Combat of the Chambois pocket

At dawn 17 August the Bosch renewed his attack against A and B Companies 359th Infantry at LE BOURG ST LEONARD. It had become apparent the day before that we were faced with something different than the disorganized resistance encountered in the previous campaign, which initiated at ST HILAIRE. This was a desperate and well coordinated German force in 2 Battalion strength, fighting savagely to maintain the shoulders of the gap through which the German 7th Army was fleeing.

The area around LE BOURG ST LEONARD dominated the valley to the Northwest and provided observation over the entire escape route leading through CHAMBOIS. By 0900, 2 Battalions 358th Infantry had moved into position at EXMES in preparation for the attack in the direction of CHAMBOIS, and had relieved company C 359th Infantry, garrisoned in that area. This relieved Company was immediately set in motion westward to join up with the remainder of their Battalion engaged at LE BOURG ST LEONARD. At the same time, the 3rd Battalion 357th Infantry initiated the relief of the 2nd Battalion and L Company 359th Infantry, the relieved elements moving by motor to the vicinity of LE PIN AU HARAS. The battle at LE BOURG ST LEONARD continued throughout the day. Contact was established between the 2nd Battalion 358th Infantry and 1st Battalion 359th Infantry just South of the town, about noon. But the Boche retained control of the town proper. At one time an attempted German envelopment temporarily cut off elements of B Company who held positions in the southern portion of the town. But effective work by the attached tanks and the movements of 3rd Battalion 359th Infantry to a position generally astride of the Y east of the town eliminated this threat. [Page 5] At 1400 the 90th Division along with the 2nd French Armored Division and the 80th Infantry Division passed to the control of V Corps and First Army.

The CG V Corps after surveying the situation, altered the Corps attack plan and postponed its execution until 180800. The revised plan was in substance as follows: the two Infantry Divisions, 90th on the right and 80th Division on the left, would attack to secure the line: high ground Northeast of CHAMBOIS to ARGENTAN inclusive. The 2nd French Armored Division was to remain in position protecting the left flank of the Corps. Juncture with elements 21st Army Group was anticipated in the vicinity of CHAMBOIS. The Division order directed the attack to be launched by 359th Infantry on the right and the 358th Infantry on the left while the 357th Infantry maintained the roadblocks within its sector of responsibility. As a preliminary to the attack, the 358th Infantry less 2nd and 3rd Battalions displaced to the North edge of the FORET DE PETITE GOUFFERN.

The 3rd Battalion 358th remained in the vicinity LE PIN AU HARAS. 357th Infantry moved the remainder of the regiment to vicinity of NONANT LE PIN and assumed responsibility for the roadblocks at EXMES. E Company 358th Infantry rejoined its Battalion and the entire 2nd Battalion 358th Infantry was earmarked for return to regimental control on clarification of situation at LE BOURG ST LEONARD. CO 359th Infantry was directed to secure LE BOURG ST LEONARD by the midnight to guarantee a reasonable LD for the morrow's attack. At 1800, the Germans, under the increasing pressure from our augmented forces, withdrew slightly to the North and Northwest and the 2nd Battalion 359th Infantry was passed through the 1st Battalion to mop up the town.

By midnight, the 359th Infantry had accomplished its mission and was in complete control of LE BOURG ST LEONARD. The division attack was launched on schedule the 180800. The 3rd Battalion 359th Infantry attacking Northwest, cross-country, from an LD on the LE BOURG ST LEONARD-EXMES Road, flanked the resistance on the LE BOURG ST LEONARD Road and made excellent progress aided by remarkable observation from the LD. 2nd Battalion 359th Infantry initially held its position at LE BOURG ST LEONARD, while the first Battalion continued reorganization in an area 2 km South of LE BOURG ST LEONARD. 1st Battalion 358th Infantry attacked North on the axis MEGUILLUME-ST EUGENIE with an initial objective of the latter town. It met considerable resistance along ARGENTAN-LE BOURG ST LEONARD Road and not until midday was it able to force entry into the FORET. The 2nd Battalion 358th Infantry, less 1 Company, which remained at the crossroads it had been occupying, moved West astride of LE BOURG ST LEONARD-ARGENTAN Road to clear that road and prepared to follow the 1st Battalion. 3rd Battalion 358th Infantry was moved by marching to the north edge of the FORET DE GOUFFERN. Throughout the day, ground and air observation reported huge columns of vehicles moving Northeast across the Division front through ST LAMBERT SUR DIVES and CHAMBOIS. All agreed that these columns were Krauts moving out of the trap. Liaison officer from the Canadians had reported, however, that his elements were in CHAMBOIS and "No Fire" line[Page 6] which excluded ST LAMBERT and CHAMBOIS to us was restated by the Canadians when a radio request was sent to them for permission to fire on these two localities.

