CLOSING THE TRAP
Pressure by the British had prevented the enemy from standing fast near Falaise. Furthermore,
the strong German attack at Mortain was beaten off. Because of these events on August 9th the XV
Corps was given the mission of securing Alencon and eventually of joining the forces to the north.
On August 11th Company B was attached to the 358th Infantry and proceeded to secure the
Division’s left flank from Le Mans to Alencon, which had been taken by the 2nd French Armored
Division, to the high ground north and east of the town.
The Battalion less Companies B and C moved north to Bellon and to Danguel, a distance of the
21 miles. On August 13th the 357th Infantry plus attached troops and Company A marched through
Alencon and secured three hills and Foret D’ecoures about six miles northwest of the town. Devastating
fire was placed on the enemy in Longuence. Following the companies, the Battalion CP moved to two
miles northwest of Alencon. On August 15th Company B was relieved from attachment to the 358th
Infantry and moved to an assembly area in the vicinity of the Battalion CP. On the same day the
Battalion, less Company A, moved from the vicinity of Alencon with the 90th Infantry Division, less the
357th Combat Team, to relieve the 5th Armored Division in the general area of Le Bourg, St. Leonard-
Exmes-Nonant le Pin-Chailloue. Company A and the 357th Combat Team arrived on August 17th.
The final effort to close the last gap in the Falaise pocket began. Initially, the 359th Infantry,
manning the point of the threat were the enemy would try to escape, was reinforced by Company C plus
one platoon of Company B. One platoon was placed in the vicinity of Le Bourg St. Leonard, one in the
vicinity of Exmes, one at Nonat Le Pin, and one in the vicinity of Croiselles. Company B, less one
platoon, and the Battalion CP were in Chailloue.
Company C made first contact with the enemy near Croiselles 0500 August 16th, destroying one
half track and setting fire to the second. At 0800 a German infantry attack on Le Bourg St Leonard was
partially successful but all the ground and equipment was regained by noon. A subsequent tank
supported infantry attack was even more successful, but a determined counterattack nearly completely
restored the American position at St. Leonard. During this attack, Lt. Colonel Harold S. Sundt, without
regard for his personal safety, showed exceptional diligence in reconnoitering gun positions to best
destroy the enemy tanks. At one critical action he personally manned a tank destroyer gun which was
directly in the path of an enemy attack, assisting Sgt. Harold W. Scott and Cpl. Orlin L. Shirley, both of
Company C. This action greatly assisted in the stopping of the enemy attack and the recapture of the
town. This gallant action under enemy fire was an inspiration to both the infantry and tank destroyer
personnel and facilitated in closing the gap at Chambois. For their gallantry in action Lt. Colonel Sundt,
Sgt. Scott and Cpl. Shirley were awarded the Silver Star Medal. On the same day an enemy attack
appeared from the woods near the St Leonard and approached the town. Cpl. Bertram S. Washabaugh
and Pfc. Francis L. Hunsicker, both of Company C, upon their own initiative exchanged direct fire with
the tank and succeeded in knocking it out of action. This was done in spite of continuous withering fire
which had caused the gun crew and other troops in the vicinity to seek shelter. The Silver Star was their
award.
On August 17th intense small arms, mortar, artillery and the nebelwerfer fire was received
throughout the Le Bourg St Leonard area, extending fifteen hundred yards eastward. Tank fighting also
raged in this area, climaxed about 1600 by an attack of six tanks launched eastward along the main road
running through of Le Bourg St Leonard and supported by artillery fire. The attack was stopped by M-
10 fire of the 773rd TD Battalion before it had reached a field of fire of Company C’s guns which were
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