Chain of Command
6th Naval Beach Battalion. The French Government awarded all the members of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion the French Croix de Guerre for bravery. In 2000, the 6th Naval Beach Battalion was finally awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. It should be noted, the 6th Naval Beach Battalion is the only Navy Unit to ever receive the Army version of the Presidential Unit Citation.
Other Memories
In the early morning hours of June 6th, 1944, Amin Isbir, the oldest sailor of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion, Platoon C-8, was onboard LCI-L #88 along with soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division and those of the 5th Special Engineers Brigade heading on a eastern course towards Omaha Beach, Easy Red One sector. An LCI-L or Landing Craft Infantry Large, carried about 200 troops and their cargo. Amin Isbir was killed in action, in the line of duty, that morning.
Criteria The Purple Heart may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the Armed Forces, has been wounded, kill... The Purple Heart may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the Armed Forces, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may die of wounds received in armed combat or as a result of an act of international terrorism. MoreHide
Comments Amin Isbir was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the family received statements from the French Government and President Roosevelt honoring his service and sacrifice. The French Government al... Amin Isbir was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the family received statements from the French Government and President Roosevelt honoring his service and sacrifice. The French Government also awarded him and all the members of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion the French Croix de Guerre for bravery. In 2000, the 6th Naval Beach Battalion was finally awarded the Army's Presidential Unit Citation. MoreHide
Criteria The Presidential Unit Citation may be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or aft... The Presidential Unit Citation may be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or after December 7, 1941. MoreHide
Description Amin Isbir was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the family received statements from the French Government and President Roosevelt honoring his service and sacrifice. The French Government al... Amin Isbir was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the family received statements from the French Government and President Roosevelt honoring his service and sacrifice. The French Government also awarded him and all the members of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion the French Croix de Guerre for bravery. In 2000, the 6th Naval Beach Battalion was finally awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. It should be noted, the 6th Naval Beach Battalion is the only Navy Unit to ever receive the Army version of the Presidential Unit Citation.
"The extraordinary gallantry, heroism, and determination displayed in overcoming unusual difficulties and hazardous conditions and the esprit de corps displayed by the 6th Naval Beach Battalion contributed materially to the capture of Omaha Beach and reflect highest credit on personnel of this organization and the Armed Forces of the United States." MoreHide
Criteria The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, ... The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal was awarded for for qualifying service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946, under any of the following conditions: On permanent assignment within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater; or, For service in a passenger status or on temporary duty status for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or, For service in active combat in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat. MoreHide
Description Amin Isbir was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the family received statements from the French Government and President Roosevelt honoring his service and sacrifice. The French Government al... Amin Isbir was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the family received statements from the French Government and President Roosevelt honoring his service and sacrifice. The French Government also awarded him and all the members of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion the French Croix de Guerre for bravery. In 2000, the 6th Naval Beach Battalion was finally awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. MoreHide
Criteria
The World War II Victory Medal commemorates military service during the Second World War.
Description Amin Isbir was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the family received statements from the French Government and President Roosevelt honoring his service and sacrifice. The French Government al... Amin Isbir was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the family received statements from the French Government and President Roosevelt honoring his service and sacrifice. The French Government also awarded him and all the members of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion the French Croix de Guerre for bravery. In 2000, the 6th Naval Beach Battalion was finally awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. MoreHide
Description The Normandy landings (codenamed Operation Neptune) were the landing operations on 6 June 1944 (termed D-Day) of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. The largest The Normandy landings (codenamed Operation Neptune) were the landing operations on 6 June 1944 (termed D-Day) of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. The largest seaborne invasion in history, the operation began the invasion of German-occupied western Europe, led to the restoration of the French Republic, and contributed to an Allied victory in the war.
Planning for the operation began in 1943. In the months leading up to the invasion, the Allies conducted a substantial military deception, codenamed Operation Bodyguard, to mislead the Germans as to the date and location of the main Allied landings. The weather on D-Day was far from ideal, but postponing would have meant a delay of at least two weeks, as the invasion planners had requirements for the phase of the moon, the tides, and the time of day that meant only a few days in each month were deemed suitable. Hitler placed German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in command of German forces and of developing fortifications along the Atlantic Wall in anticipation of an Allied invasion.
