The Private, the Platoon Leader, the Commo guy and the General......

[LineDoggie]

BARRETT, CARLTON W.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944. Entered service at: Albany, N.Y. Birth: Fulton, N.Y. G.O. No.: 78, 2 October 1944.
Citation:
For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, in the vicinity of St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France. On the morning of D-day Pvt. Barrett, landing in the face of extremely heavy enemy fire, was forced to wade ashore through neck-deep water. Disregarding the personal danger, he returned to the surf again and again to assist his floundering comrades and save them from drowning. Refusing to remain pinned down by the intense barrage of small-arms and mortar fire poured at the landing points, Pvt. Barrett, working with fierce determination, saved many lives by carrying casualties to an evacuation boat Iying offshore. In addition to his assigned mission as guide, he carried dispatches the length of the fire-swept beach; he assisted the wounded; he calmed the shocked; he arose as a leader in the stress of the occasion. His coolness and his dauntless daring courage while constantly risking his life during a period of many hours had an inestimable effect on his comrades and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.





*MONTEITH, JIMMIE W., JR.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Colleville-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944. Entered service at: Richmond, Va. Born: 1 July 1917, Low Moor, Va. G.O. No.: 20, 29 March 1945.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, near Colleville-sur-Mer, France. 1st Lt. Monteith landed with the initial assault waves on the coast of France under heavy enemy fire. Without regard to his own personal safety he continually moved up and down the beach reorganizing men for further assault. He then led the assault over a narrow protective ledge and across the flat, exposed terrain to the comparative safety of a cliff. Retracing his steps across the field to the beach, he moved over to where 2 tanks were buttoned up and blind under violent enemy artillery and machinegun fire. Completely exposed to the intense fire, 1st Lt. Monteith led the tanks on foot through a minefield and into firing positions. Under his direction several enemy positions were destroyed. He then rejoined his company and under his leadership his men captured an advantageous position on the hill. Supervising the defense of his newly won position against repeated vicious counterattacks, he continued to ignore his own personal safety, repeatedly crossing the 200 or 300 yards of open terrain under heavy fire to strengthen links in his defensive chain. When the enemy succeeded in completely surrounding 1st Lt. Monteith and his unit and while leading the fight out of the situation, 1st Lt. Monteith was killed by enemy fire. The courage, gallantry, and intrepid leadership displayed by 1st Lt. Monteith is worthy of emulation.





*PINDER, JOHN J., JR.
Rank and organization: Technician Fifth Grade, U.S. Army, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Colleville-sur-Mer, France, 6 June 1944. Entered .service at: Burgettstown, Pa. Birth: McKees Rocks, Pa. G.O. No.: 1, 4 January 1945.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, near Colleville-sur-Mer, France. On D-day, Technician 5th Grade Pinder landed on the coast 100 yards off shore under devastating enemy machinegun and artillery fire which caused severe casualties among the boatload. Carrying a vitally important radio, he struggled towards shore in waist-deep water. Only a few yards from his craft he was hit by enemy fire and was gravely wounded. Technician 5th Grade Pinder never stopped. He made shore and delivered the radio. Refusing to take cover afforded, or to accept medical attention for his wounds, Technician 5th Grade Pinder, though terribly weakened by loss of blood and in fierce pain, on 3 occasions went into the fire-swept surf to salvage communication equipment. He recovered many vital parts and equipment, including another workable radio. On the 3rd trip he was again hit, suffering machinegun bullet wounds in the legs. Still this valiant soldier would not stop for rest or medical attention. Remaining exposed to heavy enemy fire, growing steadily weaker, he aided in establishing the vital radio communication on the beach. While so engaged this dauntless soldier was hit for the third time and killed. The indomitable courage and personal bravery of Technician 5th Grade Pinder was a magnificent inspiration to the men with whom he served.





*ROOSEVELT, THEODORE, JR.
Rank and organization: brigadier general, U.S. Army.
Place and date: Normandy invasion, 6 June 1944. Entered service at: Oyster Bay, N.Y. Birth: Oyster Bay, N.Y. G.O. No.: 77, 28 September 1944.
Citation:
for gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, in France. After 2 verbal requests to accompany the leading assault elements in the Normandy invasion had been denied, Brig. Gen. Roosevelt's written request for this mission was approved and he landed with the first wave of the forces assaulting the enemy-held beaches. He repeatedly led groups from the beach, over the seawall and established them inland. His valor, courage, and presence in the very front of the attack and his complete unconcern at being under heavy fire inspired the troops to heights of enthusiasm and self-sacrifice. Although the enemy had the beach under constant direct fire, Brig. Gen. Roosevelt moved from one locality to another, rallying men around him, directed and personally led them against the enemy. Under his seasoned, precise, calm, and unfaltering leadership, assault troops reduced beach strong points and rapidly moved inland with minimum casualties. He thus contributed substantially to the successful establishment of the beachhead in France .


