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HBiDQUAJlTBRS--nrn-EIOHfH AlIICR!%) FIELD ARTIU,ERY BA'I"1'AUOtf

!PO 230 U.S. ABIIY

22 July 1944

SOBJICl'. Report Action Ac&inn lfteJl7.

I CClllDa1'ld1na General, 3rcl Armored. Divia1on, APe) 253. Attention G-3.

In compliance 111th orders from ,our headquarters, Report Atter Action Against lneDl1' tor month ot June 1944, with supporting papers, 1s herewith suta1tted tor this unit.

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JULIAN G. RYAN, 1st Lieut., Field Artillery,

S-l

800.36 1st Ind. K:E3/dm Hq 3rd Armd Div, .APO U. S. lirmy, 24 July 1944.- TO: C01J::lUlding

First United States Arm:I. APO ://:230, U. S. Arrrv.• •

1. Forwarded. .

.. ,C,' '".,eric', For the CCIIIIlIIUldillg ae,.,ral, f"J £.5. ',.; -> c. ,", , ':.: :J,. i.. - noB RT

Lt Co::', AGD, .Adj. Gen.

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•• 'DQUAa!BaS nrn-DHrlll AJI((Ilm 1'DLD .Aa'tlLLBllY BlftALICli

!PO 23(? u.s. AJaIY

llIPOR! umt ACUO. MJAIIS! ENmIY * lCIllfOMTH 0' JUKE. 1944

At. 0001, 1 JUDe 1944, ".alt Pore. ot the Batt&l.1co were in reacl1D•• in o-ca.- in t.he YiciDit.70t Dorcbeeter, JrnalAnd. &..idue r-.ined at t.be pelW&lleDt cup at 4' Stovcl1tfe Averae, Sout.hboume, D2gl.and. The Bat.talion at tb1. t.i_ .a ..aiped to t .. lat U.S. Amy, attached to V Corp, at.taehecl to 29th Intaatl7 Dbi.ion, attached to the ll6th Collbat 'eu, which in tUl'D .. attachecl to the lilt Intantl7 Din-ion tor the torthcoa1n.g operation.

On 1 JUDe 1944 t.be ".ault Pore.. 1o&<1ecl vehicles and penonnel on laDd1D1 craft ancl traneporte at We,.,utb Harbor, in compliance with n.eld Ord.-"" Bqa let Waat.1'7 DlT1e1on. 'fh1. order directed the ,8th AIworeci rA Batta110n to land on t.he coast of France in the 'ricin:lty ot Vierrllle Sur )Ie-,

Prance, in eupport ot the 1l6th Coabat. Ta. .. a part. of the operation 1IIP'11JU. with a mia.ion to .ecure and hold a beach-head u a basia tor tuture operationa,

!he COD'lOl' .ade a talae atart on 4 JUDe 1944, but returned to the harbor when D-Da7 _a po.tponed becauae ot rough weather.

The nut mornirlg, June 5th, the Battal10n tinallY' started tor Prance, I-Da7 being aet tor the 6th of June. With excelleat. air cover and. surtace ..aorta, the trip acro.... UD..enttul. Arriying at the a••-.bll' area. 20,0001&1"u ott .bore, the Aring batteries headed for ahore. and from poaitions off noN ahelled ahore targets east of VierrlUe frOll H - 30 to H - ,. H-Hour.a 0630 b:)ure.

!he h.Yieat caaualties were among the foot parties that landed with the lntantl"7. !he Commanding Officer and the Reconnaissance Officer were ldlled bl' machine gun tire upon hitting the beach. The tiring batteries landed trcm 1200 to 1600 Hours, and proceeded to positiOIl8 near ahore. Bl' ·1800 Houri the Battalion, with el.,en guns. .. reorganized. and waa functioning as a unit UDder the commaM of the "cutive Officer. BatterT "A" moved. inland and ...upporting the llSth Intantl"7.

