1 August 1944
Small pockets of resistance by-passed by the assaulting armored units were encountered by the 4th Division. Small arms, antitank guns and tanks were used defensively, taking advantage of favorable terrain and erecting road blocks on key arteries.
From positions in the vicinity east of Percy, the 8th moved to the south and then continued the attack on Villedieu-les-Poêles. At 2200, the 3rd Battalion had occupied the town.
2 August 1944
It was apparent that the enemy had developed a policy of laying low and allowing the spearhead of armor to pass, and then rallying again to delay the advance of our infantry. Usually the resistance was built around a machine gun or an antitank gun.
The 8th Infantry protected the left flank of the Division until passed through by elemnts of the 9th Infantry Division.
The 12th Infantry continued the attack at 1000 while the 1st Battalion maintained defenses to the north, northeast and east of Villedieu-les-Poêles. The 3rd Battalion cleared enemy pockets of resistance that were hindering transportation along the main route leading to the town.
The 22nd Infantry was now reverted to control of the 4th Division and moved by motor to assembly areas north of Villedieu-les-Poêles. The 1st Battalion relieved the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, in the city.
The 4th Division had succeeded in maintaining an active defense in its zone of action against enemy forces attempting to escape to the northeast.
3 August 1944
It was apparent that the enemy contemplated falling back to the high ground surrounding St Pois and thence to the Forest of Saint Sever where it appeared that the enemy would attempt a determined rear guard action while a general withdrawal was effected. Artillery fire was slightly heavier along the front lines.
The 8th Infantry attacked at 0800 in the right half of the Division zone of action. During the afternoon, the task force was dissolved and CT 8 assigned the mission to block the roads.
The 12th Infantry resumed the attack at 0800 to clear the enemy from the Division zone of action and in the late afternoon was assigned the mission of containing St Pois and securing the left flank.
The 22nd Infantry was ordered in the late afternoon to maintain contact with the 12th Infantry to the south and to block roads to the east and northeast. Movement to assembly area in the vicinity of Villedieu was completed.
4 August 1944
The ridge line parallel to the highway from Coulouvray-Boisbenâtre-St Pois was held by the enemy. The roads into St Pois were defended with tanks, machine guns, mines and small groups of infantry. Heavy artillery fire was also encountered.
The 8th Infantry attacked from positions in the vicinity of La Gautière to seize Hill 211 at 1020. The advance was slow due to heavy enemy resistance with small arms, machine guns and artillery fires.
Four battalions of the Division Artillery supported the attack and two air attacks were made on the Hill.
The 12th Infantry attacked at 1045 from positions along the road La Bruyère to clear out pockets of enemy resistance and to seize Hill 232. After repeated efforts to advance, the Division Commander ordered this unit to remain in its present positions. Heavy enemy fires were encountered on the left flank from the woods and high ground inthe 9th Division zone of action.
The 22nd Infantry moved from bivouac areas to an assembly area south of La Marcellière and attacked to the southeast to seize St Pois. The attack progressed satisfactorily with light opposition until two battalions were within 500 yards of St Pois. There heavy enemy resistance was met from the town and the high ground to the east.
5 August 1944
The enemy launched a counterattack early. The nemy occupied and defended the critical terrain around St Pois until about 1725 jours when a general withdrawal to the southeast was effected. Another counterattack foreseen for 1200 was disorganized by our artillery.
The 8th Infantry consolidated positions on Hill 211. A counterattack at 1000 by the enemy resulted in the temporary loss of three anti-tank guns and three half-tracks which were regained by counterattack. Three German tanks were destroyed in this action. The 2nd Battalion attacked to capture Le Mesnil-Gilbert and La Houssardière.
The 12th Infantry continued to consolidate and clean up pockets of resistance. The 1st Battalion seized Hill 329. The 3rd Battalion supported by fire the attack of the 22nd Infantry in the seizure of Hill 232. The 3rd Battalion supported the attack of the 47th Infantry (9th Infantry Division) in the seizure of the hill in the vicinity of La Cobière.
The 22nd Infantry attacked at 0900 to capture Hill 232 which after heavy resistance was taken at 1700. The 1st Battalion attacked at 0900 to seize the woods after by-passing St Pois from the south. Throughout the day, the 1st and 2nd Battalion received determined resistance from the high ground east of St Pois.
The Division had seized key terrain features, eliminated isolated points of resistance and destroyed numerous motor vehicles and foot troops retreating along roads northeast and southeast from St Pois.
6 August 1944
Enemy front lines did not exist as such. Isolated pockets were to be mopped up in the vicinity of St Pois. Armored movement was heard during the hours of darkness but seemed to indicate a withdrawal rather than an attack.
The 8th Infantry mopped up small pockets of enemy resistance. Little opposition was met.
The 12th Infantry did the same within its zone of action.
The 22nd Infantry occupied the division outpost line to protect the division from enemy attack from the east.
7 August 1944
The enemy defended from hastily prepared positions with a concentration of resistance on Hill 230 (vicinity of Lingéard). The chief defensive fire came from automatic and direct fire heavy weapons. The enemy attempted to move east across our sector at 1630 but was immediately destroyed by artillery fire.
