22nd Infantry After Action Report July 1944

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

22nd Infantry After Action Report July 1944

Colonel C.T. Lanham took command of the 22nd on July 9, 1944, and continued in command until March 2, 1945.
On September 11, 1944, the first American infantrymen into Germany were 22nd Infantrymen.
Colonel Lanham is shown telling General Barton of the event, as they prepare to follow the patrol across the border.

**********************

C O N F I D E N T I A L

Headquarters, 22nd Infantry

APO 4, U. S. Army

21 July 1944

SUBJECT: Action Against Enemy, Reports After/After Action Report

TO: The Adjutant General, Washington, D. C.

THRU: Channels

On 6 June 1944 the Allied Expeditionary Force landed on the coast of France. The 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, landed on Utah Beach starting at H plus 75 minutes. The Third Battalion, 22nd Infantry, initially attached to the 8th Infantry, landed in small craft with the mission of crossing the beach seawall, turning to the northwest, and reducing the fortified positions along the coast. The First and Second Battalions landed in LCI's, crossed the beach and inundated area, with the mission of attacking to the northwest, reducing the strongpoints at Crisbecq and Azeville, and then securing the high ground west and southwest of Quineville. The landing was made approximately 1500 yards south of the proposed beach. By nightfall, the Regiment was short of the initial objective, but had reached the general line Utah Beach-Foucarville.

On the morning 7 June, the Regiment continued the attack. The Third Battalion continued the attack on the beach strong points; the Second Battalion moved forward and luanched an attack on the strong point northeast of Azeville; the First battalion moved through Paveneville, St Marcouf, and attacked the strong point near Crisbecq. Later in the afternoon the First and Second battalions received counterattacks in some force and were driven back about 600 yards. During the night the First Battalion received another counterattack at about 0040 and repulsed this action without casualties.

On 8 June the First and Second Battalions attacked the strong points at Azeville and Crisbecq but were unsuccessful. The Third Battalion continued its mission of reducing the beach strong points until late in the afternoon at which time they reverted in place to the Regimental reserve with the mission of blocking an expected enemy attempt to break through the First Battalion to the beach.

A task force commanded by Brig. Gen. Henry A. Barber was formed on 9 June. The decision was made to contain the enemy at Crisbecq with "C" Company, 22nd Infantry and one company of the 899th T.D. Battalion; the remainder of the Regiment was to attack in column of Battalions in order Third, Second, First; after the Third Battalion had seized the town of Azeville. The attack jumped off at approximately 1800 and was met with strong enemy defensive fires.

On 10 June, the Third Battalion moved toward the strong point at Ozeville with the Second Battalion containing the enemy at Chau de Fontenay. The First Battalion attacked the town of Fontenay Sur Mar to relieve the pressure on the Third Battalion, which was receiving flanking fire from that point.

The 11th of June found the Third Battalion preparing to assault the Ozeville strong point with the Second Battalion still containing the enemy at Chau de Fontenay. The First Battalion continued the attack on Fontenay Sur Mar.

On the following day the Third battalion reduced the Ozeville strong point and by nightfall had almost completed the mopping up operation.

On 13 June, the Third Battalion seized the town of Ozeville and moved toward the high ground west of Quineville. The Second Battalion made a wide flanking movement through the 12th Infantry area to attack west along the ridge toward Quineville, and met stiff resistance the entire day. The First Battalion moved from its position near Fontenay Sur Mar to a position to the left of the Third Battalion in preparation for a coordinated Regimental attack on the following morning.

The Regiment attacked with all three battalions on the morning of 14 June, seized the high ground west of Quineville, and organized the position for defense. During the period 15-17 June the 22nd Infantry reorganized and re-equipped without other enemy interference than sporadic artillery fire. The First and Second Battalions remained in the front lines and the Third Battalion moved to the rear with Company "I" held in Division mobile reserve. Late 17 June, the Third Battalion moved to an assembly area southeast of Montebourg and began preparations for an attack on that town.

On the following morning, the Third Battalion was established in its assembly area; the First Battalion was attached to the 12th Infantry; and the Second Battalion was in mobile reserve.

On 19 June, the Third battalion attacked and seized Montebourg and the Regiment assembled northeast of that town preparatory to an attack to seize the high ground in the vicinity of Le Theil.

Throughout 20 June the Regiment moved rapidly with little or no resistance covering some eight miles and securing the high ground near Le Theil. The enemy had withdrawn to the prepared defenses in and around Cherbourg.

The Regiment attacked early on the morning of the 21st and attained some success although resistance was much heavier. The enemy began infiltrating behind the front lines, making it necessary to supply the assault battalions by tank convoy.

When the attack was resumed on 22 June, the Second Battalion attacked across the rear of the Third Battalion to clean out pockets of resistance. The First and Third Battalions made more progress toward the strong point on the high ground north of Le Theil.

On 23 June the First and Third Battalions mopped up the Regimental objective. The Second Battalion, assisted by Company "C", 4th Engineers, mopped up an abandoned village north of Bau Cauchon.

The following day the Second Battalion was attached to the 12th Infantry; the First Battalion held the high ground, patrolling vigorously; and the Third Battalion attacked south on another mopping up mission in an effort to drive the infiltrating enemy troops away from the main supply route.

On 25 June, the econd Battalion rejoined the regiment, attacked to the north, and reached the coast. The Third attalion seized Bretteville and the First Battalion continued to hold the high ground astride the St Pierre Eglise-Cherbourg road.

On 26 June the regiment changed its direction of advance from the west to east with the mission of destroying the enemy garrison holding the northeastern part of the Cotentin peninsula. On this and the following day (27 June) the Regiment met with some success although the enemy was a determined defender. Late on the 27th, the airport north of Gonneville fell and negotiations for the surrender of the garrison manning the coastal defenses were begun. The negotiations were completed early on the morning of the 28th and the surrender of 990 German officers and men was effected by 1330, 28 June, ending the fighting in the northeastern part of the Cotentin peninsula.

The Regiment moved to an assembly area for a short rest period prior to further operations.

C. T. LANHAM

Colonel, 22nd Infantry

Commanding

C O N F I D E N T I A L

**********************

World War 2 US Army motorcycle reconstructed to be from a unit in 1/22 Infantry during the War

Photo taken recently in France at a D-Day commemoration event.

Photo courtesy of Bob Babcock

BACK