poncin; thence to Granges through Arinthod, Orgelet and from there to its area. During the morning of September 4, 1st Battalion established roadblocks of company strength near Montrond and on the road between Vers and Les Pasquier. The 2d Battalion put in roadblocks east of Equievillon and south of Champagnole on Highway 6.

The 30th Infantry remained in assembly area south of Lagnieu until 1045, September 4, when it entrucked for its area in the vicinity of Lons-le-Saunier. The regiment closed in at about noon of that day.

The 3d Reconnaissance Troop preceded the advance of 7th and 15th Infantry Regiments on their march to Lons-le-Saunier, making no contact with the enemy.

The Division continued its attack to the northeast. The 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry, moved from a defensive position near Arley at 1845, September 4, to the vicinity of Arbois. Vigorous patrols maintained contact with the Battle Patrol at Mont-sous-Vaudrey. The 2d Battalion moved to the vicinity of Arbois, with one company going to Mouchard. At 2100 2d Battalion, reinforced, moved by vehicle to Argue, southwest of Besancon, arriving there at 0100, September 5. The battalion detrucked and began an attack toward Besancon at 0530. Company F encountered resistance, at a bridge near Beure. Company E, at 0830, moved in a southeast direction to within 200 yards of Highway 73 near St. Ferjeux and fired on an enemy truck convoy. The battalion continued to fight during the September 5-6 period to secure bridges and destroy enemy motor movement along the highway southwest and south of Besancon. The 3d Battalion remained in position protecting the regiment's left flank.

The objective was now Besancon. A key communication and road net center, as well as an important industrial city of approximately 80,000 persons in peacetime, Besanqon is divided by the Doubs River, with the industrial and most valuable section situated in the loop south of the river. This loop has a bottleneck opening, solidly guarded by a huge Vauban-designed fort, La Citadelle, which in turn is supported by four minor forts-Fort Tosey on the southwest, Fort des Trois Chatels on the southeast, and two other forts at a high elevation across the river: Fort Bregille on the northeast and Fort Chaudanne on the west. These forts were built in the 17th Century. La Citadelle alone took six years to complete (1667-1673). Its aspect is formidable to an attacker, presenting extremely thick walls surrounded by moats, and being situated on high ground that commands all avenues of approach.

The 15th Infantry moved from its position near Champagnole on the afternoon of September 4, 3d Battalion moving to a position south of Besanqon. Company I attacked to a position south of Beure, with Company K farther south and Company L at Quingey. The 2d Battalion was disposed along the Ornans- Besanqon road, and Ist Battalion remained in regimental reserve near Mouchard.

The 30th Infantry made no contact during the period.

The Ist platoon of the 3d Recon moved ahead of 15th Infantry en route to Besanqon and by noon, September 5, was standing by for 15th Infantry on the main routes south of Besanqon. The 2d platoon was attached to 7th Infantry, and reconnoitered in front of that regiment south of Besanqon. At Sanitoriurn de la Tilleroy the platoon reported a large concentration of troops and a large convoy on the main highway. An air mission was requested, granted, and good results were reported. At 1600 many Germans were reported in the town, and an enemy roadblock one-half mile south of town was also reported. The platoon screened. to the west while the artillery dug in and commenced firing at the roadblock. The 3d platoon, 3d Recon, screened before 7th Infantry northwest of Poligny and reported enemy in Mont-sous- Vaudrey. An F.F.I. patrol reported 700 enemy in the town. This platoon, too, spotted an enemy convoy leaving town and called down a successful air mission on it. The platoon was moving toward Dole when recalled to the Troop. CP for another mission in the vicinity of Besanqon.

At 1900 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry, arrived at Mouchard. The 2d Battalion was deployed south and west of Besanqon in the vicinity of Beure, engaged in cleaning out enemy on the high ground and along the Doubs River, and firing into Besanqon. The Battalion relieved Ist Battalion, 30th Infantry at Mouchard, to patrol to the Division front and left flank. The 2d Battalion, attached to 15th Infantry, reached a position 800 yards south of a key ridge, receiving considerable enemy fire. At 2400 Company E was north of Beure with the other two rifle companies adjacent. These positions were held during the night. On the morning of September 6 the battalion was relieved by 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry.

