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Citation of Company "A"
| Company “A”, 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion
is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action on 11 July
1944, near St. Jean cle Daye, France. Company “A” was supporting the
39th Infantry in a defense role near St. Jean de Daye. At 0200 hours on
the morning of 11 July 1944, the enemy launched a combined armored and
infantry attack in this sector. Two columns of heavy tanks with
supporting infantry smashed through and penetrated to the rear of this
position in an attempt to capture St. Jean de Daye and to sever the
Allied beachhead. Outgunned and outnumbered, and despite the fact that
enemy infantry threatened to overrun their tank destroyers, the men of
Company “A” fearlessly remained in position and fired on enemy tanks
wherever discernible in the darkness, fully realizing that the flash
ofeach round would draw not only artillery and tank fire but also small
arms fire as well. As daylight appeared, Company “A”, aware that
their three-inch guns could not penetrate the heavy frontal armor of the
Panther tanks, boldly maneuvered their tank destroyers under close enemy
observation to flanking positions where effective fire was placed on the
enemy tanks. Forced to fight at extremely close quarters and at point
blank ranges, the officers and men of Company “A” gallantly and
courageously repelled numerous attempts of the enemy to seize these
positions. So effective was their fire that the enemy was forced to withdraw
their remaining tanks from the action, leaving the infantry in small
isolated pockets which were quickly overcome by our forces. The
individual courage, valor, and tenacity displayed by the personnel of
Company “A” in the face of superior odds were in keeping with the
highest traditions of the Armed Forces and are worthy of high praise. |
Citation of Company "C"
| Company “C”, 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion
is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action on 11 July
1944, neai St. Jean de Daye, France. Company “C” was supporting the
47th Infantry in a defense role near St. Jean de Daye. At 0200 hours on
the morning of 11 July 1944, the enemy launched a combined armored and
infantry attack in this sector.. Two columns of heavy tanks with
supporting infantry smashed through and penetrated to the rear of this
position in an attempt to capture St. Jean de Daye and to sever the 1Allied
beachhead. Outgunned and outnumbered, and despite the fact that enemy
infantry threatened to overrun their tank destroyers, the men of Company
“C” fearlessly remained in position and fired on enemy tanks
wherever discernible in the darkness, fully realizing that the flash of
each round would draw not only artillery and tank fire but also small
arms fire as well. As daylight appeared, Company “C”, aware that
their
three-inch guns could not penetrate the heavy frontal armor of the
Panther tanks, boldly maneuvered their tank destroyers undet close enemy
observation to flanking positions where effective fire was placed on the
enemy tanks. Forced to fight at extremely close quarters and at point
blank ranges, the officers and men of Company “C” gallantly and
courageously repelled numerous attempts of the enemy to seize these
positions. So effective was their fire that the enemy was forced to withdraw
their remaining tanks from the action, leaving the infantry in small
isolated pockets which were quickly overcome by our forces. The
individual courage, valor, and tenacity displayed by the personnel of
Company “C” in the face of superior odds were in keeping with the
highest traditions of the Armed Forces and are worthy of high praise. By
command of Major General CRAIG: WILLIAM
C. WESTMORELAND, |
Source of Information:
899th Our Battalion "Blue Book"
Publisher: Knorr & Hirrh
Munich, Germany
