14 June, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

14 June, 1944

Dearest sweetheart –

Again I can write you just a few lines with not much in the line of news, I know, but just to let you now that everything is well with me. I hope you are not worrying too much, darling, although I know a certain amount would be natural these days. But honestly, dear, I’m comfortable, relaxed, eating and sleeping regularly and taking things in stride.

That’s all for now, sweetheart. I think of you constantly and find great solace in the thought of our love for each other – for which I am ever thankful. Give my love to the folks, dear.

All my love to you

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about D-Day plus 8

CLICK ON MAP TO ENLARGE

On 14 June, VII Corps launched an offensive to seize the badly needed portfacilities at Cherbourg. There was much to do to get there.

In the West, the American forces moved towards the north of Utah Beach. The 9th Infantry Division, near the 4th Infantry Division, was ordered to liberate the town of Quinéville, home of Germany's Regional Headquarter. With the capture of Quinéville on 14 June, the enemy's main line in the North was broken, depriving him of his best natural defense against the advancing northern flank. The capture of Quinéville and the clearing of the coast to the south also helped to speed the landing of supplies and personnel for VII Corps. In the early days of the landings German artillery had prevented the use of the Navy pontoon causeway built on D plus 1, and difficulties in beaching landing craft and in the functioning of the ferry control organization had resulted in a lag in unloading of about thirty-six hours.

Cherbourg, which was to be under the Ally control on June 14th according to the May 1944 plans, was still far away. But the 9th American Infantry Division progressed all the same towards Valognes, despite heavy losses while the men of the 82nd Airborne Division attacked in direction of the village of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte. This description of the action of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) of the 82nd Airborne Division to take Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, beginning on 14 June, was written by Pat Curran for a former page on DdayHistorian.com:

On Wednesday, 14th June the attack to take St.-Sauveur-le-Vicomte began from a jump off west of Etienville. This phase of the 505th Normandy campaign lasted for four days. The attack commenced at 9:30am on Wednesday 14th June with the 507 PIR in the lead and the 505th in Division reserve following behind. The two paratroop regiments advanced westward on the north of Etienville to St.-Sauveur-le-Vicomte Road.

To the 507th's right was the U.S. 9th Infantry, which overall was an experienced Division, having seen action in North Africa. However, some of its regiments had no battle experience at all. On the left flank and south of the road was the 2nd Battalion 401st Glider Infantry Regiment (GIR), attached to the 325th GIR. The 507th had suffered huge losses prior to this attack. It's 1st Battalion numbered just over 100 men, and fewer still by the time it reached the eastern outskirts of La Bonneville that night. The day had seen ferocious fighting on both sides of the road with the 2nd Battalion 401st GIR eventually pulling up in line with the 507th PIR as dusk fell on Wednesday night.

During the final leg of Company E, 401st's advance, the night became dark from overcast sky. Unbelievably, a German squad, by-passed during the day by the Americans, heard Company E troopers talking indistinctly through a hedgerow and thinking they were German troops, fell in behind the marching column. They only realized their mistake when the column halted and began to dig in. The German squad wisely surrendered without a fight!

From the World War Photos site comes this picture of the 82nd in Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte:

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Meanwhile, northeast of the city of Bayeux, on the beach of Courseulles, General Charles de Gaulle, chief of the Free French Army, landed after crossing the English Channel aboard the destroyer "La Combattante", a ship of the Free French Navy.

DeGaulle walking in Couseulles, 14 June 1944

He met General Montgomery at his Headquarters at the castle of Creuilly. He then went to Bayeux, liberated on June 7, where an immense crowd applauded him and sang the "Marseillaise". He moved on to the towns of Isigny-sur-Mer and Grandcamp at the end of the afternoon, pressed by the Allies to come back as quickly as possible.

Creully Castle, Montgomery's Headquarters, France

13 June, 1944

No letter today. Just this:

Greg arrived on Utah Beach on 12 June, 1944 to join the VII Corps under Collins. The progress of VII Corps can be seen on the map below, where Allied forces are shown in blue and German forces in red.

CLICK ON MAP TO ENLARGE

Map of the movement of Allied and German Forces
from D-day to D-Day plus 6 (12 June, 1944).

