Basil Paul LITTLETON

“Cotton”

Parents : Frank & Myrtle Mae Light Littleton

Siblings : Nora Frances, Geneva Gertrude, Orlan, Jay C., Frank, Newt Mac & Billy G

Source : Allen D. Jackson, USAF (Ret)

CEMTERY TEMPORARY of St James N°3578

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

Map of St James American Cemetery

Source : Susan Littleton Hatchett

Source : Susan Littleton Hatchett

Basil was born in Sullivan County, Tennessee on 29 October 1924. He moved at a very young age with his family to Jonesborough, Washington County, Tennessee.

Basil enlisted in the United States Army on 10 September 1943 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. He completed training at Fort McPherson, Georgia, Camp Shelby, Mississippi and Fort George G. Meade in Maryland. Basil was assigned to the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry (Indianhead) Division and sent to Northern Ireland. He completed his training with them here and in Wales.

Their preparations for the invasion of France and Fortress Europe were completed in May 1944 and they relocated to southern England for their trip across the English Channel. Basil landed on Omaha Beach with his unit on D+1 (7 June 1944) near St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France. The rest of the 2nd off-loaded on the 8th and they crossed the Aure River on the 9th and liberated Trevieres, France on 10 June. Afterwards, it was on to St. Lo, but first Hill 192, a key German strongpoint on the road to St. Lo had to be taken.

Hill 192 was being guarded by the 5th and 9th Parachute Regiments of the 3rd Parachute Division, Wehrmacht (German Army). A battle hardened and very experienced fighting force that was dispatched from Brittany to stop the American advance. Basil and the 2nd halted near Hill 192 on 17 June to await supplies and more American units to arrive. On 11 July the order was given to take the hill and the 2nd had the honor. The 38th Infantry Regiment started their assault at 0545 hours (5:45am) and Basil's regiment, the 23rd moved to secure the St. Lo-Bayeux Road. After securing both objectives and after 56 days of combat the 2nd was given a short rest to receive replacements and to resupply.

They reentered the fight at the Battle of St. Lo on 26 July and after the breakout from St. Lo, Basil and the 2nd crossed the Vire River and liberated Tinhebray, France on 15 August 1944. The 2nd then raced 300 miles west towards the port city of Brest, France. Brest a very heavily defended fortress was a major port for the German Navy's Wolf Packs, U-Boat Force (submarines). It was here during the Battle for Brest that Basil was Killed in Action on 10 September 1944, exactly one year from the date he enlisted. Basil was 19 years old and participated in two Unit Campaigns: Normandy and Northern France, he was awarded the Purple Heart.

Basil's the son of Franklin Littleton, Senior and Myrtle Mae Light.

His older brothers Orlan and Frank, Junior also served in the United States Army during World War II.

