Description

Spearhead

Vol. 1, No. 1 — 2nd Infantry Division — Tuesday, July 4, 1944

2 pages scanned

he very first issue of the Spearhead — a lean two-pager published from the Normandy apple orchards on Independence Day, 1944.

Names

• Davidson, Henry W. (Sgt — Duck River, Tenn.; attended Hickman Co. Tenn. Grammar School; Telephone Lineman CCC; tobacco grower and livestock breeder; Silver Star award)
• Gonzales, Vincent G. (Pfc — Rio Hondo, Texas; studied at Rio Hondo Grammar School; was Service Station attendant; Silver Star award)
• Goodman, James E. Jr. (Sgt — N. Zulch, Texas; attended N. Zulch Grammar School; Truck Driver, Lumberman, Grocer in Cross, Texas; Silver Star award)
• Hicks, Champ C. (S/Sgt — Portales, N. Mexico; specialized at Cloris, N. Mex Bus. Adm. School; clerked in Drug Store as civilian; Silver Star award)
• McDuffie, Leon N. (Pfc — Linden, Texas; completed three R’s at Linden Tex. H.S.; employed in construction; Silver Star award)
• Parks, Harvey C. (Pfc — Lonoke, Ark.; attended Cabot, Ark. Grammar School; operated cotton and dairy feed farm; Silver Star award)
• Weissman, Cpl (cartoonist — illustrated Independence Day cartoon for Spearhead)

Locations

• Caen, France — Germans re-grouping southwest of Caen after decisive defeat of their counter-attack against British salient; British patrols active and penetrating about a mile beyond the salient
• Cherbourg Peninsula, France — American forces started new drive down western side; advanced 1.5 to 3 miles on a 10-mile front in first day’s assault despite bad weather
• Dutch New Guinea — U.S. troops landed on and occupied Noomfoor Island in the Geelvink Bay area; captured one airfield
• Hungary — more than 500 American bombers pounding oil targets there and in Rumania and Yugoslavia
• Minsk, Belarus (White Russia) — Capitol of White Russia; captured by Russians following deep out-flanking movement to north and south; in German hands for just over three years
• Noomfoor Island, Dutch New Guinea — U.S. troops landed and occupied; in Geelvink Bay area; one airfield already captured
• Normandy, France — combat edition of the Spearhead published from forests and apple orchards here; Second Infantry Division writing another chapter in history
• Polotsk, Belarus — at northern end of White Russia Front; troop fighting reported in rural areas; gateway to Baltic States
• Rumania — more than 500 American bombers pounding oil targets there and in Hungary and Yugoslavia
• Siena, Italy — French troops of the 5th Army occupied the city; city suffered practically no damage; people gave French troops enthusiastic welcome
• Slutsk, Belarus — shown on map of Russian Front operation
• Vilna (Vilnius), Lithuania — railroad running northwest from Minsk to Vilna; Soviet forces more than a third of the way along it
• Vitebsk, Belarus — shown on map of Russian Front operation
• Yugoslavia — more than 500 American bombers pounding oil targets there and in Hungary and Rumania

Units

• 2nd Infantry Division (U.S.) — publishing unit; writing another chapter in history from forests and apple orchards of Normandy
• 5th Army (U.S.) — French troops of the 5th Army occupied Siena, Italy
• Royal Navy — guns continued to pound troop concentrations behind enemy lines near British salient southwest of Caen