The 12th Infantry in World War Two

D-Day

Three regiments of the 12th Infantry participated in the invasion to liberate Nazi occupied Europe at Normandy: 12th INFANTRY REGIMENT: Colonel Russell P. "Red" Reeder, Jr. Commanding PROVISIONAL BATTALION Hq. & Hq. Co. Service Co. Anti-Tank Co. Cannon Co. Medical Detachment 1st BATTALION (1/12th Inf): Lt. Col. Charles Jackson Hq. & Hq. Co. Co. A : Captain John B. Holton Co B: Captain Irving Gray Co. C Co. D 2nd BATTALION (2/12th Inf): Lt. Col. Dominick Montelbano Hq. & Hq. Co. Co. E Co. F Co. G Co. H 3rd BATTALION (3/12th Inf) : Lt. Col. Thaddeus R. Dulin Hq. & Hq. Co. Co. I Co.K Co. L Co. M ATTACHED TO 12th RGT: Battery B, 42nd Field Artillery Bn. Co. B, 4th Engineers Co. B, 4th Medical Bn. Co. B, 70th Tank Bn. [Source: Johnson]

Mission "In the center of the beachead the 12th Infantry (Col. Russell P. Reeder), landing after H plus 4 hours, would advance with two battalions abrest to seize the high ground between Emondeville and the Merderet River. One battalion of the regimnt was at first designated as division reserve to pass to division control in the vicinity of Turqueville. By the late May change of plan, following the alteration of the airborne missions, the battalion was insteat released to regimental control and the 12th was assigned the additional mission of seizing a crossing over the Merderet at Port Brehay just southwest of the regiments main objective area." – pp 302 http://www.ibiblio.org

"Between D-Day and 31 July 1944, American rifle companies in Normandy lost 68.7 percent of their officers and 59.6 percent of their enlisted men. In June alone, the 12th Infantry Regiment lost 76 percent of its officers and 63 percent of its enlisted men." – Pg. 6 COMMAND CONTINUITY ON THE AIRLAND BATTLEFIELD No. 88-1 edited by Capt. Michael Foncannon