The Race To Le Mans
The Normandy defense had been cracked, Jerry was broken and running, and the sky was
filled with friendly air power as the tanks of the Third Army rolled toward Avranches. The
prison like hedgerows of Normandy were left behind and before them lay the open, rolling
terrain of interior France. The ensuing days brought lightning fast maneuvers, and the 358th
Infantry became a leading element in the 90th Division’s race across France.
On the 2nd of August, the Third Battalion, led by “K” Company, raced to St. Hilaire du
Harcouet, captured the town and secured a vital bridge. The First Battalion followed to seize the
high ground east of St. Hilaire, while the second battalion occupied the town. In the days
following, the race continued to the banks of the Mayenne River, where the doughboys stripped
for a dip in the cool waters while engineers repaired a bridge. Then came a long, grueling three
day march to the east, to St. Suzanne.
Le Mans Captured
On the 8th of August, the outfit loaded on trucks and hit the road toward Le Mans.
Detrucking and moving under the cover of darkness the First and Second Battalions circled
northeast of the city. Shortly after daylight on the next day, the Second Battalion utilizing
rowboats gathered together by the civilians crossed the Sarthe River northeast of Le Mans. The
remainder of the Regiment following closely behind completed the encirclement of the city, and
the resulting capture of Le Mans by other elements of the Division put the 90th farther into
France than any other Allied Force. “A” Company alone at one roadblock northwest of the city
surprised and captured, Jesse James style, two large enemy motorized columns. The 358th
Infantry was beginning to get revenge for the hard fighting during its early days in combat.
The Jaws Close
After Le Mans, the division cut north in clouds of dust towards Alencon, following the
Second French Armored Division and blocking to the west any effort of the German 7th Army to
escape the inevitable and fast closing Falaise trap. No time was lost as the outfit proceeded by
foot and motor through Alencon and Sees, and then swung west and attacked through
Almeneches and Le Bourge St. Leonard. The First and Second Battalions pushed against bitter
resistance to the Foret de Gouffern; while the Third Battalion attacked to seize control of the
roads leading northeast from Chambois. The First Battalion captured Bon Menil and pushed
west to two more villages, while the Second Battalion after capturing St. Eugenie, moved into
Bon Menil.
The Rim Of The Bowl
It resembled a bowl with the troops in position around the rim. This was the picture on
the 20th of August, 1944 – when all hell broke loose! The bowl became a valley of death. The
Germans, caught helplessly in the trap, ran around crazily, in tanks and on horseback, on every
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