The small town of Carentan occupied a pivotal position between Omaha and Utah Beaches, and its capture was one of the most important American priorities in the days immediately after D-Day. Carentan was naturally protected by the swamps of the lower Taute and Vire rivers, and artificially by inundations created by German flooding. The only good road across this area ran through Carentan and on to Périers, but this single road was very easily defended.

The 101st Airborne was given the task of taking Carentan. The only available approach to the town ran along another causeway that entered the town from the north. The attack had begun on 8 June, but progress was very slow. It took two days to reach Carentan, but on 10 June the 101st had begun to surround the town. On 11 June the paratroops had finally fought their way past the outer defenses of the town. The beleagured defenders of the town called for supplies to be dropped from the air, but no supplies appeared. On the night of 11-12 June, under heavy American fire, the Germans had abandoned Carentan. The gap between the beaches had seemed to be closed.

However, this battle wasn't over. Germany's Field Marshall Erwin Rommel saw the recapture of Carentan as essential to successfully defeat the Allied invasion. On 12 June he informed Keitel that he intended to move the focus of his operations west to Carentan and Montebourg, in an effort to destroy the American beachhead on the Cotentin Peninsula. On the same day he ordered the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment to retake the town. Fortunately for the Allies, Rommel's promised reinforcements were severely delayed by a combination of air attacks and sabotage by the Resistance.

The counterattack took place on the morning of 13 June. The SS troops reached to within 500 yards of the town before they were defeated by the 101st Airborne with help from the U.S. 2nd Armoured Division. The coordinated efforts of the tanks, infantry, and artillery threw the enemy back several thousand yards, inflicting an estimated loss of 500 men. Worse was to follow for the Germans, for the movement of the 17th SS had left a gap in their lines, which the U.S. 1st Division would exploit.

The capture of Carentan again closed the gap between the Utah and Omaha beachheads, the last gap between the D-Day landing zones. This was one of the most important moments in the battle of Normandy, for it removed any danger that the Germans might have been able to destroy the isolated Utah beach head. However, although the Allies were safely ashore, and their bridgehead, unless they made a major error, unlikely to be threatened, a grim battle of attrition lay ahead. The first major task was to complete the capture of Cherbourg, for nature was about to demonstrate the frightening vulnerability of the Allied forces until they held a major port.

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

The entrance in Carentan by Rue Holgate,
coming from Periers road.


Medical Jeep rides down Rue Holgate, Carentan


M-7 Tank rolls by Aid Station, Rue Holgate, Carentan


101st Airborne patrolling Carentan street


American howitzers shell German forces near Carentan

12 June, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

12 June, 1944

My dearest Sweetheart –

I can’t write very much now, but I thought a little would be better than nothing at all – while the opportunity presented itself. Naturally I can’t tell you yet where I am or what we’re doing but soon perhaps – I will. The fact is, though, darling – that no matter where I am or what I’m doing – you are constantly in my mind – and more so now than ever before. The thought of you and your love and constancy is wonderful tonic and a letter of yours written June 2 which miraculously reached me today – certainly helped in keeping my spirits up. I don’t know where you learned it – or if you took a course – but your letters are made to order for a guy overseas, sweetheart, and I can only say that you’ll never know my appreciation. I have to admit over and over again that I love you more and more – and hope that you won’t tire of hearing just that. But if you’re interested in knowing that I was never more certain of anything than I am of my desire to make you my wife and live with you happily in Salem – then I’ll tell you just that – because darling I mean to do just that. Remember dear that it is you and only you I love, think of, dream about and desire – everywhere and always.

Dearest – I can’t write more now. I do hope you’re hearing from me by now – and don’t worry because everything is going along fine. I don’t believe I wrote you yesterday or the day before – but I’m not positive, dear. I’ll try to write as often as I can. Love to the folks and my love is yours forever,

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about D-Day plus 6

On 12 June, 1944, the Americans of the 502nd and 506th regiments of the 101st Airborne managed to control a part of the town of Carentan in the evening, after difficult street fighting. The junction between the American troops coming from Utah Beach and those coming from Omaha Beach was now carried out. The five bridgeheads were joined together representing a 80 kilometers long zone from Sainte-Mère-Eglise in the West and to Ouistreham in the East, reaching 10 to 30 kilometers of depth.