7 June 1944

During the night, two Batteries, "B" and tIC", JIIOved inland and took poaitiona iamed.iately behind the 3rd Battalion, l16th InfantrT' In spite of annoying aniper action all dar, the Battalion suttered no casualties, and JDOYed to poaitione two miles west of Vierri.lle in the evening, continuing to give the 116th Intant17 aupport. Following the plan, the 29th InfantrT Division Hqs now ashore baa taken over cOlllD&lld of the 116th Combat Team, including the 58th Armored. FA Battalion. To continue the attack on IaigD7, Field Order #2

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was issued by Iiq, 29th Intantr.r DiYia1on, orderiD& the 17,th Intantr.r Regialent to attack and capt,..e the town, and tor this Battal10n to give support to both the 175th and 116th Intantr;y

8 JUDe 1944

Th. Battalion moved in the torenoon to positions north ot IbnguevUle, trom which tire could be delivered. on both Isigny and IIa1.sy.

9 June 19M

At thiB polition two organic guns arrived and also two guns, bringing the total. to tifteen. Serrice Batter;r also arrived at this tiJM. Late in the evening the batteries moved another 2500 ;yards tC?l"-ward.

10 June 1944

Battalion placed. in general support of the 115th Infantry, which _s driving toward St. Clair. Battalion moved. at 1500 hours across the marshes south-east of Isigny to vicinity of Lilon. The Infantry's rapid advance was halted on the river north ot St. Clair.

11 June 1944

Battalion remained in same position and to operate under control of Co1one1 COOPER, Commanding Officer of 110th FA Battalion, the organic artillery of the 115th Combat Team.

12 June 1944

From the same positions, the Battalion tired over 1000 rounds in two rolling barrages across the river between St. lIarguer1.tte and St. Clair. In the afternoon one platoon of the 458th AM was a ttached. At 2100 our missi.->n was ctanged from sUfport ot the l15th Infantr;y"to general support of the 175th Infantry on the right of the Division Sector.

13 June 1944

Battalion remained in same position as fighting on the front died. down. Jlission changed to general. support of the Division as of 1500 hours.

14 June 1944

Effective at noon, the Battalion was relieved from the 29th Infantry Division and attached to the 30th Infantry Division and m Corps, occupying the sector west of the Vire River. The Commanding Officer reported to Com-manding General, Division Artillery, and the Battalion moved to supporting positions two miles south of Isigny. Although ortginally the mission waa direct support of the ll7th Infantry, it was changed almost immediately to

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support of the 119th Infantry. Incidental to .the Battalion'. chmge _8 the release of the i59th AU.. aM attachment ot "B" 8tr)" ot the .43Oth W.

15 JW 191t4

A very quiet day for this Battalion, as the 119th Infantry did not ·attack as planned. The l20th Infantry cleaned out the pocket between the Vire River and Taute River, and north of the Canal connecting th_.

16 June 1244

Battalion attached to l20th Infantry, and the fire under control ot the 230th FA Battalion. To support this team the Battalion moved to rl.ci.nit)" of MontlDartin en Graignea.

17 June 1944

Remained in sa:ne area about 3500 yards from front linea. One of a few enemy shells falling in the position wounded one of the Battery ColJlll&l¥iers.

18-21 June 1944

No change in p)sition. Our Rear Echelon arrived from England 18 June 1944.

22 June 1944

Persistent harrassing fire near "A" Batter)" caused the Batter)" to move back about 1500.yds.

23 June 1944

!\o change.

24 June 1944

"B" and "C" Batteries moved to avoid staying in the same area too long. Enany believed to be firing unobserV"ed fire based on information gathered by civilians.

June 1944

No change in position or assignment. At end of June, 9attalion was assigned to 1st U.S. Army, attached to XIX Corps, attached to 30th Infantr)" DiVision, attached to·l2Oth Combat Team.

