Roger Mathew De PONTBRIAND
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Source : Jane Lynch
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NUMBER OF SERVICE | 31018841 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
AGE | 25 yo | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DATE OF BIRTH | 21 September 1919 Brockton, Plymouth County | |||||||||||||||||||||||
ENLISTMENT STATE | MASSACHUSETTS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
FAMILY | Single | |||||||||||||||||||||||
RANK | Private First Class | |||||||||||||||||||||||
FONCTION | Infantry Man | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENT | Wholesale managers | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DATE of ENLISTEMENT | 3 March 1941 Boston MASSACHUSETTS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
COMPANY | Company E | |||||||||||||||||||||||
REGIMENT | 117th Infantry Regiment | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DIVISION | 30th Infantry Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||
DATE OF DEATH | 7 August 1944 |
Source : Frogman | ||||||||||||||||||||||
STATUS | KIA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
PLACE OF DEATH | Mortain | |||||||||||||||||||||||
CEMETERY TEMPORARY |
CEMTERY TEMPORARY of Marigny N° 3555 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
CEMETERY | BRITTANY AMERICAN CEMETERY of St James (Montjoie St Martin) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
GRAVE |
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DECORATION |
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STORY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source : fold3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 117th Regiment arrived in England in February, 1944, along with the rest of the 30th Infantry Division and its support units. They landed in France on Omaha Beach in mid-June. Although they came under enemy artillery fire in their assembly area, Company B’s first real combat came in early July, 1944, with the crossing of the Vire River. They fought through the hedgerows of Normandy learning the essentials of live combat that could not be taught in training. Due to casualties four different officers commanded Company B 117th Regiment in the nine day period July 7-16. On July 20th St. Lo was taken and the Allies took this opportunity to “break out” of the small area they held along the Normandy Coast. On July 24, 1944, three divisions, the 30th, 4th and 9th, comprised “Operation Cobra.” The 30th lined up its regiments for the attack – the 119th and 120th Regiments and two battalions of the 117th, with the remainder of the 117th held in reserve. The massive bombing by the Army Air Force preceding the infantry’s attack went badly. Bombs fell short and landed on the 30th, causing 152 casualties. Command stopped the main body of bombers and delayed the attack for a day. On the next day the Army Air Force made the same disastrous mistake, bombing short and causing 662 more casualties for the 30th. That day the operation proceeded with the remnants of the 30th plus reserves attacking in their sector as planned. Despite heavy casualties from “friendly fire,” the remaining men of “Old Hickory” pulled together and did their job. Although the Germans survived the bombing with little damage, the American attack was successful. By the end of July the Allied armies had “broken out” of their limited foothold on French soil and had opened a narrow corridor along Normandy’s western coast allowing Patton’s Third Army tanks to pour into the interior. In the three weeks from the crossing of the Vire to the capture of Tessy-sur-Vire, the 30th Infantry Division suffered the most casualties of their entire combat experience in WWII. Other more famous battles lay ahead for the division but none would be as deadly. After the fight for Tessy-sur-Vire, the 30th rested for a few days. Replacements arrived but not near enough to make up for the men who had been lost. On August 6th, orders came for “Old Hickory” to take over 1st Division positions in and around Mortain so the 1st could pursue the Germans further south. The American lines faced the German-held territory to the east with the 30th’s position around Mortain on the southern end. Beyond Mortain small, mobile Americans units chased the Germans further inland. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
30th INFANTRY DIVISION - OLD HICKORY
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SOURCE INFORMATION & SOURCE PHOTO | Vincent Heggen - Findagrave.com - Aad.archives.gov - Abmc.gov - Barbarawhitaker.com - Fold3 |
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PROGRAMMER | Henri, Garrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud |