The 28th Infantry Regiment was organized in 1901 at Vancouver Barracks, Washington, it earned its spurs in the Philippine jungles of Mindanao and added to its laurels during World War I in the forest of Cantigny.
Shortly after its organization, the regiment was sent to the Philippines. For two years it remained on the island of Mindanao, building military roads through the dense jungles and suppressing the Moros, savage inhabitants of the Island. Raids and ambushes by these treacherous headhunters were a constant danger. Moros with their bolos, crept up on lone sentinels and small groups of soldiers in the blackness of night, and at dawn slashed bodies of the victims would be found. Disease followed the men of the 28th from camp to camp of the malaria infested swamps. In spite of the hardships, they continued on their mission. Through Jolo, Pantar, and Marahui, the road was rushed to completion. The Moros conquered, pacified, or killed, the 28th returned to the United States.
For the next ten years the regiment performed ordinary garrison duties. It was stationed for a time at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and later in Texas. Little information is available of this period. Then in 1913, there were serious outbreaks along the Mexican border. President Taft ordered the Regiment to patrol the Rio Grande River. The city of Vera Cruz was seized by the United States Navy in April 1914, and later taken over by the Army. The 28th Infantry was a member of this expedition, until November 1914, patrolling the street and guarding Public Utilities.
Rumblings of the war that was soon to engulf most of the world were already being heard from Europe. Then came Sarajevo, and the mistaken notion that America could stay out of the European war. Finally when the Lusitania had been sunk, President Wilson's "watchful waiting" came to an end and Congress declared war on Germany.
Hardly had the nation entered the war before the 28th as a member of the First Infantry Division in General Pershing's American Expeditionary Force, was on the way to France. On June 28,1917, the regiment arrived at the port of St. Nazaire, and early next morning, the men of Company K became the first American combat unit to set foot on European soil.
Immediately the Regiment entrained for the province of Lorraine, where it began a program of rigorous training under the famous French "Blue Devils," the 52nd Battalion of Chasseurs. All through the following winter the 28th was in training, and when spring came it had been molded into a rugged, hard hitting combat team.
The Regiment had occupied the trenches before the city of Toul when the Germans drove a powerful salient between the British and French forces in the in vicinity on Montdidier. To the American First Division was given the task of overcoming this dangerous drive which was aimed at the all important Channel ports. The first American offensive of the war began near Cantigny on May 28,1918. Fighting was vicious, and the battle lasted three days: but after counterattacking five times the Germans withdrew.
The American forces had gained their objective. No longer was there any doubt in the minds of the British and French as to the fighting ability of the Americans. Not only was their victory was a great military success, the psychological effect upon the Allied armies was tremendous. On that day the tide of battle turned in favor of the Allies. The Regiment was cited for gallantry in action by Marshall Petain, and Colonel Ely, its commander, was promoted to Brigadier General. The 28th had already made an important contribution to the complete victory that was destined to come.
There were more victories for the American forces and the 28th Infantry. On July 18,1918, the 28th, despite terrific artillery bombardment and heavy resistance, succeeded in cutting the German line of communication in the Battle of Soissons. Despite severe casualties, 56 officers and 1,760 enlisted men, the Regiment's spirit remained unbroken. For three years the Germans had maintained this wedge deep within the Allied lines, the enemy's tenacity, and in the face of bitter cold and rain, the Americans smashed through.
Then came the Battle of the Argonne, a month of steady slugging in the tangled underbrush and dense thicket against a stubborn enemy. Again the Germans were driven back. There was more bloody fighting before heavily defended fortified Sedan; and when the Americans had fought their way into position to take the city, they stepped aside and allowed the French to march in and reclaim the prize which they had lost to the Germans in 1871.
The war had been won, and the 28th Infantry had played no small part in the victory. To the French, no display of gratitude seemed too great, as they decorated the members of the Regiment with the Fourraguerre. Great, too, were the casualties suffered by the men of the unit in battle. More than 5,000 officers and men had been killed or wounded.
