Michael VETOVICH

“Musty”

Source : Frogman

CEMTERY TEMPORARY of Ruquet

 CEMETERY TEMPORARY of St Laurent/Mer N°3582

Story of Cemetery Temporary

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

Source : Frogman

by : maxdelussac

Early Life

Michael VETOVICH was born on October 23rd, 1921 in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, USA. His parents are Teofil “Tofi” and Nathalie Vetovich. His father Tofi was born in Poland. He had one older sister and 4 younger brothers. He lived with his family in 4th Avenue in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. He completed 4 years in Robinson Township High School in McKees Rocks close to Pittsburgh, PA. He was particularly known for his high achievements on the football team of his high school in 1941. Then, he became machinist apprentice in Lewis Foundry and Machine in Groveton.

Military
Michael Vetovich was drafted on October 6th, 1942 from Pittsburgh under the serial number 33307271 as Private. He joined the 330th regiment of the 83rd infantry “Thunderbolt” division that had been reactivated in August 1942. This regiment was in camp Atterbury, Indiana and instituted an outstanding training course based on the “Ranger” training. The regiment moved to Nashville, Tennessee to take part in the manoeuvres in July and August. At that time, the 2nd rangers battalion was recruiting and hard training in camp Forrest, Tennessee along with the 5th Ranger battalion. Both battalions were officially activated in September 1943 for one mission, to lead the invasion of Europe.
Michael Vetovich – who became Sergeant – might have shown exceptional skills during manoeuvres and been pushed to volunteer for trying the physical and intellectual entry selections to become a Ranger. He succeeded the tests and had been officially transferred to the Baker company, 2nd Ranger battalion on July 25th, 1943.
On September 4th after completing advanced combat training, the 2nd Battalion moved south to the U.S. Navy Scouts and Raiders School at Fort Pierce, Florida, for a tough amphibious training before moving to Fort Dix, New Jersey on September 16th. October 23rd found the battalion at Camp Richie in Maryland for intelligence training. On November 11th, the Rangers travelled to Camp Shanks in New York, as their last stop before departing for the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) on November 23rd, 1943. Six more months of specialized training awaited the 2nd Ranger, including an intense cycle of training with the famous Number 4 British Commandos. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James Earl Rudder, this battalion along with the 5th Rangers will experience a heavy baptism of fire on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, June 6th, 1944.

Source : Mike & Bushy Hartman

Early June 6th, 1944… The D-Day. .

The 2nd Rangers battalion came in Normandy with the HMS Prince Charles. It was divided in 3 task forces. Force A with companies D, E and F led by Colonel James Rudder which objective was to attack Pointe du Hoc at 6:30. Task Force B consisting in company C of the 2nd Rangers led by Captain Goranson was prepared to land at H+03 minutes at Charlie sector right after the first wave. Provisional Force C, led by Lieutenant-colonel Schneider, consisting in the 2nd Rangers Able and Baker companies along with the 5th Ranger Battalion rode the channel tides waiting for Rudder's message from Pointe-du-Hoc. Schneider waited until the appointed time of 07:00 for the "Praise the Lord" message. The time came and went but the Ranger continued to hold his position. Finally, at 07:15, he could delay no longer. The flotilla of twenty LCAs turned to plan B and make their run-on Omaha Beach 60 minutes after the 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th division, that earlier experienced almost 90% casualty rate at the landing in Dog Green sector, what will appear as the most dangerous area in any landing that day.
The 2nd Rangers companies A & B approached first. Vetovich was part of this wave. Each of the 4 LCAs contained around 34 rangers. At 07:30, Companies A & B hit the shore in the Dog Green sector in front of the Vierville village and German positions WN 71, 72 & 73, sustaining over fifty percent casualties before they even made the beach. The LCA of the 2nd platoon, company B hit a mine, all the men had to swim and struggle in the water to reach the beach losing equipment and weapons. As the other LCAs ramps dropped, the German defenders opened fire, unloading on the disembarking Rangers with a heavy concentration of fire. The fires were so intense, and some Rangers took nearly thirty minutes to struggle through the water to reach the beach. Only 30 men out of the 68 in the B company reached the base of the Atlantic wall. Offshore, Schneider observed the overwhelming struggle and carnage faced by the 2nd Ranger companies. Realizing that the landing effort had been "a disaster," he decided not to wastefully throw his 5th battalion away. Ordering the remaining fifteen LCAs to move east down the coastline, he found a quieter, relatively speaking, sector of Dog Red and commenced his assault at 07:45. Shortly after landing, Lieutenant-Colonel Schneider will hear Brigadier-General Norman Cota telling him the famous “Rangers, lead the way !!”.

Death and Burial

“Staff Sergeant Michael Vetovich, surrounded by mortally wounded men, could pass through [the heaviest experienced mortar and machine gun fire]. Dead bodies were all around the beach; he used them as shields, avoiding the enemy projectiles that tried to reach him.. Shortly after, out of breath, he fell to his knees then made his way towards the rocks. He glanced behind him to see how his men were progressing, then he raised his head to look beyond the rocks to what faced him. He was immediately hit by the precise fire of a sniper.”
C company platoon leader, Capt. Sidney Salomon also wrote in his journal: “Vetovich was killed instantly by a sniper's bullet just as he reached the edge of the rocks”. Michael Vetovich was reported KIA on the 6th of June 1944 such as 11 other men of the B company. 2 were reported Missing in Action and 16 Wounded in action and 4 were lightly wounded. Company A, B and C then joined up and “together barely made one full Ranger company” to attack Vierville village.
Michael Vetovich had been buried first at the temporary cemetery, Le Ruquet in Saint Laurent sur Mer before being definitely buried in Colleville cemetery, plot I, row 16, grave 4 where he rests in peace. For being killed in action, he is recipient of the Purple Heart medal.

In his tribute, he more than deserves the Requiem for a soldier:

“You never lived to see, What you gave to me, One shining dream of hope and love,

Life and liberty,

With a host of brave unknown soldiers,

For your company you will live forever,

Here in our memory

In fields of sacrifice, Heroes paid the price,

Young men who died for old men's wars,

Gone to paradise,

We are all one great band of brothers,

And one day you'll see - we can live together,

When all the world is free

I wish you'd lived to see, All you gave to me, Your shining dream of hope and love,

Life and liberty,

We are all one great band of brothers,

And one day you'll see - we can live together,

When all the world is free”