By this time, a third wave of Allied forces had landed. There are now 326,000 troops, 104,000 tons of supplies and 54,000 vehicles deployed in Normandy, France. Elements of VII Corps advanced across the Cotentin Peninsula and southwest. Also, the 4th Division was engaged at Montebourg, Crisbecq and near Azeville to the northward drive on Cherbourg. V Corps assisted VII Corps and advanced toward St Lo. Caumont was captured and Foret de Cerisy and the Bayeux road were reached.

[Note from FourthChild: Although it will not be written in a letter here, Greg later told of arriving on Utah Beach on D-Day plus 6. He would joke that he rolled onto the beach in a jeep, without even getting his feet wet. Perhaps his experience was something like this...]

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

Troops aboard an LCT on 12 June, 1944


Jeeps roll off an LST on 12 June, 1944


Newly landed U.S. Forces move along Utah Beach
at Les Dunes de Madeleine, on their way to the front
to reinforce troops facing the enemy on 12 June, 1944.

11 June, 1944

No letter today. Just this:

Route of the Question Mark

Part of Page 11 of The Route of the Question Mark gives this timeframe:
June 11: An advance party composed of half the battery leaves Sherborne on the first move of the journey across the channel.

Page 21 includes this portion:
The night before D-Day when we saw all the bombers go over, and suspected that something important was about to happen... Departure of our Advance Party for France, and the desolate appearance its absence caused in Sherborne...

Meanwhile, on Utah Beach:

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Nazi 88mm guns pound Utah Beach as
American troops push into Normandy, France.
11 June 1944

And in the air, here is an account of just one bomber raid, this on the 21st Panzer Division (click to listen ):

"

10 June, 1944

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

10 June, 1944

Dearest sweetheart –

Sorry that I have to use this V mail, but if I’m going to get anything at all off to you today – I’d better write this – now. As things looked last night, I didn’t think I’d be able to write you today, but for one reason or another, here I am, dear.

I got a letter from Charlie yesterday, written in this country on the day he left for the States. He was remarkably frank and said he was going to ask Pauline to divorce him – which I don’t think she’ll do. I really feel sorry for the guy and I hope he readjusts himself.

Darling – there’s not much else I am able to write you from this point except to remind you that I love you and not to worry. Everything is fine here. Love to the folks and I’ll write as soon as I can.

All my love

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Montgomery and his Message


Photo of Montgomery from LIFE magazine

The following message from the 21st Army Group's Commander-in-Chief, Sir Bernard Law Montgomery, was distributed to Greg as Commander of his Medical Detachment on D-Day plus 4.

The 21st Army Group, commanded by General Sir Bernard Law Montgomery, was a British headquarters formation consisting primarily of British and Canadian forces. The Army Group was an important Allied force in the European Theater of World War II. It was established in London during July 1943 under the command of Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) and was initially assigned to control all ground forces in Operation Overlord, the invasion of Europe. When sufficient American forces had landed, their own 12th Army Group was activated, under General Omar Bradley and the 21st Army Group was left with the British 2nd Army and the First Canadian Army under its control.

Much of what is written below was extracted from the WWII Database's Biography of Montgomery:

In 1914, during WWI, Montgomery was deployed to France and was shot by a sniper. With the bullet passing through his right lung, the wound was so critical that a grave was dug in preparation for his death, but he recovered. He continued his military career following the war. He was promoted to the rank of major general while serving in Palestine. He became the commanding officer of the 9th Infantry Brigade in 1937 at the rank of brigadier. The same year Montgomery's wife, Elizabeth, received an inspect bite in the arm which became seriously infected and required amputation; she contracted septicemia following the amputation and passed away in his arms. He dealt with his sorrow by occupying himself with work.

Eventually, "Monty" was promoted to the rank of major general and was given command of the 8th Infantry Division in Palestine. At that position he was credited in quashing the Arab revolt. In Jul 1939, he was sent back to England to command the 3rd Infantry Division. When the United Kingdom entered WWII in 1939, the 3rd Infantry Division was deployed to Belgium as part of the British Expeditionary Force. Realizing that the British and the French had little intention to invade Germany, Montgomery predicted a defeat should Germany decide to invade France, and trained his troops for tactical retreat, which paid off when the men of the 3rd Infantry Division effectively fell back toward the French coast. In Jul 1940, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and was placed in command of V Corps. In Apr 1941, he became the commanding officer of XII Corps. In 1942, he was a member of the team that planned out the Dieppe Raid which suffered disastrous results. He never took direct blame for the failure as Louis Mountbatten took on the role of scapegoat.