BlW)PaU) E. SlIm, Capt., Field Artillel7,

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£Q1I11!2.ll11.61 j

H E A D. QUA R T E R S FIFTY;"EIGHTH Am4CRED FIELD ARTILLEllY BATTALION

APO 230 U.S. ARMY

APPINDIX No.1 TO

RWmT AFTER ACTION AGAINSI' ENIKY - Fat MONTH OF JUNE 1944.

jKWNITION EXPENDITtRE fOR JUNE liMIt I

DATI NO. lIISSIONS _NOORID. 1160 M84 TOTAL ROUNDSJUii8 6 _ 4 774 - 774 II· 127 0, S 0 73 32 117

8 4 0 120 0 3 123" .. 9 2 0 143 72 9 224 .. 10 2 3 130 0 33 163 .. 11 18 0 .568 54 20 642 12 18 1 1483 423 46 1952" • 13 2 0 36 0 6 42" " 14 0 2 25 0 12 37.. 15 4 1 189 0 4 193 16 8 I 383 0 10 393" 17 12 2. 329 102 41 472" 18 8 0 221 76 15 312" 19 3 1 176 0 28 204" ." 20 5 2 212 00. 34 246

" 21 9 1 292 28 53 373 22 4 1 133 68 17 218" 23 9 0 336 -0 10 346"

" 24 8 1 339 .93 5 6 433 25 10 2 201 112 7 320" 26 14 1 326 101 0 3 430" 27 19 0 491 258 27 776" 28 20 0 512 59 76 647" 29 14 1 344 226 57 5 632" .. 30 12 1 412 100 6 518

TOTAL 117 21 8248 .!1!4 ill 10597 -PERCENTAGE: 77.9% 16.8% 5.2% 0.1% 100%

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BIADQUARTERL nm-IIGHrH AIUOam FIELD AR'l'Iu..FBY BATTALION

APO 230 U.S. ARMY

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£PPaDn 10. 2 'fO

UPORT UT!R AC'l'IOlf AGAINST »mIT - KONTH OF JUNE 1944.

UNIT JOURNAL - June 1-39. 1944.

1 June 1944

Battalion departed. from liarshaling are.. near Dorchester England, and loaded'on 18 wcellaneoua cra.!t, including LOI's, LST's and LOT's, in WeytOOuth Harbor.

2-3 June 1944

Batttllion on craft in We;ymouth Harbor.

4 June 1944

0330 Departed. from T.e7JDOuth Harbor for France, in convoY'. 0700 ConvoY' tw-ned back to We;ymouth Harbor - Reason unkno'Wl'l.

A.rrived back in harbor•.

. 5 June 1944 0330 Bn deplrted. Weymouth harbor with convoy tor coast of France.

6 June 1944

0600-0625 Batteriee tiring trom ott-shore, shell targets on Beach Omaha, in vicinity Vierville Sur Mer, Nonnandy, France.

0630-0730 Bn Forward Observation and Reconnaissance parties land with leading waves ot 1st Bn, 116th Infantry, 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions. Bn CO and RO killed.

1030 LOT's 332, 364, 197 attempt to beach and strike mines. 364 sank in 7 teet ot water, personnel. ranaining aboard and equipnent and 4 gurus, put on beach and ready to tire at 1400. ene gun and one halt-track jettisoned on 332 to keep craft afloat. 197 capsized at 2030 hours ard personnel landed to join rest ot battalion. LeT 2D7 beached at 1330, disembarking 4 guns and 3 hIt's, which occupied positions at St. Laurent Sur Mer.

18)0 Position at 672-902. 1800 "A"' Btry to 66-895. 2200 "CIt Btr,. to 663-896.

Cuualties. 2 0, 7 EX killed; 5 0, 14 Dl wounded and evacuated; 1 110, 9 l!K missing in action.

7 June 1944

0300 "B" !try to 663-896.

Verbal word received from Col CANIWI that Lt. Col. McQUADE 1. d_d, ldlled in landing D-da7, H I- 30. Five 11-7'. known to be loat at •• and four H/T' s • One HIT dutro78d on beach b1 mine.

1&:>0 Bn in support of 175th Int, per FO 1/2, Hq 29th Int. Divi.ion, 07132SB June 44.