The amphibious landings were preceded by extensive aerial and naval bombardment and an airborne assault—the landing of 24,000 British, US, and Canadian airborne troops shortly after midnight. Allied infantry and armoured divisions began landing on the coast of France starting at 06:30. The target 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the Normandy coast was divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword Beach. Strong winds blew the landing craft east of their intended positions, particularly at Utah and Omaha. The men landed under heavy fire from gun emplacements overlooking the beaches, and the shore was mined and covered with obstacles such as wooden stakes, metal tripods, and barbed wire, making the work of the beach clearing teams difficult and dangerous. Casualties were heaviest at Omaha, with its high cliffs. At Gold, Juno, and Sword, several fortified towns were cleared in house-to-house fighting, and two major gun emplacements at Gold were disabled using specialised tanks.
The Allies failed to achieve all of their goals on the first day. Carentan, St. Lô, and Bayeux remained in German hands, and Caen, a major objective, was not captured until 21 July. Only two of the beaches (Juno and Gold) were linked on the first day, and all five bridgeheads were not connected until 12 June. However, the operation gained a foothold that the Allies gradually expanded over the coming months. German casualties on D-Day were around 1,000 men. Allied casualties were at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead. Museums, memorials, and war cemeteries in the area host many visitors each year.
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings (Operation Neptune, commonly known as D-Day). A 1,200-plane airborne assault preceded an amphibious assault involving more than 5,000 vessels. Nearly 160,000 troops crossed the English Channel on 6 June, and more than three million allied troops were in France by the end of August.
The decision to undertake a cross-channel invasion in 1944 was taken at the Trident Conference in Washington in May 1943. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was appointed commander of Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), and General Bernard Montgomery was named as commander of the 21st Army Group, which comprised all the land forces involved in the invasion. The Normandy coast was chosen as the site of the invasion, with the Americans assigned to land at Utah and Omaha Beaches, the British at Sword and Gold Beaches, and Canadians at Juno Beach. To meet the conditions expected on the Normandy beachhead, special technology was developed, including two artificial ports called Mulberry harbours and an array of specialised tanks nicknamed Hobart's Funnies. In the months leading up to the invasion, the Allies conducted a substantial military deception, Operation Bodyguard, using both electronic and visual misinformation. This misled the Germans as to the date and location of the main Allied landings. Hitler placed German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in charge of developing fortifications all along the Atlantic Wall in anticipation of an invasion.
The Allies failed to reach their goals for the first day, but gained a tenuous foothold that they gradually expanded as they captured the port at Cherbourg on 26 June and the city of Caen on 21 July. A failed counterattack by German forces on 8 August led to 50,000 soldiers of the German 7th Army being trapped in the Falaise pocket. The Allies launched an invasion of southern France (Operation Dragoon) on 15 August, and the Liberation of Paris followed on 25 August. German forces retreated across the Seine on 30 August 1944, marking the close of Operation Overlord.... More
Memories In the early morning hours of June 6th, 1944, Amin Isbir, the oldest sailor of the 6th Naval Beach BIn the early morning hours of June 6th, 1944, Amin Isbir, the oldest sailor of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion, Platoon C-8, was onboard LCI-L #88 along with soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division and those of the 5th Special Engineers Brigade heading on a eastern course towards Omaha Beach, Easy Red One sector. An LCI-L or Landing Craft Infantry Large, carried about 200 troops and their cargo. At about 8:45, Amin was working to clear the wounded and dead from lanes they were trying to establish. Moving a fallen soldier onto a stretcher, Amin prepared to move the body out of the way when he was killed by a German artillery shell. ... More
Chain of Command
The 6th Naval Beach Battalion was commissioned 9 October 1943 under the command of Eugene C. Carusi, USNR, an Annapolis graduate and Washington D.C. attorney. The Battalion was formed in July and trained exclusively for OVERLORD, the Allied permanent re-entry into Continental Europe.
Upon arrival at Camp Bradford, VA in July 1943, personnel were assigned to one of four sections: communications, hydrographic, boat repair or medical. As training progressed, these Navy specialists began to resemble an Army battalion, broken into three companies and nine platoons. Each platoon had a medical doctor and was headed by a Beachmaster and his assistant.
WWII Naval Beach Battalions were indistinguishable from Army assault troops. While training at Fort Pierce, these Navy amphibians wore coveralls, field shoes, life belts, gas masks, leather gloves and full packs with rifles slung over their shoulders, engaging in joint maneuvers with the Army off the coast of Florida. Having been issued Thompson submachine guns and wearing steel helmets with a sky blue "6" (later a red arc) painted on the front, the 6th Naval Beach Battalion appeared more like soldiers than sailors.
The nine Navy doctors of the Battalion were issued Colt 45s and then reassured by instructors that in the event their shots ever missed their mark during combat on the beach, they would at least have the pistol to throw at the enemy! The Army counterparts of the USN beach battalions were amphibious engineers. Dr. Ralph Hall, a recent graduate of Syracuse Medical School, wrote to his pregnant wife that he "joined the Navy to get out of the Army. The army boys that are here joined the Army and are headed to go to sea and fight from boats. All is very ironical."
