The photo below shows a Tank Destroyer crossing the anti-tank wall of Vierville in front of the 2nd ID infantrymen who have just landed (8 or 9 June)
Destruction of the Vierville anti-tank wall
Testimony of Lieutenant Itzel
(Excerpts from Captain Roy Gordon, B.C.C. of 147th Battalion. and Lieutenant Itzel)
"I told Lieutenant Turpin to drive Corporal Beckham's D8 bulldozer to Vierville, which landed on Dog Red and was then 1400m from the Vierville descent. He was to cross those 1,400 meters on the beach and in the sight of the enemy. He was carrying 500 kg of explosives on a special chassis above the driver. Corporal Beckham showed exceptional courage by leading this load to a good port to Vierville where Sergeant Arwood was waiting for him."
Lieutenant George A. Itzel, Section Chief of the 147th CieB remembers Sergeant Arwood:
He had been given the task of organizing the group responsible for the destruction of the anti-tank wall blocking the descent of Vierville. When he arrived at the wall, he found the 121st Engineer Battalion already at work preparing for the explosion. Sergeant Arwood saw a 147th Bat bulldozer. engineers, led by Corporal Beckham and ordered him to approach the wall. Beckham carried about 500 kg of explosives in addition to 4 boxes of Bangalore explosive poles on a chassis specially built above the diesel engine of the bulldozer."
There was another 147th bull, also loaded with explosives. The story of the Battalion tells us that "to bring this bull from the place where he was disembarked (Dog White) to his work location, he was dropped in motion without a driver along the beach. When he achieved his goal, the CieA sappers rushed under fire to stop him. The men of the Cies A and C and the Cie of Services then provided a maximum cover fire around the wall. Sergeant Arwood and a sergeant from 121st Bat. (Sergeant Dube?) carried the explosives to the wall in a series of short "rushes", and opening a path in the barbed wires with Bangalore poles. On the wall, they placed 2 loads of 250kg each, with 5-second delay cords, lit them up and jumped back on the beach to shelter. The explosion destroyed the wall and thus opened the road to Vierville."