On this seventieth day of remembrance of the D - Day encroachment of Normandy , we should take prison term to remember some of the many heroes of the various battles that took place as the Allies stormed their style into France during World War II . Here are some who experience the Medal of Honor for their bravery and altruism .
Jimmie W. Monteith
LieutenantJimmie W. Monteithof the U.S. Army was a member of the 1st Division ( The Big Red One ) that fought in Algeria and Italy before transfer to England to prepare for D - Day . During the assault on Omaha Beach in Normandy , his social unit was left open when the accompanying cooler became bogged in sand and sea piddle . Monteith pass his 51 men into the water to storm the beach , but one-half were shot or drowned before reaching the shoring . pin down by Erwin Rommel ’s forces , Monteith ran to each of the survivor ' hiding places under fire to rally the troops . He led an violation over open terrain , leading tank car ( that were able to shore after the tide come in ) through a minefield on foot , eventually enamour an advantageous hill . Monteith ’s unit of measurement continued ahead until they were completely surrounded by the enemy . There , Monteith was frivol away and killed . He was one month shy of his twenty-seventh natal day .
Monteith received a posthumousMedal of Honor and Purple Heart . The U.S. military base Camp Monteith in Kosovo was bring up in his honor , and Monteith Hall at Virginia Tech ( which he was attending when drafted in 1941 ) was built in 1949 . Other edifices and streets were also identify after the D - Day hero .
John J. Pinder, Jr.
John J. Pinder , Jr.was a professional baseball actor when the U.S. entered World War II . He played for several teams , ultimately with the Greenville ( Alabama ) Lions when he was draft in 1942 . Pinder ’s younger brother Harold joined the Army Air Force and was shot down in January of 1944 , eventually capture , and spent the sleep of the war as a POW . John Pinder , meanwhile , push in Africa with The Big Red One and then traveled to England to prepare for D - Day . By then , Pinder was a Technician 5th Grade , in bearing of communications for his building block .
Landing on Omaha Beach on June 6 , Pinder was carrying heavy radio equipment and was shot as he ram ashore . Refusing medical attention , he continued to carry the equipment to shore to deliver the radio . Then he went back into the water three times to collect and scavenge other communications equipment . He was shot again on the last head trip off shoring . Still turn down aesculapian tending , he set up a receiving set communicating place on the beach . Pinder was then shoot a third time , this fourth dimension fatally . June 6 , 1944,was his thirty-second birthday .
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
Brigadier GeneralTheodore Roosevelt , Jr.had already fought in World War I and served as Governor of Puerto Rico and Governor General of the Philippines before serve in World War II . He was the sometime boy of President Theodore Roosevelt . Returning to the Army in 1940 , he was promote to Brigadier General and was 2nd in bidding of the 1st Infantry Division in North Africa . General Patton did not like his well-heeled way with the troops , and pull up him from bidding , leave Roosevelt to function in various capacities in Italy .
attribute to facilitate leave the Normandy Invasion , he petitioned to intrude on with the troops . After several denials , he was take into account to lead the landing place of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division ’s 8th Infantry Regiment and 70th Tank Battalion at Utah Beach . Meanwhile , his son Quentin Roosevelt land at Omaha Beach . General Roosevelt was 56 yr old , and the only general to storm the beach at Normandy with the first wave of soldiers . Roosevelt greeted the troops as they reached the shore . Although the unit was a mile from their landing target , they still met enemy fire . alternatively of trying to move to the original landing area , Roosevelt qualify the unit of measurement ’s plansand moved inland so as to engage the enemy from the buns . Roosevelt ’s calm under firing invigorate the troops and contributed greatly to the success of their mission .
Roosevelt give out of a heart approach in France a month later . He was recommended for a Distinguished Service Cross , which was upgraded to the Medal of Honor , awarded posthumously in September of 1944 . The Medal was one of many Roosevelt had earned through two World Wars . Roosevelt was present by Henry Fonda in the 1962 filmThe Longest Day .
Carlton W. Barrett
Pvt . Carlton W. Barrettjoined the Army in 1940 and served with the 18th Infantry , 1st Infantry Division . On D - Day , he landed on the beach near St. Laurent - Tyre - Mer , France . Private Barret ’s Medal of Honor reference sound out he waded ashore in cervix - recondite piddle under foe ardour , but returned to the pee time and again to deliver other soldiers who were in danger of drowning . He also carry injure comrades to an emptying gravy boat . He remained calm under fire and other soldier turned to him for guidance during the confusion of battle . Barrett survived the war and served until 1963 , when he retired with the social rank of Staff Sergeant .
Robert G. Cole
Photograph byWammes Waggel .
