35th Infantry Division Belgium
A study group of the US 35th Infantry Division
Pictures: Saint-Lô - July 2009 (Page 1)
In July 2009, three members of the group went to Normandy to attend some of the commemorations for the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Saint-Lô.
It was going to be a great trip because we were going to meet some special people. The commemorations were attended by the family of SSgt. Carl J. Frantz (137th Infantry Regiment - passed away in 2004), by Colonel Huston and his wife (134th Infantry Regiment), by Neal Thomsen and his wife (son of Lt. Col. Thomsen - 134th Infantry Regiment), by a delegation of the current US 35th Infantry Division (Brig.-Gen. Petersen, Maj. Hynes and an Honor Guard of seven men), a delegation of the 35th Infantry Division Association Normandy, etc. During our trip, two new monuments were unveiled.
The first was for Lt. Col. Thomsen and was and is situated in the little French village Le-Mexnil-Rouxelin.
The second monument was for the enitire 35th Infantry Division. They helped, along with the 29th Infantry Division, to liberate the town of Saint-Lô. The monument is situated in Saint-Lô.
Together with the family of SSgt. Carl J. Frantz, we visited the place where this man got wounded. As a squad leader, he was ordered to attack early in the morning of July 11, 1944 (E-Comp., 137th Infantry Regiment). He, together with his BAR-Gunner, ran out of the hedgerows and was almost immediately hit by a German bullet in his belly. His BAR-gunner was also hit and died immediately. He took his M1 Garand and fired with one hand at the Germans. When he ran out of bullets, he took the BAR and used this weapon until he was sure that the rest of his platoon was safe. It took him another day to reach the Aid Station. He never returned to the war. For this action, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Carl passed away in 2004. More about SSgt. Carl J. Frantz can be found here (not online yet!).
The place where SSgt. Carl J. Frantz got wounded.
Kathryn Frantz (left), Carl's wife, at the same place where her husband got hit, talking about her him.
From left to Right: Susan, Kathryn, Peggy, Ed, Judy (the family of SSgt. Frantz), Jonathan, Kris and Thomas (members of the 35th Inf. Div. Belgium).
Contact: 35thinfantrydivision@gmail.com
Copyright - 35th Infantry Division Belgium - 2011