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Walk Where They Fought: La Fière, 82d Airborne Division, D-Day 1944Martin K. A. Morgan | May 10, 2006 | 6 comments | Print | E-mail
Tour Point 5 – The Marais : At the base of the hillside upon which the Iron Mike statue is erected, the north-flowing Merderet River cuts across the open, marshy marais . In June 1944, the plain was completely flooded, which restricted maneuver and forced the causeway fight. Tour Point 6 – Stone/Masonry Bridge : To the south, the river flows under the D-15 where it is spanned by a narrow, stone masonry bridge. During the fighting on June 6-7, 505th paratroopers who were dug in on the west side of this bridge absorbed the full weight of the German armored counterattack.
Tour Point 7 – Causeway : Just beyond the western end of the bridge, the causeway bends slightly to the right before the straight 500-yard shot to Cauquigny. On June 6, 1944 , two A Company/505th paratroopers – Private First Class Lenold Peterson and Private Marcus Heim Jr. – occupied a foxhole on the south side of the road between the bridge and the bend in the causeway. They used an M-1A1 bazooka to disable one Hotchkiss H-38 and two Renault R-35 light tanks. In fact, when they ran out of ammunition for the bazooka, Heim sprinted across the road under enemy fire to retrieve additional 2.36-inch rockets. For their stand against the German tanks during the attack on La Fière, Peterson and Heim each were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Tour Point 8 – U.S. Artillery Position : When the preliminary bombardment for the assault across the causeway began at 10:30 a.m. on June 9, the 155 mm howitzers of the 345th Field Artillery Battalion were located in the hedgerows behind the manor. As 155 mm high explosive shells slammed into the German positions on the west bank of the Merderet, Soldiers of 1st/325th Glider Infantry were crouched along the low stone wall running along the east side of the mill. Tour Point 9 – Stone Wall : Although raked by enemy small-arms fire throughout the battle, this stone wall would serve as the jumping off point for glider infantrymen and paratroopers alike. When they left the relative safety of the wall, they stepped out onto the bridge itself. From the bridge, the La Fière causeway stretches 500 yards west to the village of Cauquigny . Although it is paved now, the causeway was a simple raised dirt road in June 1944. The causeway today is also far less overgrown than it was during the invasion when thick hedgerows and shrubs flanked both sides all the way to the west bank. Tour Point 10 – Causeway Road : As visitors cross the La Fière causeway today, it is easy for them to understand why so many of the men of the 3d/325th Glider Infantry sought protection on its sides during the D+3 attack. After six decades, the road’s elevation is still the same as it was during World War II. The 6-foot mound that it sits on top of keeps the road surface high and dry during seasonal floods, and on June 9, 1944 , it offered much-needed shelter from bullets and explosive shell fragmentation. Despite the fact that the causeway was overgrown with dense vegetation that day, its entire length was swept with deadly enemy fire. With that vegetation now largely gone, it is possible to see landmarks on the opposite bank, especially buildings of the village of Cauquigny. Tour Point 11 – Cauquigny Church : This tiny settlement consists of six stone masonry buildings and a community church. The church was heavily damaged by the preliminary bombardment on June 9, but was subsequently rebuilt using elements of the original structure. As glider infantrymen from the 325th and paratroopers from the 507th reached the end of the causeway, some disappeared into the hedgerows while others turned toward the church to engage German soldiers there. As more and more Americans poured across the causeway from La Fière, the Germans began to pull back toward Le Motey and Amfreville. Abundant evidence of the intense fighting can be seen today among the graves in the churchyard where bullet damage is plentiful.
Tour Point 12 – Medal of Honor Action Site : Just a few hedgerows beyond the church at Cauquigny is one of the most meaningful sites in all of Normandy . When the 1st/325th attacked Cauquigny from Timmes’ Orchard before dawn on June 9, one platoon of C Company was cut off and about to be overrun. This platoon’s 23-year-old BAR gunner, Private First Class Charles N. DeGlopper, volunteered to provide covering fire for his comrades so they could fall back to safety. DeGlopper then stepped out into the open and began shoulder-firing his weapon, instantly attracting the enemy’s attention. Although he was immediately hit, he reloaded and continued his one-man attack. With enemy bullets from multiple sources directed at him, DeGlopper soon fell dead.
For his gallant self-sacrifice at Cauquigny, Charles DeGlopper was posthumously awarded the 82d Airborne Division’s only Medal of Honor for the Normandy campaign. The site where this legendary action took place is just one of the many things that make the battlefield at La Fière a rewarding and meaningful place to visit. Martin K.A. Morgan , PhD, is a frequent visitor to Normandy, especially La Fière. He holds the position of Research Historian at the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is the author of “Down To Earth: The 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Normandy” (Schiffer, 2004). Pages: 1 2 3 4Help Armchair General by bookmarking to
           
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6 Comments to “Walk Where They Fought: La Fière, 82d Airborne Division, D-Day 1944”
Several years ago I accidently came upon the Fiere battlefield, as me and my brother were taking an independent personal WWII history tour of the Normandy area. Not knowing about the severity of the battle I was greatly moved being there. This article gives me much more information on the site. I live in Texas, USA and if I ever get to go back, I will make sure I get to this area again. I am 77 years old and missed the war by a few years but have always been interested in WWII. Thanks for this article.
