Eisenhower pins medals on 24 from Fighting 1st Division
By Don Whitehead, Associated Press war correspondent
1st Infantry Division command post, France – (July 2, delayed)
Heroes of the Fighting 1st Division, who led the American assault on France and lived to cross that hellish strip of beach where so many fell, stood in the shade of the tall Normandy elms today and received an accolade from Gen. Eisenhower.
They had tried to clean the stains of battle from their clothing for the occasion, but still their uniforms showed they had just returned from the front, not far away.
No one cared about spit and polish with these men – least of all Gen. Eisenhower, who pinned Distinguished Service Crosses on the chests of 22 and gave the Legion of Merit award to two others.
These were the elite of the infantry regiment. They had come through a test as great as any soldier ever faced and by their courage and leadership had opened the way for thousands of troops to follow.
On lawn of old chateau
They stood at attention on the lawn of an old gray chateau when jeeps carrying Gen. Eisenhower, Lt. Gen. Omar N. Bradley and Maj. Gen. Leonard T. Gerow halted before their ranks.
Gen. “Ike” jumped out, smiling. He wore a garrison cap. an air force jacket belted at the waist, and his trousers stuffed into parachute trooper boots.
The three generals shook hands with Maj. Gen. C. R. Huebner, commanding the 1st Infantry Division, and an officer began reading the names of men receiving the awards.
“Brigadier General––”
I remembered that thunderous morning of D-Day when this tall, square-jawed man moved up and down the beach with absolute disregard for his own safety organizing the troops and moving them inland against strong points which were pouring murderous lire into our ranks.
“Colonel––”
The colonel had stood on the beach where thousands of men were pinned down by enemy fire and said in a quiet drawl: “Gentlemen, we are being killed on the beaches – let’s move inland and be killed.” His men surged forward and broke the German defenses.
Spearhead of assault
“Lt. Col. Herbert C. Hicks of Spartanburg, South Carolina…”
Troops of his command spearheaded the assault on the Atlantic Wall, and his gallantry and that of his men contributed greatly to D-Day’s success.
“Maj. Charles E. Tetgmeyer of Hamilton, New York…”
Under heavy fire, Maj. Tetgmeyer covered the length of the beach administering to wounded, then went repeatedly into the mine-strewn water to pull out wounded.
“Capt. Victor R. Briggs of New York…”
His unit was the first to come off the beach and he deliberately walked away across a minefield alone to draw enemy fire and give his men a chance to move up behind him.
“Capt. Kimbell R. Richmond of Ventnor, New Jersey…”
His assault boat ground 400 yards from the beach. He and his men swam on in through artillery and machine-gun fire and then attacked.
“Capt. Thomas M. Marendino of Ventnor, New Jersey…”
He led his men in a charge up a slope and overran a German strongpoint under heavy fire.
Took over command
“Lt. Carl W. Giles, Jr. of Gest, Kentucky…”
His landing craft was sunk by enemy fire. He swam ashore, pulled to safety three men hit in the water, and with most of the officers of his unit casualties he assumed command and carried out the mission.
And so on down the list to Pfc. Peter Cavaliere, Bristol, Rhode Island, who went forward to set up an observation post, was surrounded by Germans, shot eight and clung to the position.
As Gen. Eisenhower moved down the double rank, he spoke a few words to each man, asking him his job and where he was from in the United States. After pinning on the medals, he called the group around him.
He said:
I’m not going to make a speech, but this simple little ceremony gives me opportunity to come over here and through you say thanks. You are one of the finest regiments in our Army.
I know your record from the day you landed in North Africa and through Sicily. I am beginning to think that your regiment is a sort of Praetorian Guard which goes along with me and gives me luck.
I know you want to go home, but I demanded if I came up here that you would have to come up with me, You’ve got what it takes to finish the job.
If you will do me a favor when you go back, you will spread the word through the regiment that I am terrifically proud and grateful to them. To all you fellows, good luck, keep on top of them, and so long.
Eisenhower chats with young sergeant, his Kansas cousin
At the 2nd Infantry Division command post in Normandy, France (AP) –
Two kinsmen and soldiers – one a four-star general and the other a sergeant – met along the front recently and swapped Kansas hometown gossip.
They were Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and a relative who works in his expeditionary force – George T. Etherington, 24, of Abilene, Kansas.
During a tour of the Normandy battlefront, the commander’s English aide brought up the sergeant, who saluted and then shook the general’s hand while bystanders looked on curiously. In a moment they were trading the latest news from relatives.
Gen. Eisenhower said:
Let’s see, you’re my first cousin once removed. I had a letter from Florence (the sergeant’s mother) three weeks ago saying I’d run into you somewhere over here.
“Yes, sir,” replied Sgt. Etherington, who let the general do most of the talking.
He showed Gen. Eisenhower a copy of the Abilene Reflector Chronicle which had a picture of the general and his brother on the front page.
“I will send a message telling your mother about you,” Gen. Eisenhower promised. “How about your Uncle Will?”
After Gen. Eisenhower drove away in a jeep following a farewell handshake, someone asked Sgt. Etherington, “Why didn’t you ever tell anyone you were related to Gen. Eisenhower?”
The sergeant looked about in frustration before replying, “I did, but nobody would believe me.” Then he wheeled about on a small group of his buddies and demanded: “Well, now will you all believe I am related to him?”