The Division was continuing its attack to occupy A high ground on three sides of Besanqon. The 15th Infantry continued its northerly assault. The 30th Infantry advanced on the Division right boundary, neutralizing enemy roadblocks southeast of Besanqon. The Ist and 3d Battalions moved to the north by motor, starting at 1025, to cut the roads to the north and northeast and to enter the town from those directions. The 2d Battalion, 30th Infantry, followed to the rear of, and assisted, the 15 Infantry.

Company B, 15th Infantry, attacked and captured Fort Fontain during the afternoon of September 5, and Company A seized adjacent high ground, while Company C remained in battalion reserve in the vicinity of Fontain. The 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry, attached to the 15th Infantry, captured high ground to the northwest with Company G leading. Shortly after 0800 2d Battalion reverted to 7th Infantry control.

The 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry, cleared the ridge between Companies A and C and sent reconnaissance patrols to Besanqon. The battalion was ordered to block the two roads in its sector leading south and southeast from the city. The 2d Battalion was attached to 30th Infantry on the right. At 2300 Company E was having: a fight with a Mark VI tank and an unknown number of infantry, and drawing some self-propelled fire. Company G blocked the highway in the vicinity of Tarcenay. The 30th Infantry continued moving on the right flank against slight opposition. At 1950, September 6, 1st Battalion was located south of Salins and 2d Batalion was at Mouchard. The two battalions closed out of these positions by 0115. By 0830 2d Battalion was located north of Tarcenay and 3d Battalion was in the vicinity of Mamirolle. The 3d Battalion then passed to regimental reserve at Lachevelotte, and 2d Battalion's leading elements were at Morre, advancing from the southeast on Besanqon.

Explanation of the action was described in the G-2 report*: "To protect his escape route along Highway 73 through Besanqon the enemy occupied the high ridge south of the Doubs River. The high ground was held by infantry, occasionally supported by tank fire and artillery. Most of the bridges across the Doubs were blown and roadblocks established on the north side of the river. Our troops began to flank the city from the west during daylight, September 5, and the enemy was driven off or withdrew from the advantageous terrain during the night 5-6 September. Roadblocks southeast of Besanqon, active during the afternoon of 5 September, offered but little resistance to our attacks during the evening."

Again: "Almost continual fire was received from enemy units occupying the high ground south of Besanqon. Most of the enemy positions consisted of small enemy detachments who put up stiff resistance to our attack during afternoon and evening of 5 September, but who pulled out or were overrun during the night of 5- 6 September. . . . On the left of the Division sector the enemy occupied positions north of important bridges across the Doubs River after having blown the bridges. He had positions at Belmont, Orchamps, and Dole. The latter bridge was not blown, probably because the enemy was still using that route as an axis of withdrawal."

During the night of September 6-7 the 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry, forward CP came under attack by a platoon of German infantrymen who, supported by 20mm Flak guns and machine guns, had infiltrated between the assault companies and the Battalion CP, virtually surrounding the latter. The Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Lloyd 13. Ramsey, and his S-3, being present in the CP, were in danger of being captured. Said Col. Ramsey: "Also, a rupture of communications with the assault companies, which were then meeting strong resistance, might easily have been disastrous."

The platoon advanced to within fifteen yards of the house in which the CP was situated. It occupied an old railroad draw, paralleling the wall which the CP's defenders were using for cover, and fired at everything within sight. 'It raked the doors and windows.

"Through all this fire," said Radio Operator Pvt.

James P. Soblensky, "there was one man who just sat there calmly observing out into the darkness, taking pot shots at every kraut he saw. It was T/5 Robert D. Maxwell, one of the wire corporals. He was the coolest customer I've ever seen. Tracer bullets were just barely clearing his head, yet he didn't seem to notice it."

The Germans worked their way to within about ten yards and began throwing grenades. There was a chicken-wire extension over the wall, which saved those inside. The grenades struck it, bounced to the other side, and exploded harmlessly.

Maxwell continued calmly to take aim and fire his .45. Most of the rest of the men had "taken off," despite Maxwell's urging them to stay. One man who did stay was killed a few minutes later.

