In June 2004 the 4th Division Living History Group embarked on a pilgrimage to the Normandy region of France to commemorate the exploits of the 4th Infantry Division, the first sea born soldier to set foot on the main land, June 6th 1944.
Planning for the trip had begun over a year previous, driven by a desire to make some lasting tribute to the men of the 4th. Various ideas were passed around - planting a tree, laying a wreath placing a bench etc. As information began to filter through that a group of 4th division veterans and their families would also be heading to Normandy the ideas crystalised into the placing of a plaque in a suitable location as a permanent memorial.
In 2003 members of the group had visited the town of St. Marie Du Mont and made contact with two stalwart members of the 4th Division Association. Mr. Robert 'Bob' Babcock, a past President, and M. Phillip Cornil a resident of the town whom had just been made a life member of the association that year.
many months of discussion and coordination between our group and M. Cornil established that the idea was sound and that M. Cornil was happy to have the plaque mounted on his home which faces the church in the centre of the town. Mr. Babcock agreed to spread the word in the United States and we soon had the endorsement of the Association and from the Commanding general of the active Division, Major General Raymond T. Odierno. Indeed the group received an e-mail from Bon indicating that the General wished to attend our ceremony - a request we could not possibly deny! So with the die cast a final design for the placq was produced and passed to the craftsmen who would manufacture it.
The plaque is made of bronze with the text etched into it and highlighted in white. In the center in raised enamel and brass is the divisional insignia of four Ivy leaves.
The wreath was obtained from the Royal British Legion and augmented with sprays of artificial ivy, the central boss was designed by a member of the group.
The ceremony was planned for the afternoon of June 6th. The entire area around the D-Day beaches was scheduled to be cordoned off to all but those with special passes which were secured for the members of the team after much communication between ourselves, Mr. Dick Taylor of the Veterans' Association and the U.S. forces controlling the secure area. Nevertheless we set out very early of the 6th from our camp site to St. Marie Du Mont to avoid being caught out by the road blocks and diversions. Good that we did because on the way we witnessed French police being dropped off at every side road and lane leading to the beach areas.
Everything was ready by 10am, all we could do now was await the coach load of Veterans and General Odierno and staff due to arrive at around 2:30pm. With the clock ticking and amid the chaos of vehicles passing through the town in a bid to be to the beach area for the official ceremony at 5pm, word got through that the veterans coach was stick fast at Omaha Beach. Traffic their was so bad that the French Police had stopped all movement in a bid to sort things out. The General arrived on time, to the minute, and agreed to return at 3:30pm. If the veterans were still not there we would have to proceed without them as the Police had to stop traffic in the town and the General had to be out of there by 4pm (more about that later).
Finally at 3:25pm the buss arrived, the General bang on target at 3:30pm, so we could begin. It was all a complete surprise for the veterans and their families. No one had breathed a work about what we had planned. After a few opening words from myself, another member of the group delivered an address detailing some of the history of D-Day and the significance of St. Marie Du Mont. After that all of the WW2 veterans present were invited forward to take hold of a ribbon and reveal the plaque, to applause from the crowd some two hundred or so spectators. General Odierno and Mr. Bob Babcock were then invited to say a few words. The General paid tribute to the veterans and their sacrifice and to group for its efforts to preserve the memory of their deeds. Bob, after acknowledging the efforts of the group and mindful of the time simply said "Lets get on the Bus!".
Member of the LGH, Col. Hickey C/O 1st Brigade, Maj. Gen. Odierno then C/Gen 4th Division, join veterans unveiling the plaque.
General Odierno share a light moment with veteran Irving Smolens, Battery B. 29th FA Bn., and wife Edith.
Why such a rush to get on the bus - simply put we were late, the traffic was appalling and the General and his staff were due on Parade at the main beach ceremony! All was not lost however as a quite work in the ear of the Police and we were under a blue light escort cutting through the backed up traffic and the beach perimeter, with someone at the from of the bush pointing to the Generals car and saying "We're with him!"
The ceremony was magnificent, and a live telecast to the U.S.A. There was enough seating for 10,000 spectators with the front of the main stands rightly reserved for the veterans and their families. it started with the command staff and personnel of the 4th Infantry Division parading their colours, led into the arena by Command Sgt. Major Fusse who handed over to General Odierno who stood on Parade throughout, not a common sight for us. All the while our group photographer, dress in appropriate Stars and Stripes correspondents uniform, captured the moment, employed by the Divisional PR representative as their official photographer!
The 50 minute ceremony consisted on speeches by representative of the U.S. and French governments a fly past, wreath laying and a 21 gun salute by 25lb pack howitzers, led by 29th Field Artillery veteran Mr. Irving Smolens.
General Odierno parades the National Flags of the U.S.A and France with the colors of the organic units of the 4th Infantry Division, recently returned from service in Iraq.
Irving Smolens leads the 21 Gun Salute as veterans and dignitaries salute wreathes laid at the main monument.
As the main ceremony drew to a close the master of ceremonies invited spectators with floral tributes to come forward and lay them at the memorial of their choice. The 4th Division's was outside of the grand stand area and by the time we got to it the command staff of the Division were well into a photo session on and around it with all of its colours. After a time they gave way and we could move forward and lay our wreath, the only wreath placed at the memorial that afternoon apart from those place by the museum staff. As we were all dressed in U.S. WW2 Service Dress we soon drew a crowd and at the instigation of Bob Babcock we were soon joined by twenty or so WW2 veterans. Turning to face away from the memorial we were confronted by a wall of cameras capturing, what was for us, a very proud moment. This was crowned when Cmd. Sgt. Major Fusse ordered the return of the Divisional colour so that we may be photographed with it at the memorial.
The LHG prepare to lay their wreath at the 4th Division monument on June 6th 2004. the LHGs wreath was the only non-French government tribute placed that afternoon.
Members of the LHG pictured with many WW2 D-Day veterans around the 4th Division monument.