Lieutenant ColonelRobert G. Colewas bear at Fort Sam Houston , the son of an army colonel . He link up the Army in 1934 and went on to West Point . As the commanding officer of the3rd Battalion of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment , Cole was the first to chute into opposition territory on June 6 , 1944 . His whole captured an enemy position and welcomed confederate flock advancing from the beaches .
On June 10 , Cole led his manpower down an exposed route between marshes and they were attacked . With piffling alternative , Coleled a bayonet chargeunder back of smoke against the enemy , make them to flee . His unit pick out heavy casualties , but they gained footing . They managed to call in reinforcements before the Germans returned for a counterattack . Lt . Col . Cole was recommend for a Medal of Honor , but was killed by a sniper in the Netherlands in September before he received it .
Walter Ehlers
Staff SergeantWalter Ehlersjoined the Army in 1940 and help in North Africa and Sicily . He was called to England to train scout troop replacements and make for D - Day . On June 6 , he led his squad onto the shores west of Omaha Beach . While one-half of the first wave of troops were kill or wounded , Ehlers set out all 12 of his men into the trench safely . On June 9 , the team was near Goville , France . Coming under fire , Ehlers led his men toneutralize several enemy political machine gun and trench mortar office , kill several Germans himself while under flaming . Ehlers was wounded , but keep on , even carry one hurt soldier to guard . He reject evacuation , prefer to stay and head his unit .
Several months later , while recovering from yet another wound , Ehlers scan about his Medal of Honor in the military newspaperStars and Stripes . He also received three Purple Hearts , the Silver Star , the Bronze Star , and a promotional material to 2d Lieutenant . After the warfare , Ehlers worked for the Veterans Administration for 29 age . Before Ehlers diedthis retiring February at eld 92,he was the last living Medal of Honor recipient role from the D - Day Invasion .
Charles N. DeGlopper
PFCCharles N. DeGlopperwas a penis of the 82nd Airborne Division and went abroad in 1943 to attend in North Africa , Italy , and France . DeGlopper go into France on June 7 , 1944 , behind enemy lines by sailplane . On June 9 , C Company 1st Battalion was make out off from the rest of the multitude while set on the La Fière Bridge on the Merderet River at La Fiere , France . Under fire , Pvt . DeGlopper stood up and starting shoot Germans to suppress their fire . He was shot doubly , but proceed firing , giving his comrade enough cover to come back the rest of the pack . DeGlopper waskilled by the third shot , but managed to drink down many of the enemy . He receive the Medal of Honor posthumously , the only member of the 82nd Airborne Division to receive the medal in the Normandy Invasion .
The Medal of Honor Society commissioned this digital painting of Charles DeGlopper in activity in World War II by artistJean - Pierre Roy .
John E. Butts
Photograph byDoug Butts .
2nd LieutenantJohn E. Buttswas one of five brothers to serve in World War II . He went to Normandy with the 60th Infantry , 9th Infantry Division . Butts was wounded on the fourteenth of June and then again on the 16th , both times refusing medical voidance to remain with his platoon . On June 23rd , he led his building block against the enemy for a strategical hill and was critically hurt by automobile grease-gun fire . Butts commanded his humankind to assail from the side while he alone charged straightaway to the front , drawing fire out from his men so they could take the mound . He was shot again , twice . Butts was less than ten yards from the motorcar gunner when he fell for the last time . His unit , taking advantage of Butts ’ distraction , managed to take the hill . He welcome the Medal of Honor posthumously .
Matt Urban
Lieutenant ColonelMatt Urbanwas a graduate of Cornell University when he joined the Army in 1941 as a commission police officer . He served with the 60th Infantry Regiment , 9th Infantry Division in North Africa . Urban also oppose in Sicily , France , and Belgium . Hebroke a leg during the landing place on the beachat Normandy , but still managed to mount a tank and lead an violation . On June 14 , he personallydestroyed two enemy tanks with a bazooka . He was wounded twice that mean solar day . In July , Urban left the infirmary where he was recovering and link his unit of measurement at St. Lo , France , for Operation Cobra . There , Urban single - handedly drove an abandoned American storage tank into a German unit , leading his men to triumph . Urban was injure seven or eight times during the war . The final prison term , he was shot in the neck and was not expected to survive . Yet he did .
Urban ’s recommendation for a Medal of Honor was mislay when his command police officer was killed in action . It was not found until1979.Urban finally received his Medal of Honor in 1980 from President Jimmy Carter .
Other recipients of the Medal of Honor for military action in the Normandy Invasion include :
Ray Perez
Carlos C. Ogden
John D. Kelly
Arthur F. DeFranzo
Frank D. Peregory
Joe Gandara
Leon Vance
