20th Combat Engineers Plaque
Details:
On the upper part of the east-facing side of the monument.
PlaqueThis bronze plaque commemorates the 20th Combat Engineers, which was composed of the 20th and 1340th Combat Engineer Battalions and the 1171st Combat Engineer Company Headquarters during WWII. They accomplished all of their missions while under heavy fire on their initial landing with the first wave. For this, they received the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation and the French Croix de Guerre.
Source of photo: Bruce Malone
Monument Text:
First Column text:
"EVEN THE INFANTRY TOOK IT'S HAT OFF TO THEM. FOR NOT INFREQUENTLY,
THE ENGINEERS WERE ACTUALLY AHEAD OF THE TROOPS."
(ERNIE PYLE, RENOWNED WWII WAR CORRESPONDENT)
THE 20TH COMBAT ENGINEERS
U.S. ARMY
CONDITERE ET PUGNATE
1942 - NORTH AFRICA TO CZECHOSLOVAKIA - 1945
Second Column text:
THE 20TH AND 1340TH COMBAT ENGINEER BNS & THE 1171ST
COMBAT ENGINEER GP HQ (FORMER 20TH COMBAT ENGINEER
REGT) WERE AMONG THE BATTLE EXPERIENCED UNITS
SELECTED FOR INITIAL LANDINGS ON OMAHA BEACH. DESPITE
CASUALTIES FROM DETERMINED ENEMY RESISTANCE DURING
EXECUTION, ALL MISSIONS ASSIGNED TO THE 3 UNITS WERE
ACCOMPLISHED WITH DISTINCTION FOR OUTSTANDING ACTION
UNDER DIRECT AND DEADLY FIRE DURING THE FIRST WAVE
ASSAULT ON OMAHA BEACH WITH THE 16TH INFANTRY REGT OF
THE 1ST INF. DIV. THE 20TH CBT ENGR BN WAS AWARDED THE
PRESIDENTIAL DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION AND THE FRENCH
CROIX DE GUERRE WITH SILVER GILT STAR. THE 3 UNITS
CONTINUED TO RENDER COMMENDABLE FRONT-LINE SERVICE
DURING THE REMAINDER OF WORLD WAR II.
DEDICATED TO OUR DEPARTED COMRADES-IN-ARMS
THE 20TH COMBAT ENGINEER ASSOCIATION OF WWII
Commemorates:
Units:
1171st Combat Engineer Company HQ
1340th Engineer Combat Battalion
20th Combat Engineers
United States Army
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Normandy Invasion