Said Wire Chief T/4 Cyril F. McCall: "The Battalion Commander saw that he would be unable to hold the CP with the small force available and ordered that it be moved to another location. While the evacuation was begun under cover of our fire, the enemy intensified his attack in a determined effort to overwhelm our position."

Suddenly a grenade came over the wall and landed in the group's midst. Maxwell, clutching a blanket to his body, dove upon it without a second's hesitation. An instant later there was an explosion. "I lay still for a few seconds," said Wireman Pfc. James P. Joyce, " "partially stunned by the concussion; then I realized that I wasn't hurt. T/5 Maxwell had deliberately drawn the full force of the explosion on himself in order to protect us and make it possible for us to continue at our posts and fight."

Colonel Ramsey summed up: "T/5 Maxwell's zeal in the maintenance of military communications, his instantaneous acceptance of dangers which no soldier is obligated to incur, and his lofty sacrifice of self in behalf of his fellow soldiers made possible the orderly withdrawal of the CP personnel, contributed in high degree to the eventual capture of Besanqon, and are a continuing inspiration to the officers and men of the 3d Battalion."

Maxwell was severely wounded in the face and his right foot was permanently maimed, but he lived to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The enemy indicated his strong desire to hold the city and to prevent our forces from crossing the Doubs River by moving into Besanqon elements of the 159th Reserve Division which had been diverted from their route of withdrawal. Lengthy fire fights with small arms, machine guns, and mortars took place in front of each of the forts and bunkers on the south and east of town. On the north side of the city scattered selfpropelled and tank fire opposed the 7th Infantry.

At 1400 September 7, Ist Battalion, 7th Infantry, crossed the line of departure and attacked east. Enemy action consisted of scattered strongpoints supported by machine-gun and artillery fire. The battalion halted overnight and protected the regiment on its north flank. The 3d Battalion continued its attack and by 1530 reached la Baraque. At 2315 3d Battalion again advanced against enemy small-arms and mortar fire, until security patrols reported no enemy to the front. At 2100 contact was established with 2d Battalion. The 3d Battalion pulled out of Besanqon and at 0930 the next morning attacked an enemy convoy, destroying ten vehicles.

The 30th Infantry, meanwhile, had been divided into two groups. 1st Battalion was assigned the difficult mission of neutralizing the formidable Citadelle and of clearing the southern section of Besanqon, which was situated in the loop of the river, and 3d Battalion was to cross the Doubs at Avanne, circle completely behind the city and come in from the northeast.

At 0036, Ist Battalion, commanded by Captain Christopher W. Chaney, jumped off to clear the Doubs loop. On reaching the Chapelle des Bois, contact was made with 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry, and the advance continued northwest toward the Besanqon goose-egg. The battalion came under fire at 0338.

As Companies C and B continuing in column reached the high ground south of the Citadelle, they came under more fire from two hitherto unknown forts guarding the right and left approaches to the Citadelle.

Aided by tanks of Company C, 756th, under 1st Lt. Rex Metcalfe, Company C, 30th, battled for four hours against fanatical Hitlerjugend inductees and took the fort on the west side of the neck with fifty-three prisoners. While Company B attacked by fire, Company A was moved in, and after a stiff fight, took the east guard fort and about twenty-five prisoners. In a coordinated attack, using all weapons of the battalion, and even employing the direct fire of a 9th FA Battalion 155mm howitzer at a range of about 500 yards, Captain Chaney maneuvered his battalion into a final assault on the Citadelle. While Company C moved around to the northwest and rear of the fort, Company A assaulted frontally, and with the aid of close mortar fire support forced the surrender of the fort by 1830.

Troops which entered the Citadelle to handle the more than 200 prisoners (which included one battalion CO and two company CO's) reported that the massive walls had been barely more than chipped by the high explosive 155 shells, but the terrific muzzle blast combined with the terrifying sound of shell bursts had been too much for the defenders' nerves. Seventeen casualties, most of them wounded, were taken from the fort. All of these had been wounded by mortar fire.

By 2205 Ist Battalion, 30th Infantry, had closed on its objective, the Doubs River loop, from the south.