1830 Bn departed tor new po4ition. 1915 Bn arrived at new position, 638-916.

8 June 1244 0830 Bn departed for new position. 0940 Bn arrived at new position, 592-890.

9 June 1944

1145 Bn received orders to give direct support to 175th Infantl7 with two batteries. One Battery in support ot 116th Infantry and 5th Ranaer Bn.

l445 Received orders to revert full support back to 116th Intant17 and 5th Rangers, and r..un in general support ot 175th IntantrY'.

21)) Received two K-7's-<me to "C" Btr1 and one to "Alf Bt17. Bn up to 85% etficiencY'.

2200 Bn departed tor new position. 2225 Bn arrived. new poiition, 56.8-86.8, )laps Trevieree - 34/18 SEe

10 June 1944

Bn COdeparted tor 29th Div. ArtY' Hqs. 1315 Bn CO returned. 1430 Bn departed tor new position. 1610 Bn arrived at new position. 54.9-78.8. 1200 Bn relieved from direct support ot 175th Infantry in general

support of 115th InfantrY'.

11 June 1944

1215 Call trom 116th C.P. tor CO to attend a a.Ung there. and tor the Bn to be prepared to lOOve to assembly area bY' 1300.

1245 Bn under command ot Dirlsion ArtiUer;y (29th Division) and ordered not to IOOve.

12 June 1944

2030 One platoon ot 459th AAA attached to Battalion. 2100 Bn relieved trom 115th Intantry and attached to 175th tor general support.

13 June 1944

1500 Bn in general support ot 29th Division•.

14 June 1944

0955 Ertect.ive 1200 14 June, Bn relieved from the 29th Division and

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uligned to 30th DiYiaion. co report to General .cLAIR at '01-8)6.

10)0 One platoon ot AAA detached. 1350 Bn departd tor an position. l420 Bn arri.e. at n_ poeition, 50.28-82.61.

Bn in direct .upport, ot 117th Intant17. 1700 Bn in direct lupport ot 119th Intant17. 2000 "B" Btry, 430th AU. attached.

15 June 1944 J.8CX) Bn received two 11-7'., 3 HIT'., :3 6z6'a.

16 June 1944 1530 Bra departed tor new position. 1610 an arrived ,at new posi-tion, 457-«J7.

Received following ordera: "Hqs, 1st U.S. AraT, Troop A.a1.sn-nt 1162, June 1944. 58th (A) FA Bn relieved from atchat to V and attached to XIX Corps. n

17 June 19M

l2DO Rec'd orders trom 30th Division Art,- CG ter "C" Bt17 to go to llSth FA Bn.

1600 "C" Btry departed for ll8th FA Bra. 2230 "C" Btry returned to Bn position.

Received from Hq. IIX Corpis "Higher' Headquarters d_nd. that ;JOu submit tactual data for unit citation, tor order. rec.i.ec1 ani action taken thereof, on June 6, 1944. Submit to thil Hql b,- 0800 in ord.. to reach Ranger Hq br 1000". Following report submLtteds "June 6, 1944, 58th (A) PA an .a8 ordered to land on Omaha Beach in direct .upport ot 116th CoJlbat.'I... Witil Recon and Obae"ation parti.. with 2nd and 5th Rqer Battaliona. Despite 1088es which included. 20% ot the otticere strlllst,b, about SO% of signal and vehicle ecpipnent, th. Battalion was wen organised and was able to render .upport to the Intantr,-. Throughout D-Da,- and D I- 1 this Battalion was center ot communications tor 116th Combat Team."

18 June 19M

2045 Bn CO left for 30th Di.ilion aql. 2230 Bn CO returned to position.

19 June 19M

l240 Bn CO lett. to .tsit "A" and "B" Btrr RO' •• 1505 Bn CO returned.

20 June 1244 1100 R_ic1ue arrived at position area with 5 and 1 HI!.

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21 June 1944

22 June 191t4

1130 "A" Bt17 mYiDI to new position. Of preparing .to JIOV'e.

