NOR008
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 of direct contact with each other. After fighting by isolated pockets of troops, the division consolidated and entered St. Come du Mont on June 8
th. They stormed the causeways to Utah Beach on June 10
th. On June 12
th they attacked the town of Carentan, driving out the German Fallschirmjagers. Carentan had to be held against fierce counterattacks to the southwest by SS Panzergrenadiers of the 17
th Division and Fallschirmjagers supported by indirect fire on June 13
th in the Battle of Bloody Gulch. After days of intense 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.
Using the GI's secret weapon, shoe leather, this paratrooper covers some ground.