For its outstanding performance of duty in action during the period September 6-7 at Besancon, the Ist Battalion, 30th Infantry, was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

During the fight for, and capture of, the Citadelle, 3d Battalion, 30th Infantry, had been relieved by Company F at 1420 and moved out on trucks via the Avanne bridge to a position northeast of Besancon to join in the coordinated attack on the city. The attack was launched

at 2005 that night. By 2130 Company L, had met resistance near the city's railroad station. Company K was moved to assist Company L, and at daylight was in contact with the enemy while Company L was engaged in clearing enemy from the city. Both companies continued to work on this strong pocket of enemy resistance throughout the day of September 8 while Company I moved to establish a roadblock. By 1220 resistance was broken and over 100 prisoners taken. By 1645 the battalion was assembled and moved to a regimental assembly area, where it closed in at 1900 and prepared to push to the north.

The 2d Battalion had been in reserve during most of the fight. At 0810 that morning the battalion crossed the Doubs River Bailey bridge into the city and at 1050 was held up by continuing fighting within the city. Company F held the high ground overlooking the city and was committed to assist 3d Battalion in its street-fighting assignment. Company F took 196 prisoners in this work and in the later afternoon moved to the regimental assembly area, closing there with the rest of 2d Battalion at 1900.

Cost to the enemy in the Battle of Besancon had been about 653 prisoners, not including wounded (and taken prisoner), and killed. Numbered among the latter was a Brig. Gen. Schmidt, who was killed at a roadblock of Company A, 7th Infantry, on the afternoon of September 6. His orderly, who was taken prisoner, said that the general was 56 years old, had fought in Russia, and had been commanding an artillery school at Autun from April 26, 1943, to September 2, 1944. He supposedly had been en route to take command of a division (probably the 159th) in the Besancon area when the four cars in his party took the wrong road and the general stopped an M- 1 bullet.

Following the axis of two main roads to the north, the Division continued its attack in the direction of Vesoul. The 7th Infantry advanced to the northeast to Rigney, then turned west toward Rioz. It moved against slight resistance until enemy were encountered at Traitie Fontaine. The 2d Battalion led this advance, followed by 3d Battalion.

The 15th Infantry continued to advance north toward Rioz against strong resistance in the form of organized defenses as well as a number of by-passed pockets of enemy forces. The 1st Battalion reached Tallenay without resistance. After fighting all through the night of September 8-9 Company F captured Ecole and Company E captured Miserey-Salines. By noon, September 9, Company G had reached a point just south of the Ornan River. The 3d Battalion continued its advance against strong resistance to the vicinity of Chatillonle-Duc. By 1005, September 9 Companies I and L were abreast near Devecey, continuing the attack.

In Besan~on, 30th Infantry made a thorough sweep of the town until, by 1400, September 8, it had been determined that the last enemy soldier was rounded up. The regiment moved out during the night of September 8- 9. The 1st Battalion encountered considerable resistance during the morning of September 9, but overcame it. The 3d Battalion followed the 1st Battalion.

At 2000, September 9, Company G moved to the northeast side of Rioz and was 2000 yards from its outskirts. Three hours later the company was 800 yards from a road north of the town and 500 yards from the town itself. During the fight it captured prisoners from the 634th Guard Regiment which had been moved into the sector to assist in the disengagement of elements of the 198th and 338th Divisions and to reinforce the positions. The 2d Battalion did not enter Rioz in force, but early in the morning of September 10 contacted elements of 15th Infantry in town. The 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry, sent a platoon of Company I to Loulans, then reinforced the position with the entire company. Remainder of the battalion was located in the vicinity of Cirey during the night, then assembled at Loulans, and at noon, September 10, was moving northeast against light resistance. The Ist Battalion was located at Regney, with Companies A and C on the outskirts of Vandeland to screen the Division's right flank. The 2d Battalion assembled in the vicinity of Cirey and at 1000 crossed the line of departure moving northeast.

