NOR002
First Legion
The 101
st Division landed in Normandy early on 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 into 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. Carentan was theirs, but they had to fend off ferocious counterattacks to the southwest of the town by SS Panzergrenadiers of the 17
th Division and Fallschirmjagers supported by artillery fire 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 sent to the operational reserve; having taken heavy casualties in men and material.
The Sarge gives the 'thumbs up' sign in response to an order as he kneels to reduce his profile.