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I happened upon this US Signal Corp photo recently. The official Signal Corp stamp states the photo was taken July 25th, 1944 near St. Giles, France. An expert on Signal Corp photos told me that many of the 1:25,000 maps used in the war did not name many of the small French villages. It was common to use a larger village name to place a photo rather than the actual location. There is actually two St. Giles close to where I believe this photo was taken. A St. Giles about 2 miles NE and the famous St. Giles about 4 miles South, south of the St. Lo/Periers Road....the objective of the 119th IR and the 2nd AD on July 26th. Back to the photo...I believe this be the scene of the friendly bombing of Tech 4th Grade Patsy Barbato, Regimental Journal Clerk of the 119th. After Action Reports for the 119th written on Aug. 4th, 44 state that the 119th Regimental C.P. was near the church at le Mesnil Durand. It also states that on July 25th, Technician Fourth Grade Barbato, the regimental journal clerk, was hit by a heavy bomb, and the regimental journal and all maps and overlays in his possession for July 24th and 25th were destroyed. The history to July 24th had already been written, hence is fairly accurate, but the history for the 24th, 25th, and 26th is written largely from memory after a busy week. In Workhorse of the Western Front on page 36 it states 40 of the 133 119th's casualties were sustained near the regimental command group, on the road near le-Mesnil-Durand. In the 119th's official history book on page 22 it states the Regimental CP was at le Mesnil Durand and on page 24 states on that morning (25th) Tech 4th Grade Barbato, the Regimental journal clerk, was hit directly by a heavy bomb. On page 23 of the history it states: Then the bombers, B-17s and B-24s appeared and still heavier flak came up at them. The bombers came, moving south, and with great precision and effectiveness bombed the Regiment around le Mesnil Durand and passed on. Approximately a squadron released their load of medium and heavy bombers. Close inspection of the photo shows maps, map cases, jeep trailer, etc. The stamp identifies the photographer as Lovell of the 165th Signal Company. This same photo can be found in the Center for Military History book, "Breakout and Pursuit". Note also the camouflage net would probably be found at a small command post.

Yellow area marks approximate location, I believe, of above photo. Map of action July 15-16.

Photos of 113th Field Artillery, Battery B taken between June 1944 and Sept. 1945. Special thanks to William (Bill) R. Fuller of West Lafayette, IN. All photos except Gun Crew 4 taken in Normandy. Gun Crew 4 taken in Schloss Oppurg near Possneck in Thuringia, Germany. (Click on Photos of 113th for photo page.)

Link to the personal history of William Fuller....his 1944 actions and his return trip in 2005. Chapter include the PDF file of Action in Northern Europe and Action in Northern Europe..60 Years Later.
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Briefing for the Fight Tomorrow. 120th IR, Co. K, Front Left: Staff Sgt. John Adams; Front right kneeling: Pfc. James R. Googe, KIA; Capt. Marvin M. Smith, kneeling in middle, speaking, WIA during German counterattack, July 22th, 1944; Staff Sgt. Frank Wylie, on one knee looking at Capt. Smith.
This photo and more on the military career of John Adams can be found here: CLICK

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Signal Corp description: This German 88mm was captured intact by units of the Ninth Army during the fighting which resulted in the fall of Neuss, Germany. Concrete sewer blocks are used for storing ammunition. Photo taken March 9th, 1945. The 30th division was within a couple of miles of Neuss thus this feared 88 could have fired upon 30th men.

The cannon points in the direction of a factory in Neuss-Holzheim.

Few meters before the factory became Pvt. Seymour B. Schinasi, # 42176948 - 331st infantery regiment, 83rd Infantery division, with the attempt was to be cut the wire was, met fatally.

German situation on March 2 1945 on the report:. Arrows are the U.S. troops !!!

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Warden, Germany on Feb. 2nd, shot of road entering the town of Warden, Germany that was almost completely ruined by the fighting on November, 18th between the 117th's 1st Bn. and German troops.

Photo of the slag heap near Mariagrube, Germany. Photo is taken along the road between Schaufenburg and Mariadorf looking approximately SE from Schaufenburg. Schaufenburg was right next to Alsdorf to the East. It was the 117th Infantry Regiment that attacked this slag pile on Nov. 16 at the start of the "Perfect Infantry Attack". Link to Maps of Perfect Attack. You can see the hazardous journey the infantrymen had to travel across the flat, wide-open beet fields. The fields were also covered with land mines.

Monument Hill with a statue of Hermann, the ancient German tribal chieftain, that decisively defeated the invading Roman legions of Varus in 9 A.D. Located above Detmold, Germany in the Teutoberger Wald. The 30th captured Detmold on its advance to the Elbe, April '45.

On 9 July 1944 a column of Sherman tanks drove past two type "J" Panzer IV's belonging to the 2nd SS Panzer Division, near Saint-Fromond, during the time when the Germans were attempting to block the American advance towards St-Lo. The two tanks had been put out of action by the men of the 117th Infantry Regiment (30th Infantry Division. The insignia of the 2nd SS, the "Runes of Combat" can clearly been seen on the left of the rear hulls of the two tanks.

Photo also from July 9th, 1944 near the bridgehead of St. Fromond with 30th men passing a 90mm Anti-Aircraft gun being used as an anti-tank gun.

Photo found in "Workhorse", page 12 of photo section. Soldier identified by his son: Cpl. Roy Frank Everhart of the 117th Cannon Company. Everhart is with his 82mm mortar dug in near St. Barthelmy during the Battle of Mortain. Any 117th Cannon Company information would be greatly appreciated. Email:
hoops@metc.net

Information on Lt. Francis M. Cordle, 119th, 1st Battalion, Company A. Mentioned six times in the 1st Battalion Daily Journal. Information provided by his grandson, Brad Rake.