In rare moments in history, a piece of ground assumes a value in the mind of anyone speaking or seeing the name-Gettysburg, Waterloo, The Alamo, Verdun, Tarawa, Omaha Beach, Pearl Harbor, Pt Du Hoc-invoke a lasting memory of special people in a special moment. Regardless of place or distance, a mention of the name invokes an image in all. Such is La Fiere.
The land comprising the La Fiere battleground is the Gettysburg of the 82d Airborne Division. It is the sepulcher of spirit, sacrifice and service that is the ethos and soul of the division and always will be. What the Division means to itself and to the Nation was created on this ground.
The manor farm, the ground where Iron Mike now stands, the causeway and Cauquigny Church, encompasses the soul and spirit of the Division. This was born between 6 and 9 June on a battlefield of less than 12 acres whose price is evident by the cost:
Killed 254 Wounded 525
Eighteen Distinguished Service Crosses and two Medals of Honor were awarded for actions on the ground in addition to a multitude of Silver and Bronze stars. It was the bloodiest action per square foot in the European Theatre.
Here for four days, every combat unit in the 82d was engaged to take and hold a seemingly inconsequential rural bridge and its causeway. Two general officers and a multitude of other senior officers and NCOs fought on the road and bridge as common soldiers in an uncommon cause.
During 6-7 June, the 1-505, charged with seizing and holding the land was reduced from a full battalion to a weak company commanded by 1st Lt. John Dolan and saved from utter destruction by a squad leader, Sgt Bill Owens.
Replaced by the 507th and reinforced by the 508th, the land was held but not the prize-the Causeway which was the gateway to sever the Cotentin and seize Cherbourg.
Then for a one hour period on 9 June, the chain of command for the entire invasion effort rested on two men-Dwight Eisenhower. The Supreme Commander and by sheer chance, Captain John Saul, Commander, Company G, 3-325GIR. Saul would take the Causeway that was the outlet for the VII Corps and the capture of Cherbourg-the Jewel in the Crown of the invasion.
Supporting Saul’s men was the entire division reinforced by the 90th Division and armor from the 4th Division. Arrayed behind Saul were the elements of the 325 GIR, the 507th and 508th PIR’s and the Division Engineers. Every commander of a battalion or above was present and within easy bullet range of the German defenders
Observing within a hundred yards of the bridge were the Corps commander and two division commanders, pressing to exploit the land to be seized. The 82d generals, Ridgway and Gavin, were with Saul providing a spirit and energy of support that is the hallmark of leadership.
At 1030, thinking he had a full company and battalion behind him, Saul and his immediate force of 31 men raced across the bridge to seize the causeway and break free the forces jammed against the road behind. Saul fought across the heavily defended Causeway, oblivious to cost by 1100. He was reinforced on impulse by Captain Rae of A, 1-507th and later the entire 325 GIR. It was here that the 325, previously a non-Airborne orphan truly became part of the 82d.
At the end of the day, Saul counted 12 men left, all wounded. The 82d won the ground and passed through elements of two divisions. In so doing, the residue of four days combat on constricted ground created the chalice of purpose that is the soul of the 82d Airborne. Every trooper then and now and in the future, will sip from that chalice and understand what being a member of the 82d is all about.
From 6 to 9 June, if you were a trooper in the 82d Airborne, there was no better place to die.
—
For more information on Saint Mere-Eglise and the Battle for La Fiere Bridge, check out No Better Place to Die, by Robert M. Murphy.
Subscribe to The Company Leader!