The 311th was a 105mm howitzer battalion with three gun batteries (A,B and C) of four guns each. The battalion was often 'assigned' to the  314th infantry regiment in the field providing them with small to medium artillery support. This map provides a chronology of movement for the 311th and S/SGT John Macdonald (Battery B), and begins with John's landing in France as part of a replacement battalion on Omaha Beach, June 6th, 1944 (d-day). He was transferred to the 79th Division and the 311th in late June-early July, 1944 near La Haye du Puit, France, and remained with the 79th throughout the remainder of the war.