In 1942, William Gott who had been selected as a field commander in North Africa, but he was killed in an airplane crash. Montgomery took command on 13 August and immediately instituted a series of changes, including the creation of a mobile British armored corps and a set of new procedures for improved combined operations with the Royal Air Force. Also among the first things he performed was the destruction of all plans for falling back in the case of a strong Axis offensive. "I have canceled the plan for withdrawal," he told his officers at his first staff meeting. "If we are attacked, then there will be no retreat. If we cannot stay here alive, then we will stay here dead." On 31 Aug 1942, he successfully repelled Rommel's attack against Alam el Halfa by predicting the high ground as a likely target and prepared its defenses before the attack commenced.

In the next month, Montgomery started to receive great quantities of supplies from the United States, including large numbers of tanks. In October of 1942, Montgomery decided that he was ready to launch Operation Lightfoot. On 23 October, the two forces engaged at the Battle of El Alamein, and 12 days later Montgomery achieved his decisive victory, capturing 30,000 Axis prisoners. For this victory, he was knighted and promoted to the rank of general. He continued to use his superior firepower to put pressure against the Axis forces, pushing the Axis lines back time after time, leading to the end of the Desert War.

To the men, Montgomery became the officer who defeated the dreaded Erwin Rommel. His popularity was gained not only through victories, but also his efforts to win the hearts of his men. He made sure that he was visible to the front line soldiers, speaking to them as much as possible. On one of the visits, he visited an armor unit, and spoke with the crew of a tank; one of the tankers gave him a black beret of the Royal Tank Regiment, which he wore for the remainder of the war, becoming part of his signature look. Some of his methods for troop support were unorthodox, however, such as setting up a brothel in Tripoli, Libya to satisfy the sexual needs of his men. This received approval from the men who needed this type of service, but it also added distance between Montgomery and the other officers who found brothels immoral and unacceptable.

Montgomery was next placed in command of the Eighth Army for the invasion of Sicily, Italy. From the onset, his leadership style and battlefield tactics conflicted with those of his American counterpart George Patton. The conflict grew into a personal rivalry between Patton and Montgomery in which Patton moved his troops into territory originally assigned to Montgomery, complaining that Montgomery's troops were advancing too slowly while boasting victories for engagements that should had been fought by the British.

Monty was transferred out of Italy on 23 December, 1943 for the upcoming cross-Channel invasion. Upon his return to England, Montgomery was given the 21st Army Group, which encompassed all Allied ground forces that would take part in Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy. He had wished for the responsibility of overall Allied command, but was unable to secure the position due to politics since the United States contributed greatly to the campaign in both men and materiel.

While commanding the British elements closely near the French city of Caen, his troops were bogged down, and were not able to take the city until Jul 1944; he originally set the goal for the British and Canadian troops to conquer Caen within days of the landing. This delay gave his political opponents such as Omar Bradley and George Patton opportunities to further criticize him. Nevertheless, once Caen was captured, he was able to use it as a pivot point that eventually led to the major German defeat at the Falaise Pocket. Once the Allied forces secured their footing in France, Montgomery found himself still unable to obtain the position of the Supreme Allied Commander, again for political reasons, as the overwhelming majority of Allied personnel in Europe were American. To appease him, Churchill offered him the title of field marshal. In 1946, he was made 1st Viscount of Alamein.

09 June, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 403 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

9 June, 1944       0725

Dearest sweetheart –

There is no question about it now – as of the above new APO number, this outfit has broken all records in the number of APO’s in this war or any other war. Don’t try to figure out the reason, dear. Undoubtedly there is one, but so many times now have we been given a new number, with no effect, that we don’t wonder anymore.

Last night I got some mail – one from my father and two from you, dear – postmarked May 26 and May 31. I suspected you hadn’t been hearing from me for some time, and your letters confirmed that. It must be damned difficult, darling, but there’s nothing to do about it except to reassure yourself that I am writing at each and every opportunity. But remember that I’ve tried to imply in a few of my letters that there were bound to be delays – and I know there will be more – so please keep a stiff upper lip, sweetheart.

