Once assembled, an attack order was issued from Division to assault Saint Lo to the south. William and the G Company were ordered to attack from the left. On July 15th, 1944, at 5:15 am, the 1st and 2nd Battalions began their attack on Saint Lo under a heavy artillery barrage and machine gun fire. G Company was attacking two platoons abreast with William in 2nd Platoon. The artillery and machine gun fire lasted for another hour and a half and during this time, G Company’s Commanding Officer was injured by a mortar blast, and at 8:00 am G Company reported it was out of action. This situation persisted until Lieutenant Blackburn assumed command and reorganized G Company for an attack. 1st and 2nd Platoons drove forward three-hundred yards but were halted when they had to reinforce F Company which was suffering a major counter-attack. Around 4:00 pm, G Company was relieved by E Company who was able to help F Company repel the counter-attack at 4:35 pm. G Company was placed in Battalion Reserve after it succeeded in taking fifteen prisoners but suffered forty-seven casualties, ending its first day of battle.
134th Infantry Regiment's Movements towards Saint Lo during the battle - July 15th-18th
134th Infantry Regiment's Movements towards Saint Lo during the battle - July 17th-18th