NOR001
First Legion
The 101
st Division landed in Normandy on the early hours of June 6
th, 1944 but were spread out due to missed drop zones. After small-scale battles by isolated pockets of men, the division consolidated and pushed on St. Come du Mont on June 8
th and pressed for the causeways to Utah Beach on June 10
th. On June 12
th they attacked Carentan driving out the German Fallschirmjagers and then fended off ferocious counterattacks to the southwest of the town by SS Panzergrenadiers of the 17
th Division and Fallschirmjagers supported by Assault guns on June 13
th in the Battle of Bloody Gulch. After days of non-stop fighting, the division was assigned the role of defending the left flank of VII corps and shortly after taken out of the line and placed in operational reserve; having taken heavy casualties in men and material.
A captain waves his men forward, either advancing against the Germans or possibly seeking cover from incoming fire.