Brest, France, -- truly a chapter in Ranger History, for it was one of the longest, most difficult and costly campaigns of the War, for the Fifth Ranger Battalion. At Brest, the Rangers found the best soldiers of the German Army, among them the fanatic Second Parachute Division, and one of Germany's best Commanding Generals, -- Remcke.

        Brest was a network of Forts and Pillboxes, a city so well fortified that it was considered impregnable, -- by the Germans, -- not by the Rangers. But it did prove a "hard nut to crack", and the Fifth Ranger Battalion, though a small unit, played a role many times its size in the capture of that Port.

        The Battle for Brest began for the Rangers, on 29 August 1944, with an order from the Commanding General of VIII Corps, attaching two Ranger companies to the Second U. S. Division, for operations. "A" and "C" Companies drew the assignment, under the command of Major Heffelfinger, (then Captain), the Ranger Executive Officer.

        These two companies relieved a company of the 23rd Infantry, and took up position overlooking Pyrotechnic De St. Nicholas, securing the left flank of the 23rd Infantry and protecting the Guipavas-Brest road.

        Company "E" moved to Gousneau relieving a company of the 9th Infantry and was assigned the mission of keeping contact between the 2nd and 8th U. S. Infantry Divisions, and contact was made hourly.

        Next morning, Company "E" received a determined enemy counterattack, and repulsed it with just eight casualties. After