The task force moved swiftly south and by 1420 August 7 we were in position on the outskirts of
Vaiges. Batteries were leap-frogged into position; ready to fire. Artillery received a priority on roads
and sped from position to position doubling the column, occasionally with MP’s motorcycles as escorts.
In fact, in one instance and overanxious MP led us too far and we came to a skidding halt alongside the
“Recons”. The infantry after another skirmish at Ste. Suzanne started down the Le Mans highway the
following morning with the 343rd Cowboys, riding high and shooting from the hip. The air OP’s were
up from dawn to dusk directing fire on the fleeing enemy columns. Wreckage was everywhere. Tanks,
towed-guns, personnel carriers, SP guns, every type of equipment, horses, and Krauts were lying on the
roads, by the roads, in the fields and even hanging in the trees. Between the air force, the artillery and
tanks practically nothing was escaping to fight again. Towed-guns with motors still running on the
tractors were overtaken. “Super-men” came marching down the road, with hands on head, without
guard escorts, just marching and waiting for someone to impound them. On and on the task force sped,
twisting, weaving and shooting through towns and villages with the French lining the streets, heedless of
danger. The French cheered, laughed and cried with elation. They brought gifts of foods, wines, “white
lightning” and occasional kisses. Gallant, little old ladies, with white hair and wrinkles, smiled through
their tears, stood on their toes trying to make themselves heard “Vive la Americain!” They were happy
once again, the rule of tyranny was lifting, they would be free again. “Merci, Monsieur, Vive la
Americain!”
It was all so strange! A few days ago we had been inching across Normandy trying to get from
one hedgerow to the next. Now we were racing across France at a speed unheard of for an infantry
division. Cavalry could do it, yes, but an infantry division, no. Never-the-less, the Tough Ombres were
doing it and making the boys from the old school sit up and take notice. After it was over, the
commanders, battalion and regimental, were called into 3rd Army Headquarters. Army wanted to know
how an infantry division could do such a job as the 90th had done.
Lead elements entered Le Mans at 0300 August 9 coordinating with the 79th Division who
entered the city from the southwest. Cheering crowds lined the streets, champagne, wine, cider, cognac
and “buzz-bomb juice” flowed freely. This same procedure followed all through France. “Cigarette
pour Papa?”
The Division occupied positions north of Le Mans. Task Force Weaver was dissolved but its
historical dash of 146 miles in seven days will be remembered and read about for years to come.
Countless numbers of enemy tanks, armored and other vehicles were captured or destroyed. 2054
prisoners were captured and hundreds killed, while our casualties were very light. The air OP’s manned
by Lts. Rhein and Hicks did a never-to-be-forgotten job. They did a marvelous task reporting the
leading elements of the various parts of the task force and in maintaining unending surveillance of our
front and flanks. To Lt. Colonel D. K. Reimers, our battalion commander, goes the highest praise. His
leadership and thoroughness in reconnaissance and ability to keep one, and the majority of the time, two
batteries in position firing, was one of the reasons for the success of this great maneuver. Every man
who participated in this operation deserves high praise, because each one had to put out his utmost to
make it a success. So fast was the movement that a man in the leading elements, even to eat a “K”
ration, found himself in the rear echelon when finished. Armored escorts were necessary for supply
trains.
12 August the battalion passed thru Alencon and was shelled intermittently along the route. A
few minutes after midnight, and shortly after arriving in position northwest of Alencon, the Luftwaffe
came out in considerable strength dropping flares and then bombing. Many bombs landed in and around
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