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Date: June 7, 1944 |
Action: D-Day + 1 |
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Unit: 29th Infantry Division |
Location: Normandy, France |
"GENERAL DUTCH"
| Brig. Gen.
Norman "Dutch" Cota, assistant division commander of the 29th,
came on a group of infantry pinned down by some Germans in a farmhouse. He
asked the captain in command why his men were making no effort to take the
building.
"Sir, the Germans are in there, shooting at us," the captain replied. "Well, I'll tell you what captain," said Cota, unbuckling two grenades from his jacket. "You and your men start shooting at them. I'll take a squad of men and you and your men watch carefully. I'll show you how to take a house with Germans in it." Cota led his squad around a hedge to get as close as possible to the house. Suddenly, he gave a whoop and raced forward, the squad following, yelling like wild men. As they tossed grenades into the windows, Cota and another man kicked in the front door, tossed a couple of grenades into the house. The surviving Germans inside were streaming out the back door, running for their lives. Cota returned to the captain. "You've seen how to take a house," said the general, still out of breath. Do you understand? Do you know how to do it now?" "Yes, sir." "Well, I won't be around to do it for you again," Cota said. "I can't do it for everybody." |
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Source: |
Beyond the Beachhead: The 29th Division in Normandy |
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By: Joseph Balkoski with foreword by
Stephen E. Ambrose |
