U.S. 29th Infantry Division Monument & Memorial Garden

The memorial pays tribute to the U.S. 29th Infantry Division that liberated the commune.

Friday June 9, late afternoon around 4:30 pm, 3 days after D-Day, the first American soldiers coming from Lison via the Haut-Chêne road went up the Fotelaie, and reached the Château de Moon. The advanced elements of the 3rd Battalion bivouacked for the night near the bridge and on the north bank of the Elle. They were now only 13 km from Saint-Lô, but the town was not liberated until ... 6 weeks later, on July 18.

(Source: Mairie de Moon-sur-Elle)
Panel text:

The 29th Infantry Division landed at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. On June 11, 1944, it reached the Elle River. The 175th Infantry Regiment liberated Moon-sur-Elle, the 115th Infantry Regiment liberated Sainte-Marguerite-d'Elle and the 116th Infantry Regiment was held in reserve near Cartigny-l'Épinay. The 1st battalion of the 115th regiment has been ordered to prepare to attack Le Pont de la Pierre at first light on June 12. Simultaneously, the 3rd battalion of the same regiment was preparing at Moulin Lévesque to attack Pont Jourdan near St Jean de Savigny.

A powerful artillery and mortar barrage on German positions south of the Elle river preceded this attack. At 4:30 pm, the men of the 1st Battalion, led by Major Morris, began their descent down the hill, but before they could even get close to the bridge, German troops opened fire. For many hours, the 1st Battalion fought their way towards the bridge, but were unable to get close enough and were forced to dig in to consolidate their positions.

The 3rd Battalion managed to cross the Pont Jourdan and advance towards Couvains when it became clear that they were the only troops to have crossed. To avoid being surrounded by the Germans, and for fear of being cut off, they retreated to the other side of the river. Major-General Gerhardt ordered an immediate second attack, supported by three Sherman tanks of the 745th Tank Battalion. The three tanks were almost immediately put out of action and the second attack was unable to continue. General Gerhardt now ordered the 2nd Battalion of the 116th Regiment to launch a new attack at 8pm. That evening, they were able to cross the bridge, break through the confused German lines and reach Saint Clair sur l'Elle by midnight.

That same day, the 29th division counted around 540 casualties. Here at Pont de la Pierre, the 1st Battalion lost87 men: 15 killed and 72 wounded. One of the wounded died of his wounds two days later. This monument and its garden stand in memory of those 16 men who lost their lives here.

Contribution and photo credit Mike @ Allied Victory Tours

The memorial pays tribute to the U.S. 29th Infantry Division that liberated the commune.Friday June 9, late afternoon around 4:30 pm, 3 days after D-Day, the first American soldiers coming from Lison via the Haut-Chêne road went up the Fotelaie, and reached the Château de Moon. The advanced elements of the 3rd Battalion bivouacked for the night near the bridge and on the north bank of the Elle. They were now only 13 km from Saint-Lô, but the town was not liberated until ... 6 weeks later, on July 18.(Source: Mairie de Moon-sur-Elle)Panel text:The 29th Infantry Division landed at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. On June 11, 1944, it reached the Elle River. The 175th Infantry Regiment liberated Moon-sur-Elle, the 115th Infantry Regiment liberated Sainte-Marguerite-d'Elle and the 116th Infantry Regiment was held in reserve near Cartigny-l'Épinay. The 1st battalion of the 115th regiment has been ordered to prepare to attack Le Pont de la Pierre at first light on June 12. Simultaneously, the 3rd battalion of the same regiment was preparing at Moulin Lévesque to attack Pont Jourdan near St Jean de Savigny.A powerful artillery and mortar barrage on German positions south of the Elle river preceded this attack. At 4:30 pm, the men of the 1st Battalion, led by Major Morris, began their descent down the hill, but before they could even get close to the bridge, German troops opened fire. For many hours, the 1st Battalion fought their way towards the bridge, but were unable to get close enough and were forced to dig in to consolidate their positions.The 3rd Battalion managed to cross the Pont Jourdan and advance towards Couvains when it became clear that they were the only troops to have crossed. To avoid being surrounded by the Germans, and for fear of being cut off, they retreated to the other side of the river. Major-General Gerhardt ordered an immediate second attack, supported by three Sherman tanks of the 745th Tank Battalion. The three tanks were almost immediately put out of action and the second attack was unable to continue. General Gerhardt now ordered the 2nd Battalion of the 116th Regiment to launch a new attack at 8pm. That evening, they were able to cross the bridge, break through the confused German lines and reach Saint Clair sur l'Elle by midnight.That same day, the 29th division counted around 540 casualties. Here at Pont de la Pierre, the 1st Battalion lost87 men: 15 killed and 72 wounded. One of the wounded died of his wounds two days later. This monument and its garden stand in memory of those 16 men who lost their lives here.Contribution and photo credit Mike @ Allied Victory Tours