In one of your letters you had me hanging onto the edge of the chair, tongue hanging out, and just beginning to drool. That was when you mentioned that one fine day when we were together in Salem, I’d have you to come back to each night, home-cooked meals, our own place – etc. You know, darling, that’s hard to take; the strain is too much; just give me a little at a time. I have thought about such a set-up with you as my own, my very own – so often, dear, that I absolutely feel that nothing else but that will materialize. It just has to be – and it will! Will we be happy, will we find life interesting, are we worth it? I can answer the first two questions in the affirmative; the last one – I hope so.

You write that I didn’t think that things would materialize between us, that I expected you’d meet someone else, that you were young and weren’t sure of your own mind. You are partly correct, dear. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe you. I did – but I felt that it was a temporary feeling, perhaps. But if I didn’t think it would materialize – it wasn’t because I didn’t hope and pray it would. I never wanted anything more than that – and I am ever thankful that things worked out as they did. Even now – at times – I find myself thinking abstractly – probably due to the distance and lapse in mail, and then I awaken with a start and a wonderful feeling when I realize that I am actually engaged to you and that you are my fiancée in every sense of the word. And then sweetheart, I feel so content, satisfied and relaxed – that you’ll never know how easy the war has been for me – because of that feeling –

And how did I get so sentimental so early in the morning? I don’t know, darling, but I do know how much I love you and want to come back and marry you and with that happy thought to ponder over – I think I’d better stroll down to the Dispensary. It usually takes 8-10 minutes. Today dear – it will take 25. So long for now, darling, my love to the folks and to you.

My deepest love

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about the Silver Wraith of Sir Bernard Montgomery

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Monty's Silver Wraith during War Time

Troops offloading tanks, guns and trucks onto Juno beach may have been startled to see a magnificent and highly polished Rolls Royce Silver Wraith trundling across the sands. The 1939 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith used by Field Marshall Montgomery from 1944 to 1964 was the first 'civilian' vehicle to land in the Allies' French beachhead on Juno Beach on 9 June 1944, only three days after the commencement of the Normandy landings.

When Monty went to war he did it in style. Montgomery used the Silver Wraith as his personal staff car from D+3 right through to when he took the German surrender on Luneberg Heath. He was determined to be seen in a better car than any German general. Despite its being highly conspicuous it survived the War unscathed, although Rommel’s camouflaged staff car was shot up by a Spitfire.

From research done by War Room Collection and Sound Archive's Brian Jewell comes this information dated 1992, which he states is an excerpt from an "as yet unpublished manuscript, Cars of the Commanders comes this:

Rolls Royce Wraith limousine chassis number WMB 40, now at The Museum of Army Transport, in Beverley, UK, is the one that was used by Montgomery in the Second World War. This car is a standard 6-light limousine with coachwork by Park Ward, with a conventional retractable division between the driver's and passenger compartments. In 1941, The Wraith, in private ownership with civilian registration plates FLD 99, was damaged in an air raid, and repair work at the Rolls Royce Crewe works was necessary. In 1944 the car was sold to the War Office, given WD number M 5109209, and allocated to General Montgomery on his appointment as Commander-in-Chief 21 Army Group.

Many people who served in Germany at the latter part and after the Second World War remember seeing Montgomery's Rolls. Mrs Elizabeth Smurthwaite being one: 'Whilst serving with NAAFI in Germany in 1946, I was out hitch-hiking one afternoon with two colleagues, Christine Barclay and Diane Newton. A magnificent staff car pulled up to give us a lift; smashing after some of the tatty old trucks we had sampled! We learned to our surprise that the car belonged to General Montgomery and his driver showed us some of the gadgets in the car. I was told that the driver's instructions were to give anyone who was also British pers0nnel, no matter who, a lift if needed. You can well imagine how thrilled we were to ride in such luxury. I think it was the only time a staff car stopped for me, and I did a fair old bit of sightseeing whilst I was in Germany. We had a very pleasant ride and conversation, and another thrilling experience to our lives.

On 9 June, 1944, the car was landed on Juno Beach, Normandy. On 6 June, 1964, the 20th anniversary of D-Day, the Army Council presented the Wraith to the RASC Training Centre, then at Buller Barracks, Aldershot, after Viscount Montgomery had ridden in it for a final and ceremonial run. In 1978 the Wraith underwent restoration by Rolls Royce Motors Limited and Hooper and Company (coachbuilders). It remains in black and silver livery and still carries the five-star Field Marshal's insignia.