1530 "An Bt17 arriYec1 at new position, 457-814 1545 CP arriYed at new position, 453-818

)lap: Prance (Isi&n7 & St. Jean de 0&,.) Sheets 34/18 SW, 34/16 NE. "

23 June 1944

Bn Executiye on reconnaissance tor new tor "B" " "C" Btries. In F.ix:ecutiYe returned•

• 24 JUM 1944 1000 "B", "C" and remaWer ot Hq Bt17 JDOViDa to n_ positions. lll5 "B", "C" and Iq !triee located in new poeitlona: Hq, 453-818,

"8", 4392-8134; "C"·4455-8113. Jlap, France (Isigny- & st. Jean de Da,.) Scale, 1:2SOOO, Sheets: 34/lB SW, f4/16 NL

25 June 1944.

1900 Bn CO to 30th Division Artiller,y tor Bn CO's meeting. 2030 Bn (X) returned.

26 June 1944

:u.oo "B" Btry-, 430th .lAA is detached. 1900 One Btry- of 53lat W attached to thia Bn.

27 June 1944

No change in situation.

28 June 1944'

No in ., ituation.

29 J1Dle 1944

1600 Colonel from 30th DiY. Arty- at CP to discuss ADlno eituation with Bn CO. 1?OO Colonel lett CP.

)Q June 1944

Situation unchatWed.

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I

FIFl'Y-EIGHTH AmlCftED FIELD. ART! LLmY BA.'M'ALION APO 230 U.S. ARlIT

APPENDIX NO. , TO

REPOFT AFTm ACTION AGAINST ENP1IY - FOR MONTH OF JUNE 1944.

AWARm DURING JUNE. 1944

AWARD DATE OF ACT ACTION TAKEN

1st Lt. CARL M. JOHNSTONE 6 June 1944 Reconmended.

" Bronze Star 12 June 1944 Recommended." " " 1st Lt. JOHN F. RUSSO Silver Star 6 June 1944 00 1114, Hq ,rd

Armel Div., 19 July'1944 Capt. RALPH E. STONE Silver Star 6 June 1944 Recommended

1st Sgt Leonard W. Hopkins Silver Star 6 June 1944 GO #14, Hq 3rd Armd Div., 19 July 1944.

S/Sgt Robert H. Wise Silver Star 6 June 1944 Recommended

T/S George J. Jaros Silver Star 6 June 1944 RecoIllll.ended

PFC Elias Valentic Silver Star 6 June 1944 GO #15, Hq ,rei Armd Div., 20 July 1944

Bronze Star 12 June 1944 Recommended•"" " Pvt Jesse W. Blitch Silver Star 6 June 1944 GO #15, Hq ,rei Armel

Div., 20 July 1944

-41£_'_1._2_2_,,-,

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a.'DQUARfEIlS· nrrr-aIGHrB '.(811) 'IEID ARTILIJlBY.ftALICIf

jpO 230 U.S. DIY

RBfOlf APft2l AC!ION AGAIBSf BRlIIY - IIonth ot June 1944.

DAILY SftINOTH apCIlf POll JUNE 1944.

JUDe 1 " 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 '20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

39 39 39 39 39 37 37 37 37 36 36 33 33 33 32 32 32 32 31 31 31 31 31 II 31 II 31 31 31 31

589 589 589 589 589 582 578 574 564 559 558 548 548 547· 547 547 547 547 542 542 542 542 542 542 542 542 541 541 541 540

22222222

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H E A DAR T E R So .... FIFTY-EIGHTH A1IlCltID FIELD ARTIUJ!:RY BATTALION

APe) 230 U.S • .lHMY

APPamIX NO S '1'0

REPORT AFml ACTION AGAINST ENDlY - IfONTH OF JUNE 1944.

