“U.S. 90th Plays Historic Role”- Part 2.

Last week, we featured Part 1 of a wonderful World War II newspaper period piece titled, “U.S. 90th Plays Historic Role: Army Identifies Unit That Did Some of the Heaviest Fighting in Normandy Battles.” It was dated July 19, 1944, and written by Gene Currivan, with the New York Times. He was traveling with the 90th in Normandy.  Today, we bring you Part 2.

“BUCK PRIVATE TAKES COMMAND

“One buck private led a platoon for four days through wild combat after a company commander and three platoon leaders had been killed. He took command at the dying request of the last platoon leader to fall, and carried on through some of the bitterest fighting of the war around St. Suzanne until he too was wounded. He was made a sergeant and has been recommended for a lieutenancy. Because he was wounded, army regulations forbid the mention of his name until formal notification has been made.

“The Ninetieth Division arrived in France on June 7 and had its first taste of beachhead. Fortunately all were rescued.

“The division went into action on June 10th, fighting yard by yard through some of the most difficult terrain that veteran soldiers had ever seen. Before them fell such towns as Pont ‘Abbe, Amfreville and Gourbesville. Their losses were heavy as they battled through the streets in hand-to-hand combat, fought desperately from behind murderous hedgerows while the enemy waited on the other side to pick them off, and struggled waist deep through swamps to reach their objectives.”

… to be continued.