3rd Bn 359th Inf

My great uncle served with this infantry in France from June 17th,1944 until he was killed Aug 20,1944. Does anyone remember him? His name was Bates Harris. He was a farm boy from Colorado

I would love to hear any stories about him or talk to someone that served with him.

Thank you for your time
Krystal

 

Thank you so much.

 

Krystal, I can tell you, the 90th Infantry Division as a whole, experienced some vicious combat during that period in Normandy. The unit was next to (on the left) of my father's unit, the 8th Infantry Division during most of July 1944. Two terrible battles that your great uncle fought were Hill 122, or the Foret de Mont Castre, a forested covered hill that was defended in depth by the Germans. Another ferocious battle was called "The Island." This was actually a piece of high ground with a river on one side and swamps on the other. The Germans had flooded the area prior to D-Day. The only way to advance for the 90th Division was through this heavily defended "island" that contained one German machine gun nest after another. In both battles, the 90th Division took serious casualties. The American high command blamed the 90th Division for slow progress. They, particulary the then commander of First US Army Lt. Gen. Omar Bradley, believed that the problem was at division command. He relieved two division commanders until he got results. At one point, Bradley even considered disbanding the whole 90th Division, and parcelling them out to other units. The 90th Division went on to be one of the best units in General Patton's famed Third Army. I am sorry your great uncle was killed, and I thank your family for his service. From history we know that during his time in France, he witnessed some hellacious combat. In reality, he was probably young, and scared most of the time, but trudged on day-after-day, performing his duty and giving his best, until finally he gave his all. I hope this helps you.

Greg C.

 

Thank you. That was interesting to read and gave me more information to add to his file. I of course never met him, but am very very proud. My family thought he was killed on D-day until recently when my dad and I started reading his letters home to his mom and I got a list of his morning reports showing he was alive and well until Aug 20th. I wish he would have made it home, but he did what he had to do. Thanks again.

I love reading about where he was and where he fought any and all information is greatly appreciated. I have very little experience as to where to look.

 

Here's a link to the 90th's history, see Chapter III covering Hill 122/Seves Island: Historyofthe90thDivision

Another link to the 359th's history from the same site, unfortunately it only has photo's: HISTORY OF

Something seems odd with the 359th history and the section titles, should have text with the photos? Maybe send a note to them (Feedback at the bottom of the left side column) and ask about it, I'm pretty sure the 90th history book has written history for each regiment.

My Dad was with the 607th TD Bn which was attached to the 90th from mid-June thru late Nov, '44.

Good luck!