World War II Blogs

October 24, 2024

October 24, 1944 – Phil and his men enter the deadly Mortagne Forest

On October 24, 1944, at 1000 hours, the push for the mountain village of St. Diè began with the 30th Infantry acting as the lead element […]
October 22, 2024

October 22, 1944 – General Devers takes over command

The departure of General Truscott in the VI Corps was also marked by another high-level command change affecting the 6th Army Group.[1]
October 20, 2024

October 20, 1944 – Dad’s 3rd Infantry Division begins new attacks against fresh German units

Finally, on October 20th, everything was ready (after five days of deception. At dawn, under cover of a heavy barrage, Dad’s 3rd Division launched a powerful […]
October 19, 2024

October 19, 1944 – Our GIs exhausted by months of day and night fighting get much needed help

At this point a commentary is necessary on the general tactical picture on the Seventh Army and VI Corps fronts. [‘Up until 19 October], the VI […]
October 18, 2024

October 18, 1944 – After two months of non-stop fighting, Phil and his men were exhausted

Following General Truscott’s meeting with General Eisenhower, Phil wrote to his mother:[1]
October 17, 2024

October 17, 1944 – To the shock of Dad and his men, General Truscott was leaving them

On the morning of October 17, 1944, General Lucian K. Truscott, the commander of the VI Corps, was called to the army command post at Épinal, […]
October 16, 2024

October 16, 1944 – A huge and successful diversion totally fools the Germans

The weather was abominable. It either rained or the skies were heavily overcast, and the ground became soggy with mud. The dirt roads became almost impassable. […]
October 15, 2024

October 15, 1944 – Bruyères was the beginning of a far different kind of fight than Italy

The attack on Bruyères began on the morning of 15 October 1944 in a cold drizzle with considerable ground fog.[1]
October 14, 2024

October 14, 1944 – Part 5 – Some more of my Dad’s favorite Infantry quotes

Here are some more of my Dad’s favorite quotes about the Infantrymen he served with and loved  that I used in my book, At First Light. 
October 13, 2024

October 13, 1944 – Part 4 – Some more of my Dad’s favorite Infantry quotes

Here are some more of my Dad’s favorite quotes about the Infantrymen he served with and loved and one about some war horses he saved that […]
October 12, 2024

October 12, 1944 – Part 3 – Some more of my Dad’s favorite Infantry quotes

Here are some more of my Dad’s favorite quotes about the Infantry and the Infantrymen he loved that I used in my book, At First Light. 
October 11, 2024

October 11, 1944 – The fighting intensified with increased bombardments and casualties

Throughout the period 11 to 21 October, Dad and the men of the 30th Infantry Regiment maintained the positions they have gained at such a terrific […]