1245 hours the same day on OMAHA BEACH near ST. LAURENT-SUR-MER. Assembling at LA
HAYE-DE-PUITS, a 90 mile night march was made through an enemy air attack at AVRANCHES to
ST. ELLIERS DU MAINE as part of the 5th TD Group, of the XV Corps. Thence through LAVAL to
LE MANS and north on the 'End Run' that would eventually close the southern escape routes of the
Seventh German Army. By August 14th the unit had closed in a few miles south of enemy held
ARGENTAN.
ARGENTAN-FALAISE GAP
UNIT CITATION
16 - 22 August 1944
Here in it's initial baptism dogs fire, all elements of the battalion. including Headquarters
Company, held a thin line of defense until the arrival of the, 90th and the 80th Divisions, the 90th on the
following day. Assigned, to the V Corps, part of the FIRST ARMY, and in support of the 90th Division,
the battalion fought day and night to cut through and seal off the last remaining escape routes between
LE BOURG ST. LEONARD and CHAMBOIS. During this period and in the midst of such battle
confusion, against overwhelming odds and many times surrounded, the battalion held and attacked
relentlessly until the shattered remnants of the German Seventh Army had surrendered. As a result of the
courageous determination and conspicuous heroism so often displayed by each member, the 773rd
TANK DESTROYER BATTALION was awarded the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION. The official
toll taken by the battalion was 41 enemy tanks, 82 other vehicles of Various types and many artillery
pieces destroyed. Hundreds of enemy personnel were killed or captured.
ON TO PARIS
22 August - 19 September 1944
Re-assigned to the XV Corps, THIRD ARMY. The battalion moved from LE BOURG ST.
LEONARD eastward to BREVAL. There B Company took up gun positions reinforcing the 813th TD's
in support of the 79th Division's bridgehead over the SEINE RIVER, north of PARIS at MANTES-
GAS-SICOURT. Reconnaissance Company reconnoitered routes and gun positions throughout the
bridgehead area. Two days later on the 28th of August, the battalion was relieved and alerted for further
movement. PARIS fell and the battalion moved South and East to BERNAY-EN-BRIE in preparation
for operations to the east. During this period the joys of newly liberated PARIS were shared by every
one. On the move again rejoining the 79th Division at THONNANCE-LES-JOINVILLE on the 10th of
September.
CHARMES-THEMOSELLE-FORET DE PARROY
10 September - 15 October 1144
The 79th Division with the battalion in support, one firing company with each of the three
Combat Teams, 313th, 314th and 315th, drove eastwards to the MOSELLE RIVER. Though the fighting
proved bitter, the drive gathered momentum passing through CHATENOIS. OELLVILLE. PUZIEUX
and POUSSAY, with the goal, CHARMES, falling on the 12th of September. On the 18th all elements
had made their first crossing of the MOSELLE, and by the 23rd of September the TD’s were rumbling
into LUNEVILLE, the one time capital of LORRAINE, a bid heavy artillery barrages and stiff street
fighting. On the 29th the XV Corps past to the command of the SEVENTH ARMY and was given the
nation of clearing the FORET DE PARROY scene of Hitler's World War I service. The Germans laced
the treetops with extremely heavy artillery saturations in a vain effort to hold back the 79th Division.
Against a fanatic enemy determination, the Infantry and the TD’s inched forward through the dense
under-growth and woods until, on the 9th of October all 30 odd miles of the forest-land had been cleared
of the enemy.
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