The evidence of a fight on the TRUN-CHAMBOIS Road North of ST LAMBERT SUR DIVES was conclusive evidence that no friendly troops were in or near CHAMBOIS, and the Commanding General V Corps authorized the Division to shoot into that area. This was initiated with vehemence by 11 battalions of artillery with amazing results.

The 3rd Battalion 359th Infantry continued its advance, and by a wide employment to the Northwest, cut the LE BOURG ST LEONARD-CHAMBOIS Road midway between the two towns and causing great havoc among German personnel and equipment retreating into their very arms. The 2nd Battalion moved Northwest from LE BOURG to annihilate the Boche force at FOUGY while the 1st Battalion, still in regimental reserve, moved up to replace the 2nd Battalion in the town, the control of which was the first key in the closing of the gap. The 1st Battalion 358th Infantry made good progress towards ST EUGÈNE until stopped late in the day by an enemy group astride the road.

The poor visibility in the damp, dense woods, heightened by the thick smoke from the timber set ablaze by our WP made accurate appraisal of hostile strength and dispositions and control of our forces difficult and definitely slowed the prosecution of the attack. As the Division picture unfolded, it became apparent that additional punch on the right of the Division would afford the greatest measure of success and consequently the 3rd Battalion 358th Infantry passed to Division control and was moved to the Y east of LE BOURG ST LEONARD. 1 Company of this Battalion was placed on Hill 137 to control the RJ there and to protect the right rear of the 359th Infantry.

The close of the day's fighting found the 90th Division halfway to its objectives, with sufficient reserves trying to punch through on the morrow. Artillery and the British Air had had a field day in the pocket.

Memorial Combat Bourg Saint Léonard

Monument au Bourg St Leonard


Memorial 90th Infantry Division Utah Beach

List of KIA 90th, dead and buried in Europe, the list is not complete.
Name of the soldiers who died between August 12 and 22, 1944, unit by unit.


357th Infantry Regiment 

PFC Victor B. DIGGS, kill 14 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Gustave B. LINDEMANN, kill 14 august 1944, Ardennes Cemetery resting
SSGT Jose. J ORTIVEZ, kill 14 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
CAPT Lawrence R. WATSON, kill 13 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery

358th Infantry Regiment 

PFC John P. ABBATI, kill 15 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT Otto W. APPGATE, kill 20 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT David A. BARTELS, kill 19 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Roman BUTKOWSKI, kill 18 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT John J. CANTWELL, kill 15 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
First LT Floyd I. Junior CHAMBLISS, kill 17 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT Ralph R. Senior HUNTER, kill 19 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT James L. JOYCE, kill 20 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT Karl KORNBLUM, kill 18 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Joseph W. MAZZOLA, kill 18 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT Everett L. MILR, kill 20 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Donald L. MOORE, kill 18 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
SGT L. C. NATIONS, kill 18 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery.
PVT e E. ROHDES, kill 20 august 1994, repose à Colvil sur Mer ( Normandie ).
SSGT Walter F. SCHLATTER, kill 16 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT Armand G. SENESAC, kill 18 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery.
1SGT Maxwell STAGE, kill 16 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
SSGT Victor B. WASHABAUGH, kill 18 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT Maynard H. ZUGER, kill 18 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery

359th Infantry Regiment 

PVT Broadus L. BARRETT, kill 20 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT Thomas L. BASS, kill 12 aout 1944, Brittany Cemetery.
1LT Henry E. BURNESS, kill 16 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Peter T. DOMCOWSKI, kill 19 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
SGT Steve DUDICK, kill 9 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Chars H. FOWR, kill 18 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Pedro M. FUENTES, kill 17 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Bates J. HARRIS, kill 20 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
1SGT James M. HUMPHREYS, kill 17 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC T. K. ISSACKS, kill 12 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT Walter W. JAHRMARKT, kill 20 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT Anselme A. LAROCHE, kill 18 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT onard LINDEN, kill 18 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
CPL Burke LYERLA, kill 20 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Bert MACHI, kill 20 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
SGT Chars MAURER, kill 20 august 1944, repose à Colvil sur Mer ( Normandie ).
PFC Chars J MAYER, kill 12 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT Carman MAZZOLA, kill 20 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Billy G. MYERS, kill 19 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
SGT Chars O. NAVE, kill 19 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT Francisco A. PARRA, kill 18 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT Joseph REDESCALDI, kill 20 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Joe SALGADO, kill 19 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Vannie V. Saxon, kill 18 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT Robert W. SCHROEDER, kill 16 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Norman SCRIMSHAW, kill 18 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT Peter R. SHATOS, kill 20 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Harold STACHOWIAK, kill 17 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
1SGT Ralph E. THACKER , kill 21 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
1LT Darrel A. TIPTON, kill 19 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PVT John A. WINDSOR, kill 20 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Louis T. WISNIEWSKY, kill 17 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
SGT William M. WOOLSEY, kill 20 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery
PFC Elmer M. WULF , kill 19 august 1944, Brittany Cemetery

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