Hill 203 Memorial - 29th Infantry Division
Details:
On the north side of the road.
Monument
The whole memorial is composed of a central monument and flanking memorials. The central monument is a vertically standing granite slab with a plaque in the center. At the top of the slab is the insignia of the 29th Infantry Division while the bottom insignia is the 116th Infantry Regiment’s. On either side of the stele are two stone blocks, each bearing bronze plaques listing the names and ranks of the fallen soldiers. The inscriptions are presented in both English and French. The central stele was unveiled on June 7, 1994, on the 50th anniversary of the liberation, with the two side desks added on June 8, 2000.
On August 8, 1944, the 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division led the assault on "Hill 203," a vital German defensive position overlooking Vire, enduring fierce resistance. Despite heavy losses, the battalion captured the hill and liberated the town.
Source of information: 29thdivisionassociation.com
Source of photos: www.google.com/maps
Monument Text:
On the stele:
CÔTE 203
(HILL 203)
On August 8th, 1944
employing a skillful maneuver,
STRATEGIC HILL 203,
key to the liberation of Vire,
was taken after a fierce battle.
We thank the American soldiers
of the 1st Battalion, 116th Regiment,
29th Infantry Division,
for their heroic sacrifices.
On behalf of the inhabitants of Vire,
with their everlasting gratitude.
Le 8 août 1944,
par une manœuvre habile,
la côte stratégique 203,
clé de la libération de Vire,
fut enlevée de haute lutte
grâce à l'héroïsme et au sacrifice
des soldats américains
du 1er bataillon, 116ème régiment,
29ème division d'infanterie.
Les Virois reconnaissants
à leurs libérateurs.
7 Juin 1994
(June 7, 1994)
*****************************************************************
Plaques on the left block
Left plaque:
|
1E CLASSE |
RODRIGUEZ PEDRO M. |
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|
SANDERS WALTON G. |
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|
SCANLAN MATTHEW P., JR. |
|
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SCHLEIGH FREDERICK W. |
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SHAW JOSEPH M. |
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SHEEHAN JAMES P. |
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SHORT HULEN |
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TRASK JOSEPH |
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UNGETHIM HARVEY J. |
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WANZITZ ANSEL G. |
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|
WOJTACH JOHN F. |
|
2E CLASSE |
ABEL ALBERT A. |
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BLACK RICHARD J. |
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BUCKNER CLYDE |
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CLARK EARL R. |
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COCHRAN HARRY S. |
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DAVIS WILLIAM C. |
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FOMALONT GILBERT |
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FRODYMA PAUL J. |
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|
Center plaque:
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2E CLASSE |
GAMBLE FOY N. |
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GERO CLYDE |
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GIDEON ELMER M. |
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GISHI ALEXANDER |
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GRIFFITH HAROL D. |
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HILLIER NORMAN F. |
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HOLMES WILLIAM M. |
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HURD GEORGE C. |
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KELLER CHARLES W. |
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KIMBROUGH WILLIAM C. |
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KOLIGA WALTER |
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LABARGE ERNEST W. |
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LANGRIDGE FRANCIS P. |
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LEE CLAUDE F. |
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LEFTRIDGE GROVER L. |
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LEVO ELMER C. |
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LINDEN WILLIAM H. |
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MRVA EDWARD B. |
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MURPHREE DONALD E. |
Right plaque:
|
2E CLASSE |
OTTO THOMAS E. |
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PARIS HARVEY |
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PENNELL ROBERT A. |
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PENNYFEATHER WILLIAM B. |
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PERRY CECIL |
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PHILLIP CHESTER J. |
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PRIMITERRA DANTE |
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RIGO STEPHEN |
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SANDERS JAMES C. |
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SANDLER SEYMOUR |
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SHUTTLESWORTH ROBERT E. |
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SURRENCY ALFRED H. |
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WHITE OTTIS A. |
MISSING – DISPARUS
|
1E CLASSE |
DONOHUE LOUIS J. |
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2E CLASSE |
JEROSZ JOHN J. |
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KLIMAK JOSEPH S. |
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RUFF LEONARD R. |
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|
Bottom plaque:
LA LIBÉRATION DE VIRE, LES 6-7-8 AOÛT 1944,
EIT 108 MORTS ET 4 DISPARUS DANS 11 S RANGS DU
116E E RÉGIMENT D'INFANTERIE DE LA 29E DIVISION AMÉRICAINE
08 JUIN 2000 SOUVENEZ-VOUS.
*****************************************************************
Plaques on the right block
Left plaque:
|
LIEUTENANT |
BREWER MELVIN C. |
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|
BRIGGS GEORGE P. |
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CHITTICK JAMES V. |
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STUART WILLIAM E. |
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SERGENT |
BURKE MARTIN J. |
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CRAMER STANLEY |
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DIRTH KENNETH D. |
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MCDONALD GEORGE M. |
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FALLS SAMUEL D. |
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FULK FORREST E. |
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GILLESPIE THOMAS L. |
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HOLM GEORGE L. |
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KRAFT JOHN |
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LAIRD JOHN |
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MOTE IVAN E. |
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NICHOL WILLARD E. |
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OKONIEWSKI EDMUND L. |
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SORRENTINO DOMINIC P. |
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WARD EDWARD W. |
Center plaque:
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SERGENT |
WOLF NATHAN |
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YOUNG BELTRAM W. |
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CAPORAL |
BAILEY LYNN S. |
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MARSHALL ROBERT J. |
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REULET WILSON J. |
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SPEARS MATTHEW J. |
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1E CLASSE |
ALEXANDER WILLIAM B. |
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BAUGHMAN HARRY L. |
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BENTLEY JESSE L. |
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BLACK BENJAMIN A. |
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CONWAY GEORGE P. |
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CUATT CORWIN JR. |
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MC CUBBIN ROBERT E. |
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MC DANIEL GEORGE C. |
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EDLUND NORMAN L. |
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GENTRY ROBERT B. |
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GILL RUSSELL E. |
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GLEASON HARRY E. |
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GRIFFIN WILLIAM C. |
Right plaque:
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1E CLASSE |
HALKOSKI ALEXANDER J. |
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ISSAC WILSON R. |
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JESSEE FRANLIN T. |
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JEWELL GANO H. |
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JONES WILLIAM L. |
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JORDAN GLENN L. |
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KOLHAHEN JACK J. |
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LIGHT WHEELER L. |
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MANKOWSKI RAYMOND V. |
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MARKS NATHAN E. |
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MATHEWS JOHN E. |
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MILLER HOWARD J. |
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MINNICK FRANK |
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MITCHESS HOWARD S. |
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NIVEN WILLIAM |
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OBEIDZINSKI FRANK |
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PECK DEANE W. |
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PESSEL ERNEST J.M. |
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|
PYLES FISHER |
Bottom plaque:
FOR THE LIBERATION OF VIRE ON THE 6TH 7TH AND 8TH OF AUGUST 1944, 108 SOLDIERS OF THE 116TH REGIMENT OF THE 29TH AMERICAN INFANTRY DIVISION WERE KILLED IN ACTION AND 4 WERE REPORTED MISSING.
08 JUIN 2000 LET US REMEMBER THEM.
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division
29th Infantry Division
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
