Just of the road on the park’s edge next to a garage.

A concrete slab about 8 feet tall with the Division Symbol of the 29^th Infantry Division on the upper corner with an inscribed brass plaque in the center.

The monument remembers the 175^th Infantry Regiment (5^th Maryland) of the 29^th “Blue and Gray” Infantry Division that fought a tough 12 hour battle here on June 18, 1944.

The 1^st Battalion of the 175^th Infantry Regiment held this position on Hill 108 which became known as “Purple Heart Hill” during this battle just weeks after landing during the Normandy invasion. 1^st Battalion suffered over 200 casualties.

175th Infantry Regiment (5th Maryland), 29th Infantry Division

Hill 108 (Purple Heart Hill)

June 18, 1944

At 8:30 AM June 18, the enemy initiated a severe artillery bombardment followed by a strong counterattack against the 1st Battalion.  Heavily outnumbered, [they] stalwartly held their ground. Nearly surrounded, running low on ammunition, and out of communication with its supporting artillery unit, … the Battalion held on for more than twelve hours of combat at point blank range….  By dusk, the 1st Battalion had suffered more than 200 casualties, but had yielded not a foot of ground.”