115th Infantry Regiment 29th Division Veteran from Omaha Beach Heading Home By 19 June 1944

[BigJohn#3RD]

Many of us remember the courage of those veterans who jumped in to France the night of 6 June and those who landed in the first waves on "Bloody Omaha" especially the Rangers and 116th Infantry Regiment 29th Division who's courage and sacrifice were immortalized in the movies "Saving Private Ryan" and "Band Of Brothers" as well as the book "The Bedford Boys". But others followed up the dogged success for these first few and fought and died next to them through out the Normandy Campaign all the way to the capitulation of the 3rd Reich 10 long & hard fought months later. One such unit was the 115th Infantry Regiment which started coming ashore around 1000 hrs 6 June on Omaha Beach and fought beside the 116th IR. In the ranks of the unit was a soldier who was carried as a PFC on the C Company 115th Infantry Regiment Rolls till 24 June when he was dropped from them due to the Serious Wounds that he received 18/19 June. He began the long journey home and recuperation from his combat injuries 68 year ago. He was still in or near Tilton General Hospital, Fort Dix, New Jersey when his Bronze Star arrived in the summer of 1948. By this time he leadership during his short but bloody service was recognized buy a promotion to Corporal which caught up with him sometime after he was taken off of the C Co morning reports of 24 June 1944. This veteran melded back into society leading a quiet life of obscurity with the only trace of him being his 1949 Ohio Chauffeur's Badge. All the remains of his combat service are the digital footnotes in the company morning reports, and these documents, medals and badges attesing to the fact that he was one of those Band of Brothers the combat foot soldier who goes and secures the ground from the enemy at the point of a bayoneted rifle. I hope the pictures of the remnants of his service to this country and the freedom of the free world can bring some insight as to what was laid before the alter of freedom. :salute:

De Oppresso Liber

Strength and Honor

John

[BigJohn#3RD]

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[Jack's Son]

John,

A very nice tribute, the words are beautiful.

[BigJohn#3RD]

29TH DIVISION - WWII DOCUMENTS

115th Regiment - After Action Report - June 1944

 

I Summary of Operations

A. Phase #1

1. Landing Operations 6 June 1944.

The 115th Infantry landed at 1025 hours, with the 1st and 2nd Battalions abreast on Fox Green beach, about 1000 yards east of that part of the beach on which it was intended to land. The 2nd Battalion on the right crossed the beach and started up the cliff, making slow progress due to mines. The progress of the 1st Battalion on the left was faster. It pushed inland to the south of St. Laurent, reaching there about dark. This battalion was subjected to heavy fire from snipers and mortar fire throughout the night. Lt. Col. Richard C. Blatt became fatally wounded by mortar fire. The 2nd Battalion attempted to capture St. Laurent, but was unsuccessful. It then moved to the south of the town, into the woods, about one-half mile to the west. Regimental Headquarters landed with the landing battalions, and remained on the beach under artillery fire until 1600 hours. At 1630 hours, the headquarters moved the CP inland to a trail cast of St. Laurent.

2. Advance inland from Beach to Inundated Area.

During the night 6-7 June the 3rd Battalion moved to the outskirts of St. Laurent. At daybreak the attacked the town and by midmorning had secured it. They then pushed toward Louvieres. The 2nd Battalion was held in the woods all through the day. The 1st Battalion moved to the woods about 1200 yards to the west of St. Laurent. During the morning the CP moved into St. Laurent sur Mer severe sniper fire. In the afternoon it was moved further forward, to the rear of the 2nd Battalion. The 3rd Battalion was held up in front of Louvieres. In the later afternoon, although the battalions were widely separated, the attack was continued in the direction of Longueville. The 2nd Battalion was only battalion that succeeded in moving forward. The attack continued until 0300 hours. The 2nd Battalion was in the stream valley northwest of Montigny and the attack was halted there daylight. The attack was then resumed, with the 1st and 2nd Battalions generally abreast. Longueville was captured at 0900 hours by the 2nd Battalion, which assumed a defensive position west of the town. The 1st battalion moved forward and assumed the defensive to the last of the town because Trevieres had not been captured. Early in the morning, the 3rd Battalion had begun moving to a defensive position west of Formigny to protect the left flank of the Division. Later, they were moved to a defensive position west of Deux (Jumeaux, arriving there at 1800 hours. The Regimental CP, which had followed the 2nd Battalion, was established in Longueville.

