Sainte-Mère-Église - The Airborne Trooper

The statue is a copy of the sculpture made in 1960 and 1961 for Fort Bragg. This original was made from polyester strips dipped in epoxy and stretched over a steel frame. Due to deterioration, it was replaced in 2005 with a bronze version. The original was refurbished and was moved to the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina on June 14, 2010.

Inscription(s)

On 7 June 2015 a large stone text plaque was unveiled by the Friends of the American Veterans Association (AVA). The text was written by COL (Ret) Keith Nightingale. A French translation was added at the other side of the base.

THE BATTLE FOR LA FIERE BRIDGEHEAD 6-9 JUNE 1944
The area encompassing both the La Fiere bridge and the causeway
with the sister bridge and causeway at Chef du Pont
were crucial objectives for this portion of
the Normandy invasion. From 6 to 9 June the battle raged
within sight of this monument. As a final "all in" assault at 10h30
on 9 June the causeway and bridgehead at Cauquigny church
were seized by elements of the 82^nd Airborne Division supported
by elelments of the 4^th and 90^th infantry Divisions
and the 746^th Tank Battalion.
For the Normandy campaign the 82^nd Airborne was awarded an estimated
38 Distinguished Service Crosses
271 Silver Stars
925 Bronze Stars
5,209 Purple Hearts
Two Medals of Honor were awareded for actions
within sight of this monument.
PRIMARY UNITS ENGAGED WITHIN SIGHT OF THIS LOCATION:
1^st Bn 505^th PIR
507^th PIR
508^th PIR
G/3-325^th GIR / 2^nd Bn 401^st GIR
325^th GIR (-)
307^th Abn Engr Bn
80^th AAA Bn (Anti-tank)
Command Group 82^nd Airborne Div
APPROXIMATE CASUALTIES AT AND NEAR THIS LOCATION:
Killed 254 Wounded 525
"One of the most hotly contested pieces of ground in WW2"
(SLA Marshall - US Army historian)
THE SOUL OF THE AIRBORNE RESIDES IN THIS PLACE

7 juin 2015 Association A V A

LA BATAILLE DU PONT DE LA FIÈRE
6-9 JUIN 1944

Le secteur englobant le pont de la Fière
la chaussée et le pont de Chef de Pont constituait
des objectifs stratégiques pour cette zone
du débarquement de Normandie.

Du 6 au 9 juin la bataille fit rage autour de ce monument.
L'assaut final se déroula á partir de 10h30 le 9 juin
pour la prise de la chaussée jusqu'á la chapelle de Cauquigny.

Les parachutistes de la 82^e ABN
accomplirent cette mission avec le renfort de troupes
des 4^e et 90^e divisions d'infanterie et du 746^e Tank Battalion.

Pour l'ensemble de la campagne de Normandie
la 82^e ABN reçut les décorations suivantes:
38 Distinguished Service Crosses
271 Silver Stars
925 Bronze Stars
5.209 Purple Hearts
Deux parachutistes reçurent
la "MEDAL OF HONOR" pour leurs actions héroïques
dans ce voisinage.

Les unités principales engagées dans cette bataille
sont listées sur la plaque.
Pertes approximatives autour de ce site commémoratif:
254 TUÉS - 525 BLESSÉS

Sla Marshall - historien de l'Armée Américaine
l'a désigné comme:
"L'un des théâtres d'opération
les plus disputés de la 2^e Guerre Mondiale"

L'ÂME DES PARACHUTISTES HABITE CE LIEU

7 juin 2015 - Association A V A - Airborne Museum

Statues - Hither & Thither

The Airborne Trooper - "Iron Mike"

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Inscription(s)

Signature

Annotation

Sculptor

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Locatie (N 49°24'5" - W 1°21'46") (Satellite view: Google Maps)