John  P WHITEHEAD

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

On the 12 of June 1944 , the 29^th infantry division received the order to attack his objective and for that to cross the river Elle.

The 175^th infantry regiment was on standby along the river Vire.

The 115^th infantry regiment attak , moving to the south.

The german troups moved back o the south bank of the river Elle, after a long artilleryfire the 115^th charge.

Quickly they are blocked by mortar shot and german infantry response , tanks help also the german troops ( one panzer will be detected and destructed).

The 115^th deplored a lot of fatalities during the starting of the assault.

Flanks of the first battalion are exposed along a road and suddenly german vehicles appear on the road.

The german troops cut the battalion from his rear lines.

They are surronded suffering mortars that crush Us soldiers. They ran out of ammo and the Cne Whitehead is fatally shot during this period.

This day all the units of the 29^th division has to fall back under the german counter-attack and came back to their first position on the north of the river Elle.

For example, the first battalion of the 116^th infantry regiment lost 116 soldiers and had 164 wounded .

The infantry units were pulled through a bad time by the intervention of the 110^th field artillery battalion.