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2010 SESSION
10104571DPatrons-- Hanger, Barker, Blevins, Colgan, Deeds, Edwards, Herring, Houck, Howell, Hurt, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, Marsh, Martin, McDougle, McEachin, McWaters, Miller, J.C., Miller, Y.B., Newman, Norment, Northam, Obenshain, Petersen, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Reynolds, Ruff, Saslaw, Smith, Stosch, Stuart, Ticer, Vogel, Wagner, Wampler, Watkins and Whipple
WHEREAS, June 6, 2010, is the 66th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion, commonly known as D-Day; this epic and decisive moment in World War II helped defeat Nazi rule in Europe and was the most massive military operation in world history; and
WHEREAS, the only National Guard division of the United States Army selected to participate in the initial assault on the coast of France was the 29th Infantry Division of the Virginia-Maryland-District of Columbia National Guard; this division was assigned as its objective that beach sector designated Omaha, which because of the fierce resistance encountered there soon became known as “Bloody Omaha”; and
WHEREAS, Virginia’s historic “Stonewall Brigade,” the 116th Infantry Regiment, was chosen to be in the first wave at Omaha and, after a bloody battle on the beach, finally succeeded in taking the high ground above it, and thus secured a beachhead in France; when “the Longest Day” ended, the courageous regiment of over 3,100 soldiers had suffered 1,107 casualties; and
WHEREAS, joining the 116th Infantry Regiment in the assault was Virginia’s 111th Field Artillery Battalion and other smaller units from the Virginia National Guard, all elements of the 29th Infantry Division; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia communities represented in the D-Day Invasion were:
116th Infantry Regiment (Stonewall Brigade)
Headquarters and Headquarters Company-Roanoke
Anti-Tank Platoon-Roanoke
Medical Department Detachment-Staunton & Wytheville
Service Company-Roanoke
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion-Roanoke
Company A-Bedford
Company B-Lynchburg
Company C-Harrisonburg
Company D-Roanoke
Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion-Altavista
Company E-Chase City
Company F-South Boston
Company G-Farmville
Company H-Martinsville
Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion-Winchester
Company I-Winchester
Company K-Charlottesville
Company L-Staunton
Company M-Emporia
29th Infantry Division Band (Virginia portion)-Roanoke
29th Signal Company-Norfolk
29th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop-Berryville
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 29th Infantry Division Artillery-Richmond
111th Field Artillery Battalion (First Virginia Artillery)
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery-Norfolk
Service Battery-Newport News
Battery A-Richmond
Battery B-Norfolk
Battery C-Portsmouth
227th Field Artillery Battalion (formerly 2nd Battalion, 111th Field Artillery)
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery-Richmond
Service Battery-post mobilization organization-no Virginia community
Battery A-Hampton
Battery B-Richmond
Battery C-Fredericksburg
WHEREAS, many brave individuals participated in the Normandy Invasion and all who worked so hard and fought so valiantly are honored as heroes; and
WHEREAS, General George C. Marshall, United States Army Chief of Staff, helped plan the Allied invasion of France; he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute as First Captain of the Corps of Cadets in 1901; and
WHEREAS, a former commander of the 29th Infantry Division, Lieutenant General Leonard Gerow was promoted to command the V Corps (Fifth Corps), made up of the 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions, which were the first troops to land on Omaha Beach; he was a native of Petersburg and a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, Class of 1911; and
WHEREAS, on June 8, 1944, Technical Sergeant Frank D. Peregory of Charlottesville’s Company K, from the 116th Infantry Regiment, single-handedly killed or captured over 25 enemy soldiers, earning the Congressional Medal of Honor, only to be killed in action six days later; and
WHEREAS, a graduate of The Citadel’s Class of 1929 and a teacher and coach at Staunton Military Academy, Major Thomas D. Howie of Staunton’s Company L, best known as “the Major of St. Lo,” was killed in action on July 17, 1944, while in command of the 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry, during its final drive to capture the strategic city of Saint-Lô; and
WHEREAS, commander of the 111th Field Artillery Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Thornton L. Mullins of Richmond, after his unit lost all of its guns but one in the English Channel when its landing craft were either swamped or destroyed by enemy fire, was killed in action while leading a band of survivors and destroying several enemy positions; he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the United States Army’s second highest award for valor; and
WHEREAS, today, the 116th Infantry Regiment and other Virginia National Guard units of soldiers and airmen maintain a proud tradition with troops deployed in harm’s way in the War on Terrorism, such as the mobilization to Iraq of the 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry on January 6, 2010, and two deployments to Afghanistan of the 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry accompanied by several Embedded Transition Teams drawn from across the Virginia Army Guard, including the 116th Infantry’s Brigade Combat Team; and
WHEREAS, since the start of the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, nearly 10,000 men and women of the Virginia National Guard have served in one or both conflicts, many on multiple tours, and a total of 13 members have died on active duty protecting our liberties, and it is fitting we honor and remember their service and sacrifices; and
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia and its citizens are indebted to and thankful for the D-Day soldiers, their successors in the ranks of the Virginia National Guard today, and their families for their valiant service and enormous sacrifice; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly commend the 29th Infantry Division of the Virginia-Maryland-District of Columbia National Guard and the Virginia communities represented in the Normandy Invasion, on the 66th anniversary of D-Day that occurred on June 6, 1944, honoring the brave troops who served there, especially the soldiers of the Stonewall Brigade, 116th Infantry Regiment who fought in the first wave of attack and the 111th Field Artillery Battalion, both of which are a part of the 29th Infantry Division; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the General Assembly acknowledge the efforts of the Virginia National Guard to commemorate the Normandy Invasion with a Day of Awareness to remind Virginians of the sacrifices made to preserve their freedoms by those who fought on D-Day and by the men and women of the Virginia National Guard who continue to fight around the world to protect liberty for their countrymen; and, be it
RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Major General Robert B. Newman, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, on behalf of the General Assembly in recognition of the soldiers of the 29th Infantry Division of the Virginia-Maryland-District of Columbia National Guard and the Virginia communities represented in the Normandy Invasion who fought at Normandy and on into the heart of Germany to help bring about the final victory over Nazi tyranny.