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Early on the morning of 1 July, Company L moved out to occupy the town of LES SABLONS.
They had covered about two-thirds of the distance there when a Regimental order directed Battalion to
recall the Company. This was accomplished by dark.
On July 2, I and L Companies moved up to a main line of resistance west of COIGNY. From
these positions, the Regiment attacked at 0515 with the third Battalion in reserve. As the opposition was
quite determined both I and K Companies were committed by noon. The attack continued all day in the
face of extremely determined resistance which caused heavy casualties. It was here that tanks were used
for the first time in support of an attack. By night the Companies had reached the railroad tracks just
south of LE SABLONS. From here at 0600 on the 4th the Battalion attacked southwest meeting very
stiff opposition which forced them to withdraw at least three different times. By 1800 the enemy's line
was pierced as the companies advanced on the double to take the town of LES BELLES CROIX as well
as some twenty-five prisoners.
The Battalion then went into Division reserve on the 5th in the town of ST JORES. Here some
much needed replacements were received. July 6 and the Battalion was ordered to clean out a small
German pocket of some thirty men and one officer in the vicinity of LITHAIRE. Consequently,
Company I moved off and by 1725 had established contact with a sizable enemy force. The rest of the
Battalion closed in on the position during the evening. All during the night reduction of the pocket
continued with Company K helping out on I's right. By dark of the 7th the pocket had been completely
eliminated with well over 200 prisoners taken, plus a considerable number killed. Elements of the 82nd
Air Borne who had been sitting on a high hill overlooking the scene of action, said that the entire attack
was a perfect example of fire and movement.
On July 8 the Battalion moved into position on the southern slope of Hill 122 in the Foret de
Mont Castre. It was here that the Battalion ran into the toughest fight it had in all the time it was in
Europe and the one that earned it the Presidential Unit Citation.
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