May They Never Be Forgotten
116th Regimental Combat Team, 29th Division: Invasion of Normandy
On June 6, 1944, “160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which ‘we will accept nothing less than full victory’” (http://www.army.mil/d-day/).
At approximately 6:30, 1st and 29th Divisions landed on Omaha Beach. The 29th's 116th Infantry Regiment was given the task of controlling two inland passages in part of the 3,000 yards of beach they were assigned to.
Troops of the 116th Infantry Regiment were the first to be faced with the overwhelming enemy attacks at Omaha. Men jumped from ships into waist-deep water with an assault of deadly machine guns almost destroyed the early attempts of the regiment.
The 116th lost nearly 80% of its men but they were able to gain a foothold which helped for the invasion to succeed.
Thomas N. Ward, Jr. was among one of the many men who gave their lives in the battle for freedom on D-Day.
At approximately 6:30, 1st and 29th Divisions landed on Omaha Beach. The 29th's 116th Infantry Regiment was given the task of controlling two inland passages in part of the 3,000 yards of beach they were assigned to.
Troops of the 116th Infantry Regiment were the first to be faced with the overwhelming enemy attacks at Omaha. Men jumped from ships into waist-deep water with an assault of deadly machine guns almost destroyed the early attempts of the regiment.
The 116th lost nearly 80% of its men but they were able to gain a foothold which helped for the invasion to succeed.
Thomas N. Ward, Jr. was among one of the many men who gave their lives in the battle for freedom on D-Day.