La Haye du Puits
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Map of troop movement |
The 4th Division took over garrisoning Cherbourg
on 27 June, 1944 and the 79th reverted back to VIII Corps. They
moved south to just outside of Bricquebec (the troops called it
"Bricabrac.") The landscape changed from beaches and cliff
faces, to farms, small towns, and the dreaded hedgerows. On 29 June,
2nd BN moved south to take over a defense line near La Picoterie,
relieving the 90th's 357th Infantry Regiment. The 1st and 3rd BN's
joined later, and as of 2 July, they were still awaiting orders. |
Behind the line of Carentan - St. Lo, there was a small town called La Haye du Puits. It was a focal point for supply lines and the 79th's next objective. On 3 July, the attack moved out with the 314th approaching on the left, the 315th on the right. 1st BN / 314th drove forward to Bolleville, the 3rd worked on securing "Hill 121" left of Bolleville and the 2nd remained in a defensive position north of the Douve River in support.
The Regiment's Battalions lost radio contact
with Regimental HQ CP for several hours and mission specifications
were relayed by an artillery liaison. The objectives of 1st and
3rd were reached at 0230, 3 July. |
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During the night, 2nd BN crossed the Douve to the north-northeast
sector of "Hill 121." The approach exposed the troops
to the most extreme fighting they had experienced to date, and fatigue
ran high. |
At 1830, 4 July, 2nd BN moved through 1st BN's position to bypass La Haye du Puits to reach an assembly area about 800 yards northwest of Bolleville. 1st BN was holding the line to the right, and 3rd was in a defensive position northwest of Ste. Catherine. 5 July - After six hours of heavy fighting, 2nd BN managed to only advance one-half mile and was stopped cold until tank support arrived. 3rd BN's K/Co was sent to recon La Haye du Puits and, at 0900, secured the railroad station on the north end of town. The Germans bombarded the station heavily and orders for K/Co to pull out were issued that afternoon. Later in the day, the entire 3rd BN pulled back to regroup to the right flank (south of Bolleville) for the next day's assault.
2nd and 3rd BN's moved out early on 6 July
to take ground southwest of La Haye du Puits. 1st BN moved in south
from Bolleville. Late in the afternoon, 3rd BN ran into a battalion
of Waffen SS in defensive positions of La Haye du Puits. The 315th,
near Montgarden, was so far away that what resulted was a 500 yard
gap in the 3rd's right flank. On the northern sector, a 1st BN recon
unit ran into resistance and had to fall back to Bolleville. |
Waffen SS troops deploying |
On 7 July, 2nd and 3rd BN's tried to advance again with slight progress and at a high casualty cost. By nightfall, command of 2nd BN had changed three times due to heavy losses. 1st BN made another attempt to reconnoiter La Haye du Puits, but ran into heavy German defensive positions - mine-studded fields strung with checkerboard patterns of piano wire about one inch off the ground, mortar bursts, and machine gun batteries. Behind the 314th's position, the 8th Infantry Division was preparing it's 28th Regiment to relieve 2nd BN's position. The next day's orders were for the 1st BN to just contain the town, leaving the dirty work to the 8th Infantry Division.
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But, as will become pattern,
the orders changed sending 1st into town. The battalion broke up
into smaller units to penetrate the German defensive positions.
It was an awkward, almost Guerilla-like attack, but after a day
of this tactic, on 8 July, the 1st BN secured La Haye du Puits.
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To the south, 3rd BN was taking a beating from the SS in its attempt to secure a position noted as "Hill 84" and the 28th had no progress moving in for support. 2nd BN was called up to assist. By 9 July, F/Co had only one officer, and 94 enlisted men left. Between 8 and 9 July, F/Co lost 14 men, 34 wounded - almost half the Company. The 315th established contact with 314th's 3rd BN, and 2nd's remnants pulled back to the assembly area. 3rd BN moved forward to hold the slope of the hill area, and 1st BN - relieved by a unit of the 8th Division, turned over disposition La Haye du Puits, and moved north to regroup.
Later, "Yank" magazine did a full story spread
on the 8th Infantry Division "taking La Haye du Puits" with
only a passing mention of the 314th/315th Regiments efforts and involvement.
Typical media.
However, there is a memorial
monument to the 79th Division erected at La Haye du Puits, France.
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The 1st BN received a Presidential Unit Citation which read in part:
"The 1st BN, 314th Infantry is cited for extraordinary gallantry for the assault and capture of the city of La Haye du Puits during the period 7-8 July 1944. In the assault and capture of this most important communications center, it displayed outstanding courage, determination, fortitude and fighting spirit..."