Ranger Names Plaque - Pointe du Hoc
Details:
On an inside wall in the visitor center.
Plaque
Four rectangular bronze plaques (headed by a commemorative plaque) containing the names of those who were killed in the battle of Pointe du Hoc from June 6-8, 1944. The plaques contain 80 names.
U.S. Army Rangers, 2nd Ranger Battalion, were assigned to capture and disable the German enemy six-gun 115-cm coast defense battery at Pointe du Hoc about three miles west of Omaha Beach. Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder, USA, led the men in a successful mission which was deemed an impossible mission. Despite an initial error in landing calculations, the Rangers, along with naval gunfire support, valiantly fought the Germans as they made their way up a perpendicular hill about 10 stories tall. At this point, they continued to fight the enemy who kept popping out of craters accessed by tunnels until reinforcements from 1st Battalion 116th RCT arrived the following day. At 11:30, on June 8, Pointe du Hoc was under Allied control. USS Saterlee (DD-626) provided support until relieved by USS Thompson (DD-627).
Source of information: www.history.navy.mil
Monument Text:
Commemorative plaque:
2nd RANGER Bn
IN MEMORY
OF THOSE RANGERS WHO
SO VALIANTLY GAVE THEIR LIVES
ON THIS SITE AND OMAHA BEACH AREA
6-8 June 1944
First plaque:
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Second plaque:
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Third plaque:
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Fourth plaque:
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Commemorates:
People:
Willis Charles "Bill" Caperton
Units:
2nd Ranger Battalion
Rangers
United States Army
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Normandy Invasion
Other images :
