identification of enemy clothing and equipment. There were weekly night problems and early in May
the entire Battalion moved down near AMESBURY for target firing. Later a large group went to
WALES for anti-aircraft firing. All of this didn't leave too much time for fish and chips, ATS Girls, pub
crawling and the like.
Late in May, speculation about D-Day was current everywhere, and the numerous flights of
towed gliders over the area gave strong indication that such a day was not far away. These same days
saw the tank park a scene of feverish activity as the “Battle of Bostik” was fought with every minute of
the daylight hours being utilized for waterproofing. And on 6 June 1944 the world awoke to D-Day and
the 712th awoke to
find a new Battalion Commander and that it had received alert orders looking toward debarkation for
France on 28 June. A lot still had to be accomplished and the tankers set to work with increased
resolution. With approximately another week still left for preparation the tankers hit the sack on the
night of 16 June, confident that the present unreadiness of their tanks and equipment would be
eliminated when the time came. Six hours later – at 0430 17 June – they found themselves racing down
the roads toward the POE as a premature movement order had reached the Battalion an hour before
midnight. It was a long, fast march and the day was blistering hot. Tanks burned and fell Out as bogie
wheels and tracks deteriorated. The column thinned out and stretched way back, but eventually all tanks
pulled into DORCHESTER and all tankers were filled with uneasiness. Work to complete
waterproofing was recommended on arrival but soon word came down to stop and take a good night’s
sleep, if possible, since almost every man’s eyes were inflamed and irritated. By the next day it was
discovered that the movement orders had been a mistake and the Battalion, assembled in a large field
near YEOVIL to await actual commitment.
The next week was spent in waterproofing, de-waterproofing, re-waterproofing and in doing the
many last minute things needed to prepare the vehicles for the real thing. Then on the morning of 28
June, and this time everyone was ready and confident, the tanks moved down to the POE and boarded
the LSTs and LCT at WEYMOUTH. The tides and natural confusion incident to this mighty effort
made the Channel trip a 2 day instead of 8 hour affair. But it seemed no time at all before the tanks were
threading their way past the wreckage on OMAHA BEACH, under cover of the ever-present P-47s and
the odd, huge barrage balloons.
After de-waterproofing the tanks moved to an assembly area near PICAUVILLE. The first night
in France was definitely an experience. Maneuvers and training had never involved the sound of enemy
artillery and the explosion of an incoming shell. The devastation that had been wrought by American
planes and arms was complete and warned the tankers that like it or not they were now in the war for
keeps. Soon the Battalion learned that it had been assigned to the 90th Infantry Division whose
personnel wore TOs on their sleeve, standing for Tough ‘Ombres, (Originally this stood for Texas-
Oklahoma). A Co. was temporarily assigned to the 82nd Airborne Infantry Division. And on the
evening of 2 July the platoon leaders returned with the plans for action the following day. July 3rd then,
the day before Independence Day, would become the red letter day in the Battalion’s history. Hitler,
Rommel and Co. were now faced by the “Best Tank Battalion in the U. S. Army”.
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