By Bob Cason on Aug 22, 2008 at 4:00 pm
In June of 2007, I had the privelege of visiting and spending several days behind Utah beach studying the troop movements of the 82nd A/B. I spent an entire day at the La Fiere bridgehead. It never dawned on me how strategicaly important that battle was. I learned more by being there than I could ever learn reading about it. When you see, hear, touch and smell the little battlefield, it all comes in perspective.Had it not been for those brave men, the war would have surely turned on a differant course. The actions and bravery of those men will live forever in our hearts and minds. Thank you for posting such a wonderfull and insightful webpage.and a veyy special thanks to the men of the 82nd airborn.
By BRIAN BOWMAN on Sep 3, 2008 at 5:49 pm
In June of 2007, I had the privelege of visiting and spending several days behind Utah beach studying the troop movements of the 82nd A/B. I spent an entire day at the La Fiere bridgehead. It never dawned on me how strategicaly important that battle was. I learned more by being there than I could ever learn reading about it. When you see, hear, touch and smell the little battlefield, it all comes in perspective.Had it not been for those brave men, the war would have surely turned on a differant course. The actions and bravery of those men will live forever in our hearts and minds. Thank you for posting such a wonderfull and insightful webpage.and a veyy special thanks to the men of the 82nd airborn.
By BRIAN BOWMAN on Sep 3, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I first became aware of the LaFiere history in preparation for my first visit to Normandy in 1984. At the time, I was a Captain stationed in Giebelstadt, West Germany. My Aeroscout Platoon provided direct support to the 3ID’s Cav Sqdn (3/7 Cav) which had planned an Officer Professional Development (OPD) trip for the 40th Anniversary of DDay. The Army paid for bus transportation and each of us paid our own food/board and adult beverages. It was not all fun and games though, our group leader was LTC Shinseki the Sqdn Commander (later became the Chief of Staff of the Army) who expected each person to teach a class on site. While most of his personnel were tankers and were assigned various aspects of the assault and the breakout/pursuit, us aviators were assigned classes on the airborne operations. I had read SLA Marshall’s “Night Drop” and the LaFiere fight sounded interesting with many professional teaching points. I had always been interested in DDay since my Dad landed on Omaha beach on D+3 with an Ordnance unit assigned to 1st Army. He seldom talked about it, but my Mom (who was English) always talked about knowing something was happening when all the troops started convoying out, or were confined and the massive number of Airplanes departing the night before. Anyway back to 1984, the day prior to the class the bus parked in Ste. Mere Eglise and the four of us that were presenting the class hiked out to the Manoir. Along the way we talked to a Vet that was a pathfinder on DDay. He was climbing a gate into an orchard to show a magizine reporter where he had landed. We told him we were US Officers stationed in Germany and he said it was great to see young Americans interested in military history. He asked us to tag along so we climbed over with him. He had been back several times over the years and knew exactly which tree he landed in. He told us about hearing guys dropping into the water and yelling and gunfire seemed to be in all directions. He showed us were he crawled through the hedgerow to move toward the Manoir house. The best part of this experience was the day of the class we took everyone there and parked the bus on the side road where the Iron Mike is today (it wasn’t there in 84). Using charts, diagrams and map boards we presented a pretty thorough review of the battle and were able to point out many lessons learned focused on the principles of war. I read specific passages from various resource books and pointed out each location as we walked the area. After completing our part, I and another Captain were standing behind the group on the right side of the road facing the Merderet while one of the Lieutenants briefed his part. We spotted an elderly man at the house with several escort personnel that turned out to be from the Embassy and a French reporter. He was wearing an 82nd Association baseball hat, so we approached him to say Hi and he introduced himself as COL John Marr retired. I said, Sir are you the Lt Marr mentioned in SLA Marshall’s book and he said Yes!! We explained who we were (since we were in civies) and asked if he would tell us a little about his experience. From that point our class went out the window while we were all treated to a step by step (literally following his DDay footsteps) account of the taking of the Manoir, actions at the bridge, his excursion to contact Timmes and the crossing of the causeway. Our class went well over the time allotted but nobody minded. Since then I have been back twice and took my Dad in 2000 and 2004. I would highly recommend that any American visiting the area stop and see LaFiere, read-up on it first. I have been to Yorktown and Gettysburg, and this location will haunt you just the same. MAJ (Ret) D.E. Laack
By David Laack on Mar 6, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Thank God for the Late Syracuse Coach
Captain Floyd “Ben ” Swartzwalder
By Mike Hayden on May 8, 2009 at 11:49 am
My father served in the 82nd airborne 505 company B Lt Weinberg’s platoon. He would occasionally discuss the war including D-day, the parachute drop, and the action in Ste Mere Eglise.
His only comment about La Fiere was when he moved out to the position at the bridge ; he stated, “and then it began”.
It was too painful for him to remember. He had 4 combat jumps. In addition to D-Day, he fought in Sicily, Italy, Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, across the Siegfried line into Germany. He was one of the few of the original men in his company to survive the war.
I have read a number of descriptions of the battle at La Fiere bridge and it must have been terrible for the paratroopers. Low on ammo and supplies, facing large numbers of well equipped German troops supported by armor. My dad had a photo of the his company boarding a boat after their 30 some days of action in Normandy , and his company had about 2 dozen survivors.
By david jones on Oct 30, 2009 at 10:40 pm