Detail of Actions                                                                                                                                   6/9/44

    Second Battalion while marching through above mentioned town 0930 D-Day was fired on point blank by a battery of four 88's, from a range of 350 yards ... same battery was also firing on troops on the beach.  Nine men and two Officers made the assault.

    The enemy had dug positions in a hedgerow around the perimeter of a rectangular field - about 1200 yards total in length.  One corner of this position had a hedgerow that led into the entrenchment.  Covering this hedgerow and the enemies flank were one 88, a M.G. and few riflemen.  The other three 88's were firing out toward the beach and on the battalion they had pinned down.

    The assault team decided on attacking the position down the one hedgerow that led to this entrenchment - all other approaches were across open fields.  So under fire from the 88 protecting this flank and also small arm fire, the party worked their way into position and then opened up with all the fire power they could muster to pin the enemy down, while SGT Guarnere lead a group of three men to a position where he could hand grenade them.

    The combined small arms fire and grenades drove the enemy out of the entrenchment protecting the flank, permitting the assault team to gain a fast hold.  More grenades drove then gun crew of three from the first 88, who were killed before they had gone twenty-five yards.  SGT Guarnere accounted for one of the three.  The assault team was reorganized here again, and as in each case to follow, SGT Guarnere displayed extraordinary gallantry and disregard for his own safety in see that this job was done correctly.  By his very attitude and manner and display of confidence, he inspired the whole assault team and displayed the type of leadership that wins battles.  After reorganizing the team, knocked out a M.G. and crew by rifle fire that was firing at us through the entrenchment.  Immediately the team rushed the second 88 and crew, leaving behind three men to protect the rear.  In the second assault, SGT Guarnere was again lead man and by using the same tactics, the second position was taken and five Germans killed, with no losses to ourselves.

    At this time six Jerries decided they had enough and advanced with hands over head calling to us "No make me dead".  They were immediately returned to the battalion along with all the documents and maps we could find - one map was of great value for it showed all 88 emplacements and entrenchment's of the defensive set-up of the peninsula.

    With all four guns taken and destroyed, we withdrew out of the position, and continued to harass the enemy with M.G. and 60 MM mortar fire - which had just arrived - until two tanks arrived.  Then we made an assault with the tanks and cleaned out the position.  In all we suffered six wounded and four killed, the enemy had 15 killed - SGT Guarnere personally accounted for five - and captured twelve.  Enemy forces estimated at about forty-five.

    Mission completed, we rejoin our battalion, which had departed after the four 88's were destroyed, for their objective.

Supporting Data:

Battery of four 88's was destroyed which permitted troops on the beach to land without casualty, and battalion to move on to complete it's original mission.