Upon their return from Division Headquarters, Lieutenant-Colonel W.A. Robinson, Lieutenant-Colonel James P. Davis and Major William H. Hillier held a meeting with battalions, Special Units, Supporting Units Commanders to tell them what will be the order of the march for the move.

Note: Order of advance was as follows:

• "I" & "R" Platoon, one platoon of tanks.
• Some elements of the 1^st Battalion.
• One platoon of Antitank Company.
• Cannon Company, Headquarters Group (less Headquarters Company).
• Some elements of the 2^nd Battalion.
• One platoon of Antitank Company.
• Tanks.
• Some elements of the 3^rd Battalion.
• One platoon of Antitank Company.
• 311^th Field Artillery Battalion.
  
• Engineers.
• Headquarters Company.
• "B" Company of the 304^th Medic Battalion.
• Other elements of the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Battalions plus tank destroyers.
  

The destination? The line Sées – Carrouges. At 0030am on August 10^th, additional information’s were received. The order didn’t concern only the 79^th Infantry Division but the entire XV Corps which will attack and will be supported by the 2^nd French Armored Division and the 5^th Armored Division at 0800am.

Note: 90^th Infantry Division will follow the 2^nd French Armored Division on the left, 79^th Infantry Division will follow the 5^th Armored Division on the right.

314^th Infantry Regiment was part of Combat Team 4 with attached units:

• 311^th Field Artillery Battalion.
• "B" Company of the 749^th Tank Battalion.
• "B" Company of the 304^th Medical Battalion.
• One platoon of "B" Company of the 304^th Engineer Battalion.

Road of advance of the 79th from Mayenne to Mantes - ©UnitHistory.

During the day, the regiment was pulled into an assembly area between Beaufay and Courcemont, 5^th Armored Division succeeded to secure bridges across the Orne River.

On August 11^th, men of the 314^th Infantry Regiment moved to another assembly area at 0540pm, north of Peray and south of the road of Marolles-les-Braults.

Some important places have to be protected to prevent any enemy crossing. As “K” Company was under Army control, it was chosen to accomplish the jobs. One Platoon of the company moved to the bridge at coordinates 563878 and the rest of the company with a platoon of Antitank Company went to coordinates 595905 (see map below) in the vicinity of Champaissant with the same purpose, guarding the bridge.

©IGNMap

Two miles north, ahead of the 314^th, there was Forêt de Perseigne, in which Germans found shelter. The forest is large, without visibility. It would have been madness to attack it with a frontal assault. XV Corps, on August 12^th at 1200pm planned to shell  it with gasoline bombs to flush out as most as possible the enemy. 314^th Infantry Regiment’s mission? Pick up the enemy while he is escaping. But as it was discovered that the forest was "empty of enemies", this order was called off. 

At 0700am, Division S-3 notified all unit commanders where the regiment will be placed and in which order. (1^st and 2^nd Battalion on a line, while the 3^rd will be into its assembly area at La Guillotière).

One hour later, everyone began to move to take up defensive positions but this order was canceled. There was no longer question to take up defensive position in the south but to pass by the east of the forest and to push forward Le Mêle-sur-Sarthe. While executing its mission, around 0200pm an enemy plane strafed the 2^nd Battalion wounding eleven men, included Major John R. Kurdy, Regimental S-4. By 0700pm, all units were into their assembly area on the east of Le Mêle-sur-Sarthe.

During August 13^th, 14^th, 15^th, and 16^th, 314^th continued to advance toward Paris, by crossing Sarthe and Eure Rivers. The only threat, according to the officers was encountered on August 14^th. Tank Destroyers have spotted a German armored column composed of four tanks and twenty-seven halftracks. At first sight we can think that this enemy force caused some troubles, isn’t it? Well, no! One tank destroyer stopped and destroyed one enemy tank, and as the Allies controlled the entire airspace, planes finished the job by reducing to nothingness the rest of the column.

On August 15^th at 0615am, the official order to advance on Versailles and Paris was received:

“XV Corps will move with XX Corps advancing with 5^th Armored Division on the left and 79^th Infantry Division on the right. 106^th Cavalry Group will precede the 79^th Infantry Division. 79^th will start to move toward Paris from coordinates 150900 on the right flank of XV Corps in two columns. Combat Team 4 will be composed of: 314^th Infantry Regiment, 311^th Field Artillery Battalion, “B” Company of 304^th Medical Battalion, 1 Platoon of “B” Company of 304^th Engineer Battalion, “B” and “D” Companies less 1 Platoon of 749^th Tank Battalion”.

After traveling for 12 hours and traveled 77 miles, 314^th closed into their assembly area at 1030pm along the road from Néron to Chandres and stayed in for the next two days.

US soldiers with a member of the Red Cross somewhere in France.

Note: Combat Team 4’s assembly area was on the West of Eure River, southwest of Nogent-le-Roi. “K” Company was released on this day from Army control.

While 313^th and 315^th Infantry Regiments were ordered to create a bridgehead on the north bank of Eure River, 314^th remained in Division Reserve. Men could enjoy some rest, and had the privilege to assist “Casanova Brown” world premiere starring Gary Cooper and Teressa Wright.

It is time now to move toward Mantes-Gassicourt and to cross the Seine River.

Written by Pierre Fallet - Normandy American Heroes