Hello all, I am researching an uncle of mine who passed away in 2000. I was always told he was on Omaha Beach on either D Day or D Day +1. I Googled and found some pretty good info but wanted to see if the experts on here could share more, especially about when the 29th stormed the beaches. From what I was told by family members my Uncle Julius joined the 29th in March of 1941. Trained in Fort Meade, MD then headed over the England prior to the invasion. After the invasion his unit moved on to Saint Lo and then did occupation work on the Rhine (sp) till 1946 when he was shipped back to Maryland and left the Army in 1946. He was awarded 2 Purple Hearts so I know he saw some intense action. Could any of the experts on here verify the general info about the 19th infantry division (I believe also called the Light Division)? Thanks, Michael
A, E, F, & G Companies of the 116th Infantry Regiment/29th Infantry Division made the initial assaults on the Western half of Omaha Beach, with the 1st ID landing in the Eastern half (I think 16th and 18th IRs). Company C of the 2nd Rangers were on the extreme right of the 116th. Company A was wiped out, almost to the man, within the first 15-20 minutes of stepping off of the boats. The names of the survivors of the company are well known. You can read about these men in the book The Bedford Boys. The other companies faired somewhat better but still took daunting casualties trying to get off of the beach. The 115th Regiment/29th ID landed later that afternoon and I don't remember exactly when the 3rd regiment, the 175th, landed, but I think early on the morning of 7 June.
Thanks JW. So really I need to find out what company he was in? Darn - his military records say nothing other than the 29th?!?!? Just ordered the Bedford Boys.
What was his name? The Bedford Boys has the listing of all the men who survived the day. If he made it to St Lo, it is probable that he was not in A Company, which is the subject of the book.
His name is Julius Bianconi and he was from Baltimore, MD so I don't think he was in the Bedford group.