After the Armistice was signed, the 28th began its triumphant entry into Germany. Marching through the Duchy of Luxembourg, the Regiment crossed the Rhine and on December 13 entered the American bridgehead area. There it kept the "Watch on the Rhine" until the treaty of peace was signed.
Returning to the United States in September 1919, the 28th paraded in New York and Washington, D.C., and then took up its station in Camp Zachary Taylor. In 1920 the Regiment was transferred to Fort Dix, New Jersey, and in June 1922 it was moved to the State of New York. There one battalion was stationed at Fort Niagara, another at Fort Ontario. The First Battalion garrisoned Fort Porter until it reverted to inactive status in 1933.
The 28th remained a member of the First Division until October 1939, when the Army was reorganized, and the Division became triangular. During 1939-1940, the Regiment underwent a period of winter training in Northern New York, testing skis, snowshoes, and other equipment for use in cold climates. In the summer of 1940, the First Battalion was reactivated at Fort Niagara, and the entire regiment was brought to peace time strength. It then proceeded to Fort Jackson where, on July 1,1941 it was assigned to the Eighth Infantry Division.
To recount all the events in the four years from the day it joined the 8th Infantry Division to (it's own) D-Day July 4,1944, would to be simply to list innumerable steps in the training routine in the training of an American Infantry Regiment through all its phases. There are however, the highlights and a number of unusual incidents during this long period of training and preparations, and these form an essential part of the history of the 28th.
Beginning in September 1941, the 8th Division already through its preliminary stages of training, took part in the Carolina Maneuvers. For more than three months, a large proportion of the Nation's armed forces was engaged in extensive operations throughout the Carolinas, and the men of the 28th took a major part in them.
Then came Pearl Harbor. The Japanese had crippled the American Navy, and with packs of German submarines roaming the Atlantic, there was the constant threat of an attack against the American mainland. For two weeks after December 7th, the 28th patrolled all the vital installations in South Carolina.
On March 26 the 28th went on patrol along the Atlantic Seaboard, the Regimental headquarters was moved to Atlanta, GA, and remained there until June 5, when the Regiment was relieved and returned to Fort Jackson to rejoin the Division. During this time the Division had become motorized.
In September 1942, the 28th as a unit of the 8th Division began a Motor March to the area of the Tennessee Maneuvers. Two more months of war games hardened the troops of the 28th. Then after a brief stay in tents at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, the Division set out for its new station, Fort Leonard Wood, MO. From December 1942 to March 1943 there was a period of comparative calm.
In March 1943 the 8th Division moved to Camp Lagoona, AZ, for six strenuous months of desert training. During the later part of the period the Division was de-motorized, reverting to its original status as a standard infantry division. It was during this period of desert training that the band of the 28th was transferred to the 65th Division at Camp Shelby, MS.
Upon completion of desert training, the Division returned briefly to Camp Forest. Preparations were begun immediately for an overseas movement. Late in November the 8th Division arrived at the staging area at Camp Kilmer, NJ. Then on December 5,1943, a convoy, bearing the 8th Infantry Division, sailed from New York Harbor.
Ten days later, after a crossing uneventful except for the severe winter storms, the Division arrived at Belfast, Ireland.
Headquarters for the Regiment were established at Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. The 1st Battalion was located at Camp Breandrum, Enniskillen. The 2nd Battalion at Castle Coole, also in Enniskillen, and the 3rd Battalion was at Crom Castle outside of Newton-Butler.
Training tin Northern Ireland was a varied as the limited terrain permitted. Greatest emphasis was placed on small unit tactics There was abundance of scouting and patrolling, with one third of the training conducted at night. A rigorous physical conditioning program was put in effect. Firing of all types of infantry weapons throughout the entire period.
General Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Enniskillen in April during one of his tours of inspection of Allied troops. The Supreme Commander witnessed a number of small unit problems and later a Regimental Review by the 28th. Lieutenant General George S. Patton, Third Army Commander, also inspected the troops while in Northern Ireland. The Regiment also participated in a Division assembly for him.
Every two weeks during the period in Northern Ireland the Regiment sent three officers and fifteen enlisted men to a British training camp and received an equal number of United Kingdom troops. This was in accordance with an exchange plan worked out by Military authorities of the two nations. It proved beneficial from a training standpoint, and it help promote a better understanding among Allied soldiers.
As the time for the invasion of Europe drew near, the training program was expanded to include battalion and regimental combat exercises, command post exercises, and the study of German tactics. Elementary amphibious training was given to all troops, and some units began language classes in French and German.
The on July 1, 1944, a convoy of four troop ships and twelve motor transports steamed out of Belfast Harbor carrying the 8th Division to the continent of Europe. On July 4, twenty eight days after D-Day of the Allied invasion of Normandy, the Regiment began debarking at Utah Beach on the Cherbourg peninsula.(NOTE: There also evidence that some elements of the 8th Division landed across both Utah and Omaha beaches. Next day it had assembled in the vicinity of Montbourg where final preparations for battle were completed.
Allied invasion armies at this time held only a few square miles of the territory of France. The city of Cherbourg had recently been taken, and the Germans driven from the northern tip of the peninsula to a point just north of La Haye du Puits. From there the enemy line extended through Carentan and St. Lo eastward to Caen and the Orne River estuary. German resistance in most sectors was heavy even against already achieved air superiority.
On July 6, the Regiment moved to an assembly area near the town of St. Sauvier Le Vicomte, the following morning orders were received to take over section of the line, one kilometer south of La Haye du Puits.
The plan for the Division, was to attack to the south passing through the 82nd Airborne Division, taking over the center of the Corps front. The main effort of the drive was to made in this sector.
At daylight on the morning of the 8th, the First Battalion moved through a concealed sunken road to the line of departure, the enemy anticipating action in this sector had laid down a heavy concentration of Mortar and Artillery fire, killing four and wounding nine, this was prior to reaching the line of departure and was the first taste of combat for these men who were badly shaken up. Only aggressive leadership pulled the men through.
The advance forward was extremely difficult, and casualties were severe, the slow advance was reported to the Regimental Commander and orders came back to push forward and ask for Artillery fire. The Artillery forward observers reported that the fire could not be observed because of the wooded hedgerows.
The first day's advance was 1500 yards, the unit on the right was unable to advance with the First Battalion. A strong counterattack was launched against the let flank, wand it was necessary to call up the reserve company. While this was being stopped a counterattack from the front was started. This was also repelled. Then a strong counterattack was launched against the open right flank. When the attack was ended almost 5,000 yards had been lost. The entire line was reorganized and the men dug in for the night. The first day's casualties were 63 killed or wounded.
During the night of July 8-9, the 2nd Battalion was committed on the left flank of the 1st Battalion, and at 0600 the two battalions attacked with Companies B and C of the 1st Battalion leading Companies E and F of the 2nd Battalion leading. The 3rd Battalion remained in Regimental Reserve. Progress was slow due to the greenness of the troops and inexperience in hedgerow fighting. Difficulty was encountered in maintaining wire communications due to enemy artillery fire. The attack carried about two kilometers to a point north of LeBarville, 30 prisoners being captured. The German counterattack on the exposed right flank of the First Battalion forced them to use the Second Battalion's area to bring up supplies.
The Division Commander continually insisted on the battalions advancing, regardless of whether the flanks were protected or not. At approximately midnight the Division Commander relieved Colonel “Spider” Webb as Regimental Commander and Lt. Col. Kunzig assumed command.
