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left were at this time at least 500 yards to the rear of the Third Battalion and large gaps existed in the
forest between Battalions. Infiltrations of large units of Germans was therefore quite possible and
probable as the Battalion had already experienced.
The attack of Company K supported by tanks succeeded in reaching the hedgerow just after the
first open field outside of the woods. One tank remained in reserve in the forest while the other three
preceded the advance by ten or fifteen yards. Two of the tanks were knocked out almost immediately by
a self-propelled gun firing from an orchard 400 yards to the south. The third tank was stuck in a marshy
spot in the field and consequently bogged down. Notwithstanding the loss of the tanks, Company K
went on forward under heavy fire from German dug-in positions on their right and to the front, and
reached some hedgerows, south of the woods. The other two companies in the meantime were still
heavily engaged with Germans on their right and left in the forest.
At 2000, Lt. Hylton of Company K, unable to advance further and finding his position untenable
because of German fire coming from three sides of his company and causing heavy casualties, went
back to ask permission of the Battalion Commander to withdraw his company. He was severely
wounded on his way back and never reached the forest. A second Company K officer, Lt. Hansen, then
went for orders. He also was wounded and did not reach Lt. Col. Bealke.
The battle went on with terrific intensity until dusk. In the meantime, Company B, 358th
Infantry, was attached to the Third Battalion and was placed on the right flank to assist Company L in
holding off the Germans on the right flank. Because of the resistance on both flanks, neither Company I
nor L could advance without the Battalion being surrounded. During this time, Capt. John W. Marsh,
Company M Commander, was killed by a mortar shell while trying to reorganize L Company.
At Dusk Company K was forced to withdraw back to the forest and the Battalion Commander
placed the companies in a square formation with an all around defense for the night.
From dusk until 0430, 11 July 1944, the Battalion litter bearers and Ammunition and Pioneer
Platoon worked down the trail, carrying forward rations and water and carrying back casualties. More
casualties were found in the daylight including a tank man who although severely wounded had crawled
back 800 yards to the Battalion lines. Altogether, some 85 wounded casualties were evacuated from this
particular battle of 10 July 1944 to the Battalion aid station, and many wounded men of Companies K
and M were evacuated by the Germans after the Company had withdrawn.
On the next day 11 July 44, the Battalion organized as one battle group under the command of
Lt. Miller, shifted to the right and attacked at 2100 the positions which had previously enfiladed them.
They overran and destroyed eleven machine gun nests and one bazooka team, driving the enemy back in
a disorganized retreat to the town of Lastelle, France. After two hours fighting during which the troops
reached the edge of Lastelle, they withdrew 400 yards to establish contact with 1st Battalion, 359th
Infantry. Together with this Battalion, the companies advanced at 2400 to the near edge of the town of
Lastelle gaining the position without opposition about 0200.
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