On this day in history for the 87th CMB 26 August 1944, Item 158 (D plus 81): Company A and Company B, operating with the 16th Infantry, 1st Division, moved to an assembly area on the western outskirts of the city of Corbell, and awaited orders to cross the Seine River. Company C was detached from the 60th Infantry, 9th Division and attached to the 47th Infantry, 9th Division, effective 1700. The company had less than one-half hour in which to move from its position with the 60th Infantry, and take its place in the march column with the 47th Infantry which was already on the road moving towards Melun. A road march of approximately 20 miles to the outskirts of the city of Melun was executed during the night. This movement was made in almost complete darkness. En route, an M-29 Cargo Carrier which in addition to equipment, contained the driver and four men, went over an embankment about six feet high and overturned. One man was seriously injured and two men slightly injured. Although it has a pintle hook for the towing of a trailer, the M-29 Cargo Carrier does not have a socket whereby the lights of a trailer can be hooked up. At night, when approaching an M-29 Cargo Carrier which is hauling a trailer, it is very difficult, if not impossible to see the one small light which serves as a taillight. None of the occupants of the Cargo Carrier which overturned reported that he was able to see that the M-29 and trailer ahead of them had halted on the road until it was too late to stop short of it. Hence, the driver swerved to the right onto what, in the darkness, appeared to be a broad shoulder with the result that the trailer overturned into the embankment. Thus, another undesirable feature of these M-29 Cargo Carriers is plaguing this battalion. Company D moved approximately 80 miles with the 39th Inf, 9th Div to an assembly area just south of ARPAJON and immediately upon arrival in this area was alerted for another movement of approximately 20 miles to an area just west of Melun. This move was made about 2300. The Battalion CP moved from its location 8 miles east of La Loupe at 0630 a distance of 78.3 miles east to a location approximately 20 miles south of Paris in the vicinity of Corbell (S133015). CP opened above location at 1010. This battalion is now operating with a shortage of 16 vehicles or the equivalent of vehicles which two platoons use while operating in the forward areas. All efforts to obtain replacements have been unsuccessful as VII Corps has received a directive from First Army to the effect that evacuated M-29 Cargo Carriers will be replaced with other M-29 Cargo Carriers and not with ¬-ton trucks, which incidentally, are presently available for issue, according to VII Corps authorities. Strength decreased to 42 officers and 581 enlisted men. Casualties: 31360058, Chase, Kenneth M., Pvt, SIA, Hq Det 33185772, Gallagher, Joseph B., S/Sgt, LIA, Co C 31367011, Dubrofsky, David, Pvt, LIA, Co C
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 10:25:53 +0000
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