40th anniversary of D-Day
Grandcamp-Maisy
Memorial and museum
An impressive memorial to two French squadrons (Guyenne and Tunisia) of the RAF Bomber Command stands near the harbor's northeast corner. It was dedicated in 1988. These two French heavy bomber units participated in the D-Day bombing of the nearby Maisy gun battery.
The newly opened Ranger Museum, dedicated to telling the story of the 2d U. S. Ranger Battalion and its assault on the Pointe du Hoc, is located further east on the Quai Crampon. Open daily during the summer 0900-1800. Admission charge.
Rangers Museum
Quai Crampon
14450 Grandcamp-Maisy
Tel: 02 31 92 33 51
Peregory, Frank D.
Rank and Organization: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company K 116th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division. Place and date: Grandcamp France, 8 June 1944. Entered Service at: Charlottesville, Va. Born. 10 April 1915, Esmont, Va. G.O. No.: 43, 30 May 1945.
Citation:
On 8 June 1944, the 3d Battalion of the 116th Infantry was advancing on the strongly held German defences at Grandcamp, France, when the leading elements were suddenly halted by decimating machinegun fire from a firmly entrenched enemy force on the high ground overlooking the town. After numerous attempts to neutralize the enemy position by supporting artillery and tank fire had proved ineffective, T/Sgt. Peregory, on his own initiative, advanced up the hill under withering fire, and worked his way to the crest where he discovered an entrenchment leading to the main enemy fortifications 200 yards away. Without hesitating, he leaped into the trench and moved toward the emplacement. Encountering a squad of enemy riflemen, he fearlessly attacked them with hand grenades and bayonet, killed 8 and forced 3 to surrender. Continuing along the trench, he single-handedly forced the surrender of 32 more riflemen, captured the machine gunners, and opened the way for the leading elements of the battalion to advance and secure its objective. The extraordinary gallantry and aggressiveness displayed by T/Sgt. Peregory are exemplary of the highest tradition of the armed forces.