Colleville-sur-Mer in Calvados, Normandy, France — Western Europe
The 1st Infantry Division
Photographed by James Hulse, June 4, 2025
1. The 1st Infantry Division Marker
Omaha Beach - Caumont
June 6 (D-Day) Through July 24, 1944
On Omaha Beach, to your front, assault troops of the US First Infantry Division led the attack of V Corps, landing at 6.30 AM on June 6, 1944 (D-Day), The Big Red One soldiers encountered beach obstacles and fierce enemy fire from the bluffs which stopped their advance at the water's edge, an operation even more difficult than expected. Slowly, with support from naval gunfire, the Big Red One infantrymen advanced, with heavy casualties, to the top of the bluff on your left by late morning. At day's end, V Corps had a tenuous toehold 1 1/2 miles deep on the Normandy coast.
During the next week, the First Infantry Division attacked south some 23 miles to capture the high ground around Caumont which it held until late July, when the successful breakout operation was staged.
Medals of Honor for conspicuous heroism were awarded to three men for June 6th and to two more for June 10th. The names of 627 soldiers on this monument remind us of the heavy cost of that victory. Again, the Big Red One lived up to its motto - « No Mission Too Difficult, No
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Omaha Beach – Caumont
Du 6 juin (Jour J) au 24 juillet 1944
Sur la plage d'Omaha, en face de vous, les troupes d'assaut de la Première Division d'Infanterie américaine dirigèrent l'attaque du Vᵉᵐᵉ Corps en débarquant à 6 h 30 le 6 juin 1944 (Jour J). Les soldats de la Big Red One rencontrèrent des obstacles sur la plage et affrontèrent les tirs nourris de l'ennemi du haut des falaises, ce qui stoppa leur avancée au bord de l'eau - une opération rendue encore bien plus difficile que prévu. Lentement, en fin de matinée, lourdes pertes au soutien des tirs navals, mais subissant de très lourdes pertes humaines, les hommes de l'infanterie parvinrent en haut de la falaise située sur votre gauche. À la tombée de la nuit, le Vᵉᵐᵉ Corps fit une timide incursion de 2,4 km dans les terres normandes.
Pendant la semaine qui suivit, la Première Division d'Infanterie attaqua au sud, sur environ 37 km, afin de capturer les hauteurs autour de Caumont, qui jusqu'à la fin du mois de juillet, conditionnaient ainsi la réussite de l'opération de la Percée.
Des Médailles d'honneur furent remises à trois hommes pour actes d'héroïsme remarquable en date du 6 juin et à deux autres en date du 10 juin. Les noms des 627 soldats inscrits sur ce monument nous rappellent
Photographed by James Hulse, June 4, 2025
2. The 1st Infantry Division Marker
The view of the memorial along Omaha Beach.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is June 6, 1944.
Location. 49° 21.544′ N, 0° 50.899′ W. Memorial is in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandie (Normandy), in Calvados. It is on Rte du Capitaine Joe Dawson just west of Moulins, on the right when traveling west. The marker and memorial are located northeast of the Normandy American Cemetery parking lot. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandie 14710, France. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Un point d'appui allemand, le WN 62 / The WN62, a German strong point (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); General Dwight D. Eisenhower (about 240 meters away); Normandy American Memorial (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Normandy American Cemetery Chapel (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); La Fontaine Saint-Clair / The Saint-Clair Fountain (approx. one kilometer away); Morts pour la Patrie / Fallen for the Fatherland (approx. 1.2 kilometers away); À la mémoire de Bernard Anquetil / In memory of Bernard Anquetil
Photographed by James Hulse, June 4, 2025
3. The 1st Infantry Division Marker
The view as you walk up from the parking lot.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 86 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 28, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
