Le Dezert counter attack

[David D]

I shared this on my Facebook page, “D-Day to Saint Lô” but I figured you guys would like to see it here as well. 
 

Some new additions I’ve recently added to my collection. 39th IR helmet was found on the Normandy battlefield in the 80s, the liner was recently pulled out of a house clean out in the 9th IDs position in Belgium. But the early rayon liner almost assures me it was used in earlier campaigns before being lost…
 

General Eddy’s 9th infantry division, combat veterans of the North Africa and Sicily campaigns landed in France on June 10, 1944. After landing on Utah Beach, cutting off the Cotentin peninsula and capturing the port city of Cherbourg, they were called in to the Saint Lô area. On July 9th, the 9th ID was headed towards St. Lô to be positioned on the right flank of the 30th infantry division. At 1600 (4pm) on July 9th, 3rd battalion of the 120th infantry regiment was relieved by 2nd battalion 39th infantry in the area around Le Dezert. Later in the evening elements of the 3rd armored division as well as the 113th cavalry were attached to the 9th ID. By the next morning the 9th ID was situated in their new position and was ready to launch an attack west and southwest through the 113th cavalry’s positions. The 60th infantry regiment ( IR) was aided by the 113th cavalry in clearing out a German salient running north through the village of Graignes. The 47th IR had a tough day as it encountered fierce resistance all day but eventually made it to the outskirts of Bois du Hommet. The 39th IR has the roughest going that day only making it to Le Dezert by nightfall. The 39th IR’s failure to capture as much ground as it’s sister regiments had accidentally led to a 1000 yard gap between the 39th and 47th regimental positions by nightfall. This incident also ultimately led to the 30th division’s right flank to be dangerously exposed, as XIX corps command became aware that the elite German “Panzer Lehr” division, was now in the area….

 

On the morning of July 11, the right flank of the XIX corps area was threatened by a very serious armored attack carried out by the Panzer Lehr division. The initial success of this counter attack had a lot to do with the gap that had been formed between the 39th and 47th IR’s positions the previous day. Utilizing the gap between regiments, Panzer columns initially captured the command post of 3/47 and drove 1/39 almost half a mile back to the Le Dezert highway. Though communications between the regiments of the 9th ID were down, the units quickly took the effective steps necessary to try and slow down the counterattack, which in some areas had advanced well over a mile behind American lines. After a long day of very intense fighting the 39th and 47th infantry regiments with assistance from tank destroyers, artillery and fighter bombers had managed to put a stop to this vicious tank led counter attack. By 2100 (9pm) the regiments had fought back the last of the resistance and began to dig in for the night in preparation for the next days attack… 

 

[David D]

More details 

[manayunkman]

Very nice display and history.

 

We had a very good family friend who served in the 9th.

[David D]

13 hours ago, manayunkman said:

Very nice display and history.

 

We had a very good family friend who served in the 9th.

Thanks ! 

[M24 Chaffee]

Great presentation! Nice helmet and liner!

 

Frank

[Gtilk8455]

Saw this one on the book, always great to see 9th division kit. In my opinion they were among the best division to fight in the war. 

[David D]

Thanks for the comments, and yes I agree. They have quite an impressive history 

[Nickman983]

Very nice display. I've always liked these 9th ID helmets. Really like the wear on that liner. Thanks for sharing!

[fight]

Great stuff David!

 

 Alec 

[David D]

Thanks, gents