By William F. Floyd, Jr.
The two exits from the American landing zones at Utah Beach were entrusted to the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. The regiment’s job was to clear the exits of German resistance. Lt. Col. Robert Cole, commander of the 3rd Battalion of the regiment, was first to arrive following the airdrop on June 6, 1944. Cole collected 75 men from his battalion, together with other troops from the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division. The combined group headed toward the village of St.-Martin-de-Varreville. About one kilometer from their destination was an ominous-looking cluster of German coastal artillery barracks.
Cole tasked Lt. Col. Patrick Cassidy of the 1st Battalion of the 502nd with clearing and securing the enemy installation. Cassidy dispatched Sergeant Harrison Summers from the 1st Battalion with 15 men to clear the objective. Although the number of troops detailed for the mission was not nearly enough to take on a full German company that might contain upward of 100 men, it was all that could be spared. Summers and his small force set out immediately with some in the group being reluctant to follow an unknown sergeant.
“Go up to the top of the rise and watch for anything approaching and don’t let anything come over that hill and get on my flank,” Summers told Sergeant Leland Baker. “Stay there until you are told to come back.”
Summers charged the first building, but to his amazement, no one followed him. He kicked in the door and began firing with his submachine gun, killing four Germans, with the rest retreating to the next house. Summers, still without help, charged the next building. The Germans inside fled. Inspired by Summers’ heroics, Private William Burt came out of the ditch where the attackers had been concealed and laid down a suppressing fire on the third building.
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Very good article. Improved my knowledge of D, _Day
Improved my knowledge. Love the detail.
My step father was at Carentan. He won the Distinguished Service Cross. Wish I could get the article, but the site is blocking me.
George Heiner
Here is the citation:
ROSEMOND, ST. JULIEN P.
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to St. Julien P. Rosemond (0-328203), Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Artillery Liaison Officer, Headquarters Battery, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 11 June 1944, in France. In the assault upon Carentan, the infantry battalion was pinned down by the intense enemy machine gun and rifle fire. Captain Rosemond as artillery liaison officer, in spite of this heavy enemy fire, moved to a forward position and directed artillery fire upon the enemy. He, though exposed to direct enemy fire, remained at his position until he accomplished his mission. Captain Rosemond, on the occasions of enemy counterattacks, repeatedly moved to a forward position in the face of heavy fire to direct artillery fire. The personal bravery, initiative and devotion to duty exhibited by Captain Rosemond exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 101st Airborne Division, and the United States Army.
Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 31 (July 1, 1944)
Home Town: Florida
A very brave man!
Excellent Article. My dad, then Captain Vito Pedone, was the co-pilot of the lead 9th Air Force Pathfinder Troop Carrier C-47A 42-93098, which was first to take-off from North Witham Airfield, England, to lead the Normandy airborne invasion across the English Channel to drop the first Stick of 101st AB Division Pathfinder Paratroopers into Drop Zone “A”, just before midnight on 5 June 1944. The lead pilot was Lt. Col. Joel Crouch. Since early 1943, Pedone and Crouch had trained the Pathfinder C-47 Pilots and the Pathfinder 101st & 82nd Paratroopers at their Pathfinder School at North Witham, preparing them for the D-Day airborne invasion of Normandy. My mother, First Lieutenant Jerry Curtis, one of the first Flight Nurses stationed in England in early 1943, and flew in the same C-47s into the Normandy beach head on 10 June 1944, to begin the evacuation of the severely wounded soldiers back across the channel to awaiting hospitals in England. I tell their story in an article “The D-Day Pilot and Flight Nurse”, which I prepared for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, available on the D-Day Squadron website. Lt. Col. Stephen Pedone, USAF, Ret., Naples, FL.
Good article, but something didn’t add up when telling the exploits of Sgt Summers. “…Summers kicked in the door of the first one and shot 15 German artillerymen as they sat eating breakfast.” How come fifteen German soldiers were about to have breakfast like if they were on a peaceful environment, while there was a battle raging around them since hours ago?
I wondered about that, too.
It makes me happy that these stories continue in print for the succeeding generations to read and understand the importance of the word “freedom” and how bravely these men performed their duties with disregard to their own personal safety and future so we can live a peaceful life.
Many in this modern generation think our way of life has always been cookies and cream. My mother, a war bride from Germany made sure to tell me she wanted an American flag buried with her.