Battle of Heathers
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The battles of Heathers (operation Dogface ) took place of the 21 to the October 30th 1944 around the Saint-Dié-of-Vosges during the Second world war.
Countryside preceding the battle
In September 1944, the 7th army of Patch and the 1st French Army of De Lattre, coming from Provence, sink towards Alsace. The 3rd army of Patton, shouldered by the 2 {{E}} dB of Leclerc, arrives, they, of Normandy. The Allies meet on banks of the the Moselle the September 16th and reach Bruyères in the Vosges on October 15th. The weather is not good, it rains.
Unfolding
The October 21st, the order falls: the 36e division, originating in the Texas, is charged to take the hill of Biffontaine to open the access to Saint-Dié.
Equipped with Geological Survey maps insufficiently precise, four companies are mislaid in enemy sector and are found soon encircled by 700 men of the Wehrmacht: 275 of the 554 American soldiers are cut of their base.
In the United States, the surrounding of the 141e does the one of the newspapers. President Roosevelt in person takes the things in hands. To the Senate, a group of senators addresses to the government a heavy message of threat: “Draw from there, if not parks them! ”.
The powerful machine of American war cannot be unable to save its own men. Of the guy of Texas in addition and, extreme roof, of the famous regiment of Fort-Alamo, the regiment " chéri" from the United States.
For the men lost at the top of the hill of the “trapin of the Willows”, behind terminal 6, a message is delivered: “Hold good… Important reinforcements come to raise you”. The American HQ decides to launch its aces, the 442 {{E}} RCT, composed of volunteers nippo-American for the most perilous missions. Small gauges, highly-strung persons and dryness, which go up to the attack while transporting twice as much as necessary, where necessary.
The message arrives at the HQ of the 442e: 141e IH is encircled and requires reinforcements.
Colonel Whipple brings together the men and says textually to them: “It is necessary that we draw them from there! It is an order of the president of the United States in person. Gain this battle and you will have gained your war! ” The answer does not delay: “Will bring back We them! ”
October 25th, the 442e regiment hawaïen arrives on the spot, to join again the contact with the “lost battalion”. During four days, the attempts at junction will be unfruitful. October 29th, three planes parachute vivres with besieged. Perilous mission taking into account the relief and of the bad weather. One of the apparatuses is crushed, another is cut down. October 30th, the battalion is recovered.
The United States will qualify this battle of “second Casino” and they will classify it like one of ten more important of the history of the United States.
Assessment
117 killed, 40 GI reported missing and 657 wounded. A monument representing the island of Hawaii is set up in remembering.
References
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