The US 2d Infantry Division would make an assault against Hill 192 – the capture of this dominating observation point would be of prime importance in the attack on Saint-Lô. The 2d Division’s objectives were as follows; the 38th Infantry Regiment, on the western flank, was to attack and take Hill 192 proper, the 23d Infantry Regiment, fighting in the centre, was ordered to attack on the eastern slope of Hill 192, and secure the St-Lô-Bayeux highway, and the 9th Infantry Regiment, on the eastern flank of the division front, was directed to support the attack by all available fires. The right wing of the 23d Infantry Regiment’s assault force was the 1st Battalion, attacking from the road that ran west out of St-Georgesd'Elle. The 1st Battalion faced terrain that had been fought over in the early attempts against Hill 192, and which, contained a draw constituting a serious initial obstacle. "Purple Heart Draw," as it was called, ran for 750 yards east to west along the battalion front, only 200 to 400 yards from the line of departure. It was deep enough to be almost impassable for tanks, and so well covered by enemy fires as to promise heavy losses for infantry who tried to cross.
PHD-1 REFUSE TO RETIRE: The left wing of the 2d Division’s assault force was the 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment attacking from the road that ran west out of St-Georges-d’Elle. The 1st Battalion faced terrain that had been fought over in the early attempts against Hill 192, and which contained a draw constituting a serious initial obstacle. “Purple Heart Draw”, as it was called, ran 750 yards east to west along the battalion front, only 200 to 400 yards from the line of departure. It was deep enough to almost be impassable for tanks, and so well covered by enemy fire as to promise heavy losses for infantry who tried to cross.
PHD-2 TRYING THE RIGHT FLANK: Company A, 1st Battalion met stiff opposition as it reached Purple Heart Draw and despite support from four tanks of Company C, 741st Tank Battalion were stopped in their tracks by heavy mortar and artillery fire. On the right of the battalion line, Company C had moved forward against lesser difficulties. The company employed one variation of the standard tactics it had rehearsed in the preceding week.
PHD-3 DIVERSIONARY ATTACK: The 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment was initially stopped, suffering heavy casualties, as it attempted to cross Purple Heart Draw. By mid-morning, the battalion had managed to flank the west end of the Draw and continue its advance through the orchards and hedgerow-lined fields towards the main road. Close support by the infantry had prevented any tank casualties, despite the Germans being well supplied with bazookas and sticky grenades.
PHD 4 COUNTERATTACK: Through out the day, the drive of the US 2d Division, while it had been slowed by stubborn resistance, had packed too much power for the Germans. Fighting to hold Hill 192 and their lines near St-Georges-d'Elle, the Germans were forced to commit Fallschirm Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12, Fallschirm Aufklärungs-Kompanie 3, and as a last reserve, Fallschirm Pionerie-Abteilung 3 was thrown into the fighting. Late in the day, the Germans launched a counterattack north along the dense orchard road towards St-Georges-d'Elle, and caught many of the leading American units off-guard.
Crossing the Moro contains:
- one 30" x 24" map with one inch hexes
- Chapter: Purple Heart Draw Rules
- four ASL scenarios
- one Tactical Mission (aka Campaign Game)
