Company G, 120th Regiment
30th Infantry Division
With respect to SSGT Clowes V.
Warnock, ASN 12059379, he served with my father in Co G,
commanded by Capt Walter Bunch. My father was the radio
bearer for Capt. Bunch when he was felled the same 88mm arty round
that also killed PFC Robert Shine, the company runner. This
happened 9 July '44 vic the entrance to Le Muserand farm while under
heavy Panzer attack from Haut Vents.
Capt Bunch, died shortly after being wounded (likely within an hour, Goble & Warnock attempted to aid Capt Bunch, Warnock attempting to insert a straw in his carotid artery to permit blood flow. Goble said Capt Bunch ordered them leave him and pursue the battle), PFC Robert Shine Capt Bunch's G Co was under severe attack during the early afternoon of 9 July 44. He was moving forward from his CP near the entrance of Le Muserand farm to provide leadership to his platoon leaders whose men were being forced to withdraw from their positions. Capt BUNCH was moving forward with PFC ROBERT SHINE (his runner), PFC W. A. (initial named only) ROBINSON was BUNCH'S radio bearer the three of them in close proximity to each other. During Bunch's attempt to move closer to his Company's front they had moved SE just a few yards. The Germans commenced an 88mm arty attack apparently aimed at the road junction at the lane into Le Muserand from the French road from l'Hommet d'Arthenay D257. An 88mm arty shell exploded behind these three with shrapnel hitting & killing Shine outright, critically wounded Bunch in the neck, severing a carotid artery, & critically wounding Robinson with shrapnel to his spine, which caused him paralysis of his lower extremities. He (Dad) was evacuated on 9 July '44 approx 8 miles to the 44th Evac Hosp located between La Folie & Bricqueville. He was admitted, underwent serious spinal surgery, stabilized & evacuated 10 to Army Airfield A-1 above OMAHA BEACH near St Laurent , then flown to Membury Air field, England, by ambulance to a U.S. Army 1000 bed General Hosp near Swindon, SE of London. He again underwent surgery but succumbed to his wounds on 13 July 44 and was buried about mid-day 13 July 44.
Capt Bunch, died shortly after being wounded (likely within an hour, Goble & Warnock attempted to aid Capt Bunch, Warnock attempting to insert a straw in his carotid artery to permit blood flow. Goble said Capt Bunch ordered them leave him and pursue the battle), PFC Robert Shine Capt Bunch's G Co was under severe attack during the early afternoon of 9 July 44. He was moving forward from his CP near the entrance of Le Muserand farm to provide leadership to his platoon leaders whose men were being forced to withdraw from their positions. Capt BUNCH was moving forward with PFC ROBERT SHINE (his runner), PFC W. A. (initial named only) ROBINSON was BUNCH'S radio bearer the three of them in close proximity to each other. During Bunch's attempt to move closer to his Company's front they had moved SE just a few yards. The Germans commenced an 88mm arty attack apparently aimed at the road junction at the lane into Le Muserand from the French road from l'Hommet d'Arthenay D257. An 88mm arty shell exploded behind these three with shrapnel hitting & killing Shine outright, critically wounded Bunch in the neck, severing a carotid artery, & critically wounding Robinson with shrapnel to his spine, which caused him paralysis of his lower extremities. He (Dad) was evacuated on 9 July '44 approx 8 miles to the 44th Evac Hosp located between La Folie & Bricqueville. He was admitted, underwent serious spinal surgery, stabilized & evacuated 10 to Army Airfield A-1 above OMAHA BEACH near St Laurent , then flown to Membury Air field, England, by ambulance to a U.S. Army 1000 bed General Hosp near Swindon, SE of London. He again underwent surgery but succumbed to his wounds on 13 July 44 and was buried about mid-day 13 July 44.
Prior to Dad's evacuation from the
44th Evac Hosp the morning of 10 July 44, the hospital chaplain,
Capt David Walthall advised us by letter that Dad made a profession
of faith in Jesus Christ as his savior, even naming the Church in
his hometown of Franklin, Tennessee where he wished to be enrolled
as a member. The father of Jimmy Jackson, one of Bob's 5th or 6th
grade classmates in Franklin Elementary School, Franklin, Tennessee,
was the Pastor of that Franklin Church of Christ, 4th Ave N.
Robinson's service
number was 14156268.
SSGT Warnock, was a personal friend of my dad,
PFC W. A. Robinson and visited in our home many times while
the 30th Div was on the famous Tennessee maneuvers from May till Nov
'43.
Warnock became a sniper in July '44
and was ( KIA in
Operation "Cobra" SW of St Lo, France, July 28, 1944.
His body was
recovered & buried in the American Cemetery at Coleville.
The American Cemetery - Colleville - St Laurent above OMAHA BEACH,
Normandy.
Plot J Row 26 Grave 19, Normandy American Cemetery,
Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
Also there is missing the name of
SGT William "Bill"
GOBLE, MG Section at the CP
of G/120th. He was in the Mortain battle for
Hill 314(317), cutoff for 5 days, suffered battle fatigue and
returned to the States via hospital in England in the Fall '44. I
visited him in his hometown of SEYMOUR, IN where he described the
action where Dad, Shine & CPT Bunch were fatally wounded. He
previously was a cook with Dad, returned to SEYMOUR where he worked
to retirement as a baker.
Also missing is the name
SGT Arthur
Merriman, G/120th,
also from Indiana. He was also discharged after the Mortain battle
and returned to the States during Aug - Sept '44 after being
hospitalized in England for several weeks.
I personally knew each of these men and know
they were members of G/120th & I have photos of them during
their service at Camp Blanding, GA in '43.
© James D. West www.IndianaMilitary.org