George A. Taylor

U. S. Army Historical Division, Interview, June 21 1944

“Col. Taylor came in with the Rear Cp with the essential regimental staff and personnel. The rest was with Lt. Col. John Matthews [X), 16th Infantry]. The coxswain went into Exit E-3 and was fired on. Col. Taylor had the coxswain pull out and get in at a more favorable spot. The tide was one-half in. [Taylor’s group was] fired on while wading up to their necks. ‘It was a helpless feeling wading while shot at,’ [said Taylor]. The shore battalion and engineers were behind the [shingle] and there was little firing from our troops. There was a state of confusion. The troops there lined up on the beach like cons in a store room. There was nothing official from anybody. All were interested in holding-in and keeping out of the fire. Taylor move to Exit E-3 and found that [Matthew’s Advanced CP] had been hit. The men were intermingled on the beach. They couldn’t get anywhere until we stopped the fire
from the strongpoints.”

-Balkoski, Jospeph, Omaha Beach:
D-Day June 6, 1944, p. 198.

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