B. Phase #2

1. Crossing Inundated Area.

During the night 8-9 June, the 3rd Battalion, followed by the 2nd Battalion, moved to the vicinity of Canchy, started across the inundated area. The crossing was completed with the assistance of the Engineers. The 2nd Battalion moved to the vicinity of Bois de Calette, the 3rd battalion to the vicinity of Colombieres, and the 1st Battalion to the vicinity of Bricqueville.

At noon, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were ordered to continue their movement to the south. The 3rd Battalion moved against little enemy resistance, except for snipers. In the early afternoon, the 2nd Battalion encountered stubborn resistance at Veuilly. Late in the afternoon, this resistance was over come, when the battalion assumed a defensive position about a mile southwest of xxxxxx. During the night 9-10 June, the 2nd Battalion was attacked by the Germans and suffered considerable losses, and was disorganized. Thought the period 8-9 June, the 1st battalion remained in a defensive position at Bricqueville, where it suffered almost continuous attack from the Germans from the vicinity of Trevieres. As the other two battalions had moved miles south of the Germans at Trevieres, the 1st Battalion had the mission of protection, the left rear of the regiment.

2. 2nd Battalion Incident.

At approximately 0245 hours, 10 June 1944, a closing force of Germans Armor and Infantry which had been by-passed and out off to our rear and was attempting to retreat to its own lines stumbled on the rear of 2nd Battalion column to the surprise of both units. Opening fire with their MG's, mortars and 88's a heavy and xxxxx section occurred in the dark with severe losses on both sides. The enemy tanks were knocked out, plus a 150mm field piece. The 2nd Battalion was left in a dispersed and disorganized state and control was not regained until after daylight. Battalion C.O., Lt. Col. William E. Warfield was found dead, believed to have been killed at approximately 0300 hours. Replacements were received and the remainder of battalion were reorganized under command of Lt. Col. Arthur T. Shoppe.

C. Phase #3

1. Elle River Crossing.

The regiment remained in defensive position, and patrolled across the Elle River. During the day, 12 June 44, the patrols could not cross the river because of heavy fire from the banks. In the afternoon, the regiment was warned that it would be required to attack across the river the next morning.

At 0245 hours, orders were received for an attack at 0500 hours, 12 June 44. The 1st and 3rd battalions attacked the river line abreast and the 1st Battalion on the right. During the preparatory fire German artillery fired into the troops forming the line of departure causing several casualties. Thus delayed the attack. At 0800 hours, the attack jumped off. The 1st Battalion was unsuccessful in crossing and moved south to the vicinity of Les Fresnes, where it was surrounded by the Germans. They fought in position until they were almost out of ammunition, at which time elements fought their way out and returned to a position north of the river. During the afternoon the relief of the 3rd Battalion was attempted by sending a detachment of tanks across the river at le Moulin l'Eveque. While a platoon from Company G and a detachment of Engineers from Company A, 121st Engineers successfully removed the minefields from the bridge, the attack was repulsed by German SP guns on the south of the river. Late in the afternoon, after a heavy artillery preparation, the 1st Battalion removed its attack, which was again repulsed. The 116th Infantry, at dark, forced a crossing.