Monty's Silver Wraith Today

Monty's Rolls Royce still runs and is used frequently for various engagements.

08 June, 1944

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 654 % Postmaster, N.Y.

England

8 June, 1944      0735

Wilma darling –

Another day passed and the tension goes on. The news reports are good, however, and everyone is confident.

I didn’t hear from you yesterday, dear, and I don’t suppose I will for a while yet. I do hope that you are hearing from me with more regularity.

Yesterday I spent the whole day supervising the servicing of a jeep. I don’t believe I mentioned this before to you – but by some arrangement or other – I have a jeep of my own now – for how long, I don’t know. But it needed a lot of work done on it – so yesterday I had half of my Medical detachment working on it, and the same goes today. No, sweetheart, I am not having it simonzied! But they are doing about everything else to it, including repainting. Today I hope to get “WILMA” painted on the front if it. You know, dear, I asked your permission to use your name a long time ago – and never got it – but I’m using it anyway.

I’m really anxious to know how you’re making out with the Red Cross, darling. I hope you are continuing to find it interesting and I hope it occupies your time and mind enough to make you forget other things – temporarily. Say – and I am glad we’re engaged! Don’t forget to flash that ring, sweetheart, at any GI or other person that happens to get any ideas!

I got the first good laugh in quite awhile last week when I read your account of traffic trouble etc. in Wellesley. I’d like to have been there to see it – horns blowing, people looking – and all. But they say you’re not considered an experienced driver unless you’ve had at least one such episode – so don’t feel too badly, darling. I’m glad you’re concentrating on getting you license That’s almost a necessity these days. Are you old enough to get one, dear? (ahem)

I read with surprise your mention of Charlotte Hackerman being 7 months along and traveling down to Virginia. That is not the wisest thing to do, and I’m certain her physician must have told her so. And on top of that to attempt housekeeping for the first time – is really foolish I think – but I suppose love will find a way – which reminds me, darling, that I love you so very much, and although I haven’t spoken of it much, it makes me very jealous too to read about all these young couples being together in the States – while we have to be separated. But I know I couldn’t have been fundamentally happy had I remained at home – while all this was going on. Our outfit has a role to play in all this – and when it does I know I shall feel that my being in the Army was not in vain. Remember always sweetheart – that you will always have my love and devotion. Keep thinking about that and don’t worry!

Love to all.

All my love for now

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Medical Battalions, D-Day plus 2

Greg was part of a medical detachment, assigned to an anti-aircraft battalion. But there were also primary Medical Battalions consisting of Collecting Companies and Clearing Companies.. From the WWII U.S. Medical Research center comes this:

8 June 1944: during the night between D+1 and D+2, Headquarters and Clearing Company of the 4th Medical Battalion and Collecting Company “B”, of the 261st Medical Battalion landed complete with transportation. By 0630, Collecting Company “B” (261st Medical Battalion) was established adjacent to Collecting Company “C”, and received its first casualties. At the same time, the Clearing Company of the 4th Medical Battalion set up approximately three miles inland, in support of its parent unit, the 4th Infantry Division. During the afternoon, the 307th Airborne Medical Company, was contacted near Fauville and its Clearing Station found to be flooded with casualties, both American and enemy. Arrangements were made with the 4th Medical Battalion to furnish trucks to assist in the evacuation of these casualties part of whom were moved to the 4th Medical Battalion Clearing Station and the remainder evacuated to the 261st in the beach area. The 492d Collecting Company (50th Medical Battalion), and the 315th Medical Battalion (90th Infantry Division) landed, as did the 2d Section, Advance Platoon, 1st Medical Depot Company. The 4th Medical Battalion Clearing Station was receiving patients by midnight. Elements of both the 42d and the 45th Field Hospitals were able to land on 8 June 1944 as well.

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

The picture above shows the 42d Field Hospital in early June 1944. 261st Medical Battalion medics are checking litter patients. Note the discarded life belts. Admissions were heavy throughout the day, running over 200, but were now better spaced than on the previous days, with the greatest difficulty occurring in the shock tents, which were insufficient for the number of patients in shock.

Above, patients are treated for shock and wounds on Utah Beach by 4th Infantry Division and Engineer Special Brigade Medical Personnel on June 7, 1944.