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A SPEARHEAD REGIMENT
When the blood, sweat, and dirt of war become memories, who will remember the "little things" that
G. I. Joe did, to make war just "a memory"? We will, of course. The 90th Division through its battles and
conquests will go down in the annals of history as one of the finest and bravest Divisions of World War II.
After our return to civilian life it will be give us great satisfaction to look back at ourselves as we
were in combat, and to see ourselves as the heroes of the 359th, one of the great regimental combat teams of
the war. We have collected many pictures; all but a few taken by G.I. Joe himself on the battlefield. In so
far as photography is concerned, some photos could be better, but that doesn't really matter. They show us
things as they were, and as they actually happened with no dressing and special poses. They show us as we
were at the time we helped make history.
We have no pictures of D-Day. Men were not in the mood to take pictures while all Hell was
breaking loose around them. Storming the "Heinie's" well fortified positions was work enough for that day.
Landing on Utah Beach amidst the heavy fire of the enemy was a remarkable achievement. There were a
few pictures taken by those few men who can do their job plus under any conditions; but the pictures were
unable to be located. However, those men who were on the landing need no pictures to remind them of it.
Nor will those men of the 2nd Battalion who were on the transport, "Susan B. Anthony", when it struck a
mine and sank on June 7th ever forget. The transport stayed afloat just long enough to enable rescue of all
the men. These men were loaded swiftly into small boats amidst gun and shell fire. By the night of D plus 1,
the bulk of the regiment was assembled on the beach. The supporting units were ashore D plus 4. Those of
you who remember this incident have a picture that is printed indelibly in your memory.
Do you remember Hill 122, which was so fanatically defended by SS men and enemy paratroopers?
On the sixth of July fighting heat, dust, and grime as well as the withering enemy fire, the First and Third
Battalions rushed enemy positions and took the hill ... only to find themselves almost entirely surrounded by
the enemy who demanded their surrender. They evidently did not realize the caliber and spirit of our men,
and our answer was a series of grim and furious attacks, which held off the enemy until a task force of the
358th Regiment came to our assistance and helped to completely defeat the enemy defending the hill.
Then came the Seves River. You, who remember, don't you ever wonder why it was called the river
when it was actually little more than a creek? Remember the continuous overcast skies? The mud, rain, the
hedgerows, and the soggy, freshly plowed ground between the hedgerows? The hedgerows had to be taken
one by one while they were literally plastered by artillery and mortar fire until your ears rang in your nerves
were nearly shot?
Remember the breakthrough? The enemy was crushed at St. Lo and his flank turned. He withdrew
rapidly along the entire line to avoid being encircled. Then, as you remember, began the drive across France.
Remember when we were harassed by enemy planes bombing and strafing along the roads through
Avranches? Remember the mines laid by the "Heinies" to slow our advance? Our rapid and smooth
maneuvering at the Falaise Gap which succeeded in cutting off and destroying the greater part of the Seventh
Army? The Division captured 12,335 prisoners and killed 8000 enemy troops from 16-22 August. We also
destroyed a staggering amount of equipment in large numbers of vehicles and guns.
When the enemy realized that he was being trapped, he repeatedly attempted to counter attack, but to
no avail. The First Battalion took and held the town of Le Bourg St. Leonard and turned back the
counterattacks with great success, assisted by tanks and tank destroyers.
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