2. Advance from Elle River to defensive position.

At 0600 hours, 13 June 1944, 3rd Battalion recrossed the Elle River against light opposition consisting mostly of artillery and mortar fire. They advanced to position northwest of Couvains and were attached to the 116th Infantry. The 1st Battalion remained in a defensive position and the 2nd Battalion moved to the defensive line north of river previously held by 3rd Battalion. The regiment less the 3rd Battalion went into Division reserve. This position was maintened until the afternoon of 16 June 44 when the 2nd Battalion moved against a strong point of enemy resistance 300 yards north of Minet and west of St. Clair. It cleared out this resistance and remained there in a position (defensive) overnight. The 3rd Battalion reverted to Regimental control and remained in position. During night the 1st Battalion moved north through St. Clair toward Les Foulons against a light resistance and occupied a position 200 yards east of Les Foulons. It remained here in position until next morning. The Regimental CP following behind the 1st Battalion to a position 700 yards northeast of Les Foulons where it closed in at 180400E. The next morning the 2nd Battalion was moved southeast to Couvains and attached to the 116th Infantry. The next afternoon the 1st and 2nd Battalions moved southeast toward Couvains and then west to Bois de Bretel. The Regimental CP followed to Bois de Bretel. The 1st Battalion was committed south of woods during the afternoon, and encountered heavy resistance. The 3rd Battalion was also committed to left of 1st Battalion and it did not advance against heavy resistance. The 1st and 3rd Battalions remained there overnight in defensive positions. The 2nd Battalion 115th Infantry was detached from the 116th Infantry, and under Regimental control, relieved the 2nd Battalion, 116th Infantry on the morning of 19 June 44, taking over positions north of La Foussardiere. Early that morning the 3rd Battalion moved to defensive position in vicinity at Bois de Bretel. The Regimental CP, originally at Bois de Bretel, moved to rear of 2nd Battalion, and then to 657682.

Taken From

 

http://29infantrydivision.org/WWII-Documen...rt-44-June.html

 

Information about the hedgerow fighting and the big picture taken from and edited by myself only in the order of presentation as the original document seemed to jump around a little bit:

 

"29 Let's Go!" is a small booklet covering the history of the 29th Infantry Division. This booklet is one of the series of G.I. Stories published by the Stars & Stripes in Paris in 1944-1945.

 

JUNE 6, 1944: D-Day. The 29th came in at H-Hour. Doughs of the assaulting 116th RCT, led by Col. Charles D.W. Canham, Howell, Mich., were hit even before they reached the beach. Landing craft hung up on underwater obstacles, hit mines, blew up. German automatic weapons poured deadly cross-fire on the men climbing from the boats. Some doughs threw away their helmets, rifles and leaped into the water in an effort to save themselves.

This was not only an invasion. This was a struggle for personal survival!

Those blasted into the water tugged at their equipment, tried to reach shore. Some drowned. Others were hit while struggling to reach the beach. Gaining the beach, some doughs turned back, splashed into the water up to their necks for protection. Concertina and double apron fence criss-crossed the flat beach. Mines were buried in the sand. Mortar fire was deadly; 88s, set in the side of the cliff, were zeroed in on the landings.

"Hell, men," said Gen. Cota, Asst. Div. Commander, to the doughs crouching on the sand. "We're getting killed here on the beach. We might as well go a little farther in and get killed there!" Small groups crept forward a few yards, then on further until they reached the protecting cover of the cliff.

Infantry, engineers and artillery suffered heavy losses in both men and equipment. The 111th FA Bn, landed with only one 105mm gun. Lt. Col. Thornton L. Mullins, battalion CO, said: "To hell with our artillery mission. We've got to be infantrymen now!" Col. Eugene N. Slappey's 115th Inf. Regt. came in at 1100, then fought up the heights to St. Laurent and to positions south and west of the town.

Maj. Gen. Charles H. Gerhardt, Division Commander, personally directed the fight on the beach at 1300. His CP, set up in a rock quarry 200 yards from the water's edge, was functioning four hours later.

 

Vierville-sur-Mer and St. Laurent were taken next day by the 116th, while the 115th shifted south toward Longeuville and Formigny. The 175th, held offshore in Corps reserve, came in June 7 and seized Isigny two days later.

