TheTroubleshooters.com Home                   Catalog                   World War 2                   World War 1                  Links

Patton's Troubleshooters Book                        Patton's Troubleshooters DVD

6 Aug 1944

France

Location-ST. GERMAINE DE VARREVILLE-- The Company disembarked from L.C.T's. at 1745 at Utah Beach and proceeded to Battalion assembly area at St. Germaine de Varreville.

7 Aug 1944

France

Location-ST. GERMAINE DE VARREVILLE-- The Battalion departed from this area to repulse a German attack at Mortain, however it was stopped before we could reach there.  We left area at 2230.

8 Aug 1944

France     

Location-ON THE ROAD--Company was forced to drive the entire night of the 7th and all day of the 8th until 1930, when we bivouacked in a wheat field near Everon.  T/4 Robert L. Blew- Duty to Hospital

9 Aug 1944

France

Location- Near EVRON- The 317th Inf. Regt. of the 80th Division, with "A" Co, attached, attacked Everon.  Opposition was practically nil with two snipers captured as our first prize.  Co. moved on to Bazaugers and arrived at 1600.

10 Aug 1944

France

Location-BAZAUGERS--The Co. left this area and went on a circular road march passing thru Sille Guillaume and other small French towns. Enroute Capt. Smith had Lt. Croxton help some Engineers to clear a roadblock.  Rest of Co. sat in a nearby field awaiting orders to move.  French civilians very happy and always giving us things to drink.

11 Aug 1944

France

Location- AMNE - Arrived at Amne at 1400

12 Aug 1944

France

Location- AMNE - No change.

13 Aug 1944

France

Location-On Attack-- The Company attacked Villains with Infantrymen riding on our tanks into town.  While two Platoons were in the main square of town Pvt. Johnnie Vitello was shot in the arm.  Then they let loose and really shot up the town.  Leaving Villains we parked in a field nearby to gas and oil the vehicles.  Again the tanks were on the road but were delayed somewhat because Kraut machine gun fire ahead of us was firing on "Dough's" in open trucks.  Capt. Smith, with Lt. East's 1st Platoon wiped them out.  "Black John" met his first French love and PFC Ferry, being concerned for the safety of the Company, volunteered for Guard Duty all night.  Pvt. Johnnie Vitello-Duty to Hospital

14 Aug 1944

France

Location-In the field--Today the Company cleaned guns and pulled anti-aircraft guard on surrounding hills.  Lt. East, Sgt. Deem and Sgt. Murphy were ordered to go on a mission to knock out an 88mm. gun position but at the last minute the orders were cancelled.

15 Aug 1944

France

Location-In the field--Arrived in the vicinity of La Chapelle at 2000.

16 Aug 1944

France

Location-LA CHAPELLE--The Company left La Chapelle for Mace.  They arrived at Mace at 2000.

17 Aug 1944

France

Location--MACE--No change.

18 Aug 1944

France

Location--MACE--Moved into an area outside of Juvigny Surorne and listened, part-of the day, to artillery observers giving orders to the batteries.  It was a field day for them.

19 Aug 1944

France

Location- JUVIGNY SURORNE  --Company rode thru Juvigny Surorne for an attack with the 317th. Combat Team at 1730.  Lt. Stevens was wounded during the attack and later died in the Hospital.  S/Sgt. Larkin took command of his tank, Larkin's vehicle being bogged down in mud at the time.  It was foggy and raining during the night and visibility was extremely poor so the tanks remained in the field all night long.

20 Aug 1944

France

Location--In the field--Company continued the attack until 1400 when the tanks withdrew to reload with ammunition.  Sgt. Yagle's tank was hit by an antitank gun.  Sgt. Yagle, T/5 Krause, and PFC Ted Grunert  were killed.  Cpl. Tomashunas and Pvt.  Roland F. Hills were wounded.  The tank burned.  Sgt. Szymanski's tank was also hit by an anti tank gun and burned but no one was injured. Cpl. Harris re-entered the tank and traversed the turret, allowing the Bog's (bow gunner's) hatch to open.  Harris thought the bow gunner, Al Swathell, was trapped by the gun.  He was awarded the Bronze Star for this deed.  His was the first award in the Company.  Sgt. Jones' tank silenced the gun that disabled  Sgt. Yagle's tank.  Cpl's. Pruett, Daniels and Foster claimed a Mark V Panther tank.  An anti-tank gun was definitely silenced by Lt. East's tank.  Capt, Smith's "Buggy" sustained a hit in the turret before destroying 2 Mark IV tanks and a half-track. Sgt. Deem knocked out 2-20mm guns.   Lt. Croxton's gunner, Cpl.  Dunsavage, has an anti-tank gun to his credit.  Lt. East, without any personal reconnaissance, accomplished wonders.  He used "recon by fire", shooting up one hedge-row and then advancing to it.  The attack was a great success and the objective, Hill # 213, about 1 1/2 miles north of Argentan, was taken.

21 Aug 1944

France

Location- ARGENTAN -- Cpl. Frank M. Tomashunas -Duty to Hospital L.W.A.—Pvt. Roland F. Hills-Duty to Hospital S.W.A.--Sgt. Edwin N. Yagle-K.I.A.  The Company left Argentan at 1430 and arrived Medany at 1630.

22 Aug 1944

France

Location- MEDANY-Left  Medany for field and bivouacked. No other change.

23 Aug 1944

France

Location-In the field-- Cpl.  Frank M. Tomashunas-Hospital to L.T.D.  T/5 Joseph D. Krouse-M.I.A. as of the 20th.  PFC Theo. Grunert- M.I.A, as of the 20th.  Company had a movie and a visit by the Red Cross Clubmobile today.

24 Aug 1944

France

Location-In the field-- The Company left area one mile west of Medan at 1800 and arrived two miles north of Almeneches at 1845.  Pvt. Chris McConnell Jr,--Appointed  T/5, Pvt. Joseph S. Lanfranco--Appointed  T/5 Pvt. Robt. Weis Appointed T/5.  T/4 Robt. Brown Appointed  Sgt.

25 Aug 1944

France

Location-Near ALMENCHES-No change.

26 Aug 1944

France

Location- Enroute

27 Aug 1944

France

Location MARIGNY-- The Company departed from Almenches at 0800 Aug. 26th. and arrived at Marigny at 1400 today.

28 Aug 1944

France

Location- ST. ETIENNE-- Moved out of Marigny at 0015, passing through Orleans, Troyes, Sens, Villoneuve and Pavillion.  Arrived in the vicinity of St. Etienne at 1700. 1st Lt. James Adkins R.S.G.D.-2nd, Lt. Bernard W. Dickhauser  A.S.G.D.- Pvt. Virgil Burns A.S.G.D.-Pvt, Jesse W. Hodson A.S.G.D.- all joined "A" Co.

29 Aug 1944

France

Location-ST. ETIENNE -The Company left the vicinity of St. Etienne at O430 to attack city of Chalons.  Reached the city at 1600 but there was no enemy opposition encountered. Moved out of Chalons at 1000.

30 Aug 1944

France

Location--Near ST. ETIENNE -Arrived N.E. of St. Etienne at 1000.  Pvt. Melvin L. Glantz -Duty to Hospital Seriously injured, non-battle casualty.

31 Aug 1944

France

Location-Near ST. ETIENNE---T/4 John W. Manning-Reduced to Pvt.--T/5 Arthur E. Collins-Reduced to Pvt.--Both for inefficency.  PFC Albert B.  Schweiger-Appointed  T/4. PFC Walter F. Winbrow-Appointed T/5.