NOR009
First Legion
The 101
st Division jumped into Normandy during the early hours of June 6
th, 1944 but missed their drop zones and were spread out. After pockets of fighting by isolated groups of troops, the division consolidated and captured St. Come du Mont on June 8
th. They fought for the causeways to Utah Beach on June 10
th. On June 12
th they attacked the town of Carentan, driving out the German Paratroopers. Carentan had to be held against fierce counterattacks to the southwest by SS Panzergrenadiers of the 17
th Division and Fallschirmjagers supported by artillery guns on June 13
th in the Battle of Bloody Gulch. After days of hard fighting, the Division was assigned to the role of defending the left flank of VII Corps. Soon after that, they were removed from the line and assigned to the operational reserve. They had taken heavy casualties in men and material.
Tommy Gunners were in high demand and moved from flashpoint to flashpoint.