The company moved to the vicinity of Fresville The next day, the 18th of June, the residue group
arrived from England with its important company records and a windfall of spare parts. The shortage was
temporarily relieved. During this second week in France, the Automotive Section accomplished 24 major jobs
and innumerable minor jobs such as unit replacements. Battery recharging and repair work formed a large part
of the work of the Automotive Section. Approximately fifty batteries a week were being repaired and reissued
at this time ... much of the repair being accomplished with captured enemy material.
Captain Louis A. Larrey, popular commanding officer of the company, sustained serious injuries in the
vicinity of Chef du Pont on the 22nd of June when he fell from a truck while engaged in unloading operations.
He was evacuated to the hospital.
In this same vicinity, men of the company probing a swamp found a precious stock of Ordnance
equipment. Apparently lost by paratroopers, the material was completely salvaged.
All sections now worked long into the night. Close on the advancing heels of the infantry. Ordnance
rolled on – maintaining … recovering … salvaging … issuing … Captured German material poured into the
shops in ever increasing piles. These were tested, experimented with, modified, reissued. German mortars
particularly were returned to the infantry regiments to spew forth death on their original makers.
Repair parts and replacement items were non-existent. The Automotive Section was frequently faced
with seemingly impossible repair jobs. American ingenuity and initiative kept the vehicles rolling. Two
outstanding heroes of “Keep ‘Em Rolling” were “Hot Patch Moe” and “Cold Patch Murray” – two persevering
souls who were known to patch an inner tube 67 times!
The 10th of July was a banner day. A mobile shower unit was available to the company. The men took
their first bath since leaving England!
Work grew steadily heavier. The volume of repair and reclamation work on recovered weapons forced
the expansion of the Small Arms section to 18 men.
And the company moved forward, ever forward, keeping up with the advancing front line units. In the
vicinity of Pont-l’Abbe some changes were effected in the officer personnel: 2d Lt John M. McKillen Jr was
assigned to the company as Small Arms Shop Officer; 1st Lt. Eugene W. Connor assumed command of the
company; 1st Lt. Robert L. Edenfield became the Supply Platoon Commander; 2d Lt. Mathew L. Habzda was
placed on special duty in the Artillery Section.
Always within artillery range of the enemy, there was no break in the work routine. In spite of constant
movement the work went on. And nightly, almost at the stroke 2130, the “washing-machine” motors of the
“Bed-Check Charlies” would be heard overhead, signaling the approach of the Jerry planes. Men would dive
for cover. Ack-ack would open up and bring an occasional plane crashing to earth But the next night they
would be back again.
In St. Jores, on the 24th of July, the company was quietly eating dinner when someone heard a sound.
He took no chances, but dove for a hole. Others followed until the chow line was deserted, the area empty.
Spilled food was everywhere as men flew to safety. It was a plane overhead, so high it was barely visible. A half
 |
 |
 |