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Zach,

Welcome to the message board.

Your Great Uncle is listed on page 18 of the 36th Roster:

Company A, 141st Infantry
Officers
McNeil, James L., 1st Lt., 704 W. 35th St. Austin, Texas; KIA


Will research more about the date he was killed.

This should start your search.........Keep your topic active on the front pages........there is a ton of help on this message board.

pstickle
Daughter of T Patcher
William G. "Gregg" Wiley, 141st I

Hi Zach,

First of all, I congratulate you on your efforts to learn more about this war hero, your Great Uncle, whose history has fallen silent in your family. I believe that probably happened a lot to families in WWII......there wasn't the incredible tool of the internet to research and learn, and the pain was so great with little avenues to collect information. You are the 'warrior' for him now, to keep his history alive.

Terry is absolutely correct about the road block where he was killed. In reading the AAR's on that date, his company was present at the road block situation. It is amazing Terry's Dad recalls his name....that is wonderful.

There are several pages on this timeframe for this date, and I will try and summarize. It is too much to type here.

.....at 0830 hours on 25 August, the regimental commander advised the 1st Battalion commander that every effort must be made to put a road block in across the RHONE River highway. He directed that patrols be sent north of LA COUCOURDE in an effort to work their way through to the highway. The Division Commander called right after instructions were issued to the 1st Battalion commander and ordered an attack in force to physically cut the road AT ALL COSTS and block further German traffic. Both the 1st and 2d Battalions had suffered such heavy losses in personnel fom the incessant German counter-attacks the regimental commander did not believe he could organize a sufficient force to establish the road block and hold it............having been ordered to put the road block in at all costs, he proceeded to organize the 1st and 3d Battalions for an attack supported by tank destroyers.

This would be where Terry's Dad was involved, I think......

The rest is summary........
At 0100 hours on 26 August, the Germans counter-attacked with a sizeable force of Infantry and tanks and drove the road block back. Tanks and tank destroyers were knocked out, the infantry was scattered and disorganized and withdrew to try and re-organize. There was not enough force to attack again, and Task Force Butler would retake the road block as soon as possible. The remnants of the troops on the road block were ordered back to the portion of Hill 300 occupied by Company A. Division artillery placed extra fires along the highway to harrass the Germans who were trying to force through.

By hour 0930, the 3d Battalion was being subjected to intense enemy artillery which created numerous casualties in Company I and M. By 1145, the germans were launched counter attack on 2d Battalion. Task Force Butler had plans to attack at 1300 hours and seize the ridge running from Hill 300 north to LA COUCOURDE. ......When Task Force Butler completed putting in the road block, Hill 300 was to be taken over by the regiment with one battalion and the road block hold..........plans were made to hold the ridge line with the 1st battalion, and traffic on the highway was to be stopped by artillery, heavy machine guns and mortar fire.

At 2030 hours Task Force Butler were still engaged in a hard fight to take Hill 300. The troops were becoming excessively tired from engagements of either attacking or receiving counter atacks.........the casualties in all ranks were steadily mounting.



I believe from the pages I have read, your Great Uncle was involved with this battle for Hill 300.

We'll keep researching..........I hope this helps........


pstickle
Daughter of T Patcher
William G. "gregg" Wiley, 141st I
pgs@satx.rr.com

Gilles,

The following is mentioned in the AAR's:

..pushing towards La COUCOURDE, two rifle companies, etc.......were able to establish a road block on the main highway. It talks about blowing up the bridge in the vicinity of LA COUCOURDE and withdraw to the high ground to the east...........the Germans had a strong force around SAUZET. The Engineers reported the enemy had infiltrated through BONLIEU...........Task Force Butler was passing through MARSANNE. It is around Hill 300.

If you see Herve or Gerome, they have the AAR's also.

pstickle

Have a good trip!

Hi Zach,

You are very welcome for the research.....and it's great to have someone who has stayed on top of things and kept this topic active.

The AAR's are for the 141st, but has reference to all units. I made a CD of them......I'll move that topic back up to the front page.......you'd love reading it all, with the interest you have. Reading those reports definitely puts you in the middle of the situation and you can have the slightest glimpse into what hell these men endured. I don't know how they did it.


You can email Jack Wilson......his wife will correspond with you......Jack doesn't go near the computer!

pstickle