Leonard C Godfray

Maj Leonard Godfray was killed in action on 06 June 1944, serving with Service Company, 16th Infantry Regiment. On the morning of June 6, 1944, Regimental Troops of the 16th Infantry came ashore at Beach Easy Green near Colleville, France, at about 0830 hours, landing into heavy German artillery and small-arms fire that held the unit pinned down on the sand for several hours. During this period a party from the Regimental S-4 Section attempting to move inland was struck by machine-gun fire, and command of the group passed to another officer, who guided the men through a minefield to safer ground. By roughly 1030 hours the unit pushed inland and established a command post, advancing about a mile as enemy resistance eased through the day; a later group crossing from an LCT that evening faced rough surf, and the full section did not reunite until 2100 hours at the regimental command post. The day's losses for the unit included one officer and one enlisted man killed, along with several others wounded, some evacuated and some not. Maj Godfray was killed in action that day; the report does not specify the individual circumstances.