29th Division
 

If getting off Omaha Beach had been difficult for the National Guard, then the road to St lo was in many cases even harder.
The progress made by the 29th Division once it had gained a foothold in France was rapid, until the 8th of June.
Its advance on Isigny through Grandcamp Maisey had gone to plan.
The advance south was not just held up by the stubborn German Defense, but also by the open countryside, marshland with few high points.
What few elevated positions there were had been used by the Germans as artillery observation posts.

The main National Guard Monument is placed on a German Bunker at the western end of Omaha Beach where they came ashore on D-day. It covers both the first and second world wars. The 88mm gun is still in situ.
Joe Pannia makes his first return visit in November 2007
 

Canchy
The bridge over the Aure, which was crossed by the 29th during the night of 8th June.
28 men from the 115th found a boat and crossed towards Colombieres, overcoming German resistance.

Colombiers
Liberated by the 115th during two days of fighting on 8th & 9th of June.

 

Bricqueville
On 10th of June the church and village was liberated. The villagers overjoyed by their liberation, rang the church bells. The Americans fearing this would tell the Germans of their advance, cut the bell ropes. This also happened at a place called St Savieur du Pierpoint, near La Haye du Puits. In that instance the bells did inform the Germans of the American presence and the Germans shelled the church, destroying it.