laststandonzombieisland

The hand-drawn map shows the exit path of the first troops, 0855 hrs, on Omaha Beach, 6 June 1944. This sketch is illustration 19a from the 29th Infantry Division‘s combat narrative by 1Lt. John T. “Jack” Shea.

The Massachusetts-born Shea, attached to the HHC of the 29th ID, earned a Silver Star on D-Day, hitting a still scorching hot beach with a part of the 116th Infantry Regiment in the second wave, approximately one hour after H-Hour. He was far from alone. In all, the men of the 29th would earn no less than 854 Silver Stars during the war, in addition to a pair of MoHs and 6,308 Bronze Stars. 

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) John T. Shea (ASN: 0-445928), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 29th Infantry Division. On 6 June 1944, during the initial assault on the beaches of Northern France, First Lieutenant Shea voluntarily joined a reconnaissance party which entered, from the rear, the heavily defended beach exit at Vierville-sur-Mer to determine the enemy dispositions at that place. Although exposed to enemy observation and fire from fortified positions in the hills overlooking the beach exit, and to friendly naval gunfire which was being directed against the enemy positions at or near this beach exit, this patrol accomplished its mission, obtained much valuable information, and captured prisoners. In his active participation in this successful and hazardous reconnaissance, without regard for his own safety, First Lieutenant Shea demonstrated a high degree of courage which reflects great credit on himself and the military service.

D-Day Dress, Platoon Leader. This item is illustration 20a from the 29th Infantry Combat Narrative by Lieutenant Jack Shea.

Shea was the aide de camp to Maj. Gen. Norman Daniel “Dutch” Cota (the 29th’s assistant division commander) from November 1943 until 22 July 1944 when he was wounded at St. Lo. Cota, never one to shrug off personal combat, is often credited with inadvertently creating the Rangers’ motto, when, bumping into Col. Max Schneider, commander of the 5th Ranger Battalion, on the beach at D-Day, Cota asked, “What outfit is this?” Someone yelled, “5th Rangers!” Cota replied, “Well, God damn it, if you are Rangers, then get up there and lead the way!”

Shea, who had a background was journalism before the war and filed perhaps the most detailed first-hand account of combat from Omaha Beach with the 29th ID, was later attached to the Army’s Historical Division until he left the military in 1947.

He survived the war and passed in 1984.

Of note, the 29th ID suffered 28,776 casualties during 242 days of combat in WWII.