|
Battle Honors - 29th Division Distinguished Unit Citation 115th Infantry Regiment The 115th Infantry Regiment is cited for gallantry and outstanding performance of duty in action in the vicinity of St. Laurent-sur-Mer, Normandy, France on 6 June, 1944. In the attack of the heavily fortified and stoutly defended enemy positions, the regiment landed in close support of the initial assaulting force with the mission of crossing the beach with the greatest rapidity and advancing to the town of Longueville, from which point a night attack was to be launched across the inundated area to the south. Finding the initial assault force disorganized and decimated by the withering artillery and small arms fire of the enemy, the regiment was immediately committed to action and took over the assault force missions without adequate time for assembly and reorganization. Rapidly changing orders and maintaining complete control, the cool determination of the leaders and the quick adaptability, courage and aggressiveness of the men, under difficult and hazardous conditions, made possible the successful advance of the regiment against the inland strong point of St. Laurent-sur-Mer. By nightfall the town had been enveloped, its eastern inner defenses penetrated, and by early morning, after a nights continuous stubborn fighting, the strong point was overcome and progress inland was steady and rapid. The outstanding performance of duty, the courage, the tenacity, aggressiveness, and extraordinary heroism of all personnel of the 115th Infantry Regiment, at a time when the success of this great military undertaking was in the balance, reflects the highest credit on the military forces of the United States. General Orders No. 14, War department, 3 March 1945
Distinguished Unit Citation 116th Infantry Regiment The 116th Infantry Regiment is cited for extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance of duty in action in the initial assault on the northern coast of Normandy, France. On 6 June 1944, the 116th Infantry successfully attacked the heavily fortified and strongly defended beach in the vacinity of Vierville-sur-Mer, France. The beach was fortified with mined underwater obstacles, bands of barbed wire, concrete walls, and land mines. It was strongly defended by enemy troops occupying pillboxes, trenches, and underground shelters. Defending troops were protected against the aerial and naval bombardment which preceded the assault, by deep and elaborate underground shelters which had been constructed in the hills and cliffs overlooking the beach. As elements of the 116th approached the beach in landing craft, they were met by withering fire from rifles, machine guns, mortars and 88mm guns, all of which were effectively employed at close range from enfilading positions in the cliffs overlooking the beach. In addition, the beach was subjected to fire from enemy artillery and mortars which were inshore. In the face of this heavy fire, and in spite of suffering high losses, the 116th overcame the beach obstacles, took the enemy defended positions along the beach and the cliffs, pushed through the mined area immediately in rear of the beach while still under heavy fire, and continued inshore to take its objective. The successful assault and landing of the 116th Infantry made possible the subsequent landings of other elements of the 29th Infantry Division, which landed behind it with only light losses. During its landing and assault of the beach positions, the 116th Infantry sustained more than 800 losses in officers and men.
Distinguished Unit Citation The 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry is cited for its gallant and heroic attack in the face of determined and strongly emplaced enemy in the vacinity of Vire, France on 7-8 August 1944. On the afternoon of 7 August 1944 the 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry was ordered to accomplish the seemingly impossible task of driving a strongly emplaced enemy force from the heights overlooking Vire. The battalion , weary from 10 days’ continuous fighting during which it had two-thirds of its effective strength, started immediately to get into positions to attack its objective. During this advance the battalion was subjected to frequent and violent artillery concentrations but by its aggressive and skillful action it was able to get to the base of hill 203 with light casualties. As the forward elements of the battalion advanced up the hill, they were met by the heavy fire of all weapons, stopping the attack for the night. Immediately thereafter the enemy artillery was directed on the rear elements of the battalion, which moved forward quickly to a defiladed position at the base of the hill where they held all night under an almost constant, but effective, artillery and mortar barrage. At 0530 hours on 8 August, the battalion executed a skillful maneuver under cover of its own supporting weapons to surprise and route the enemy. The success of the action was made possible by innumerable acts of heroism on the part of the soldiers who advanced speedily and steadily in the face of enemy fire and uncertainty, not hesitating or swerving from their mission. In taking this hill they made possible the early reopening of Vire streets to our traffic and denied the enemy a very important observation point from which to direct artillery fire on our troops. In the entire action the spirit, aggressiveness, and skill of the 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry, in the attack reflected great credit on the United States Army.
Award of the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star
DECISION No. 246 On the motion of the Minister of the National Defense the President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic cites to the Order of the Division:
1st Battalion, 115th Infantry Regiment
CITATION A magnificent unit of unbreakable morale and possessing the finest war virtues. On the night of 10-11 July 1944 it distinguished itself splendidly in the course of the German push in the region of Saint-Lo. Making ready to attack Saint-Lo at dawn 11 July, it was surprised in the dead of the night by a powerful enemy supported by flamethrowers and numerous and effective artillery. In spite of the momentary confusion, severe losses and three hours of fighting, it held the ground. It pushed the enemy back, and brilliantly made a breach in the line of resistance. This citation includes the award of the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star.
PARIS, 15 July 1946 Signed: JUIN
General of the Army JUIN Chief, General Staff of National Defense Award of the Croix de Guerre with Palm
DECISION No. 268 On the motion of the Minister of the National Defense the President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic cites to the Order of the Army:
29th Inf Div Hq & Hq Co 29th Inf Div Sp Troops, Hq Co 115th Inf Regt 729th Ord LM Co 116th Inf Regt 29th QM Co 175th Inf Regt 29th Sig Co 29th Recon Troop Mech) 29th MP Platoon 121st Engr Combat Bn 29th Inf Div Band 104th Med Bn 743 Tank Bn 29th Div Arty Hq and Hq Btry 747th Tank Bn 110th FA Bn (105 How) 102nd Cav Group Hq & Hq Troop 111th FA Bn (105 How) 102nd Cav Rcn Sq 224th FA Bn (105 How) 58th Armd FA Bn
CITATION A splendid unit animated by the highest military virtues. During the landing operations of 6 June 1944 it displayed extraordinary heroism. Its mission was to seize positions strongly held by an enemy determined to defend itself at any cost. This unit landed at a heavily mined beach subject to violent fire from weapons of every caliber. After having seized cliffs of vital importance it made its attacks in the direction of St. Laurent-sur-Mer. In spite of heavy losses in personnel and material, it hung onto the occupied ground, thus covering the advance on Isigny. By seizing the objectives to which it had been assigned, the unit contributed greatly to the defeat of the enemy and the liberation of France. This citation includes the award of the Croix de Guerre with Palm.
PARIS, 22 July 1946 Signed: B1DAULT
General of the Army JUIN
|