Details:
On the west side of the road.
Monument
At the center of the memorial stands a replica of the iconic “Iron Mike” statue, officially unveiled on June 7, 1997. Originally sculpted by Leah Hiebert between 1960 and 1961 for Fort Bragg, North Carolina, this version rests on a stone pedestal, which bears four commemorative plaques—one on each side. These plaques honor Lieutenant General James M. Gavin and highlight themes of leadership, sacrifice, and the strategic importance of the Battle of La Fière during the Normandy invasion. They include a portrait of LtG Gavin, casualty figures, the number of awards received, and the insignias of various participating units. The text is presented in both French and English.
Source of photos: www.google.com/maps
Monument Text:
On the front side of the pedestal:
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
LTG JAMES M. GAVIN
At this place between 6-9 June 1944 then BG James M. GAVIN
forever embodied himself as the heart
and soul of the 82d Airborne Division.
Original member of the 505 PIR at Ft Benning, Ga,
he was the assault force commander
at Sicily, Salerno and Normandy.
He commanded the 82d Abn at Market-Garden and the Bulge.
On this ground he personally secured
and held the crossing sites at Chef du Pont and La Fière
and led the subsequent seizure of the Causeway
over the Merderet on 9 June.
His presence steeled the hearts of all those
that served with him and forever embodied
what an Airborne leader should be.
GENERAL GAVIN
NEVER SENT HIS MEN ANYWHERE,
HE ALWAYS LED THEM.
HE IS THE SOUL OF THE AIRBORNE
On the left side of the pedestal:
THE BATTLE FOR LA FIÈRE BRIDGEHEAD 6 - 9 JUNE 1944
The area encompassing both the La Fière bridge and the causeway with the sister bridge and causeway at Chef du Pont were crucial objectives for this portion of the Normandy invasion. From 6 to 9 June the battle raged within sight of this monument. As a final "all in" assault at 10h30 on 9 June the causeway and bridgehead at Cauquigny church were seized by elements of the 82nd Airborne Division supported by elements of the 4th and 90th Infantry Divisions and the 746th Tank Battalion.
For the Normandy campaign the 82nd Airborne awarded an estimated:
38 Distinguished Service Crosses
271 Silver Stars
925 Bronze Stars
5,209 Purple Hearts
Two Medals of Honor were awarded for actions within sight of this monument.
PRIMARY UNITS ENGAGED WITHIN SIGHT OF THIS LOCATION:
1st Bn 505th PIR
507th PIR
508th PIR
G/3-325th GIR / 2nd Bn 401st GIR
325th GIR (-)
307th Abn Engr Bn
80th AAA Bn (Anti-tank)
Command Group 82nd Airborne Div
APPROXIMATE CASUALTIES AT AND NEAR THIS LOCATION:
Killed 254 Wounded 525
"One of the most hotly contested pieces of ground in WW2"
— (S.L.A. Marshall - US Army historian)
On the back side of the pedestal:
LA BATAILLE DU PONT DE LA FIÈRE
6 - 9 JUIN 1944
Le secteur englobant le pont de la Fière,
la chaussée et le pont de Chef du Pont constituait
des objectifs stratégiques pour cette zone
du débarquement de Normandie.
Du 6 au 9 juin la bataille fit rage autour de ce monument.
L'assaut final se déroula à partir de 10h30 le 9 juin
pour la prise de la chaussée jusqu'à la chapelle de Cauquigny.
Les parachutistes de la 82e ABN
accomplirent cette mission avec le renfort de troupes
des 4e et 90e divisions d'infanterie et du 746e Tank Battalion.
Pour l'ensemble de la campagne de Normandie
la 82e ABN reçut les décorations suivantes :
38 Distinguished Service Crosses
271 Silver Stars
925 Bronze Stars
5.209 Purple Hearts
Deux parachutistes reçurent
la "MEDAL OF HONOR" pour leurs actions héroïques
dans ce voisinage.
Les unités principales engagées dans cette bataille
sont listées sur la plaque.
Pertes approximatives autour de ce site commémoratif :
254 TUÉS - 525 BLESSÉS
Sla Marshall - historien de l'Armée Américaine
l’a désignée comme :
"l’un des théâtres d’opération
les plus disputés de la 2e Guerre Mondiale"
L'ÂME DES PARACHUTISTES HABITE CE LIEU
7 Juin 2015 - Association A.V.A - Airborne Museum
On the right side of the pedestal:
EN HOMMAGE
AU GÉNÉRAL JAMES M. GAVIN
EN CE LIEU ENTRE LE 6 ET LE 9 JUIN 1944
LE GÉNÉRAL JAMES M. GAVIN INCARNA POUR TOUJOURS LE CŒUR
ET L’ÂME DE LA 82ᵉ AIRBORNE DIVISION.
DÈS L’ORIGINE, MEMBRE DU 505ᵉ RÉGIMENT À FORT BENNING, GA.
IL COMMANDA L’ASSAUT DES FORCES PARACHUTISTES
EN SICILE, À SALERNO ET EN NORMANDIE.
ENSUITE IL DIRIGEA LA 82ᵉ POUR MARKET GARDEN
ET LA BATAILLE DES ARDENNES.
EN CE LIEU IL ASSURA PERSONNELLEMENT LA PRISE
ET LA DÉFENSE DES PONTS DE CHEF DU PONT ET DE LA FIÈRE,
PUIS LA PRISE DE LA CHAUSSÉE LE 9 JUIN.
SA PRÉSENCE GALVANISA SES SOLDATS.
IL REPRÉSENTE TOUT CE QU’UN CHEF PARACHUTISTE DOIT ÊTRE.
LE GÉNÉRAL GAVIN A TOUJOURS ÉTÉ
À LA TÊTE DE SES HOMMES DANS LES COMBATS.
IL PERSONNIFIE L’ÂME DES PARACHUTISTES.
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
307th Airborne Engineer Battalion
325th Glider Infantry Regiment
401st Glider Infantry Regiment
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne
507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne
508th Parachute Infantry Regiment
80th Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division
82nd Airborne Division
United States Army
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Normandy Invasion
Other images :
