"8/20/44
Convoy from c-19 near Foucarville
Vehicle HQ 15-With Hope, McNamara, Downing, Kindel, Shelton, Priede, Henderson
Leave 1/30-St. Mere Eglise Carentan, Pierrs, (Center virtually destroyed),
Constanses (Edge), Granville (Beautiful view of ocean)
Skirting Avaranches
Numerous German convoys, guns and tanks (US tanks too) destroyed-
St Hlair (extensive damage) and Landran-
Bivoac in Field
Germans out 3 weeks-
Dugout-Apple orchard. -
Dig slit trenches-Fill in morning.
C Rations-Farmer and wife with cider and water to wash in
Stood in vehicle all way-
Like parade Sunday-crowds on highway-
"V" sign-apples-onions-flowers-cognac
From Lu's memoirs:
On August 20th we moved in convoy through Ste. Mere Eglise and Carentan, following the invasion route of the American forces just before the break-through south of Cherbourg. Signs of the fierce fighting were everywhere. The center of Periers was almost completely destroyed, wrecked German and American tanks and artillery pieces lay beside the roads. Later on these scenes became commonplace, but on that day they made quite an impact.
Our route from Coutances followed the west coast of the Cherbourg Peninsula, south through Granville, where we had a beautiful view of the ocean, to Avranches and then west along the north coast of the Brittany Peninsula (the coast that forms the south boundary of the English Channel to its' western end). It was quite an experience to be greeted as we passed through the small towns by enthusiastic crowds lining the roads and showering us with flowers, gifts of fruit and whatever they could gather together, even onions and tomatoes. The thing I remember the most was a slice of rich brown bread, with real butter spread on it! In turn, the G.I's tossed cigarettes, candy, chewing gum, lemonade powder etc from our K Rations and PX stores. It was a real liberation parade!
We stopped for the night near Landean, and bivouacked in a farmer's field and orchard. The farmer and his wife brought us water to wash in and fresh cider to drink. They were very fresh from the glow of being 'liberated'.
Lu, from Ray Hight's book: By now I was a topographical surveyor with the rank of corporal. In addition to surveying, our battery was also responsible for carrying and maintaining the battalion files, including the "After Action Reports." If we heard that the Germans might be close, it was our responsibility to either transport the files elsewhere or to destroy them, if necessary.
As we followed the west coast of the Cherbourg Peninsula and went through the small French towns, it was a wonderful experience to be greeted by enthusiastic crowds who lined the roads and showered us with flowers and gifts of food. We GIs tossed cigarettes, candy, "Choon gum," lemonade powder and so on from our K Rations and PX store supplies. it was a real liberation parade!
Cliff Hope, from his book: We left in convoy on 20 August from Area C-19, near Foucarville and Utah Beachhead, following a route through Ste. Mere Eglise, Carentan, and Periers. The war had already visited the areas we were traveling through. The center of Periers was virtually destroyed. At Coutances we were routed around the center of the town, and between there and Granville we were treated to a beautiful view of the sea. Skirting Avranches, we saw many abandoned and damaged German Convoys and U.S. and German tanks by the roadsides and in nearby fields. St. Hilaire was extensively damaged. We camped in a field near Landean which the Germans had left only three weeks before. The first American troops had arrived only 10 days before. Landean was far into France, east of the base of the Brittany peninsula. Our vehicles were camouflaged as hedgerows and we dug slit trenches. Our C-ration supper was washed down with water and cider brought by farmers in the area. For the most part we stood up in our vehicles as we traveled from village to village, the better to see the many people along the highways. On a Sunday a number of churchgoers threw flowers, apples, and onions as we passed. After two days on the road, our battalion was attached to VIII Corps Artillery for mission in the Brest Area. we drove in convoy halfway across Brittany to the bivouac area at Pluagat, a village west of St. Brieuc.
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