Cooney, Edward, PFC

The Army reactivated the division at Camp Pickett, Virginia on 15 Jun 42 as the 79th Division and redesignated it there as the 79th Infantry Division on 1 Aug 42. The division moved to Camp Blanding, Florida on 1 Sep 42; moved to Tennessee Maneuvers Area on 3 Mar 43 where the division participated in the Second Army No. 1 Tennessee Maneuvers; transferred to Camp Forrest, Tennessee on 19 Jul 43 and moved to Camp Young, California on 17 Aug 43 for the Desert Training Center No. 3 California Maneuvers (Camp Laguna, Arizona). The division arrived at Camp Phillips, Kansas on 4 Dec 43. The division relocated and staged at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts on 31 Mar 44. The division departed the Boston Port of Embarkation on 7 Apr 44; arrived in England 16 Apr 44 and landed in France in Jun 44. The division crossed into Belgium and into Holland; entered Germany 3 Mar 45 and after VE Day performed Army of Occupation duties in Czechoslovakia. The division returned to New York Port of Embarkation on 10 Dec 45 and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, in Piscataway, New Jersey on 11 Dec 45. Summary Combat Narrative US Army Flag WW II Memorial Flag After arriving in England, the division crossed the English Channel and landed across Utah Beach, France. On 14 Jun 44, the division attacked toward Cherbourg with the 313th and 315th Infantry on 19 Jun 44, and reached the outer fortifications of the fortress-city the following day. The division began its main assault 22 Jun 44 as the 313th Infantry drove against the strongpoint at La Mare á Canards. The 314th Infantry captured Fort du Roule on 26 Jun 44. The division left Cherbourg and moved south to hold defensive lines along the Ollonde River until 2 Jul 44. The division then pushed down the west coast of the Cotentin Peninsula in driving rain and took La Haye-du-Puits after repelling German counterattacks on 8 Jul 44. It crossed the Ay River behind the 8th Infantry Division on 26 Jul 44 and took Lassey the next day, capturing Laval on 6 Aug 44. It sped past Le Mans on 8 Aug 44 and established a bridgehead near Mantes-Gassicourt over the Seine River 20 Aug 44, which it held against German counterattacks 22-27 Aug 44. It moved forward with the 2nd Armored Division and crossed the Therain River at the end of the month. The division then concentrated in the Joinville area on 10 Sep 44, and the 314th Infantry battled through Charmes 12 Sep 44 and forded the Moselle as the 313th Infantry captured Poussay and the 315th Infantry seized Neufchâteau 13 Sep 44. After heavy combat as the division cleared its sector, the offensive resumed on 18 Sep 44. On 20 Sep 44 the 314th Infantry encountered German fire as it reached the Meurthe River near Lunéville attempting to turn the German flank. A battalion crossed the river near St. Clement the next day but had to be withdrawn. The division moved forward despite intense attacks from the Forêt de Parroy, the 315th Infantry losing and then recovering part of Lunéville 22 Sep 44 as the 314th Infantry faced counterattacks at Moncel. The 314th Infantry frontally assaulted Forêt de Monden the following day in heavy combat and the division entered the Forêt de Parroy. The 315th Infantry was temporarily isolated in fighting at the main road junction there on 5 Oct 44. An all-out divisional assault forced a German withdrawal from the forest with the final capture of the main road junction 9 Oct 44. The division next took Emberménil 3 Oct 44 and battled for the high ground east of the town 15-22 Oct 44. It was relieved in this area 24 Oct 44. It rested at Lunéville and returned to the attack 13 Nov 44 with the 314th and 315th Infantry out of the Montigny area which carried it across the Vezouse with the capture of Fremonville 19 Nov 44. The division consolidated north of Strasbourg 25 Nov 44 and fought the Battle of Hagenau 9-11 Dec 44. The division reached the Lauter River at Schiebenhardt on 15 Dec 44, to have an important role in successfully defending against the last major German offensive, launched in the Ardennes and known as Operation Nordwind. The division held defensive lines at Wissembourg until 2 Jan 45. It then moved to the southern portion of the Rhine River held by Task Force Linden (42d Infantry Division). The Germans established a bridgehead at Gambsheim and by 6 Jan 45 the division had battled through Stattmatten to relieve encircled elements of the task force. The division remained on the defensive along the Moder River until 6 Feb 45. The division went into reserve and detached the 314th Infantry to forward positions overlooking the Roer as a diversion for Operation GRENADE 23 Feb 45. The division crossed the Rhine on 24 Mar 45. It reached the Rhine-Herne Canal against strong opposition 29 Mar 45. The following day the 314th Infantry concluded the drive to Emser Canal and the division established defensive positions there until 6 Apr 45. The division then relieved the 35th Infantry Division west of Gelsenkirchen and attacked across the Emser and Rhine-Herne Canals on 7 April 45. It reached the Ruhr on 9 Apr 45 and moved against resistance east along the Ruhr, establishing a bridgehead at Kettwig 11 Apr 45. It was relieved the following day and reverted to security duty in the Dortmund area where it was posted when hostilities were declared ended on 7 May 45. Click this link to read A Brief History of the U.S. Army in World War II. Tentative Casualty Statistics Killed in Action: 2,476 Wounded in Action: 10,971 Later Died of Wounds: 467 Captured or Missing in Action: 1,699 Disease and Non-Battle Injuries: 14,875 Prisoners of War Taken: 35,466 Division Commanders: MG Ira T. Wyche: Jun 42 BG LeRoy H. Watson: May 45 MG Anthony C. McAuliffe: Jul 45 BG LeRoy H. Watson: Aug 45

My Father served with Co. A 304th ENGR C BN