CALIFORNIA
29TH INFANTRY DIVISION
PFC CO. B 116 INF REGMT
WORLD WAR II
Enlistment; March 22, 1943.
Single without dependents.
KIA, D-Day; The Landing on Omaha Beach.
Age: 20 years, 11 months, 26 days.
Bob was initially buried at Omaha Beach [See Memorial], then re-inturned at the site of the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery (established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944), before heading home in the late 40's. Per Cemetery Records, burial date at Holy Cross took place on June 04, 1949.
The headstone is incorrect as to month of death; determined elsewhere to be in June rather than July.
********************************************
29th Division, 116th Regiment, 1st Bn., B Co.
After Action Report; June 07. 1944. (Abstracted)
The first LCVP from "B" hit the beach at H (06:30 a.m.) plus 26. The sea had been so rough throughout the journey that all hands had to bail with their helmets in order to keep the boats afloat. "B" was little affected by the enemy fire until the ramps were dropped; then automatic fire from both flanks broke around the boat exits. The men jumped into neck-high water and started ashore. The beach was strewn with heavy boulders but the outward-jutting of the cliff wall gave the men partial protection from enemy bullet fire. Lieutenant Leo A. Pingenot picked his way over the boulders to the cliff edge. Looking back, most of the men were still immersed in water. The men yelled that they were OK and, coming forward, crossed the beach with the loss of 1 killed and 3 wounded.
Capt Ettore V. Zappacosta's boat, three hundred yards out, came under mortar fire. The boat was hit several times but the men were uninjured. About 75 yards from the beach, the ramp was dropped and enemy automatic fire then struck the boat. The first three to jump from the boat were killed in the process , The fourth in line tripped at the edge of the ramp and fell sprawling into the water. Man by man, all of those leaving the ramp behind him were either killed or wounded. After almost two hours in the water, none other reached the beach un-hit. Fighting continued all around. The dead washed up to where they lay and then washed back again. When said and done, none from this boat had struck a blow.
Men had been hit crossing the beach; others had sought cover in tide pockets. Mortar fire fell among them as they scattered.
Yet another "B" section, under command of Lieutenant Walter Taylor, had lost 4 killed and 4 wounded from his section and moved into Vierville, where he was engaged in mop-up operations. Taylor moved his group up the road; drawing fire from a field on the left. The Americans attacked with rifles and grenades ending the skirmish. 16 Germans surrendered in or nearby Chateau de Vaumicel. In a subsequent fire fight, Taylor lost one man killed and 3 wounded; cutting his force to 25 men. Thereafter, only one additional “B” man was lost on D-Day.
These were the chief moves by "B" insofar as penetration and consolidation of position are concerned. Other small groups fought their way a short distance inland, or attached themselves with other companies; doing what they could, as circumstance allowed. Many lived to tell about the sacrifice of others, scattered along the beach.
29TH INFANTRY DIVISION
PFC CO. B 116 INF REGMT
WORLD WAR II
Enlistment; March 22, 1943.
Single without dependents.
KIA, D-Day; The Landing on Omaha Beach.
Age: 20 years, 11 months, 26 days.
Bob was initially buried at Omaha Beach [See Memorial], then re-inturned at the site of the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery (established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944), before heading home in the late 40's. Per Cemetery Records, burial date at Holy Cross took place on June 04, 1949.
The headstone is incorrect as to month of death; determined elsewhere to be in June rather than July.
********************************************
29th Division, 116th Regiment, 1st Bn., B Co.
After Action Report; June 07. 1944. (Abstracted)
The first LCVP from "B" hit the beach at H (06:30 a.m.) plus 26. The sea had been so rough throughout the journey that all hands had to bail with their helmets in order to keep the boats afloat. "B" was little affected by the enemy fire until the ramps were dropped; then automatic fire from both flanks broke around the boat exits. The men jumped into neck-high water and started ashore. The beach was strewn with heavy boulders but the outward-jutting of the cliff wall gave the men partial protection from enemy bullet fire. Lieutenant Leo A. Pingenot picked his way over the boulders to the cliff edge. Looking back, most of the men were still immersed in water. The men yelled that they were OK and, coming forward, crossed the beach with the loss of 1 killed and 3 wounded.
Capt Ettore V. Zappacosta's boat, three hundred yards out, came under mortar fire. The boat was hit several times but the men were uninjured. About 75 yards from the beach, the ramp was dropped and enemy automatic fire then struck the boat. The first three to jump from the boat were killed in the process , The fourth in line tripped at the edge of the ramp and fell sprawling into the water. Man by man, all of those leaving the ramp behind him were either killed or wounded. After almost two hours in the water, none other reached the beach un-hit. Fighting continued all around. The dead washed up to where they lay and then washed back again. When said and done, none from this boat had struck a blow.
Men had been hit crossing the beach; others had sought cover in tide pockets. Mortar fire fell among them as they scattered.
Yet another "B" section, under command of Lieutenant Walter Taylor, had lost 4 killed and 4 wounded from his section and moved into Vierville, where he was engaged in mop-up operations. Taylor moved his group up the road; drawing fire from a field on the left. The Americans attacked with rifles and grenades ending the skirmish. 16 Germans surrendered in or nearby Chateau de Vaumicel. In a subsequent fire fight, Taylor lost one man killed and 3 wounded; cutting his force to 25 men. Thereafter, only one additional “B” man was lost on D-Day.
These were the chief moves by "B" insofar as penetration and consolidation of position are concerned. Other small groups fought their way a short distance inland, or attached themselves with other companies; doing what they could, as circumstance allowed. Many lived to tell about the sacrifice of others, scattered along the beach.
