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directed us to move to an assembly area [in the] vicinity of MICHELOT as Division reserve. During the
night of the 18th the Companies moved over on the Division right flank and prepared to attack north the
next day.
This Battalion was employed on the Division right flank with the mission of seizing the high
ground NE of CHAMBOIS and establishing road blocks on the two main roads leading east and
northeast from CHAMBOIS. The roads constituted the last remaining routes of escape for the German
units still left in the Falaise pocket.
The attack jumped off at 0800 19 - August 1944 with K and L Companies in the assault. The
initial objective, a hill just south of the east road out of CHAMBOIS, was taken only after Company K
had knocked out one Mark IV tank and two halftracks.
At 1300, the Battalion resumed the attack and moved towards its final objective – the high
ground NE of CHAMBOIS. In crossing the east road, Company L ran into two halftracks which took
off towards town. Company K knocked out a radio car, a command car and one tank at the same time.
After each Company had left one platoon to block the east road, they continued on to occupy the final
objective. Here they ran into scattered groups of Germans on their way to the only remaining road out
of the Falaise pocket – a northeast road out from CHAMBOIS.
As the two companies reached the NE road they set up roadblocks and waited. Company L very
soon thereafter knocked out two trucks, killing 20 Germans and taking 31 prisoners. Then two tanks
attacked Company L and drove them back one hedgerow. Captain Bryan called for more men,
ammunition and bazooka rounds from Lt. Col. Bealke at the OP immediately behind him. He also had
his artillery observer put fire on the Germans attempting to flee CHAMBOIS by the NE road.
A column consisting of six tanks, 20 to 30 trucks, towed guns, ambulances with machine guns in
them and other vehicles came down the road. For two hours an all out fight raged. It was in this action
that Pfc, Caldwell and Pfc. Giebelstein, both from Company K knocked out four tanks with five rounds
of bazooka fire.
During the day about 320 Germans were captured, over 100 killed and 11 tanks, eight self-
propelled guns as well as numerous other vehicles were destroyed.
The attached platoon of tank destroyers arrived at the end of the battle, but managed
nevertheless, to knock out one tank.
On the 20th, the Battalion was attacked almost incessantly by German units trying to escape
from the pocket. One group consisting of several truckloads of troops, two tanks and an undetermined
number of halftracks attempted to penetrate our lines at 0930. They almost reached the door of the
Battalion CP before they were detected. Then the CP swung into action, bringing out its 50 caliber MGs
and bazooka teams. Following a furious fight, over 250 prisoners were taken, including a large number
of English-speaking Germans. It was here that the 50's really proved their effectiveness, for the number
of dead Krauts considerably outnumbered those captured. One halftrack, however, did succeed in
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