NARRATIVE OF THE COMBAT EXPERIENCES
OF BATTERY “B” 537th AAA (AW) BATTALION
DURING CONTINENTAL OPERATIONS
We first saw the coast of France on 14 June 1944. We debarked from our LST at 2145 and
moved directly to our assembly area where de-waterproofing was immediately accomplished. We all
noted with satisfaction the large numbers of prisoners penned up in corrals on the beaches. It was during
the first night on shore that we experienced our first air raid – we did not go into action.
During the night and early morning, the unit which we were to tentatively support was contacted.
It was the 344th FA Battalion of the 90th Infantry Division Artillery. We went into position offering
them AA protection at 1600 on the 15th of June 1944.
The next few days marked bitter fighting between the well dug in Germans and our fighting
doughboys. Ever present during the 24 hours was the sound of artillery and small arms – we all learned
to recognize the sound of the German machine pistol whose high rate of fire earned it the nickname of
“Burp Gun”. During these days Jerry visited us in the skies – but only at night. We soon learned the
folly of firing at him, as he sent decoys down to draw fire, while his bombers stayed up high to pin point
the targets disclosed by our ring of flak.
Our path led us during our first weeks from Ste. Mere Eglise to the bloody fighting grounds
around Amfreville and Gourbesville. At this point we changed direction and took up holding positions
south of Cretteville while our Corps took Cherbourg.
On the 3rd of July we moved, marking the end of our static position south of Cretteville.
On 5 July 1944 we received orders to give AA protection to the 8th Infantry Division which was
located north of La Haye du Puits.
On 11 July 1944 we suffered our first casuality. Pvt. Files was injured by shrapnel and
evacuated. We have since heard from him and he is reported to be doing well.
During all this time the battery saw action several times. It was mostly at night and we made no
claims. The Luftwaffe was very conspicuous by its absence, and we had not yet had a respectable target,
although “Bed Check Charlie” – was over almost every night.
On 12 July 1944 we were reverted to the 90th Infantry Division and immediately joined our FA
Battalion. At this time the 90th Division infantry was fighting the battle of the Foret de Mont Castre – in
which they were to be mentioned in many dispatches. One could easily notice the hard fighting that had
taken place.
On 14 July 1944 we moved to Gorges, a small village 2 miles north of Periers, and had our first
chance to rest up for weeks. The division set up showers near us and all the men were very pleased to be
able to clean up after a month of “helmet bathing”.
We sustained several artillery barrages during the coming weeks. Every section had its close
calls. One night a shell landed about 20 feet from the C. P. tent but no damage was done to the
personnel. B-10 had one casualty, Pvt. Culp, who was hit in the finger by shrapnel and evacuated.
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