Thursday, April 19, 2012

"Jiggs" presented with the Presidental Unit Citation on September 27, 1944

"Rear Admiral C. H. Cotter, Pacific Budocks Director, made a trip to the Mirianas to personally present the Presidential Unit Citation to Edward E. Weston, BM1c, of Anna, Illinois. Weston earned the Citation in the invasion of Normandy, as a member of a crack Seebee demolition unit."

The Citations reads: "For outstanding performance in combat during the invasion of Normandy, June 6th, 1944. Determined and zealous in the fullfillment of an extremely hazardous mission, the Navy Combat Demolition Unit of Force "O" landed on the "Omaha Beach" with the first wave under devastating enemy artillery, machine-gun and sniper fire. With practically all explosives lost and with their force seriously depleted by heavy casualties, the remaining officers and men carried on gallantly, salvaging explosives as they were swept ashore and in some instances commandereering bulldozers to remove obstacles. In spite of these grave handicaps, the Demolition Crews succeeded initially in blasting five gaps through enemy obstacles for the passage of assault forces to the Normandy shore and within two days had sapped over 85 percent of the "Omaha Beach" area of German placed traps. Valiant in the force of grave danger and persistantly aggressive against fierce resistance, the Navy Combat Demolition Unit rendered daring and self-sacrificing service in the performance of a vital mission, thereby sustaining the high traditions of the United States Naval Service."

(This demoltion unit substained 53% casualties in the Normandy Invasion.)

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