The movements of 7 June
(details)a line of tanks from the 743rd Battalion on 7 June, probably on the road from Vierville to Grandcamp. The last tank is a standard Sherman of the Command Coy, the next 3 are Sherman tanks amphibians DD, recognizable by the flat edge that surrounds them and served for the canvas skirt. The standard tank still carries the start of the exhaust gas handle that has been dismantled.
(details) A Sherman photographed by Mr. Houyvet on June 7 on the road to Grandcamp, at the entrance to Englesqueville. The location is still recognizable on the road from Vierville to Grandcamp.
53
The Rangers and the 1st Battalion of the 116th Regiment
approaching the Pointe du Hoc
The force designed to raise the 3 companies D, E, F/2Ran of Colonel Rudder (90 valid rangers) at the point of the Hoc, consisted of the 3 companies A, B, C of the 2nd Ranger (80 valid rangers), 2 companies C and D/5Ran (100 rangers) of the 5th Rangers and all the valid men that had been able to group from Battalion 1/116, that was only 250 infantrymen.
The whole started at about 08:00 on June 7, with the 3 Companies 2°Bataillon de Rangers leading, walking in double line on either side of the road. Followed the 5th Ranger and the 1st Battalion of the 116th.
Ten (or 6?) tanks of Company B of the 743rd Battalion of Chars, followed closely, so that they could be placed in the lead or in the tail of the column, as needed.
Many small German positions have been exceeded, some almost at the edge of the road, but they have not been able to prevent progress. The tanks sprayed them with intense fire to cover the infantry that was never forced to deploy and did not stop to attack the outdated enemy groups.
Thanks to this system, at 11 a.m., the column reached St-Pierre-du-Mont, only a thousand meters from Pointe du Hoc, receiving a strong artillery bombardment, close to its goal, but without being able to go further.
The following is the account of the events seen by the Cie C/116 men who were later interviewed by Lieutenant Shea:
"The orders received by Captain Hawks and Lieutenant Bedell during the night of June 6-7 required their troops to team up with the Rangers and tanks to advance to Grandcamp at dawn.
This advance took the form of a parade. The Rangers, for their part, had no difficulty in picking up and then forming a road column walking westward. But when Cie C/116 wanted to pick up in turn (it was south of the road) it was stopped by German fire. These fires were countered by tank machine guns and the riflemen were finally able to get on the road after the Rangers. Then, with Cie C/116 en route, the Sherman tanks left in turn, and crossed the column to head for St-Pierre-du-Mont and Grandcamp.
At nightfall, these troops gathered in the village, and under the cover of darkness, sent two men to the point of the Hoc to contact the Rangers. The contact was thus ensured by a telephone wire. The 2 Rangers who accomplished this feat were Sergeant Moody McKissick. Moody was later killed and McKissick was seriously injured.
The following morning, 8 June, Cie C/116 followed the tanks that left for Pointe du Hoc, where Colonel Rudder was raised.
Maybe June 7 in St-Pierre du Mont, heading for Grandcamp
In the direction of Grandcamp?
(details) Probably Rangers walking towards the peak of Hoc, June 7th