User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Cole’s bayonet charge

  1. #1

    tPF Moderator
    Points: 473,135, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 69.0%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsTagger First ClassYour first GroupVeteranRecommendation First ClassOverdrive
    Awards:
    Master Tagger
    DGUtley's Avatar tPF Moderator
    Karma
    200767
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Northeast Ohio
    Posts
    52,922
    Points
    473,135
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    17,060
    Thanked 46,037x in 24,874 Posts
    Mentioned
    886 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Exclamation Cole’s bayonet charge

    f710dc05-b536-4e2f-e4cd-95d56d202055.jpg


    The days after the Normandy landings showcased some of the finest acts of courage, gallantry and ferocity in World War II. Airborne units that dropped amid much chaos the night before D-Day
    [COLOR=var(--gold2)](Read our earlier article: Jumping into chaos)[/COLOR] had to scramble to capture and hold vital locations behind German lines. Hanging onto these locations tooth and nail allowed the forces coming ashore at the five beaches to link up into a single, secure foothold from where the liberation of Europe could begin. This article will detail the heroic and bloody charge of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole, which allowed the 101st “Screaming Eagles” Airborne Division to capture the town of [COLOR=var(--gold2)]Carentan[/COLOR], allowing Utah and Omaha Beaches to link up with each other.


    carentan.jpg

    The 101st Airborne Division, still reeling from numerous misjumps and heavy casualties the night before D-Day, was the nearest Allied unit to Carentan, and was thus charged with capturing the town. The attack would pit them against two battalions of their German counterparts, the elite paratroopers of the 6th Parachute Regiment from the [COLOR=var(--gold2)]2. Fallschirmjäger Division[/COLOR], who were supplemented by survivors from other units, including Eastern European soldiers who were either conscripted into or volunteered to serve in the German army. (The liberation of Carentan was also depicted in Episode three of the famous Band of Brothers miniseries.)


    22712a41-bd0e-1f16-51ab-6b84e44e457a.jpg


    d9b5085d-3f5b-b0aa-6cc8-5868a0c51518.jpg


    The furious charge, driven by the pent-up frustration and anger of the previous day of helpless suffering, drove the men across an open area about two football field's length and into the farm. The savage attack killed many Germans and forced the rest to flee the buildings and run into the hedgerows behind them. Cole's men now held the farmhouses, but the Germans were still in the hedgerows, and there was no let-up in the fighting. More and more paratroopers moved up from behind, joining Cole and his men in the bitter fight for every foot of land, including one quickly designated as the “[COLOR=var(--gold2)]Cabbage Patch[/COLOR]”. Sometimes, American and German soldiers were located on the two sides of the same hedgerow, firing at each other at point blank range through a layer of green vegetation.


    Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading his men across the causeway and capturing the farm despite suffering appalling casualties. His citation reads as follows:

    [COLOR=var(--gold2)]“For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty on 11 June 1944, in France. Lt. Col. Cole was personally leading his battalion in forcing the last 4 bridges on the road to Carentan when his entire unit was suddenly pinned to the ground by intense and withering enemy rifle, machinegun, mortar, and artillery fire placed upon them from well-prepared and heavily fortified positions within 150 yards of the foremost elements. After the devastating and unceasing enemy fire had for over 1 hour prevented any move and inflicted numerous casualties, Lt. Col. Cole, observing this almost hopeless situation, courageously issued orders to assault the enemy positions with fixed bayonets. With utter disregard for his own safety and completely ignoring the enemy fire, he rose to his feet in front of his battalion and with drawn pistol shouted to his men to follow him in the assault. Catching up a fallen man's rifle and bayonet, he charged on and led the remnants of his battalion across the bullet-swept open ground and into the enemy position. His heroic and valiant action in so inspiring his men resulted in the complete establishment of our bridgehead across the Douve River. The cool fearlessness, personal bravery, and outstanding leadership displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Cole reflect great credit upon himself and are worthy of the highest praise in the military service.”


    [/COLOR]75b3f743-bf84-074e-a03b-ba288c8f4c8a.jpg



    Cole's bayonet charge | Newsletter Archive | History Tours (beachesofnormandy.com)
    Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect. -- Woody Hayes​

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to DGUtley For This Useful Post:

    RMNIXON (06-10-2022)

  3. #2
    Original Ranter
    Points: 858,965, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 92.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialCreated Album picturesOverdrive50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    Awards:
    Posting Award
    Peter1469's Avatar Advisor
    Karma
    496537
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    NOVA
    Posts
    241,671
    Points
    858,965
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    153,211
    Thanked 147,547x in 94,399 Posts
    Mentioned
    2552 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    I have heard they no longer do bayonet training at the Infantry School. We did back in '87.

    What's the spirit of the bayonet? To kill. Kill or be killed.