The 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry, moved by truck to Neuville-de-Cromary, then moved by foot to Soransles-Breury on September 9. On the morning of the 10th the battalion resumed the attack toward Vesoul, moving out at 0700. At 1015 Company A encountered an estimated platoon of enemy, reinforced by a tank and SP gun, but soon took care of the trouble. The 2d Battalion moved against a series of enemy roadblocks near Voray, and at 1545, September 9, was at Sorans-les-Breury after destroying three strong roadblocks and capturing three 88mm guns. The battalion moved on toward Rioz, aided in clearing the town, and set up roadblocks. The 3d Battalion, 15th Infantry, moved by truck through Traitie Fontaine and assisted 2d Battalion in clearing Rioz, and also set up roadblocks.

The 30th Infantry was originally on the Division's left flank in contact with the 36th Division. One company of the 1st Battalion crossed the Oman River between Cussey and Boulot to protect the crossing of the rest of the battalions. Company B forded the river and at 2000, September 9, was on the outskirts of the Boulot. The 3d Battalion, at 1940, had a platoon in Bussieres, and 2d Battalion closed in an area near Voray on the north side of the Ornan River. At -0600, 3d Battalion led the regiment in a move to the north. Company K headed the battalion, moving to the left of Voray. The 2d Battalion pushed through Rioz on trucks while 3d Battalion moved cross-country to Boult on the Division left flank. At 1115 3d Battalion was moving north 'against scattered small-arms and machine-gun fire.

Enemy rear guard and delaying forces south of Vesoul. made our advance difficult during September 10-11. The 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry, advancing toward Vesoul, was held up by strong enemy resistance in Quenoche, encountering small-arms, machine-gun, antitank, Flakwagon, tank, and artillery fire. By 1500, September 10, the battalion Was on the outskirts of the town, and by 1900 the town of Quenoche was in our hands, although some mopping-up remained to be done. The 2d Battalion, following the first, was on the left flank at 1335. The battalion moved to Hyet and contacted the enemy. By 2000 Hyet was completely in our hands and the battalion moved north to Pennesieres. On the morning of September 11, 2d Battalion continued the advance through Courboux without resistance, while Ist Battalion advanced until it received enemy Flakwagon fire, which it eliminated.

The 2d Battalion, 30th Infantry, detrucked northwest of Rioz and advanced toward Tresilley over the September 10-11 period. Slight opposition was encountered and at 1730 artillery fire was directed on enemy personnel and vehicles. The 1st and 2d Battalions continued to advance against slight resistance.

At 0600, September 11, 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry, attacked north toward Filain. The battalion encountered enemy resistance toward noon and engaged in a fire fight southwest of Vy-le-Aubertans. The 2d Battalion, during the afternoon of September 10, had encountered strong enemy resistance south of Aubertans. The resistance was overcome during the night of September 10-11 and at 0630 Company G moved out toward Authoison against heavy machine-gun fire. Toward noon, however, the battalion was advancing without opposition.

During the same 24-hour period 3d Battalion overcame strong enemy resistance at Ormemans to encounter an enemy strongpoint at Roche-sur-Linotte at about 2000. At 0730 the battalion attacked north, encountered strong resistance, and pushed on into it.

The objectives of Vesoul and the road nets east of the city were being stubbornly defended.

The 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry, advanced through Filain, while 2d Battalion left Authoison, and 3d Battalion engaged in a fire fight outside Dampierre. The 7th Infantry finally occupied Hills 418 and 405 after attacking through the Bois de Dampierre.

The 30th Infantry advanced northeast toward Presle, meeting strong enemy resistance all the way. The wooded, hilly terrain necessarily made advances slow.

The 3d Battalion moved by motor from its assembly area near Mariox to its line of departure for the attack on Presle. At 2000 the battalion, having cleared out machine- gun and rifle outpost positions on the way, prepared to attack Presle at daylight September 12.

During September 12 the attack on Presle was continued by 3d Battalion. Because of the dogged resistance and heavy enemy fire it became necessary to commit the Ist and 2d Battalions on a flanking movement to encircle the town.

The 3d Battalion jumped off at daylight as planned, but was immediately met with fire from three sides, and the attack was halted. A combat group of infantry, tanks, and TDs was sent to clear the enemy from a ridge on the left flank. This was accomplished, but heavy fire from Presle as well as observed artillery fire from Mt. Jesus, and machine-gun and sniper fire from the Bois de Petit Pas continued to halt the attack. Company I moved to Thieffrans at 2130.

The Ist Battalion was committed at 1715 with the mission of outflanking and cutting off the determined enemy from the north. The battalion entrucked and advance elements met and fired on about seventy-five enemy at a cross road. At 2000, the balance of the battalion jumped off in the attack on Esprels. The battalion moved forward without opposition but met many unmanned roadblocks which the 10th Engineers cleared to permit the advance of attached armor.

The 2d Battalion was committed at 1645, September 12. Company E was sent by truck with the mission of clearing the roadblock on the main highway by attacking it from the rear. The balance of the battalion moved down the main highway through Dampierre to assault Presle via Trevey. Trevey was occupied by 2010.

In face of pressure exerted by this three-battalion attack, the enemy withdrew on September 13. Presle, Vallerois-le-Bois, Les Patey, Chassey-les-Montboxon, and Esprels were all occupied.

The 3d Battalion, 15th Infantry was committed on the regiment's left flank, by-passing 2d Battalion, and advancing to the southern outskirts of Vesoul. By noon of September 12 it was in the first few buildings there. The 1st Battalion advanced against constant enemy resistance with a mission of advancing north and flanking the town from the east. The 2d Battalion advanced through La Demie with a mission of blocking a road in that vicinity.

Vesoul finally fell during the afternoon of September 12 to elements of the 15th Infantry and two battalions of the 36th Division.

Two heroic actions especially marked the September 12-13 period.

Second Lt. Raymond Zussman of Company A, 756th Tank Battalion, was a platoon leader. As his tank and another of his platoon were approaching Noroy-le-Bourg at about 1900, they were in front of 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry. The intercommunication system was out between tanks and throughout the subsequent action Lieutenant Zussman directed the tank from outside, either verbally or by signals.

Zussman went forward on foot to reconnoiter the highway. He disappeared from sight; there was the sound of small-arms fire and the lieutenant reappeared, to motion the tank to the highway. Several infantrymen proceeded forward with the group.

After directing the tank through a boobytrapped roadblock, the group was fired upon by an enemy machine gun and some riflemen about forty yards to the right front. Lieutenant Zussman stood on the right of the tank, directing fire on the enemy positions, and in a matter of seconds three of the enemy were killed and eight had surrendered. After collecting these prisoners, Zussman again directed fire, this time on a German Volkswagen at a road junction; three more enemy were killed and seven or eight surrendered.

Lieutenant Zussman then obtained a tommy gun, being out of carbine ammunition, and started toward town, across a field paralleling the road to town. The tank followed. Again he was fired upon. Again he returned under intense fire to direct the tank in neutralizing the opposition. Standing up straight he pointed out the enemy, and within a few minutes twenty more had surrendered.

"Lieutenant Zussman had the infantrymen collect these prisoners while he went ahead alone to investigate some houses on our side of the road about fifty yards in front of us," said Cpl. Theodore Coller, a crew member of the tank.

Added Pvt. Calvin E. Eaton: I saw Lieutenant Zussman approach the back of the house, running and firing his tommy gun en route. A few wild small-arms shots were taken at him, and as he neared the far corner several hand grenades were thrown in his direction but he was unharmed and beckoned us forward. He directed our fire through a back door of the house and into a small shed nearby, and twelve more Jerries who were in and around the house hastily surrendered."

Reconnoitering for a route for the tank out to the highway, a storm of fire and a grenade came Zussman's way. He returned fire and the enemy ceased. He called the tank up again; by the time- the tank had neared the house he had gone to the front again, and by the time the tank had rounded the corner, Lieutenant Zussman had returned with fifteen more prisoners.

He directed the tank's fire on a house across the road, foward which a number of the enemy were scurrying in an attempt to escape. At least two or three were killed and several wounded.

The miniature armored force continued down the main street of Noroy, Zussman still leading. A wagon started across an intersection to the front; the tank fired on it and killed eight or ten enemy. "Lieutenant Zussman figured the intersection might be zeroed in for antitank fire, so he had us wait while he went around the corner to investigate," said T/5 Espiridion Guillen. "We heard Lieutenant Zussman repeatedly yelling, "Hande hoch! Hande hoch!' and heard frequent bursts from his tommy gun. In a few minutes he stepped out in the intersection where we could see him, and a string of about thirty prisoners filed around the corner and were taken into custody by the infantrymen. Lieutenant Zussman said he routed them, out of a basement."

