Note: July 9-18 was the battle of St. Lo in Normandy. July 17 was the first date that Napalm is used by U.S. forces in battle.
7/15/44 France
From John Shaw to Nena Shaw
Hi Honey:
Will take time out to answer your last few letters. Have had about 4 this week so far also one from Opal but time is going by so fast it seems I don’t get around to answering but will try to do better.
You lucky dog having a 3 day vacation, yesterday was a French Holiday about the same as our 4th but somehow we did not get a vacation. Guess we don’t belong to the right Union or have the right connections.
I saw a very interesting piece in the paper today it seems the army is not going to take men over 30. Remind me if we have another war that I don’t have to go.
I thought of you the other night. While you were having your beer there and enjoying it I was sitting here sipping my Coniac (probably spelled wrong but you get what I mean). It was not too good tasted like Ten High or some of that other whiskey that we had to take when I was home last.
I will be sending more money home now when we get paid. Can’t say how often that will be for we sure don’t need money here. All cities are off limits if we did have time to go. So far I have not spent a franc as yet. By the way we sure draw a hell of a big pay here as the Franc is only worth about 2 cents our money. It seems strange to have thousands in your pocket and not be able to spend it, but if we save it now we can have a hell of a time when I get back and that will be a lot more fun don’t you think.
Well there is no news so will quit for now. All my love, yours, John.
Author’s historical notes: Mid July–U.S. forces launch “Operation Cobra” near St. Lo, breaking through German defenses. The counter-offensive fails and within a week the U.S. forces have met up with British and Canadian forces near Caen.
“Although not involved in D-day operations, the 92nd Chemical Battalion soon participated in the Normandy fighting. Attached to XIX Corps and supporting the 30th Division, the unit first saw action in the opening days of July along the Vire River. On 8 July the 92nd supported the 29th Division which was spearheading the XIX Corps drive on the centers of German resistance around St. Lô. This and one other attack proved unsuccessful; fourteen days and two attachments later the battalion was poised for the breakthrough operation.
COBRA, the offensive to break out of Normandy, began on 25 July. The VII Corps, with three divisions abreast, led the attack. Companies A (John Shaw’s company) and B, 92nd Battalion, were firing preparatory missions in support of units of the 30th Division when Allied heavy bombers droned in to soften German resistance. To the dismay of the American troops, about 3 of the planes dropped their bomb loads within friendly lines. Nearly 200 bombs fell in the 92nd Battalion area alone. Lt. Gen. Lesley J. McNair, Army Ground Forces commander, was instantly killed while observing the action from a point just in front of Company A. Battalion losses were 5 dead and 23 wounded. Company A lost 9 mortars, half of its ammunition, and all of its vehicles. Company B fared better, managing to salvage 8 of its 12 mortars. On the following day Company C relieved Company A and the latter unit drew back to reorganize; three days later Company A, in turn, relieved Company B. By 3 August all units returned to the battalion area for rest and refitting.”
Patton’s tank columns begin pursuing the retreating Germans on August 1, keeping them on the run. By August 20th, the Normandy campaign is over and thousands of German troops are captured. The Allies drive on towards Paris.
Source: http://tothosewhoserved.org/usa/ts/usatsc03/chapter12.html