Menu
  • Abous us
  • Search database
  • Resources
  • Donate
  • Faq

 

2Lt George E. Schmidt Plaque -101st Airborne Division

<< Back to Le Haute Addeville

Details:

Affixed on the stele at the entrance of the lodge.

Plaque

A rectangular black plaque written in English and French with the US Airborne Division and the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment insignias commemorating 2nd Lieutenant George E. Schmidt, who, on D-Day, June 6, 1944, led a successful assault against a heavily defended German position in a farm building near Angoville-au-Plain. The plaque was designed in Ireland and erected with the agreement of the owner at the time at the entrance to La Ferme in 2009.

 

On D-Day, the area around La Haute Addeville was the site of significant combat, and it was near Les Droueries where some of the fighting occurred. The farm buildings and surrounding fields in these areas were heavily contested as American paratroopers from the 501st and 506th Parachute Infantry Regiments fought to secure objectives and push through German defenses.

 

Specifically, the assault led by 2nd Lieutenant George E. Schmidt on the farm building at Les Droueries was part of a larger operation that included actions around La Haute Addeville. Both locations were integral to the efforts of the paratroopers in securing key positions during the intense early hours of the Normandy invasion.

 

On the morning of June 6, 1944, Schmidt and his unit parachuted into Normandy as part of Operation Overlord. Their mission was to secure key positions behind enemy lines to support the amphibious landings and disrupt German defenses. Schmidt’s company, along with additional support from Second Lieutenant Walter W. Wood of Company C and 20 men from the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, was tasked with attacking a heavily defended German farmhouse near the hamlet of Les Droueries, located close to Angoville-au-Plain.

 

The German defenders were determined to block the American advance toward the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment's strategic objective at the banquette. The farmhouse was heavily fortified and situated in a position that allowed the Germans to fire upon the advancing American troops. Schmidt led a courageous assault on the fortified position. His unit faced intense enemy fire as they pushed towards the farmhouse. Despite the heavy resistance, Schmidt and his men were able to capture the building. During the fierce battle, Schmidt was killed and four of his men were also injured. For his exceptional bravery, selflessness, and disregard for his safety during the assault, Schmidt was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest military honor for heroism in combat.

Source of information and photos: www.facebook.com/LaFermeDelaunayNormandie

Monument Text:

AU MATIN DU DEBARQUEMENT LE 6 JUIN 1944, LE SOUS•LIEUTENANT GEORGE E. SCHMIDT DE LA COMPAGNIE E DU 501EME REGIMENT D'INFANTERIE PARACHUTISTE, 101EME DIVISION AEROPORTEE, MENA UNE ATTAQUE CONTRE CE BATIMENT AGRICOLE DU COTE D'ANGOVILLE•AU•PLAIN AVEC 30 HOMMES DE LA COMPAGNIE E. IL ETAIT SOUTENU PAR LE SOUS•LIEUTENANT WALTER W. WOOD DE LA COMPAGNIE C DU 501EME REGIMENT ET 20 HOMMES DES TROUPES D'ELITE DU 506EME REGIMENT D'INFANTERIE PARACHUTISTE. LES ALLEMANDS DEFENDAIENT ARDEMMENT LE BATIMENT AINSI QUE LES CHAMPS ENVIRONNANTS. ILS AVAIENT L'INTENTION DE BARRER LA ROUTE ET D'EMPECHER LE 501EME D'ATTEINDRE SON OBJECTIF STRATEGIQUE A LA BARQUETTE. LE REGIMENT REMPORTA LA BATAILLE CONTRE LA FERME. MAIS LE LIEUTENANT SCHMIDT FUT TUE AU CHAMP D'HONNEUR ET 4 SOLDATS D'ELITE FURENT BLESSES. POUR AVOIR FAIT PREUVE ''...D'UN COURAGE EXCEPTIONNEL, D'UN DEVOUEMENT SANS LIMITE AU MEPRIS DE SA VIE'' PENDANT TOUTE LA DUREE DE L'ASSAUT. ON DECERNA AU LIEUTENANT SCHMIDT LA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS A TITRE POSTHUME. CETTE MEDAILLE MILITAIRE AMERICAINE EST LA DEUXIEME DANS L'ORDRE DE PRESEANCE ET EST DECERNEE POUR HEROISME AU COMBAT. LE SOUS•LIEUTENANT GEORGE E. SCHMIDT REPOSE EN PAIX A L'EMPLACEMENT C, RANG 4, TOMBE 32 AU CIMETIERE AMERICAIN DE COLLEVILLE•SUR•MER, EN NORMANDIE, FRANCE.

 

 

ON THE MORNING OF D•DAY, JUNE 6TH 1944, 2ND LIEUTENANT GEORGE E. SCHMIDT, E COMPANY 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, LED 30 MEN FROM E COMPANY IN AN ASSAULT AGAINST THIS FARM BUILDING FROM THE DIRECTION OF ANGOVILLE•AU•PLAIN, SUPPORTED BY 2ND LIEUTENANT WALTER W. WOOD, C COMPANY 501ST WITH 20 PARATROOPERS FROM 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT. THE BUILDING AND SURROUNDING FIELDS WERE HEAVILY DEFENDED BY THE GERMANS, INTENT ON BLOCKING THE ROUTE TO THE 501ST STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE OF THE LOCK AT LA BARQUETTE. THE ATTACK WAS SUCCESSFUL, BUT LIEUTENANT SCHMIDT WAS KILLED AND 4 OTHER PARATROOPERS WOUNDED. FOR DISPLAYING "...OUTSTANDING COURAGE, DEVOTION TO DUTY, AND COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL SAFETY" THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ACTION, LIEUTENANT SCHMIDT WAS POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, AMERICA'S SECOND HIGHEST AWARD FOR HEROISM IN COMBAT. 2ND LIEUTENANT GEORGE E. SCHMIDT RESTS IN HONORED GLORY IN PLOT C, ROW 4, GRAVE 32,

THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY, COLLEVILLE•SUR•MER, FRANCE.

 

Commemorates:

People:

George Edward  Schmidt

Units:

101st Airborne Division

501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division

United States Army

Wars:

WWII

Battles:

Normandy Invasion

Other images :