CASUALTIES FOR J«>NTH OF JUNE 1944 Wounded Injured in Wounded not

Dat. Killed FNacuated masin« action. "aCt BV'acuated-6. June 1944 2 Ott,8 II( 3 ott,12 ]II 2. 4 ott, 10 l!J(

7 June 1944 2111 2 II( 1 1110,3 • 11M1. 12 June 1944 .' 1 ott1. 14 June 1944 IIII'X 1 ott.

17 June 1944 Ixaff,'XIl 1 ott, 2 EM 2.

18 June 1944' 1. 27 June 1944 lEM

11 June 1944 1. 1.TOTALS, 2 Olf, 10 1!J( 5 Olt,19 l!J( 1 190,5 g 5 Ott,14 1!J(

...

to

l

Ulld8r prft1.1.. ot All 14&-101, .. ill ocapUNIH with lat U.I. Ua7. 11 Jul.y UM, .,abj.ot ... a. abow, t_ following r.port 1. alb. a1tte4.

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H. DQVAJl!.1l1I ftm'-DCII!JI _.., mtJ)"a!ILIaT IlftALIOi . . ' ( DO U.s. AlIa \)t10 .

.

a. Orl,1a&l UDlt. 18th Araore4 n.ld .lI'tll1.1'7 Battalicm ('0 ohaDp,

'b. c...... in OrpDiaatlCID.

July 1, 1Mfr _. 1m i •••sipe4 to 10th In1'antry DiTl81cm aa of 1',

JUDe 16, 1M'. 1IZ July I. 19M - III detao_4 !rca loth btantr"7 DinaleG and "-attached lrel Araored DiTlaicm. C!

jo. 8trencth. 1 July 1"" - 11 Offioera 628 •

11 July 19M - 11 Offioera, 621 III let 4eor••••• ,. .Y

4. Statlcm•• J-Arrl'ft4 De;rte4

La CcaW, J'r&llOe 2' JUDe 1M4 IB July I, 1111. S. ot I.1gzq 1610 Ju17 I, 194" 21'5 July 7, 19401 1 )(1. SI St Jean 0110 July 8, 1844 1015 July 10, 19M S JU.. I St Jean deDa,-OOlO July. 11, 0800 July 19, 19M .. ..2 )(i •• II Ju17 19. 194" 0616 July 27, 1i Ill. I of' 1I.r1gD7 1000 July 27, 1944 U"5 July 28, 19" 2 111. n Ceri'7 La

S.lle 1'60 July 28, UM 1815 July 29. 1964 1/8 Ill. n 1900 July 29, 194t 1116 July 10, 1&MLa Ba,. 1ft Ill. I at Denta

18 Gast 1816 Ju17 10, 1Mf 1800 July 11" 19M I Ili. SI' Vil1.dleu-

lAt.-Poe1•• 2220 July :51, 1944-

e. Karohea. (AppeDdJz 1)

r. Campaigna. (Hot officlally dellpat84)

g. B.ttles. (Append1z No.1)

h. Ca.an4iD« Offioera ill ilapartult engag-.ents. Major WALTER J. PATCIi duriDg entlr. period.

-,":"," 1(. ..

1. Lo.I•• in

._ Date Sgt I_r r.-1rs.11er 7 July 19" Pvt lItcmard B. )leed1e. 11 July 194. Op1 Groll 27 July 1944 PTt OlaytcmD. LahrJIaml 27 July 19M

1/6 George J. G1enncm 28 July 1944 Pvt Franch J.. Biec!rzyold. 28 July 19'"

k. Photograph.. )laDe.

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lI'ORD E. SUIm. Oaptain, Field Artillery.

S-S • IJ»l..

Appelldix 1 - AlB. kp. Appendix 2 - HiltOl7 Appendix S - Oopy of Journal.

1st Ind.

HBAD-..!UAhTERu VII ,';ORPS APO 007, U. S. Army, 16 August 1944.

TO: The Adjutant General, 2b, ;;r,shington, D.C. ('fhru jt:tc;

B.E.H. 3 Incls: n/c i -

319.1 24 Inti

HlADQUAR'lERS VII CORPS. A.P.D. -,:J7. u.s. Arrq, I i .1.\ l .. 'j .-

TO, The Adjutant Geaeral, Washblgttll, D.C. (THRU: 0 omrrand1ag GeIlera1, rust u.S. J,riq, A.P.O. 2-,:J, u.s. Army).,

3 Ino1.. a/e