*Posthumous award

[G-AWZT]

Incredible what a selfless person can do under such circumstances.

[Laconian]

Thanks for posting, LD.

[LineDoggie]

Amazing these were the ONLY MoH for D-Day in the ETO

[shermbodius]

God bless these amazing men.

[baboon6]

There was only one VC for D-Day, and that was awarded partially for other actions too

Company Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis of 6th Battalion The Green Howards:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Hollis

[Laconian]

Amazing these were the ONLY MoH for D-Day in the ETO

I think I read somewhere that was specifically done by Ike.

[DPM_Sheep]

Y'know, as much as admire the exploits of these men I'd like for once to hear some stories of the men fighting in Italy and Burma who seem to have been largely forgotten.

[James]

Amazing these were the ONLY MoH for D-Day in the ETO

I'm surprised - no one from the 29th, 82nd, or 101st that day.

[Hollis]

Thanks for the thread. It is always humbling to read those citations.

[James]

Y'know, as much as admire the exploits of these men I'd like for once to hear some stories of the men fighting in Italy and Burma who seem to have been largely forgotten.

They're not forgotten if you look for their stories - there are plenty out there. To Hell and Back by Audie Murphy comes to mind, as do collections by Ernie Pyle and a fantastic history called The GI's War by Edwin P. Hoyt. Murphy fought in Sicily, Italy, and Southern France. Pyle and Hoyt's works cover pretty much everything from prewar to Africa, the Med, D-Day, and the fight across France. Pyle didn't see VE day - he went to the PTO to cover the Navy and Marines in Okinawa and was killed in action.

For more of what was going on in the Pacific (especially with the U.S. Army - the USMC gets a disproportionate amount of attention for that theater), there's a great book by Patrick K. O'Donnel; Into the Rising Sun. For fighting in Burma, you can learn a lot by researching Merrill's Marauders, the Chindits, and Kachin Rangers.

[DPM_Sheep]

They're not forgotten if you look for their stories - there are plenty out there. To Hell and Back by Audie Murphy comes to mind, as do collections by Ernie Pyle and a fantastic history called The GI's War by Edwin P. Hoyt. Murphy fought in Sicily, Italy, and Southern France. Pyle and Hoyt's works cover pretty much everything from prewar to Africa, the Med, D-Day, and the fight across France. Pyle didn't see VE day - he went to the PTO to cover the Navy and Marines in Okinawa and was killed in action.

For more of what was going on in the Pacific (especially with the U.S. Army - the USMC gets a disproportionate amount of attention for that theater), there's a great book by Patrick K. O'Donnel; Into the Rising Sun. For fighting in Burma, you can learn a lot by researching Merrill's Marauders, the Chindits, and Kachin Rangers.

I'm familiar with Ernie Pyle and his work, but I'll definitely look up O'Donnell and Hoyt. Thanks, James.

[Laconian]

They're not forgotten if you look for their stories - there are plenty out there. To Hell and Back by Audie Murphy comes to mind, as do collections by Ernie Pyle and a fantastic history called The GI's War by Edwin P. Hoyt. Murphy fought in Sicily, Italy, and Southern France. Pyle and Hoyt's works cover pretty much everything from prewar to Africa, the Med, D-Day, and the fight across France. Pyle didn't see VE day - he went to the PTO to cover the Navy and Marines in Okinawa and was killed in action.

For more of what was going on in the Pacific (especially with the U.S. Army - the USMC gets a disproportionate amount of attention for that theater), there's a great book by Patrick K. O'Donnel; Into the Rising Sun. For fighting in Burma, you can learn a lot by researching Merrill's Marauders, the Chindits, and Kachin Rangers.

In addition, Rick Atkinson's book The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944 is a really good read on that campaign.

[Fisker]

Y'know, as much as admire the exploits of these men I'd like for once to hear some stories of the men fighting in Italy and Burma who seem to have been largely forgotten.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anders_Lassen

Our SF unit in Afghanistan named their new camp 'Anders Lassen' a few weeks ago.

[shermbodius]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anders_Lassen

Our SF unit in Afghanistan named their new camp 'Anders Lassen' a few weeks ago.

Fister, great post and I just learned something new.