Hémevez 7 American Parachutist Monument -82nd Airborne Division
Details:
On the northwest corner of the churchyard. Visible from the road.
Monument
A gray granite stele on a one-step base inscribed in French in gold lettering commemorating the seven American paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division who were executed by German forces on June 6, 1944, during the D-Day operations. The front of the memorial contains the commemoration message while on the back are the names and their ranks.
During the night of June 5-6, 1944, a group of paratroopers from the 507th PIR was mistakenly dropped north of the village of Hémevez, far from their intended drop zone. After landing, the paratroopers encountered a German convoy, leading to a brief firefight. The Americans were quickly overwhelmed and captured by the German forces.
At dawn, these seven captured paratroopers were executed by the Germans. They were shot in the back of the head and buried in a hastily dug pit. Later, a resident, Ernest Moucel, discovered the burial site. Along with other villagers, he exhumed the bodies and reburied them in the communal cemetery of Hémevez, ensuring they received a proper burial.
The massacre was part of a broader pattern of atrocities committed against Allied paratroopers during the D-Day operations, reflecting the brutal nature of the conflict in Normandy. The event was later investigated by the U.S. military, and it remains a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during the liberation of Europe.
Source of information: Warfare History Network, D-Day Overlord
Source of photos: www.google.com/maps
Monument Text:
À
LA MÉMOIRE
DES 7 PARACHUTISTES
AMÉRICAINS DE LA 82ème DIVISION
AÉRO-PORTÉE
EXÉCUTÉS
SUR LE TERRITOIRE DE
LA COMMUNE
LE 6 JUIN 1944
English Translation:
IN
MEMORY OF
THE 7 AMERICAN PARATROOPERS
OF THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION
EXECUTED
ON THE TERRITORY OF
THE COMMUNE
ON JUNE 6, 1944
At the back text:
EN
MEMOIRE
DES 7 PARACHUTISTES
PFC ELSWORTH M. HECK
PVT ANTHONY J. HITZTALER
PVT ANDREW W. KLING
PVT DELMAR C. MC ELHANEY
PFC DANIEL B. TILLMAN
PVT ROBERT G . WATSON
PVT ROBERT E . WERNER
English Translation:
IN
MEMORY OF
THE 7 AMERICAN PARATROOPERS
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne
82nd Airborne Division
United States Army
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Normandy Invasion
Other images :
