“On great fields, something stays.

Forms change, pass; bodies disappear,

But spirits linger to consecrate the

Ground for the vision place of souls.”

Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain, 20^th Maine Regiment

Congressional Medal of Honor recipient who is best known for his unit’s stand on Little Round Top at Gettysburg

Visiting a battlefield brings the past to life in a way that learning history in the classroom cannot. As I write this, the 80^th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings (D-Day) is just one month away. While it is likely too late for anyone to make travel plans for this year’s commemorations, I hope to convince readers that a Normandy battlefield tour with Knee Deep Into History can be a rewarding vacation experience! So, today’s post will be a combined history lesson and battlefield tour post!

There are thousands of personal stories that can be told regarding the largest amphibious landing the world has ever witnessed. This article will focus on the experiences of the four army soldiers who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their actions on 6 June 1944. One was a Brigadier General, one a 1^st Lieutenant and two were basic infantrymen. One was awarded for actions on Utah Beach, the other three for actions on Omaha Beach, where German fortifications were among the strongest along the coastline. Yet, in each of these cases, the officers who nominated these men for the Congressional Medal of Honor saw their willingness or ability to overcome fear and serve their fellow soldiers above and beyond the call of duty.

A Normandy veteran talks about his service on a 2019 tour

Brig. Gen. Teddy Roosevelt Jr., Assistant Divisional Commander, 4^th Inf. Div.

Brig. Gen. Roosevelt was a unique case. This regimental commander in WW1 continued to serve during WW2, again with the 1^st Division in North Africa and Sicily, before being assigned Assistant Division Commander to the 4^th Division in early 1944. Hiding his poor health from superiors, he insisted on and ultimately received approval to land with the leading elements on Utah Beach, where he was instrumental in encouraging his men.

Citation: “For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, in France. After two verbal requests to accompany the leading assault elements in the Normandy invasion had been denied, Brig. Gen. Roosevelt’s written request for this mission was approved and he landed with the first wave of the forces assaulting the enemy-held beaches. He repeatedly led groups from the beach, over the seawall, and established them inland. His valor, courage, and presence in the very front of the attack and his complete unconcern at being under heavy fire inspired the troops to heights of enthusiasm and self-sacrifice. Although the enemy had the beach under constant direct fire, Brig. Gen. Roosevelt moved from one locality to another, rallying men around him, directed, and personally led them against the enemy. Under his seasoned, precise, calm, and unfaltering leadership, assault troops reduced beach strongpoints and rapidly moved inland with minimum casualties. He thus contributed substantially to the successful establishment of the beachhead in France.” (The Congressional Medal of Honor Society)

Brig. Gen. Roosevelt would die of a heart attack in France just five weeks later at the age of 56. He is buried at the Normandy American Cemetery, Plot D, Row 28, Grave 45, next to his brother, 1^st Lt. Quentin Roosevelt, who died in WW1 but who was reburied next to his older brother in the 1950s.

The 1^st Division Three

The other three Medal of Honor recipients served in the 1^st Infantry Division and landed at various locations on Omaha Beach. Blog post length requirements limit the amount of writing on each individual soldier, but the medal of honor citation for each soldier is printed below. In addition, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society has prepared an excellent video which explains the actions of each man within the confusion that reigned on the Omaha Beach that day.

D Day: The Medal of Honor on Omaha Beach – Congressional Medal of Honor Society (cmohs.org)

Pvt. Carlton W. Barrett, 18th Inf. Regt., 1^st Inf. Div.

Citation: “For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, in the vicinity of St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France. On the morning of D-day, Pvt. Barrett, landing in the face of extremely heavy enemy fire, was forced to wade ashore through neck-deep water. Disregarding the personal danger, he returned to the surf again and again to assist his floundering comrades and save them from drowning. Refusing to remain pinned down by the intense barrage of small-arms and mortar fire poured at the landing points, Pvt. Barrett, working with fierce determination, saved many lives by carrying casualties to an evacuation boat lying offshore. In addition to his assigned mission as guide, he carried dispatches the length of the fire-swept beach; he assisted the wounded; he calmed the shocked; he arose as a leader in the stress of the occasion. His coolness and his dauntless daring courage while constantly risking his life during a period of many hours had an inestimable effect on his comrades and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.” (The Congressional Medal of Honor Society)

Private Barrett survived the war. He died in 1986 and is buried in Napa, CA.

1^st Lt. Jimme W. Monteith, 16^th Inf. Regt., 1^st Inf. Div.