Resistance was fierce up the narrow coastal strip. Machine gun fire pinned down 116th doughs on the approaches to Grandchamps and artillery couldn't knock out the German position. T/Sgt. Frank D. Peregory, Charlottesville, Va., did it alone.

 

Working his way up the side of an enemy-held hill, the sergeant dropped into a trench. As he inched forward, he suddenly came upon a squad of German infantry. Sgt. Peregory killed eight Nazis with hand grenades, took three others prisoner at the point of his bayonet. Threading his way down the trench, he captured 32 more riflemen and the machine gunners who held up the 116th's advance. The Congressional Medal of Honor was awarded Sgt. Peregory posthumously. He was killed in battle six days later.

As the beachhead expanded, the 29th ripped inland to the hedgerows and St. Lo. Omaha Beach was costly. Never again would such a terrific price be paid for ground won by the Blue and Gray.

 

At Omaha Beach and St. Lo, 29th doughs wrote new chapters to a story already famous in American military annals. The 29th's regiments could trace their origins to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. The 115th grew out of Maryland's "Fighting First" Regt.; the 116th combined elements of the First, Second, Fourth and part of the Fifth Virginia Regts.; the 171th stemmed from the Maryland Fifth, the "Dandy Fifth" of Revolutionary War days. In World War I, the three regiments and the 176th formed the 29th Division which fought in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

On its return from France, the 29th became part of the National Guard but wasn't assembled as a unit until 1936. Mobilized again in 1940, the division was called into active service Feb. 3, 1941, at Ft. George Meade, Md.

 

HEDGEROWS -- high earthen walls, topped with brush, trees and briar -- lined every field and orchard of the picturesque Normandy countryside. Behind these barriers the Germans huddled and waited.

This was the battle ground facing the 29th Infantry Division after it labored from the Omaha beachhead and captured Isigny June 9, 1944. Next day, the 115th Inf. Regt. pushed across the Elle River in the Columbieres-Briqueville sector. St. Clair-sur-l'Elle and Couvains fell to the 116th Inf. Regt.

The fighting was tough and brutal, a battle of cunning and sheer guts, of bayonets and hand grenades, of men making quick dashes across open fields, hiding from a watchful enemy. Doughs seldom knew who was on their flanks, often dug foxholes a few feet from Kraut-held hedgerows.

Advances were measured in hedgerows -- four one day, five the next. The enemy employed every conceivable delaying tactic. The few soft spots in the Nazi defenses were difficult to locate. As the offensive halted at night, the men would dig, mole-like, into the sides of the earthen walls. Hot chow, mail and The Stars and Stripes would be brought up from the rear. The bitter fighting would be resumed next morning. Slowly, the Blue and Gray Division drove toward St. Lo.

Turning to the south, the 29th gained the high ground three miles north of St. Lo, June 17. With the enemy on three sides, this salient absorbed deadly artillery pounding, became known as "Purple Heart Hill." Four counter-attacks were beaten off during the three weeks the division held the ground.

http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/29thinfantry/

[BigJohn#3RD]

John,

A very nice tribute, the words are beautiful.

Thank You JS

[Johan Willaert]

Very nice group AND post!

[everforward]

Great read and a wonderful grouping..! Well done. :thumbsup:

[Squad leader]

Great post, thank you for sharing.

 

Dan.

[GIKyle]

Great group John!

[BigJohn#3RD]

Thanks folks for all the kind words; all the information is gleaned from this forum or other online sources. I believe the most important portion of collecting medals, uniforms and documents of service members is sharing their stories of service and sacrifice for our freedom and the liberation of others, often at great cost to themselves and their families. My current work situation, or lack there of, allows me to better focus on their contributions to our liberties. Again thanks for the positive response.

Regards,

John

[David D]

Great grouping and nice tribute.

 

-Dave

[BigJohn#3RD]

This is in remembrance of the Greatest Generation who invaded Nazi-Occupied France on 6 June 1944.