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73 years later, Iron Horse Soldiers continue D-Day legacy, commemorate service, sacrifice of WWII
Berets and wreaths.
MONTEBOURG, France--More than 100 U.S. Army Soldiers, join the commanding general, French compatriots and people of Montebourg, France, during a march from the town center to the town's World War II memorial wall. Select Soldiers from "Fighting Eagles," 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., participated in the march to the memorial dedication hosted by Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general of the 4th Inf. Div., Monteburg civic leaders, French compatriots and veterans. The Soldiers of 3rd ABCT are currently deployed in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, U.S. forces' commitment to the collective security of eastern Europe, conducting bilateral training and multinational exercises with NATO Allies and Partners. The last time the 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Regt. deployed to Europe the Fighting Eagle Soldiers landed at Utah Beach with the Assault Division on D-Day in 1944. The 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Regt., currently stationed in Romania, sent Soldiers who had recently earned the Expert Infantryman's Badge during testing earlier this year. The Soldiers served as guests of honor at the ceremony, where Gonsalves and community leaders laid wreaths at the memorial.
(U.S. Army photo by Maj. Anthony Clas, 7MPAD)
Photo by: 1st Sgt. Brent Williams
Photo 2 of 5
73 years later, Iron Horse Soldiers continue D-Day legacy, commemorate service, sacrifice of WWII
Render Honors.
MONTEBOURG, France--Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division, pays honor to Ivy Division Soldiers who served during World War II at a memorial dedication in Montebourg, France, June 3, 2017. Gonsalves joined the Deputy of the Manche Phillipe Gosselin and Mayor Jean-Pierre Mauquest to unveil the placard adorning a wall from the ruined 15th century fortress of St. Marcouf-Les-Gougins. The monument was set in the town center in honor of the U.S. Army Soldiers of the 4th Inf. Div. who liberated Montebourg June 19, 1944, after 15 days of fighting.Led by Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the Soldiers of 8th Inf. Regt. assaulted the northern coast of Normandy's Utah Beach, pushing through to Ste. Maire-Eglise, Montebourg and Cherbourg in 23 days. "The stories of their bravery, of their generoisty, and of their leadership is more relevant now than it has ever been," Gonsalves told the city's hosts Deputy of the Manche and the mayor of Montebourg, distinguised guests, veterans and compatriots. "It is up to us, today's generation, to carry that legacy into the future. Today, together, we pledge to do so and reaffirm our commitment as a free people that tyranny must be met with resolve, and that liberty is always the achievement of courage," said Gonsalves.
(U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Brent M. Williams, MCE Public Affairs, 4th Inf. Div.)
Photo by: 1st Sgt. Brent Williams
Photo 3 of 5
73 years later, Iron Horse Soldiers continue D-Day legacy, commemorate service, sacrifice of WWII
March in remembrance.
MONTEBOURG, France--The commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division leads U.S. Army Soldiers deployed and serving in Europe marching to the World War II monument in Montebourg, France, to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of D-Day, June 3, 2017. More than 100 Soldiers, joined the commanding general, French compatriots and people of Montebourg, during a march from the town center to the memorial wall. Select Soldiers from the "Fighting Eagles" 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div., participated in the march, the memorial dedication ceremony and dinner hosted by Montebourg civic leaders. "Today, we remember those sacrifices and honor the courage of the 4th Inf. Div. Soldiers and our Allies who fought here in Montebourg, the first significant objective off of Utah Beach, where nearly a yearlong advance began to liberate the continent," said Gonsalves, dedicating the memorial to the Soldiers who led the Allied-invasion into German-occupied Europe. Led by Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the Soldiers of 8th Inf. Regt. assaulted the northern coast of Normandy's Utah Beach, pushing through to Ste. Maire-Eglise, Montebourg and Cherbourg within 23 days.
(U.S. Army photo by Maj. Anthony Clas, 7th MPAD)
Photo by: 1st Sgt. Brent Williams
Photo 4 of 5
73 years later, Iron Horse Soldiers continue D-Day legacy, commemorate service, sacrifice of WWII
Get in Step.
MONTEBOURG, France--First Sgt. Ernest Ramirez, center, first sergeant, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, marches more than 100 U.S. Army Soldiers through Montebourg, France, following a ceremony honoring the 4th Inf. Div.'s role in the liberation of Normandy, June 3, 2017. Ramirez and the "Fighting Eagles" Soldiers of 3rd ABCT, attended a dedication ceremony for a memorial in the town's center with Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general of the 4th Inf. Div., to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the 4th Inf. Div.'s assault at Utah Beach and the following liberation of Montebourg. Select Soldiers from 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Regt., 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div., participated in the march, the dedication ceremony at Montebourg's World War II memorial, and dinner hosted by township's civic leaders. The Soldiers of 3rd ABCT are currently deployed in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, U.S. forces' commitment to the collective security of eastern Europe conducting bilateral training and multinational exercises with NATO Allies and Partners. The Soldiers were guests of honor at the ceremony, where Gonsalves and community leaders laid wreaths at the memorial.