CALIFORNIA
29TH INFANTRY DIVISION
PFC CO. B 116 INF REGMT
WORLD WAR II
Enlistment; March 22, 1943.
Single without dependents.
KIA, D-Day; The Landing on Omaha Beach.
Age: 20 years, 11 months, 26 days.
Bob was initially buried at Omaha Beach [See Memorial], then re-inturned at the site of the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery (established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944), before heading home in the late 40's. Per Cemetery Records, burial date at Holy Cross took place on June 04, 1949.
The headstone is incorrect as to month of death; determined elsewhere to be in June rather than July.
********************************************
29th Division, 116th Regiment, 1st Bn., B Co.
After Action Report; June 07. 1944. (Abstracted)
The first LCVP from "B" hit the beach at H (06:30 a.m.) plus 26. The sea had been so rough throughout the journey that all hands had to bail with their helmets in order to keep the boats afloat. "B" was little affected by the enemy fire until the ramps were dropped; then automatic fire from both flanks broke around the boat exits. The men jumped into neck-high water and started ashore. The beach was strewn with heavy boulders but the outward-jutting of the cliff wall gave the men partial protection from enemy bullet fire. Lieutenant Leo A. Pingenot picked his way over the boulders to the cliff edge. Looking back, most of the men were still immersed in water. The men yelled that they were OK and, coming forward, crossed the beach with the loss of 1 killed and 3 wounded.
Capt Ettore V. Zappacosta's boat, three hundred yards out, came under mortar fire. The boat was hit several times but the men were uninjured. About 75 yards from the beach, the ramp was dropped and enemy automatic fire then struck the boat. The first three to jump from the boat were killed in the process , The fourth in line tripped at the edge of the ramp and fell sprawling into the water. Man by man, all of those leaving the ramp behind him were either killed or wounded. After almost two hours in the water, none other reached the beach un-hit. Fighting continued all around. The dead washed up to where they lay and then washed back again. When said and done, none from this boat had struck a blow.
Men had been hit crossing the beach; others had sought cover in tide pockets. Mortar fire fell among them as they scattered.
Yet another "B" section, under command of Lieutenant Walter Taylor, had lost 4 killed and 4 wounded from his section and moved into Vierville, where he was engaged in mop-up operations. Taylor moved his group up the road; drawing fire from a field on the left. The Americans attacked with rifles and grenades ending the skirmish. 16 Germans surrendered in or nearby Chateau de Vaumicel. In a subsequent fire fight, Taylor lost one man killed and 3 wounded; cutting his force to 25 men. Thereafter, only one additional “B” man was lost on D-Day.
These were the chief moves by "B" insofar as penetration and consolidation of position are concerned. Other small groups fought their way a short distance inland, or attached themselves with other companies; doing what they could, as circumstance allowed. Many lived to tell about the sacrifice of others, scattered along the beach.
29TH INFANTRY DIVISION
PFC CO. B 116 INF REGMT
WORLD WAR II
Enlistment; March 22, 1943.
Single without dependents.
KIA, D-Day; The Landing on Omaha Beach.
Age: 20 years, 11 months, 26 days.
Bob was initially buried at Omaha Beach [See Memorial], then re-inturned at the site of the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery (established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944), before heading home in the late 40's. Per Cemetery Records, burial date at Holy Cross took place on June 04, 1949.
The headstone is incorrect as to month of death; determined elsewhere to be in June rather than July.
********************************************
29th Division, 116th Regiment, 1st Bn., B Co.
After Action Report; June 07. 1944. (Abstracted)
The first LCVP from "B" hit the beach at H (06:30 a.m.) plus 26. The sea had been so rough throughout the journey that all hands had to bail with their helmets in order to keep the boats afloat. "B" was little affected by the enemy fire until the ramps were dropped; then automatic fire from both flanks broke around the boat exits. The men jumped into neck-high water and started ashore. The beach was strewn with heavy boulders but the outward-jutting of the cliff wall gave the men partial protection from enemy bullet fire. Lieutenant Leo A. Pingenot picked his way over the boulders to the cliff edge. Looking back, most of the men were still immersed in water. The men yelled that they were OK and, coming forward, crossed the beach with the loss of 1 killed and 3 wounded.
Capt Ettore V. Zappacosta's boat, three hundred yards out, came under mortar fire. The boat was hit several times but the men were uninjured. About 75 yards from the beach, the ramp was dropped and enemy automatic fire then struck the boat. The first three to jump from the boat were killed in the process , The fourth in line tripped at the edge of the ramp and fell sprawling into the water. Man by man, all of those leaving the ramp behind him were either killed or wounded. After almost two hours in the water, none other reached the beach un-hit. Fighting continued all around. The dead washed up to where they lay and then washed back again. When said and done, none from this boat had struck a blow.
Men had been hit crossing the beach; others had sought cover in tide pockets. Mortar fire fell among them as they scattered.
Yet another "B" section, under command of Lieutenant Walter Taylor, had lost 4 killed and 4 wounded from his section and moved into Vierville, where he was engaged in mop-up operations. Taylor moved his group up the road; drawing fire from a field on the left. The Americans attacked with rifles and grenades ending the skirmish. 16 Germans surrendered in or nearby Chateau de Vaumicel. In a subsequent fire fight, Taylor lost one man killed and 3 wounded; cutting his force to 25 men. Thereafter, only one additional “B” man was lost on D-Day.
These were the chief moves by "B" insofar as penetration and consolidation of position are concerned. Other small groups fought their way a short distance inland, or attached themselves with other companies; doing what they could, as circumstance allowed. Many lived to tell about the sacrifice of others, scattered along the beach.
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