2 Infantry Division (USA) attacked to seize Hill 192

The 2nd Infantry Division attacked to seize Hill 192, key terrain dominating the critical road junction of Saint-Lô from the northeast.
The attack progressed slowly against determined resistance from German paratroopers making skillful use of heavily compartmented bocage terrain.
It took several days for the division to gain a firm foothold on Hill 192, securing a salient within 700 meters of the crest.
Meanwhile the Germans accumulated significant armored forces near Caen.
Anticipating German counterattacks and focusing resources on seizing the port of Cherbourg, First Army Commander General Omar N. Bradley went over to the defensive in the 2nd Infantry Division’s sector.
The division was ordered to dig in, hold what it had seized, and conduct aggressive patrolling “so as to deny the enemy any opportunity to abandon this front with impunity.
” The division diverted and attrited its immediate adversaries with skirmishing, limited objective attacks, and counterattacks.