Citation: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, near Colleville-sur-Mer, France. First Lt. Monteith landed with the initial assault waves on the coast of France under heavy enemy fire. Without regard to his own personal safety he continually moved up and down the beach reorganizing men for further assault. He then led the assault over a narrow protective ledge and across the flat, exposed terrain to the comparative safety of a cliff. Retracing his steps across the field to the beach, he moved over to where two tanks were buttoned up and blind under violent enemy artillery and machine-gun fire. Completely exposed to the intense fire, 1st Lt. Monteith led the tanks on foot through a minefield and into firing positions. Under his direction several enemy positions were destroyed. He then rejoined his company and under his leadership his men captured an advantageous position on the hill. Supervising the defense of his newly won position against repeated vicious counterattacks, he continued to ignore his own personal safety, repeatedly crossing the 200 or 300 yards of open terrain under heavy fire to strengthen links in his defensive chain. When the enemy succeeded in completely surrounding 1st Lt. Monteith and his unit and while leading the fight out of the situation, 1st Lt. Monteith was killed by enemy fire. The courage, gallantry, and intrepid leadership displayed by 1st Lt. Monteith is worthy of emulation.” (The Congressional Medal of Honor Society)

1^st Lieutenant Monteith is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Plot I, Row 20, Grave 12.

Tech. 5^th Grade, John J. Pinder Jr., 16^th Inf. Regt., 1^st Inf. Div.

Citation: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, near Colleville-sur-Mer, France. On D-day, Technician Fifth Grade Pinder landed on the coast 100 yards offshore under devastating enemy machine-gun and artillery fire which caused severe casualties among the boatload. Carrying a vitally important radio, he struggled towards shore in waist-deep water. Only a few yards from his craft he was hit by enemy fire and was gravely wounded. Technician Fifth Grade Pinder never stopped. He made shore and delivered the radio. Refusing to take cover afforded, or to accept medical attention for his wounds, Technician Fifth Grade Pinder, though terribly weakened by loss of blood and in fierce pain, on three occasions went into the fire-swept surf to salvage communication equipment. He recovered many vital parts and equipment, including another workable radio. On the third trip he was again hit, suffering machine-gun bullet wounds in the legs. Still this valiant soldier would not stop for rest or medical attention. Remaining exposed to heavy enemy fire, growing steadily weaker, he aided in establishing the vital radio communications on the beach. While so engaged this dauntless soldier was hit for the third time and killed. The indomitable courage and personal bravery of Technician Fifth Grade Pinder was a magnificent inspiration to the men with whom he served.” (The Congressional Medal of Honor Society)

Technician 5^th Grade Pinder’s remains were repatriated to the U.S. He is buried in Burgettstown, PA.

KDIH Guides Gaulke and Klauer inspecting a German Widerstandsnest

D-Day: Putting it all Together

June 6 had been a good day; but not a great day. By nightfall on 6 June 1944, the Allied armies had a toehold in Northern Europe. Over 150,000 men and thousands of vehicles were now on enemy soil. By any count, casualties were significantly lighter than forecast. Many estimates come in around 2,500. Carol Tuckwiller at the National D-Day Memorial Foundation in Bedford, VA, estimates more than 4,400 soldiers, including airborne, aircrews, naval troops, etc. died on D-Day.

Nevertheless, there was still room for concern. Key objectives were not reached on most of the beaches. Supply lines consisted only of two mulberry harbors and beach landing zones. If the Germans responded resolutely, they could still inflict heavy damage to the plans. Finally, with hindsight, it would still take a month or more to breakout of the Normandy beachhead.

Mulberry Harbor remains in Arromanches, France

About Knee Deep Into History’s Normandy Battlefield Tours

At Knee Deep Into History, we enjoy weaving together the first-person accounts, unit histories, maps and photos that bring the stories to life where they happened; and explaining them within the larger context of a given battle. During our multi-day Normandy Battlefield Tour, for example, we spend an entire day on Utah Beach and the surrounding airborne landing zone and a day on Omaha Beach, where these men earned their medals. We also spend time on the British Landing Beaches and airborne drop zones; as well as key German artillery batteries, cemeteries, etc.

Whether you want to walk in the footsteps of a relative who landed in Normandy or you’re just a history buff, we invite you to get knee deep into history with us on a Normandy Battlefield tour or one of our WW1 and WW2 tours. Our 2024 tour schedule can be seen here. Our 2025 tour schedule should be available by late August.

Whether you join us or not, may you think about the sacrifices of the thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen who participated in the Normandy Landings of 6 June 1944!

Poppy Field in Normandy. Photo by Laurie Gaulke.

After decades of personal battlefield tours, Randy Gaulke quit his job as a financial analyst in Manhattan and spent eight months in France in 2017-18 as a freelance guide during the World War I Centennial. He subsequently founded Knee Deep Into History, with a philosophy of getting clients into the field on a small-group tour designed for the military history enthusiast. Equally important is the attempt to tell both sides of the story and to help Americans bridge cultures. Most tours are led jointly with European guides, including retired Bundeswehr officer and historian Markus Klauer. The groups enjoy family-owned European hotels and restaurants. Experience a military history tour that brings the battlefield to life! Learn more at www.kneedeepintohistory.com Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.