The Patriot Post® · Profiles of Valor: The D-Day Medals of Honor
Eight decades ago, in the early hours of June 6th, 1944, the largest amphibious assault in history, preceded by an enormous air assault, commenced.
Codenamed “Operation Neptune,” the first phase of “Operation Overlord” is commonly referred to as D-Day, a brutal five-day Allied invasion of Europe at the Normandy coast of France by sea and air, to breach the Germans’ Atlantic Wall. Combined with the Allied Forces’ invasion of Italy nine months earlier, it would seal the demise of Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers’ “NAZI” Party and its reign of terror.
I wrote about the 80th anniversary events, “The Last D-Day Vets Standing,” this week.
Through heavy swells in the English Channel, an Allied armada was launched, and by sunrise, more than 132,000 Allied infantry began landing along 50 miles of Normandy beaches, codenamed Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno, and Sword. They came in 289 escort vessels with 277 minesweepers, and they waded ashore from more than 5,000 landing and assault craft.
The NAZI defenses were formidable: 50,000 troops manning 170 coastal 100mm and 210mm artillery guns and 320mm rocket launchers rained murderous fire down upon the Allied Forces as they struggled ashore amid endless machine-gun and sniper fire.
By the end of the first day, there were more than 10,000 Allied casualties, with 4,426 confirmed dead and many more missing in action. Those killed included 2,509 Americans — more single-day American battle deaths than Antietam or Pearl Harbor — and an estimated 4,100 were wounded.
Ronald Reagan’s summarized their service and sacrifice in his brief remarks for the 40th D-Day anniversary, delivered at the U.S. Ranger Monument, Pointe Du Hoc and Omaha Beach.
There is no comprehensive account of all the heroic acts that day – the actions of those who placed the lives of their brothers above their own. Most of those actions have been lost in the history of the moment, never recorded. However, there were 10 Medals of Honor awarded to recipients, whose heroic actions were representative of those by hundreds of others during that five-day assault.
Four were awarded for actions on June 6th.
PVT Carlton Barrett landed at Omaha Beach. In fighting near St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France, he saved countless lives by carrying the wounded through fields of fire to an evacuation boat. You can read his full citation here.
1LT Jimmie Monteith (posthumous) landed at Omaha Beach. On foot, he led two tanks through a minefield into firing positions and then directed their fire in order to destroy enemy positions. He was killed when surrounded by enemy forces. You can read his full citation here.
T/5 John Pinder (posthumous) landed at Omaha Beach. Despite being gravely wounded, he made it to shore with critical communications equipment and was wounded again while establishing the beachfront coms. He did not survive a third mortal wound. You can read his full citation here.
BG Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt Jr. landed at Utah Beach. He is among two father-son recipient pairs — his father, the 26th president, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt Jr., also being a recipient. Ted was the oldest man (56), one of the first men onto the beaches, and the first of only two General Officers to storm the beaches of Normandy. He earned his Medal of Honor for “gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty” while leading successive waves of his troops into fields of fire toward their objectives. You can read his full citation here.
On June 8th, D-Day plus 2, T/SGT Frank Peregory landed at Omaha Beach. Through enemy fire, he worked his way up an escarpment, where he attacked the Germans who were firing on his unit — killing eight and forcing three to surrender. He then advanced on other machine-gun fortifications, forcing the surrender of 32 more riflemen. You can read his full citation here.
On June 9th, D-Day plus 3, PFC Charles Deglopper flew above Normandy as part of the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment. After his platoon was surrounded by German forces near the Merderet River at La Fiere, he perished while single-handedly providing his men cover during their withdrawal. You can read his full citation here.
Also on June 9th, PFT Joe Gandara (posthumous) parachuted into France as part of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. After his detachment had been pinned down under heavy enemy fire, he volunteered to advance alone against the enemy positions, destroying three hostile machine-gun emplacements before being fatally wounded. You can read his full citation here.
SSG Walter Ehlers landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day plus 3. He led his squad against a strongly defended enemy entrenchment, where he killed four Germans. He then led his men through a hail of machine-gun fire, killing three enemy soldiers and then covering for his squad’s withdrawal. Though wounded, he refused to evacuate and continued leading his squad. You can read his full citation here.
On June 10th, D-Day plus 4, SSG Arthur Defranzo landed at Omaha Beach. Though he was already wounded, he placed himself in peril aiding the wounded, and refusing aid, DeFranzo led an advance upon two enemy machine-gun emplacements. Wounded again as he advanced further, he fell but continued to fire on the enemy as his men moved forward, saving many lives at the cost of his own. You can read his full citation here.
Also on June 10th, LTC Robert Cole parachuted into France as part of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment. When leading his men to secure the last four bridges near Carentan, under heavy machine-gun and mortar fire for hours, he led his battalion with only pistol in hand against the fortified enemy positions, and his charge resulted in the critical establishment of the bridgehead across the Douve River. You can read his full citation here.
Just prior to the invasion, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, issued this message:
“Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force: You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely. But this is the year 1944! The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory! I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory! Good luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”
It was an epic battle in defense of American Liberty and, by extension, that of all mankind.
And in the five days it took to secure the beaches of Normandy, thousands of American Patriots demonstrated great “courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle” at Normandy, with “the blessing of Almighty God upon [their] great and noble undertaking.”
(Read more Profiles of Valor here.)
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776
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