As night fell, Zussman again went forward alone to a truck. There was another hand-grenade explosion, but when the smoke cleared away he returned with another prisoner.

The results of his actions were seventeen enemy killed, ninety-two captured, and two antitank guns, one 20mm Flak gun, two machine guns, and two trucks captured.

Lieutenant Zussman Was killed in a subsequent action, but was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Another officer, 1st Lt. John J. Tominac, of Company 1, 15th Infantry, also especially distinguished himself during this same time.

The 3d Battalion, having captured the hill mass south of Saulx-de-Vesoul, drove down the hillsides toward the city in the face of stubborn resistance. Forces in the hills north of Saulx-de-Vesoul hammered the German positions with artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire. In this operation the other forces were the anvil, the 3d Battalion, the hammer.

As Tominac's platoon neared a bend in the road down which they were proceeding, an enemy machine gun opened fire, raking the highway with bursts of knee-high fire.

Lieutenant Tominac sized up the situation and shouted back to bring up tank support. Within a matter of minutes an M-4 came up and halted just ahead of the platoon's leading elements.

Under heavy fire Tominac ran forward ten yards to direct fire on the enemy machine-gun nest, as two squads of his platoon worked their way forward into firing positions on the road, protected from the enemy by the tank's hull.

A second enemy machine-gun nest remained, following the neutralization of the first. Working his left squad to within fifty yards of the weapon, Tominac halted the men and rushed headlong into the weapon, firing his tommy gun. He killed the three men manning it.

This action alerted the main enemy defensive force. The occupants of this position were about 200 yards to the left front. Tominac led a squad against the enemy strongpoint. Although the area was swept by infantry fire of every type, Tominac rushed back and forth from one squad to the other, supervising and directing the one he led personally, and one which he had directed to clean out any enemy who might. be in a group of nearby houses.

He and his men overran the hostile strongpoint, killing about thirty of the enemy. The squad resumed the advance. After proceeding a few yards, Tominac spotted a concealed 77mm self-propelled gun in a "V" intersection of the road, about 200 yards to the front.

He ordered his men to halt, and went ahead, alone and on foot, followed by the tank. The SP opened fire on the tank and neutralized it. The tank caught fire and the crew balled out.

Driverless and burning, it began to roll down the road toward the German position. Tominac ran and jumped on it; stood boldly upright, silhouetted against the sky, grasping the MA's .50-caliber machine gun. As he opened fire on the 77's crew, a rain of bullets from hostile machine guns, machine pistols and snipers ricocheted off the turret and hull of the tank, with the 77 also still firing at it.

Tominac fired burst after burst at the SP gun and the *infantry foxholes around it. After raking the area with fire he jumped down from the steadily accelerating tank.

Joined by S/Sgt. John B. Shirley, one of his squad leaders, it was noted that Tominac was painfully wounded in the shoulder. Shirley took out his penknife and removed a dollar-sized fragment from the shoulder. At about the same time the tank crashed in the midst of a group of German gun pits, bursting into flames as its gasoline and ammunition exploded.

Again Tominac led his men forward. The enemy had been forced to abandon his roadblock. The SP gun withdrew into Saulx-de-Vesoul. Refusing medical aid, Lieutenant Tominac sent Shirley's squad to clean out a group of houses in the city, while he led the remainder of the platoon against a strongly-fortified group of buildings which contained about a company of Germans. Despite his painful wound, he took his men to within pointblank range of a wall which surrounded the buildings from which the enemy was firing. Hurling hand grenades into the enemy's midst and simultaneously deploying a portion of his force around to the rear of the buildings, Tominac compelled thirty-one enemy soldiers and one officer to surrender, captured at least half a dozen enemy vehicles, together with machine guns and a quantity of other materiel.

At the cost of only four casualties, he had led his men in overcoming four successive enemy strongpoints, killing at least thirty of the enemy, taking thirty-two prisoners and capturing the platoon's sector of Saulxde-Vesoul. For this he later received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

By straight-line distance it is more than 400 miles from Cavalaire and St. Tropez to Vesoul. The American VI Corps, advancing not in a straight line, but tacking first to the west, then north, then northeast, back to the northwest, finally, north and northeast, as the tactical situation required, had covered the distance in less than a month-truly an amazing feat. In a war Of movement, this accomplishment stood out as an example of speed and mobility. The 3d Infantry Division had played a prominent part in making that feat possible.

