C O N F I D E N T I A L

HEADQUARTERS, 22ND INFANTRY
APO 4, U. S. ARMY

21 July 1944

SUBJECT:  Action Against Enemy, Reports After/After Action Report

TO     :  The Adjutant General, Washington, D. C. 

THRU   :  Channels

     On 6 June 1944 the Allied Expeditionary Force landed on the coast of France.
The 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, landed on Utah Beach starting at H plus
75 minutes. The Third Battalion, 22nd Infantry, initially attached to the 8th
Infantry, landed in small craft with the mission of crossing the beach seawall,
turning to the northwest, and reducing the fortified positions along the coast.
The First and Second Battalions landed in LCI's, crossed the beach and inundated
area, with the mission of attacking to the northwest, reducing the strong points
at Crisbecq and Azeville, and then securing the high ground west and southwest 
of Quineville. The landing was made approximately 1500 yards south of the pro-
posed beach. By nightfall, the Regiment was short of the initial objective, but
had reached the general line Utah Beach-Foucarville.

     On the morning 7 June, the Regiment continued the attack. The Third Battal-
ion continued the attack on the beach strong points; the Second Battalion moved
forward and launced an attack on the strong point northeast of Azeville; the First
Battalion moved through Ravenoville, St Marcouf, and attacked the strong point
near Crisbecq. Later in the afternoon the First and Second Battalions received
counterattacks in some force and were driven back about 800 yards. During the
night the First Battalion received another counterattack at about 0040 and re-
pulsed this action without casualties.

     On 8 June the First and Second Battalions attacked the strong points at 
Azeville and Crisbecq but were unsuccessful. The Third Battalion continued its
mission of reducing the beach strong points until late in the afternoon at
which time they reverted in place to the Regimental reserve with the mission of
blocking an expected enemy attempt to break through the First Battalion to the 
beach.

     A task force commanded by Brig. Gen. Henry A. Barber was formed on 9 June.
The decision was made to contain the enemy at Crisbecq with "C" Company, 22nd
Infantry and one company of the 899th T.D. Battalion; the remainder of the
Regiment was to attack in column of Battalions in order Third, Second, First;
after the Third Battalion had seized the town of Azeville and the strong point
to the northeast of Azeville. The attack jumped off at approximately 1800 and 
was met with strong enemy defensive fires.

     On 10 June, the Third Battalion moved toward the strong point at Ozeville
with the Second Battalion containing the enemy at Chau de Fontenay. The First 
Battalion attacked the town of Fontenay sur Mer to relieve the pressure on the
Third Battalion, which was receiving flanking fire from that point.





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(Action Against Enemy, Reports After/After Action Report, Hq 22nd Inf, 21 July 44
cont'd)

     The 11th of June found the Third Battalion preparing to assault the Oze-
ville strong point with the Second Battalion still containing the enemy at Chau
de Fontenay. The First Battalion continued the attack on Fontenay sur Mer.

     On the following day the Third Battalion reduced the Ozeville strong point
and by nightfall had almost completed the mopping up operation.

     On 13 June, the Third Battalion seized the town of Ozeville and moved toward
the high ground west of Quineville. The Second Battalion made a wide flanking
movement through the 12th Infantry area to attack west along the ridge toward
Quineville, and met stiff resistance the entire day. The First Battalion moved 
from its position near Fontenay sur Mer to a position to the left of the Third
Battalion in preparation for a coordinated Regimental attack on the following
morning.

     The Regiment attacked with all three battalions on the morning of 14 June,
seized the high ground west of Quinville, and organized the position for defense.
During the period 15-17 June the 22nd Infantry reorganized and re-equipped with-
out other enemy interference than sporadic artillery fire. The First and Second
Battalions remained in the front lines and the Third Battalion moved to the rear
with Company "I" held in Division mobile reserve. Late 17 June, the Third Bat-
talion moved to an assembly area southeast of Montebourg and began preparations 
for an attack on that town.

     On the following morning, the Third Battalion was established in its assemb-
ly area; the First Battalion was attached to the 12th Infantry; and the Second
Battalion was in mobile reserve.

     On 19 June, the Third Battalion attacked and seized Montebourg and the 
Regiment assembled northeast of that town preparatory to an attack to seize
the high ground in the vicinity of Le Theil.

     Throughout 20 June the Regiment moved rapidly with little or no resistance
covering some eight miles and securing the high ground near Le Theil. The enemy
had withdrawn to the prepared defenses in and around Cherbourg.

     The Regiment attacked early on the morning of the 21st and attained some
success although resistance was much heavier. The enemy began infiltrating be-
hind the front lines, making it necessary to supply the assault battalions by
tank convey.

     When the attack was resumed on 22 June, the Second Battalion attacked across
the rear of the Third Battalion to clean out pockets of resistance. The First 
and Third Battalions made more progress toward the strong point on the high 
ground north of Le Theil.

     On 23 June the First and Third Battalions mopped up the Regimental object-
ive. The Second Battalion, assisted by Company "C", 4th Engineers, mopped up
an abandoned village north of Hau Cauchon.




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(Action Against Enemy, Reports After/After Action Report, Hq 22nd Inf, 21 July
1944 cont'd)

     The following day the Second Battalion was attached to the 12th Infantry;
the First Battalion held the high ground, patrolling vigorously; and the Third
Battalion attacked south on another mopping up mission in an effort to drive 
the infiltrating enemy troops away from the main supply route.

     On 25 June, the Second Battalion rejoined the Regiment, attacked to the
north, and reached the coast. The Third Battalion seized Bretteville and the 
First Battalion continued to hold the high ground astride the St Pierre Eglise-
Cherbourg road.

     On 26 June the Regiment changed its direction of advance from west to east
with the mission of destroying the enemy garrison holding the northeastern part
of the Cotentin peninsula. On this and the following day ( 27 June) the Reg-
iment met with some success although the enemy was a determined defender. Late
on the 27th, the airport north of Gonneville fell and negotiations for the surrend-
er of the garrison manning the coastel defenses were begun. The negotiations
were completed early on the morning of the 28th and the surrender of 990 Ger-
man officers and men was effected by 1330, 28 June, ending the fighting in the
northeastern part of the Cotentin peninsula.

     The Regiment moved to an assembly area for a short rest period prior to
further operations. 




								  C. T. LANHAM
							    Colonel, 22nd Infantry
							        Commanding










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