Dad wasn't part of this action, he was too busy being surrounded at Timmes' Orchard about one mile to the northwest (We're paratroopers, we're supposed to be surrounded). This action is when the rest of the 507th, as well as various other units from the 82nd Airborne, including glider troops, charged across a very narrow causeway to break through and make contact with the stranded elements of the 507th (including the group dad was with) who were on the west side of the river. A very courageous charge - because of the flooding they had to charge over open ground ("Hey diddle diddle, straight up the middle" as my old drill sergeant would say).
The "Iron Mike" monument to the 507th and other airborne units who participated, overlooking the bridge. Iron MIke represents the fighting spirit of the Airborne.
Kyle and I at the base of Iron Mike. Timmes Orchard is about a mile away to the left of the photo;
Looking towards Timmes' Orchard from Iron Mike. That entire area would have been under water.
A very small river, but steep sides. It can only be crossed at the bridge.
Malcom point sout where the positions of the American bazooka teams were. The bridge is just off camera to the right.
The other side of the causeway - the church at Cauquigny, the scene of very heavy fighting. The battle damage is still visible in places.
Other monuments and plaques that are close to "Iron Mike."
This particular one is on the same hill as Iron Mike
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The 507th was not a permanent part of the 82nd, they were only attached for the Normandy Invasion (replacing the 504th that hadn't recovered from Anzio in time). Consequenrly, many of the early monuments to the 82nd forgot all about them, so in the early 90s they decided to make their own. The pictures below are of the monumnet specifically to the 507th at Amfreville.
Maps outlining their campains and movement in Normandy, The Bulge and Germany. I have these maps in books
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