20 July #1918 #WWI #Soissons #Battle #USMC #Marine #LT #Colonel #HarryLee #History #SemperFiGuy

During the Battle of Soissons, the attack outlined in Tenth Army Order 301 is a “continuation of the attack for the purpose of gaining the objectives announced for 18 July 1918. The attack will be launched at 04:00 with the assistance of tanks under the same condition as for 18 July.” Although there is no record of their release from XX Corps, the 6th Marine Regiment are taken out of reserve to replace the 5th Marines on the northern flank of the 2nd Infantry Division attack zone. Lieutenant Daniel Bender, regimental gas officer of the 6th Marines, moves forward with the first wave to check for toxic shells. While bent over examining a dud shell he is shot in the buttocks, injuring his spine. Bender dispatches a field message to the rear:

“No gas. Shot in the ass. Bender.”

The French 38th Division operating in the sector south of the 2nd ID attacks in a northeastern direction. These attacks cause the Germans to designate the Highway as the next defensive position. The French XX Corps liaison officer delivering the attack orders for 19 July is unable to locate the 2nd Division headquarters until 02:00. This delay causes the attack, originally scheduled for 4:00 am, to be pushed back to 07:00. The 1st Battalion, 2nd Engineers and the 4th Machine Gun Battalion are designated as the division reserve. Twenty-eight French tanks are assigned to support the attack. The assembly area for the 6th Marines is approximately 1.55 miles southeast from the frontlines.
 
Battalion commanders chose a partially concealed route to the jump-off line adding another 0.6 miles to the march. Failing to coordinate the actual jump-off time with the artillery, the Marines move out from the assembly area when the rolling barrage commences at 06:30. At 08:15, from the railway station in Vierzy, Marine Lieutenant Colonel Harry Lee issues his order deploying the regiment. As with the 5th Marines the previous day, Lee uses two attack battalions placing 1st Battalion on the right flank and 2nd Battalion on the left flank, with 3rd Battalion following in support. While 2nd Battalion moves north, 1st Battalion pushes through the town and up the east bank of the ravine to the plateau with the tanks following.

Since the barrage is early, the Germans are aware that an attack is imminent. When the Marines begin their advance, they are still 1 mile from the front line and about 2.5 miles from their main objective. As 2nd Battalion begins moving east through the wheat fields, a heavy artillery barrage opens up. The advance is slower than normal as they keep pace with the tanks they are following in support. As soon as the Marines pass through the front line, they begin taking machine gun fire from the elevations to the east and north. They advance until 09:30 where they occupy abandoned German foxholes. They remain here until 16:00 while taking continuous artillery, machine gun, and rifle fire.

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