The next day, July 6th, Company B joined the 357th Infantry Regiment at St. Jores and was
placed in direct AT support of them. Company A, remaining in general support of the Division
Artillery, from Vindefontaine, fired over 3000 rounds during the week into the enemy’s rear areas.
During the period of July 7 to 27 the Division advanced very slowly, especially in the areas
around Foret de Mont Castre or Hill 122 (where Company C received heavy mortar fire), on the
approaches to the island of Seves, and at Beau Coudray.
On July 12, 1st Lt. Raymond P. Nash, 1st Lt. Edmund P. Harrison, S/Sgt. Noriega and Pfc.
Spears were ambushed and captured by the Germans while on reconnaissance for gun positions.
Company C’s 2nd Platoon being in position north of the Seves River southeast of Gonfreville, on
the night of July 20th moved the first and second gun sections into positions to support an infantry attack
across the Seves River to the island. The guns were unlumbered from the half tracks and moved by
hand to positions well in front of the infantry’s front lines. Under the cover of darkness the positions
were dug in and camouflaged. At daylight there was to be an infantry attack preceded by a ten minute
artillery barrage. Under cover of the artillery fire the three inch guns were to fire direct at the enemy
installations in six houses and the surrounding woods located five hundred yards to the front. The attack
was postponed 24 hours leaving the guns under direct enemy observation until 0620 July 22nd when the
attack was launched as scheduled. The guns expended ammunition as fast as four man crews could put
out for ten minutes. Though the infantry attack was temporarily successful, the three inch guns received
heavy shelling by enemy mortars and artillery from very short range. For eight hours artillery pounded
the guns, the crew members being saved only by their deep foxholes. Heavy casualties were reported to
have been inflicted on the enemy by the direct fire. The Germans counterattacked and it was several
days before the guns could be withdrawn.
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