On 7 January 1944, after six months of intensive amphibious warfare training at Fort Pierce and Camp Bradford, the Battalion traveled overseas on the SS Mauritania to the UK in preparation for the invasion of Normandy.
Other Memories
Amin Isbir joined the Naval Reserve in 1933 and later trained at the Sampson Naval training center in New York as well as Camp Bradford Virginia.
Chain of Command
The 6th Naval Beach Battalion was commissioned 9 October 1943 under the command of Eugene C. Carusi, USNR, an Annapolis graduate and Washington D.C. attorney. The Battalion was formed in July and trained exclusively for OVERLORD, the Allied permanent re-entry into Continental Europe.
Upon arrival at Camp Bradford, VA in July 1943, personnel were assigned to one of four sections: communications, hydrographic, boat repair or medical. As training progressed, these Navy specialists began to resemble an Army battalion, broken into three companies and nine platoons. Each platoon had a medical doctor and was headed by a Beachmaster and his assistant.
WWII Naval Beach Battalions were indistinguishable from Army assault troops. While training at Fort Pierce, these Navy amphibians wore coveralls, field shoes, life belts, gas masks, leather gloves and full packs with rifles slung over their shoulders, engaging in joint maneuvers with the Army off the coast of Florida. Having been issued Thompson submachine guns and wearing steel helmets with a sky blue "6" (later a red arc) painted on the front, the 6th Naval Beach Battalion appeared more like soldiers than sailors.
The nine Navy doctors of the Battalion were issued Colt 45s and then reassured by instructors that in the event their shots ever missed their mark during combat on the beach, they would at least have the pistol to throw at the enemy! The Army counterparts of the USN beach battalions were amphibious engineers. Dr. Ralph Hall, a recent graduate of Syracuse Medical School, wrote to his pregnant wife that he "joined the Navy to get out of the Army. The army boys that are here joined the Army and are headed to go to sea and fight from boats. All is very ironical."
On 7 January 1944, after six months of intensive amphibious warfare training at Fort Pierce and Camp Bradford, the Battalion traveled overseas on the SS Mauritania to the UK in preparation for the invasion of Normandy.
Criteria The American Campaign Medal was awarded for For thirty days service outside the Continental United States but within the American Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946; or,... The American Campaign Medal was awarded for For thirty days service outside the Continental United States but within the American Theater of Operations between December 7, 1941, and March 2, 1946; or, an aggregate service of one year within the Continental United States during the same period under the following circumstances: On permanent assignment outside the continental limits of the United States; or, On permanent assignment as a member of a crew of a vessel sailing ocean waters for a period of 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; or, For service outside the continental limits of the United States in a passenger status or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non consecutive days; or, For service in active combat against the enemy and awarded a combat decoration or furnished a certificate by the commanding general of a corps, higher unit, or independent force that the individual actually participated in combat; or, For service within the continental limits of the United States for an aggregate period of one year. MoreHide
Description Amin Isbir was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the family received statements from the French Government and President Roosevelt honoring his service and sacrifice. The French Government al... Amin Isbir was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the family received statements from the French Government and President Roosevelt honoring his service and sacrifice. The French Government also awarded him and all the members of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion the French Croix de Guerre for bravery. In 2000, the 6th Naval Beach Battalion was finally awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. MoreHide
Criteria The American Defense Service Medal was awarded for service in the Armed Forces between September 8, 1939, and December 7, 1941. Army members had to serve 12 months to be eligible, but Navy and Marine ... The American Defense Service Medal was awarded for service in the Armed Forces between September 8, 1939, and December 7, 1941. Army members had to serve 12 months to be eligible, but Navy and Marine Corps members were eligible based on any length of service. MoreHide
Description
Awarded during duty in the United States Naval Reserves. Service years: 13 April 1933 - 6 June 1944.
6th Naval Beach Battalion. The French Government awarded all the members of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion the French Croix de Guerre for bravery. In 2000, the 6th Naval Beach Battalion was finally awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. It should be noted, the 6th Naval Beach Battalion is the only Navy Unit to ever receive the Army version of the Presidential Unit Citation.
In the early morning hours of June 6th, 1944, Amin Isbir, the oldest sailor of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion, Platoon C-8, was onboard LCI-L #88 along with soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division and those of the 5th Special Engineers Brigade heading on a eastern course towards Omaha Beach, Easy Red One sector. An LCI-L or Landing Craft Infantry Large, carried about 200 troops and their cargo. Amin Isbir was killed in action, in the line of duty, that morning.