On the morning of the 10th of July the order came down, to attack at 0700 and both the 1st and 2nd Battalions jumped off on time. At 0800 both Battalions committed their reserve companies, holding a Platoon of each company in reserve. With artillery and infantry coordinated, the attack continued in the direction of Le Barville. The location of the exposed right flank was given to the 79th Division on the right so contact could be made. The 3rd Battalion was alerted to be ready to move to protect either flank or reinforce the attack. At the end of the day the 1st Battalion had reached a point 1000 meters south of Le Barville, but the 2nd Battalion had run into heavy opposition and was held up outside of Mobecq.
Two days later, the 3rd Battalion having replaced the 1st in the line, had advanced to a point south of Vesley, when their leading elements ran into extremely heavy fire from 88's. In the Company L zone Lt. Becker was shot and killed by a prisoner and Lts. Enswiler and Shull were seriously wounded by shell fire. The company became disorganized. The First Sergeant, (1st Sgt Frank Ostrander) while trying to reorganize the company was killed by machine gun fire. The company was finally reorganized by Lt. Kaufman, Company M, leader of an attached mortar section, and advanced the company 700 yards. Later that afternoon the enemy started a counterattack from both flanks using both tanks and infantry. A tank company which was attached to the Battalion accounted for two of the enemy tanks, and Lt. Paluzzi got one with a Bazooka. The battalion was forced back to it's original position, suffering from heavy casualties which included the Battalion Commander and disorganizing the companies due to the loss of officers and NCO's. (Captain Fisher Patty, Company L was also killed).
On the 13th of July the Regiment received orders that it would revert to Division Reserve after being relieved by the 13th Infantry. The 28th had been through it's first action of World War II, had reached it's first objectives and suffered it's first casualties. The territory it had taken was slight; the advance had been slow. Commanders and troops had become battle wise to the enemy's tactics, and hedgerows had become as familiar as the hills of Tennessee and Northern Ireland.
On July 14th, Lt. Col. Kunzig, the Regimental Commander, sent down orders for plenty of rest and a complete reorganization. Lt. Col. Buckley became Regimental Executive. Lt. Col. Lacy taking command of the 2nd Battalion and Major Ward assumed command of the 3rd Battalion. The Regiment moved into bivouac at Bretit where Colonel Kenneth Anderson took command of the Regiment.
Plans were made throughout the day of the 23rd of July, for the Regiment to go back into the line. This was accomplished before dark and contact was made with the 121st Infantry on the left and the 314th Infantry on the right. Patrolling was carried on until the 26th, which was start of the breakthrough and great push which carried up to the German Border and resulted in the liberation of Paris.
The line of the Ay River, from the mouth, west of Lessay to a point near the bridge at Lessay was so swampy, and so strongly held along its south bank, as to make it impracticable for the 79th Division on the right to advance South. The bridge at Lessay was destroyed, and the only ford was so heavily mined and covered by hostile fire as to be unusable. A similar situation confronted the 90th Division on the East flank of the 8th Division, and North of the swampy ground along the Seves River. The "island" on which is located the village of St Germain Sur Seves was strongly held by the Germans who had successfully resisted several attempts by the 90th Infantry Division to capture it, as an area of departure for a continuation of the Division's attack to the South.
On the entire Corps front the only practicable ground lay on the frontage held by the 8th Division. As the 79th and 90th Divisions could not advance it remained for the 8th Division to overcome strong enemy defenses south of the gap and establish a bridgehead at least as far south as the railroad running west from Periers. When this Division established this bridgehead it was planned to pass the 79th Division then fan out to the southwest, flanking the German defenses south of the Ay River in the 79th Division zone. On the east, the 90th Division would similarly take advantage of the breakthrough, bypass the "island" and advance to the south. Therefore the entire success of the operation of the Corps depended on the ability of the 8th Division to achieve these results.
Next section- 26 July 44 thorugh 20 September 1944
This history of the 28th Infantry comes from the official Regt. records. This version is made possible by the effort of Eric Olson. It was developed for the use of 8th Division Veterans and their families to help understand the unit's role in WW2. This edited and updated version is copyright 1999 by the Cantigny Press. It may not be reproduced without permission.