under the command of LTC George F. Marshall, was assigned to Operation Reservist with the mission of sailing directly into the Oran harbor and capturing valuable facilities and ships before the Vichy French could mount an effective resistance. The amphibious assault began shortly after 0200, but one landing craft's engine caught fire, alerting the defenders to their presence. They were met with a devastating volley from the French shore defenses which also managed to destroy their Royal Navy escort ships, HMS Hartland and HMS Walney. Out of 393, 9 officers were killed (including LTC Marshall), 180 enlisted men were killed, and 5 officers and 152 enlisted men were wounded. Only 47 men survived unscathed. For their outstanding courage under fire in their first action of WWII, 3-6 IN was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation, but ceased to exist as a fighting unit for the time being. Despite this disaster, the other landings of Operation Torch were still scheduled to be underway in the morning, and the vehicles and men of General Lunsford E. Oliver's Task Force Red (TF Red) began landing at Z Beach to the east of Oran in the Gulf of Arzew with the mission of seizing the Tafaraoui airfield. Attached to this TF was E Company, 2nd Battalion-6th Armored Infantry (2-6 IN) under CPT Donald A. Kersting. 1LT R. H. Leed's 1st Platoon, E/2-6 IN was the advance guard for the Task Force, and they managed to reach the airfield by 1100. Attacking alongside elements of the 1st Battalion-1st Armored Regiment, LT Leeb's Platoon rolled onto the airfield from the east while 2nd and 3rd PLTs (under LTs J. F. Sullivan and Jesse E. Frank respectively) blocked off approaches from Oran and managed to capture an enemy ammunition train. TF Red's initial objective had been accomplished. To the west of Oran, 1st Battalion-6th Armored Infantry (1-6 IN), under the command of LTC William B. Kern, was assigned to TF Green, and they quickly assaulted and captured Y Beach without opposition. B Company was detached from 1-6 IN and joined 1st Battalion-13th Armored Regiment in their push to secure La Senia airfield, but the flying column was delayed by French anti-tank guns, forcing TF Green to halt for the day. A platoon from E Co to the east was brought to help secure the airfield on 9 November. On 10 November, TF Red and TF Green converged on