2^nd INFANTRY DIVISION - INDIAN HEAD

Activated/Activé	Normandy/Normandie
26 Octobre 1917	Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  303
	Casualties/Victimes 16 795
Entered Combat/Entré au combat
8 Jun 44 Normandy
Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux Maj. Gen. John C. H. Lee (Nov 41 - May 42) Maj. Gen. Walter M. Robertson (May 42 - Jun 45) Brig. Gen. W. K. Harrison (Jun 45 - Sep 45) Maj. Gen. Edward M. Almond (Sep 45 - Jun 46)	Campaigns/Campagnes Normandy (6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44) Northern France (25 Jul 44 - 14 Sep 44) Rhineland (15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45) Ardennes-Alsace (16 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45) Central Europe (22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45)
PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP
DIVISION CHRONICLE After training in Ireland and Wales from October 1943 to June 1944, the 2d Infantry Division crossed the channel to land on Omaha Beach on D plus 1, 7 June 1944, near St. Laurent-sur-Mer. Attacking across the Aure River, the Division liberated Trevieres, 10 June, and proceeded to assault and secure Hill 192, the key enemy strongpoint on the road to St. Lo. With the hill taken 11 July 1944, the Division went on the defensive until 26 July. Exploiting the St. Lo break-through, the 2d Division advanced across the Vire to take Tinchebray 15 August 1944. The Division then moved west to join the battle for Brest, the heavily defended fortress surrendering 18 September 1944 after a 39-day contest. The Division took a brief rest 19-26 September before moving to defensive positions at St. Vith. The German Ardennes offensive in mid-December forced the Division to withdraw to defensive positions near Elsenborn, where the German drive was halted. In February 1945 the Division attacked, recapturing lost ground, and seized Gemund, 4 March. Reaching the Rhine 9 March, the 2d advanced south to take Breisig, 10-11 March, and to guard the Remagen bridge, 12-20 March. The Division crossed the Rhine 21 March and advanced to Hadamar and Limburg, relieving elements of the 9th Armored Division, 28 March. Advancing rapidly in the wake of the 9th Armored, the 2d Division crossed the Weser at Veckerhagen, 6-7 April, captured. Gottingen 8 April, established a bridgehead across the Saale, 14 April, seizing Merseburg on the 15th. On the 18th the Division took Leipzig, mopped up in the area, and outposted the Mulde River; elements which had crossed the river were withdrawn 24 April. Relieved on the Mulde, the 2d moved 200 miles, 1-3 May, to positions along the GermanCzech border near Schonsee and Waldmunchen, and attacked in the general direction of Pilsen, reaching that city as the war in Europe ended.	CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION Après s'être entraînée en Irlande et au Pays de Galles d'octobre 1943 à juin 1944, la 2e Division d'infanterie traverse le chenal pour débarquer à Omaha Beach le jour du 1er au 7 juin 1944, près de Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. Attaquant de l'autre côté de la rivière Aure, la division libéra Trévires, le 10 juin, et attaqua et sécurisa la colline 192, le principal point d'appui de l'ennemi sur la route de Saint-Lô. Avec la montée de la colline le 11 juillet 1944, la division est passée sur la défensive jusqu'au 26 juillet. Exploitant la percée de Saint-Lô, la 2 e division avança à travers la Vire pour prendre Tinchebray le 15 août 1944. La division se dirigea ensuite vers l'ouest pour rejoindre la bataille de Brest, la forteresse fortement défendue capitulant le 18 septembre 1944 après un combat de 39 jours. La division a pris un peu de repos du 19 au 26 septembre avant de passer à des positions défensives à St. Vith. L'offensive des Ardennes allemandes à la mi-décembre a contraint la division à se replier vers des positions défensives près d'Elsenborn, où la campagne allemande a été stoppée. En février 1945, la division attaqua, reprenant le terrain perdu et s'empara de Gemund le 4 mars. Atteignant le Rhin le 9 mars, le 2d s'avance vers le sud pour prendre Breisig, 10-11 mars, et pour garder le pont de Remagen, du 12 au 20 mars. La Division a traversé le Rhin le 21 mars et a avancé à Hadamar et Limburg, en soulageant des éléments de la 9ème Division Blindée, le 28 mars. Avançant rapidement dans le sillage de la 9ème Armored, la 2d Division a traversé la Weser à Veckerhagen, 6-7 avril, capturé. Göttingen, le 8 avril, établit une tête de pont à travers la Saale, le 14 avril, s'emparant de Merseburg le 15. Le 18, la division s'empare de Leipzig, épongée dans la région, et a quitté la rivière Mulde; les éléments qui avaient traversé la rivière ont été retirés le 24 avril. Relâché sur la Mulde, le 2d se déplace de 200 miles, 1-3 mai, à des positions le long de la frontière Tchécoslovaque près de Schonsee et Waldmunchen, et attaque dans la direction générale de Pilsen, atteignant cette ville comme la guerre en Europe a pris fin.

Source : Lois Gilbert

Parents : Frank & Myrtle Mae Light Littleton

Siblings : Nora Frances, Geneva Gertrude, Basil P , Jay C., Frank, Newt Mac & Billy G

US Army

WW2

Frank LITTLETON Jr

“Junior”

Source : Susan Littleton Hatchett

Parents : Frank & Myrtle Mae Light Littleton

Siblings : Nora Frances, Geneva Gertrude, Basil P , Jay C., Frank, Newt Mac & Billy G

US Army

WW2