Hedgerow Slugfest at St Lo*
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la Foutelaie, France*
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July 15, 1944*
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US Attack vs German Defend*
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40 Turns
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XIX Corps' coordinated attack on 15 July was scheduled for 0515. The objective set for the 30th Division was the crossroads where the Periers-St-Lo highway intersected the north-south road at le Mesnil-Durand that marked the axis of the division's attack along the ridge from Hauts-Vents.*
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The 117th Infantry jumped off on a 2,000-yard front, with the 3d Battalion, 119th Infantry attached and its own 1st Battalion in reserve. Supported by the 743d Tank Battalion, the 117th was further reinforced by two medium tank companies from Combat Command B. With the 3d Battalion, 117th Infantry on the right and the 3d Battalion, 119th Infantry on the left, the assault elements pushed forward against machine-gun,and mortar fire that increased as they neared the village of la Foutelaie.*
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Some of the stiff resistance was explained by the presence of paratroopers of the 14th Parachute Regiment. The 9 and 11 Companies of this enemy unit were fighting in the area. There was evidence to suggest that the 902d Panzer Grenadier Regiment was so shot up that the German command had decided not to evacuate it as a unit, and that the paratroopers were backing up the 902d in their present positions.*

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By noon, United States infantry advances were still progressing slowly under antitank and machine-gun fire. The tankers had also been engaged in a slugging bout through the hedgerows, and on the left two Americans and two enemy tanks had been knocked out. On the right four American tanks had been lost as the result of enemy bazooka fire.*
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Late in the afternoon the power of the division's attack wore down the enemy resistance. At 1500 the 117th Infantry suddenly punched through in a 1,000-yard advance, and by night the forward elements were on the outskirts of le Mesnil-Durand, a 1,400-yard gain for the day. There the drive halted. General Corlett, checking the progress of the advance, was told by General Hobbs that the day's fighting had turned into a slug fest.*
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Sources:
ST-LO (7 July - 19 July 1944) American Forces in Action Series
Historical Division
War Department; pgs 95-97*
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Design: C. Berry*