Argentan-Falaise
Into the rolling hills SE of Argentan, near Le Bourg St. Leonard, the 773rd destroyers took up
positions on the south tip of the ‘pincers’ around an estimated 75-100,000 Germans trapped within an
iron ring of armor. For one day, and until the 90th Division arrived, all personnel of the battalion
including Headquarters Company, filled in the line. From then and until the 21st, furious fighting took
place as the battalion held courageously and counter-attacked relentlessly against the overwhelming
odds. As a result of the courageous determination and conspicuous heroism, so often displayed by each
member, the 773rd was awarded the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION.
Losses inflicted on the enemy were staggering, and the organization had accounted for forty-one
enemy tanks, eighty-two other vehicles of various types and many artillery pieces destroyed plus the
hundreds of enemy personnel killed.
Close the Gap
On the 17th, Companies A and C were given the mission of moving North to cover the main
roads into Le Bourg St. Leonard. Under concentrations of enemy artillery and mortar fire, two platoons
of C Company supporting the 2nd Battalion of the 359th Infantry, attacked Le Bourg from the West, as
A Company with the 1st Battalion of the 359th moved into town from the south. The town fell and a
German counter attack was repulsed.
Passing through town, the 3rd Battalion of the 359th with the 3rd platoon of C Company in
support, moved NW of Fougy with Hill 129 as one of the objectives.
Between 0900 and 1300 on Sunday the 20th of August, a desperate enemy made a futile attempt
to escape SW of Chambojs near Hill 129. C Company’s platoon ran out of ammunition and the 1st
platoon of A Company was dispatched to relieve them. Nearing Hill 129 the 1st platoon unexpectedly
came face to face with a mixed column of enemy tanks and vehicles. At point blank range and under a
hail of fire, they slugged it out for three hours. Leading the platoon was 1st Lt. Delbert G. Reck and
Staff Sergeant, later 2nd Lt. Edward J. Land, both of whom were to receive the DSC and the Croix De
Querre with Star, for their leadership and bravery in this action.
When the din of combat had died down, 8 tanks, 16 armored vehicles and 120 other vehicles
including, assault guns, A-A guns etc., had been converted to burning or exploding wrecks.
Farther north the 2nd platoon of C Company made their stand at Chambois. 1st Lt. Chancy von
Behren, the platoon leader and T/4 Duane B. MacGregor were decorated for the action on the 20th that
resulted in the destruction of 11 Mark IV tanks, 3 Mark V tanks, 5 Mark III tanks, 3 SP Guns and 17
other vehicles, killing and capturing over 600 enemy.
Attachment to the XV Corps of the Third Army on the 22nd, and after a short rest at Chailloue,
the battalion moved to the Seine River at Mantes-Massicourt. There Company B, Captain William B.
Paterson commanding, and the 2nd platoon of Reconnaissance Company, were attached to the 79th
Division. After the bridgehead was successfully established by the 79th and the 30th Divisions on the
27th, the battalion was relieved and moved S and E around Paris closing in at Bernay-En-Brie on the
30th. During a seven day rest and maintenance period in early September, every one had an opportunity
to visit the newly liberated and joyously gay Paris.
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