    What makes the grass grow? Blood. Blood makes the grass grow.
    ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ


  4. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Peter1469 For This Useful Post:

    Common (06-10-2022),DGUtley (06-10-2022)

  5. #3

    tPF Moderator
    Points: 74,308, Level: 66
    Level completed: 51%, Points required for next Level: 1,142
    Overall activity: 14.0%
    Achievements:
    50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    Cletus's Avatar tPF Moderator
    Karma
    195692
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Posts
    32,309
    Points
    74,308
    Level
    66
    Thanks Given
    3,678
    Thanked 27,377x in 15,846 Posts
    Mentioned
    412 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Peter1469 View Post
    I have heard they no longer do bayonet training at the Infantry School. We did back in '87.

    What's the spirit of the bayonet? To kill. Kill or be killed.

    What makes the grass grow? Blood. Blood makes the grass grow.
    The new service rifle, which is a monumental waste of money doesn't even have a bayonet lug.
    “Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.” - Barry Goldwater

  6. #4
    Original Ranter
    Points: 858,965, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 92.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialCreated Album picturesOverdrive50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    Awards:
    Posting Award
    Peter1469's Avatar Advisor
    Karma
    496537
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    NOVA
    Posts
    241,671
    Points
    858,965
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    153,211
    Thanked 147,547x in 94,399 Posts
    Mentioned
    2552 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Cletus View Post
    The new service rifle, which is a monumental waste of money doesn't even have a bayonet lug.
    I figured.

    Did the M-4?
    ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ


  7. #5
    Points: 114,156, Level: 82
    Level completed: 17%, Points required for next Level: 2,494
    Overall activity: 62.0%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    RMNIXON's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    30548
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Posts
    30,790
    Points
    114,156
    Level
    82
    Thanks Given
    31,824
    Thanked 30,542x in 17,982 Posts
    Mentioned
    78 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    So what happens if we go hand to hand against well trained Chinese troops who will kill you by any means?
    My Revenge will be Success! - Donald J Trump

  8. #6

    tPF Moderator
    Points: 74,308, Level: 66
    Level completed: 51%, Points required for next Level: 1,142
    Overall activity: 14.0%
    Achievements:
    50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    Cletus's Avatar tPF Moderator
    Karma
    195692
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Posts
    32,309
    Points
    74,308
    Level
    66
    Thanks Given
    3,678
    Thanked 27,377x in 15,846 Posts
    Mentioned
    412 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Peter1469 View Post
    I figured.

    Did the M-4?
    Yes.

    “Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.” - Barry Goldwater

  9. #7

    tPF Moderator
    Points: 74,308, Level: 66
    Level completed: 51%, Points required for next Level: 1,142
    Overall activity: 14.0%
    Achievements:
    50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    Cletus's Avatar tPF Moderator
    Karma
    195692
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Posts
    32,309
    Points
    74,308
    Level
    66
    Thanks Given
    3,678
    Thanked 27,377x in 15,846 Posts
    Mentioned
    412 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by RMNIXON View Post
    So what happens if we go hand to hand against well trained Chinese troops who will kill you by any means?
    Maybe we should start issuing short swords.


    “Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.” - Barry Goldwater

  10. #8
    Points: 445,362, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 1.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialVeteran50000 Experience PointsOverdrive
    Common's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    339112
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    66,765
    Points
    445,362
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    8,785
    Thanked 18,315x in 10,924 Posts
    Mentioned
    396 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Peter1469 View Post
    I figured.

    Did the M-4?
    yes
    LETS GO BRANDON
    F Joe Biden

  11. #9
    Points: 445,362, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 1.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialVeteran50000 Experience PointsOverdrive
    Common's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    339112
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    66,765
    Points
    445,362
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    8,785
    Thanked 18,315x in 10,924 Posts
    Mentioned
    396 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    The intention was to replace bayonets which were issued to all boots...and replace them all with combat knives, Kbar

    The intention was that a bayonet on a rifle limited your movement and made you slower to react...and the knife corrected those deficientcies
    LETS GO BRANDON
    F Joe Biden

  12. #10

    tPF Moderator
    Points: 74,308, Level: 66
    Level completed: 51%, Points required for next Level: 1,142
    Overall activity: 14.0%
    Achievements:
    50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    Cletus's Avatar tPF Moderator
    Karma
    195692
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Posts
    32,309
    Points
    74,308
    Level
    66
    Thanks Given
    3,678
    Thanked 27,377x in 15,846 Posts
    Mentioned
    412 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Common View Post
    The intention was to replace bayonets which were issued to all boots...and replace them all with combat knives, Kbar

    The intention was that a bayonet on a rifle limited your movement and made you slower to react...and the knife corrected those deficientcies
    That was obviously thought up by someone who would never have to use either.
    “Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.” - Barry Goldwater

+ Reply to Thread

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts