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Chapter 3
The Peninsula
The hours wore on. The situation didn't improve. We didn't know what was
happening or what was going to happen. Col. Costain wasn't there to make decisions.
Finally I made one. "Doug," I said to our new executive officer, "Somebody has to find
the regimental commander and see what the score is. Generally Col Costain does that
himself, but he isn't available, so I guess it will have to be me. Help out Sgt Johnson if he
needs it while I'm gone."
I found Colonel Fales, commander of the 359th Infantry Regiment, at the CP of
his 3rd Battalion and got the information we wanted. The 90th Division had landed on the
east coast of the Cotentin Peninsula, which stuck up like a sore thumb from northern
France. Now our mission was to drive west, cross to the west shore, and thereby isolate
the port of Cherbourg, which the Allied forces needed for its dock facilities. The 359th
had made some progress that day, and although the leading companies of the 3rd
Battalion had lost contact for a while, things were now pretty well consolidated
At the 3rd Bn CP I also saw Lt Ray Wright, who had been acting as liaison officer
because Capt Sumner, wounded at the same time as Major Hughes, wasn't available.
Wright was done in. Never have I seen a man so tired and still moving. He had been
doing hard work that he was not accustomed to for three days without sleep, and they had
been days full of strain and nervous shocks, not the least of which was his helping
Novelli in the vain attempt to fire smoke and rescue Col Costain. Furthermore, he still did
not know whether Costain was still alive. Something would have to be done about him.
I went back, reported my information, and convinced Myers that Wright needed
to be relieved, especially since, if we moved again, we would need him for his regular job
of Survey Officer. "Who'll we send?" he asked.
That had been bothering me, too. Captains Klas and Fauble, commanding
Batteries A and C respectively, had both been wounded - not seriously, but they were still
receiving medical care. Captain Bob Wilson, commanding Battery B, was already up
forward as an observer. All our other experienced officers were doing something vitally
important.
It occurred to me that I could do a better job as S-2 if I knew more about the
problems of the LnOs and FOs, and here was a chance to find out. And to prove that it
wasn't as hard as they claimed to keep in communication with us.
"Me," I said. Doug demurred, but I finally went, because my job was one that one
of our slightly wounded officers could do if necessary.
It was about dark by the time I got to the 3rd Battalion and relieved Wright.
Contact had been restored with the lost companies, but nothing had been heard from Col.
Costain.
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