Spearheading the long-awaited Allied invasion of Normandy in the early dawn of June 6, 1944, the 29th Division’s 116th Regiment, officially nicknamed the “Stonewall Brigade,” landed on Omaha Beach, the deadliest of the five landing beaches in Nazi-occupied France. Coming ashore grossly overloaded and seasick, they struggled through the rough surf, mined beach obstacles, murderous machine gun fire, and unyielding artillery, attempting to reach the shelter of a small seawall near the base of a bluff overlooking "Bloody Omaha". The Nazi defenders had Omaha covered with criss-crossing fields of fire from many machine guns and artillery pieces mounted in bunkers, pillboxes and on the bluff overlooking the landing beach. Hundreds of GI's that morning were cut down while struggling to get ashore, and many drowned when let off their landing craft in water that was over their heads. While the landings at the other American beach (Utah), and the three British and Canadian beaches (Gold, Sword and Juno) progressed difficultly but with success, the situation at Omaha was in doubt throughout the morning. Many of the commanding officers had been killed or wounded in the initial landing, so the soldiers who survived the exhausting struggle to reach the seawall huddled there, some dazed, unsure of what to do. By midday however, the personal initiative of the American GI (a trait that would be repeated thousands of times throughout the campaign in Europe) kicked in, and junior officers, noncoms and individual soldiers took charge and led small groups of men up the bluff to begin clearing the trenches and bunkers of German defenders so the four exits off the beach could be used by succeeding waves of infantry and armor. By evening of D-Day, elements of the 116th had advanced into the town of Vierville, ¼ mile back from the bluff overlooking Omaha.
With a heritage that is traced back to the American Civil War, the "Stonewallers" upheld their proud legacy of courage and valor.
"The Stonewall Brigade" by Larry Selman is a Limited Edition Art Print of 350 numbered prints. The print is signed by the artist and by Five D-Day 116th Veterans of the Omaha landing. It is accompanied by a Certificate Of Authenticity. The five signers are:
Robert Slaughter - Co. D Roy Stevens - Co. A
Orville Smith - Medic Robert Sales - Co. B
Clarence Keller - Co. B
This is a large, impressive piece. It measures 24" x 37". The print is double-matted in dark olive green and medium olive green. A replica Combat Infantry Badge is mounted below the print. The optional frame is solid wood, with a cherry finish (other colors are available. Contact us for info). Please see the "Frame Info" tab for complete information on how we frame our artwork. Item price includes ground shipping to the continental U.S. (Helmet and grenades not included!)
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