743 Tank Battalion

On 14 June the 743rd Tank Battalion was attached to the 30th Infantry Division, with whom they would remain for the remainder of the war in Europe, and supported the crossing of the Vire River on 7 July 1944. On 24–25 July, located forward with the assault forces of the 30th Infantry Division near St. Lô, the battalion was among those bombed by friendly aircraft which dropped their bombs short of the intended targets. Although casualties were light inside their armored vehicles, the accompanying dismounted infantry suffered much heavier losses.Having begun the assault that created the breakout from Normandy, the battalion’s pace quickened and, on 19–20 August, road marched 123 miles in 18 hours. By 3 September they had reached Belgium, on 12 September had crossed into The Netherlands and within another week were even across the German border