Renseignements sur le 2ème régiment d'infanterie

Bonjour,
Je suis à la recherche de renseignement concernant un soldat du 2ème régiment d'infanterie de la 5ème D mort au combat le 19 juillet 1944. En effet, je souhaiterais connaitre les raisons du décès de ce soldat. Je sais qu'il est mort au combat (KIA) avec un autre soldat de son régiment, mais sans plus et sans connaitre le lieu malgré plusieurs lectures sur l'historique de la 5ème D. Si vous avez des infos, n'hésitez pas à me contacter!!!
A bientôt
Cyrille

Sans le nom du soldat, pas recherche possible

En effet, j'ai oublié de l'inscrire, désolél. Il s'agit du PFC William J CANTRILL du Michigan.

Après une petite recherche,  PFC William J CANTRILL du Michigan, il fut un des premier tuer au combat (le 19 juillet) de la division, la division touche la terre normande le 9 juillet et le premier engagement de la division le 25 juillet à Vidouville qui est à une quarantaine de km du bord de mer

Merci pour ces infos!!!! si j'ai de nouvelles infos, je les posterai!!! Je pense que les recherches vont être longues...
A bientôt
Encore merci
Cyrille

AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION
World War II Honor Roll


William J. Cantrill


Private First Class, U.S. Army

Service # 16021302

2nd Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division  

Entered the Service from: Michigan
Died: 19-Jul-44
Buried at: Plot I Row 18 Grave 24
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France  
Awards: Purple Heart

THE 5TH INFANTRY DIVISION


"RED DIAMOND"



5th ID Patch







NORMANDY BEACHHEAD



Rain was sacking into County Down, North Ireland, as usual, on the 2nd of July, 1944, when the majority of Red Diamond troops were informed that they were "sealed off" from the civilians and restricted to camp and billet, under secret departure orders. And it was raining, as usual, as the division converged on the harbor at Belfast by train and truck and embarked, on personnel and motor transports for an unknown shore. For division veterans, it was the fourth time in three years they had boarded gangplanks to shout their first names and serial numbers to answer to the call of their last names from passenger lists. They had boarded at Brooklyn of Boston for Iceland, at Reykjavik for England, at Cardiff for North Ireland in previous gangplanking. But this time they told each other "this is it, I may have gotten on a ship before but this time I get off on the battleground.
This is it.



It was. The division transports joined a large convoy that moved slowly southward through the Irish sea into the English Channel and to the coast of France, at Ste Mere Eglise. The beachhead had been won 33 days before, on June 6, and its price was reflected in the hulk of shipping that littered the approach to the beach. A fine mist filled the air the late afternoon of 9 July as troops clambered down the side of transports by cargo nets into Landing Craft, Tanks and Landing Craft Vehicles, personnel dressed in full field equipment, plus duffel bag. A very few troops waded ashore through two and three foot deep water from landing craft but the rest were disgorged from craft onto a steel ramp that fingered a hundred yards out to sea from the shore, and then walked ashore with full field and duffel bag. Troops hit the dune line of Utah Sugar Red Beach, dropped duffel bags and walked five miles to Transit Area B that night, starting out at daylight again to march early twenty miles to the division concentration area near Montebourg. The first impression of France was that it was hot, and full of shall-shattered towns, dead cows and signs everywhere that said "mines cleared to hedges" or "mines cleared to edge of road". A heavy, fetid smell was in the air, artillery rumble in the distance, planes were overhead constantly and it didn't take long for everyone to get the idea, neverthereafter forgotten, that a clean rifle and a good foxhole were the most important thing to see to before bivouacking for the night.



On landing, the division had been assigned to First Army and on the 11th was further assigned to V Corps. Orders were received 12 July for the 5th Division to relieve the veteran 1st Division in the lines in the Caumont sector. Relief, part of which was performed under artillery shelling by the Germans, was accomplished by 1500 hours 14 July.



Caumont was the southernmost salient of the beachhead and the left flank of the First Army. The British 11th Armored Division was on the left and the 2nd Infantry Division on the right. Caumont was a ten-day period of battle inoculation against the roughest outfits in the German army, the 3rd and 5th Parachute Divisions. Shelling was constant by both sides, as was patrolling activity. The remnants of the German air force also made nightly reconnaissances and bombings and strafings. On the left the British and the Germans were engaged in a terrific battle for Caen, with incessant artillery duels that kept the night times constantly aglow. On the right, the 2nd Infantry Division was slugging toe to toe with the Whermacht for St Lo.



Caumont was typical hedgerow country. Tall hedgerows and trees bordered small fields and there were many sunken roads which provided covered approaches under artillery fire but turned into mudholes when it rained.



On 23 July, the British took over the Caumont sector, the 15th Scottish Infantry Division relieving the 5th. After which the division, less the 2nd Infantry Combat Team and Division Artillery and attachments, moved to an assembly area, in vicinity of Cerisy la Foret. The 2nd Combat Team, supported by a fire support group from the 10th Infantry remained in position preparing for an attack to straighten out the first Army's line. Thus the men of the 2nd Infantry saw the toughest hedgerow fighting in the beachhead of the division troops.

Désolé du temps espacé pour répondre mais je ne t'oublie pas!! Merci beaucoup des infos!!! Je suis en contact avec l'arrière petite nièce du soldat et elle souhaite des renseignements sur le régiment et la division. Puis-je m'inspirer des tes infos pour lui expliquer?
Concernant le lieu du décès du soldat, peut être Caumont si j'ai bien compris? l'anglais n'est pas mon fort lol.
Encore merci, j'apprend pas mal de chose grâce à tes infos!!!
A bientôt
Cyrille