French forces, coming up from the rear, reinforced and emphasized the rapid cleavage, but the spearhead was always VI Corps.

There were immediate and telling results of the avalanche which rolled north from the Riviera beaches Somewhere south of the Loire River, in western France 20,000 enemy soldiers surrendered to a United State platoon. Four United States correspondents drove a jeep through supposedly enemy-infested territory, from south to north, and did not encounter a single German soldier. Isolated enemy pockets were swiftly wiped out by avenging F.F.I. bands. When French forces joined those of Lt. Gen. George S. Patton's Third Army near Dijon in early September, all of Central and Western France, with the exception of a few western ports, was automatically freed. Instead of a slow sluggingmatch to liberate France the United States armies were now free to concentrate on the western approaches to Germany. The ultimate end of the war in Europe was probably speeded many months. And in the zone of VI Corps the German l9th Army received a blow from which it never recovered.

Probably the outstanding difficulty of the rapid move had been the ever-present bugaboo of supply, magnified many times over. Even the most optimistic planners had not foreseen moving so far, so fast.

Initially, while preinvasion beach reconnaissance had indicated that Red Beach at St. Tropez would be excellent for beaching craft, only one section was good enough to beach LCIs, and this was so heavily protected with underwater mines that it could not be used until H- plus-8 hours. These unexpected difficulties would have been extremely serious had more than slight resistance been met by the infantry, as supporting tanks and artillery were not ashore and assembled until late on D-day and the Beach Group reacted slowly to changes occasioned by the difficulties. However, late on D-day the Group became better organized, and by H-plus-20 hours all small craft except the five supply LCTs were completely discharged.

Unloading of the ocean-type ships lagged far behind schedule, primarily because all Liberty ships arrived at the transport area behind schedule. Due in the transport area at noon of D-day, seven of the ten Liberties arrived at noon of D-plus-one and the other three not until the forenoon of D-plus-two.

While the delay in unloading caused considerable difficulty due to lack of transportation, its most serious implication was the almost complete lack of supply. Through unforeseen difficulties, a critical gasoline shortage existed by H-plus-30 hours when supply LCTs were finally beached.

Normally Army supply bases keep within twenty miles of Division rear. Initially Division transportation was used exclusively to move supplies from the beaches to supply dumps, reaching a round trip of 400 miles before Army was able to establish forward dumps at St. Maximin. This relief was short-lived, as Divisions was called upon to furnish forty trucks to Corps for special missions, and 3d Infantry Division. began a 150-mile move from Aix to Montelimar, which again eventually put Army dumps 150 miles behind the troops. That the supply problem was whipped is a credit to the men who worked 24-hour days for days on end to keep the supplies flowing.

Some measure of what it takes to make a move of the proportions of VI Corps' move north is furnished by a look at the wire summaries of the Division Signal Officer. During the sixteen days from August 15 to 31, alone, 2207 miles of wire were laid, and only 190 recovered. Communications, at that, were often solely by radio.

The 3d Infantry Division continued its push, and found itself at the approaches to the Vosges Mountains. It was still mid-Autumn-on the calendar-but the cold winds already had begun to blow, and the weather had turned rainy. It seemed only a short time ago that the Anzio sun came out to stay and ended the long, cold, wet Italian winter. Now the seasons had once more rolled around, and with the annual change came winter fighting in France's Vosges Mountains.

The Vosges Mountains had never been crossed by a military force opposed by an enemy. That solid fact stood out as the divisions of VI Corps set out to commence the fight. Miles ahead lay the Rhine River and the frontier of Germany.

Reinforcements and hospital return-to-unit personnel

Reinf	Hosp RTUs
Off --EM	Off--EM
16 ---307	17---967

KNOWN ENEMY CASUALTIES

Killed	Wounded	Captured
330	1005	9003

*These figures were provided by the A C of S, G-1, 3d Infantry Division.
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