The 8th Infantry closed in bivouac area at 0000 to the south and southwest of Hill 211. As a result ofthe breakthrough by enemy force in the 30th Division sector, the 2nd Battalion was notified at 0345 to dispatch patrols to Sursée and the 3rd Battalion between Les Fontaines-La Roussel. This movement was cancelled at 0530 when it was found that the enemy was not attempting to go north of the river. At 0820 the 2nd Battalion was ordered to move to defensive positions in the vicinity of La Roussel. It was completed at 1215. The 1st Battalion remained in bivouac area (Hill 211) and the 3rd Battalion established a bridgehead at Sursée to allow the passage of the 2nd Armored Division over the Sée river.
The 12th Infantry was in assembly area 2000 yards northeast of Brécey at 0000. Upon notice of the threat of counterattack, they were ordered to establish a bridgehead across the Sée river. At 1515, CT 12 was created and attached to the 30th Infantry Division.
The 22nd Infantry was outposting a line extending from Lingéard Château to Hill 232. At 1200, the Hill 230 was captured by Company C.
The 4th Division Artillery fired a concentration in support of Company C 22nd Infantry and fired on an enemy vehicle column consisting of approximatively 30 vehicles which had been spotted from the air.
Task Force Welborn consisting of 70th Tank Bn, 4th Engineer Combat Battalion, 4th Reconnaissance Troop and 801st Tank Destroyer Battalion established an outpost line which extended from Fontière to Brécey to Le Besnerie.
8 August 1944
The enemy concentrated its armor at Le Mesnil Tôve for a second attempt to cut our lines of communication and to anchor its left flank at Avranches. This breakthrough was to have been exploited by elements of Adolph Hitler, Das Reich and Deutschland divisions. This attempt and several subsequent attempts were disorganized and put to route by our artillery fire before they could gain any momentum.
CT 8 maintained defensive positions and prevented enemy infiltrations from the southeast.
CT 12 remained attached to the 30th Infantry Division.
The 22nd Infantry maintained defensive positions until 1100 when the unit entrucked and moved to an assembly area.
Task Force Welbron maintained an outpost line and patrolled routes and road blocks.
9 August 1944
The enemy defended from positions in the vicinity of La Mardelle. This position had been obtained after a night attack down the draw La Laucherie, Lingéard, La Mardelle. THree times the supporting artillery fired concentrations to repel the aggressive enemy counterattacks. The 4th Division still continued to maintain a perimeter of defense.
10 August 1944
No contact with the enemy.
CT 8 remained in positions in the vicinity of La Roussel. At 2230 it was attached to the 9th Division.
CT 22 remained in same positions until 1600 when it was ordered to move to new positions in the vicinity of Le Teilleul.
11 August 1944
Enemy patrols contacted our patrols along the Varenne river. Small arms and automatic weapons fire were exchanged.
CT 8 was detached from the 9th Division at 1400 and was alerted for movement by truck to an assembly area in the vicinity of Désertines as division reserve.
CT 22 initiated vigorous patrols at dawn to reconnoiter area east of La Varenne river.
The Division established road blocks wherever necessary.
12 August 1944
It appeared as though the enemy patrols along the Varenne river to Domfront wqere acting as a screening force while larger forces withdrew to the east or dug in on the high ground east of Domfront. Several rounds of large caliber artillery fell inthe 4th sector.
The 8th Infantry closed in assembly area at 0045. Roadblocks and outposts were immediately established and reconnaissance initiated eastward.
CT 22 continued reconnaissance to the east, conducted vigorous patrolling and extended outpost lines to the northeast to include the town of Barenton.
13 August 1944
A ceremony was held at the 8th Infantry CP to award Distinguished Unit Citation Badges. The same took place in the afternoon for the 3rd Battalion of the 22nd Infantry. The 3rd platoon of Companies A and C of the 4th Engineer Combat Battalion received the same citation badge. These Presidential Unit Citations were awarded for the assault on Utah Beach.
The enemy continued to outpost the Varenne river west of Domfront. Small fire fights were experienced between patrols.
The 8th Infantry initiated reconnaissance eastward to La Varenne river, established road blocks and outposts.
CT 12 was detached from the 30th Division and moved to assembly area.
CT 22 continued reconnaissance east to La Varenne river.
14 August 1944
The enemy continued to leave listenings posts and security detachments for the purpose of defending road blocks and mine fields. In all cases these units dispersed when our reconnaissance elements closed in.
CT 8 continued patrols as far east as La Mayenne river. At 1900 the regiment discontinued extensive patrols and closed into assembly areas.
The 12th Infantry remained in assembly areas.
The 22nd Infantry maintained road blocks and outposted lines till 1900.
15 August 1944
No contact with the enemy.
CT 8 remained in assembly area, conducted maintenance and training plus small patrols as far east as La Mayenne river.
The 12th Infantry remained in assembly area and conducted care and cleaning of equipment and rest.
The 22nd Infantry and attached units conducted motorized patrols as far as La Varenne river within their sector.