At Le Mêle-sur-Sarthe, 79^th Infantry Division was assembled to assist the other elements of the XV Corps in blocking the escape of the Germans to the east. Several enemy groups composed of armored vehicles and of Infantry columns were trying to infiltrate the 79^th ‘s lines.

Throughout the day of August 14^th, the three battalions of the 313^th Infantry Regiment plus the attached units reported small groups of enemies. All battalions were summoned to vigorously patrol the areas, plus combat patrols were sent as far as the hamlet of LaLeu to reconnoiter and silence out the position if needed. At first sight, 79^th Infantry Division as the other rest of the XV Corps was not sure if the Germans were retreating but their doubt vanished when some enemy prisoners told them, the entire German army has been ordered to completely retreat.

Around 0800pm, 313^th Infantry Regiment received the following order: “The XV Corps moved to the East” to be ready for a move schedule at 1000 hours on August 15^th. The Corps will move with the 79^th Infantry Division on the right, and with 5^th Armored Division on the left. The Regiment’s boundary is along the line Maintenon – Senantes up to the river of Nogent-le-Roi. The 106^th Cavalry will precede the Division by three hours. The Division then will march in two columns, all units motorized, Combat Team 3 on the left, Combat Team 5 on the right, and Combat team 4 to follow Combat Team 3. The 90^th Infantry Division continues to hold the line northwest of Sées with the 2^nd Armored Division on their left or West”.

Now it ‘is time to move toward Paris. 313^th started to move in column of battalions as follows: 1^st Battalion in lead, 3^rd Battalion in the middle, followed by 2^nd Battalion with the following attachments:

• "A" Company plus one platoon of "D" Company of the 749th Tank Battalion.
• 813th Tank Battalion.
   

Passing through the villages and hamlets of Orne and Val-de-Loire counties all the way to Nogent-le-Roi, none German element was spotted.

Note: This is the itinerary taken by 313^th to reach Nogent-le-Roi:   Boëcé, Coulimer, Parfondeval, crossroads coordinates 701- 137, Courgeoût, Bizou, Le Mage, road junction coordinates 879-147, Neuilly-sur-Eure, Senonches, Châteauneuf en Thymerais, Trembley le Vicomte and finally Nogent-le-Roi.

At 0530pm, the leading element spotted portions of the 7^th Armored Division so it was decided to find assembly areas for the entire division in the vicinity of Nogent-le-Roi.

On August 16^th, 1944, still in its assembly area until late afternoon, 313^th  was about to left it for a new one near Coulombs precisely at coordinates 437243, but before to reach it, men have to cross the Eure River passing by the few bridges still intact or built by engineers.

During the few hours spent near Nogent-le-Roi, the three regiments of the 79^th Infantry Division could rest. While units were resting two companies found into the city, an abandoned German warehouse full of various meats, grains and other condiments plus an airport with airplanes intact and ready in use. And by 0600pm, regiment completed its move across the river. The road toward Paris continued, there was not really any objectives or places to seize but only to advance toward the city of light. Some scattered Germans who had still the will to fight were reported ahead of the 313^th, boys cleaned them out without problem.

Since its arrival in France on June 14^th, the Regiment as the entire 79^th Infantry Division encountered only German night or reconnaissance flights until now. On August 17^th, wave after wave, German airplanes machine-gunned the american column but thankfully didn’t cause any damage. By the end of the day, boys thanks to their 30^mm and 50^mm caliber small arms fire, shot down three of them.

79^th Infantry Division men in Mantes-Gassicourt with locals - ©79^thUnitHistory.

The order to move into Paris outskirts was given on August 18^th at 0950 hours with the objectives to take up defensive positions southwest of Mantes-Gassicourt. The advance began at 0130pm with 1^st Battalion in lead followed by 3^rd and 2^nd in the rear still meeting slight German resistance. 79^th Reconnaissance Troops destroyed trains carrying enemy soldiers attempting to cross the Seine River, and all units of the 313^th Infantry Regiment captured the railroad in the vicinity of Perdreauville before to close in around 1000pm.      

The Seine River was just in front of 313^th Infantry Regiment, some German soldiers were still dug in into the woods, Headquarters summoned 1^st Battalion plus one company of the 2^nd to clean out the area at 0700am on August 19^th.

Map showing the dam at Rolleboise.

"C" Company of 1^st Battalion was also sent to check the ferry at Rosny-sur-Seine but reported Germans destroyed it. The enemy was still entrenched on the north bank of the Seine River opened fire upon them but men overcome the situation. What was embarrassing for the American troops was when the German army were retreating, they discovered either abandoned armored vehicles, weapons, dead animals “BUT” there were still some determined soldiers to slow down their advance.

Note: Civilians in the area revealed that Germans used Ferry’s of Rosny-sur-Seine and Mantes-Gassicourt to transport troops and supplies north and south of the Seine River.

Before to cross the Seine River, both flanks have to be secured. Lieutenant-Colonel Sterling A. Wood commander of the 313^th Infantry Regiment set up its command post in a hotel at Rolleboise overlooking Mantes-Gassicourt and La Roche-Guyon and led a platoon over the dam at Rolleboise to know if there was any German left. By this action Lieutenant-Colonel Wood had earned the distinction for being one of the first American soldiers to cross the Seine River (see photo below).

©79^thUnitHistory.

During the next two days, 313^th crossed the Seine River, the entire 79^th Infantry Division extended its bridgehead and gained information’s from civilians that Germans were heading back to attack.

 The regimental commander deemed it was necessary to send men to understand what were the enemy’s intentions. To do so, a Task Force was created and set.  Where ? To the castle of La Roche-Guyon turned into the headquarters of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.

Written by Pierre Fallet - Normandy American Heroes