(U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Brent M. Williams, MCE Public Affairs, 4th Inf. Div.)
Photo by: 1st Sgt. Brent Williams
Photo 5 of 5
73 years later, Iron Horse Soldiers continue D-Day legacy, commemorate service, sacrifice of WWII
Montebourg World War II Memorial.
MONTEBOURG, France--Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves marked the 73rd anniversary of the 4th Inf. Div.'s D-Day landing with U.S. Army Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, during a dedication ceremony for Motnebourg's World War II memorial wall in the heart of the city center. Gonsalves joined the Deputy of the Manche Phillipe Gosselin and Mayor Jean-Pierre Mauquest to unveil the placard adorning a wall from the ruined 15th century fortress of St. Marcouf-Les-Gougins. The monument was set in the town center in honor of the U.S. Army Soldiers of the 4th Inf. Div. who liberated Montebourg June 19, 1944, after 15 days of fighting.Led by Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the Soldiers of 8th Inf. Regt. assaulted the northern coast of Normandy's Utah Beach, pushing through to Ste. Maire-Eglise, Montebourg and Cherbourg in 23 days.
(U.S. Army photo by Maj. Anthony Clas, 7th MPAD)
Photo by: 1st Sgt. Brent Williams
The commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division joined U.S. Army Soldiers deployed and serving in Europe to commemorate the 73rd anniversary of D-Day in Montebourg, France, June 3, 2017.
Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves marked the 73rd anniversary of the 4th Inf. Div.'s D-Day landing with U.S. Army Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, during a dedication ceremony for Montebourg's World War II memorial wall in the heart of the city center.
"Today, we remember those sacrifices and honor the courage of the 4th Inf. Div. Soldiers and our Allies who fought here in Montebourg, the first significant objective off of Utah Beach, where nearly a yearlong advance began to liberate the continent," said Gonsalves, dedicating the memorial to the Soldiers who led the Allied-invasion into German-occupied Europe.
Led by Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the Soldiers of 8th Inf. Regt. assaulted the northern coast of Normandy's Utah Beach, pushing through to Ste. Maire-Eglise, Montebourg and Cherbourg within 23 days.
Gonsalves joined the Deputy of the Manche Phillipe Gosselin and Mayor Jean-Pierre Mauquest to unveil the placard adorning a wall from the ruined 15th century fortress of St. Marcouf-Les-Gougins. The monument was set in the town center in honor of the U.S. Army Soldiers of the 4th Inf. Div. who liberated Montebourg June 19, 1944, after 15 days of fighting.
"June 6th was not only the longest day--It is the memory of the dead for the living," said Mauquest. "The Soldiers who have the same audacity and tenacity of the brave who ended tyranny in 1944. It is our duty to keep the promise written by their blood by holding a fair and human world."
This year's commemoration proved particularly significant because it also marks the 100th anniversary of the 4th Inf. Div., which served as the Assault Division on the Utah Beachhead, June 6, 1944, said Gonsalves.
"The stories of their bravery, of their generosity, and of their leadership is more relevant now than it has ever been," Gonsalves told the city's hosts Deputy of the Manche and the mayor of Montebourg, distinguished guests, veterans and compatriots. "It is up to us, today's generation, to carry that legacy into the future.
"Today, together, we pledge to do so and reaffirm our commitment as a free people that tyranny must be met with resolve, and that liberty is always the achievement of courage," Gonsalves said.
More than 100 Soldiers, joined the commanding general, French compatriots and people of Montebourg, during a march from the town center to the memorial wall. Select Soldiers from "Fighting Eagles" Battalion of the 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div., participated in the march, the memorial dedication ceremony and dinner hosted by Montebourg civic leaders.
The first U.S. Army Soldiers to land at Utah Beach during the D-Day assault, in 1944, the Soldiers of 3rd ABCT are currently deployed in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, U.S. forces' commitment to the collective security of eastern Europe.
Currently operating from Mihael Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania, conducting bilateral training and multinational exercises with NATO Allies and Partners, the last time the 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Regt. deployed to Europe was during D-Day.
The Fighting Eagles selected 25 Soldiers who had recently earned the Expert Infantryman's Badge during testing earlier this year to participate in the D-Day ceremonial events with Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and the 1st and 90th Infantry Divisions.
The Soldiers served as guests of honor at the ceremony, where Gonsalves and community leaders laid wreaths at the Montebourg memorial.
