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

Patton's Troubleshooters Book                        Patton's Troubleshooters DVD

Capt. Nordstrom, Battalion Intelligence Officer of the 702nd stated that Gen. McBride  was nervous in combat and inept with battlefield decisions.  Later he stayed in his headquarters, which improved the situation immensely.  Many of the men of Company "B" felt that General McBride's treatment of Capt. Stover bordered on the criminal.  Sgt. "Ole" Olson, Battalion Intelligence Sergeant, remembers seeing the good captain being led away, under arrest, in the custody of two MP’s. 

However, after Capt. Stover was convicted of disobeying a direct order, at his court-martial, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, in reviewing the Stover case, would reduce the sentence handed down by the court, in view of the fact that Captain Stover was acting in good faith, in trying to prevent the annihilation of his command and not out of any concern for himself.

On a return trip to look at the remains of the burned out tanks of Third Platoon, after the Argentan battle, Cpl. Weaver noted that the big white stars that he had painted back on the tanks in England, had served as a target for the dug-in Tiger tank crew to sight in the tanks of Third Platoon.  Right in the center of each white star was a hole left by a German 88 mm armor-piercing shell.  Retired Col. William B. "Bull" Miller remembers that his tank was hit a glancing shot (with no damage incurred) by a ground-mount 88 mm from the Northeast.  His tank's tall antenna, with its attached flag provided an ideal target above the hedgerow for either a Tiger or Mk V tank.  Zeroing in on this useless flag, the enemy tank delivered the killing shot that hit Lt. Miller's tank in the left sponson penetrating the fuel tank and engine.

From the 80th Division G-2 report; 

"The enemy resisted our attacks fiercely on the 18th and 19th of August, supported by heavy artillery concentrations and direct fire guns.  On the night of the 19th, the enemy withdrew from Argentan, but the majority of the defenders were cut off by our troops on the high ground back of the town or caught in the "pocket" into which they were driven.  The Argentan-Falaise pocket was closed when the 90th U.S. Infantry Division and the Polish Armoured Division met at Chambois.  During the remainder of operations there was no organized resistance.  The enemy surrendered in large numbers or were killed and their equipment destroyed by our artillery fire and aerial bombing.  The division took 1,009 prisoners during this operation and destroyed 14 enemy tanks."

Dead German Panzer

The 80th Division G-3 report for the 19th of August read;

"The attack jumped off at 6:45 A.M. with 2nd Battalion, 318th Infantry attacking in the direction of Argentan.  This advance was halted by hostile fire from the vicinity east of Argentan.  3rd Battalion launched attack on the Division Objective at 7:00 A.M.  It met heavy resistance, consisting of tanks and infantry and was forced to reorganize in the vicinity of Vrou at 2:30 P.M.  1st Battalion was in Regimental Reserve in the vicinity of Bordeaux.  2nd Battalion of 317th Infantry closed in on an assembly area south of Hill 171 at 1:30 A.M.  It was given the mission of supporting by fire the above mentioned attack of the 3rd Battalion, 318th Infantry from Hill 171.  317th Infantry passed through the 318th Infantry in column of battalions with 2nd Battalion leading, launching an attack on Division Objective at 5:35 P.M.  Progress was very slow due to heavy fire from the edge of Foret Du Gouffern and the Division Objective.  At 8:30 P.M., advance had progressed to the Southeast edge of Objective on southern slope of Hill 213.  They were ordered to dig in and resume attack at 7:00 A.M. on 20 August."

The Headquarters Company diary entry for August 19th states:

"Departed from Medavy at noon.  Arrived in Aunoul le Faucon at 3:00pm.  Assault Gun Platoon and Mortar Platoon still in action."

From the Service Company diary:

"19 August-Last night was our first night spent so close to the artillery.  The continual roar was something new to contend with.  Lt. Swanin got in early this morning with full gas trucks.  For the first time in a week, we have an ample supply of gasoline.  A message also came in stating that the gas dumps were moving closer.

The day was spent in maintenance, and cleaning other equipment.  Another swimming hole was located close-by, and many men had a bath.  10 in 1 rations were served again at the kitchen, and were drawn again for tomorrow.  Our first PX rations arrived today.  Just at a good time too, for cigarettes were beginning to run low.  This is the regular G.I. gratis issue.  The boxes were all well packed and water proof.  The issue consisted of cigarettes, candy, chewing gum, chewing and pipe tobacco, toilet soap, shaving cream, tooth powder, and a few razors, blades and tooth brushes.  A very good assortment, and well appreciated by everyone!

We have made contact with the "Free French" Armored Division that was organized in Africa, and equipped with American clothing and vehicles.  From apparent indications, they seem to be a little loosely organized, but a real fighting outfit.  Without a doubt, the Germans will suffer from this unit at every contact.  Rumors drifted in tonight that "B" Company had lost four tanks.  This will be the first serious loss that our battalion has suffered."