26 Facts About Norman Cota

Norman Cota is known for rallying demoralized troops on Omaha Beach on D-Day, by engaging in combat beside them and personally leading their first successful breakout, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Norman Cota attended Worcester Academy for three years beginning in the fall of 1910.

Norman Cota was assigned to become an instructor at the USMA shortly before the end of the war on November 11,1918, serving there until 1920 and seeing no action in the war.

Norman Cota later served in Hawaii and graduated from the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in June 1931.

Norman Cota was an instructor at the US Army Command and General Staff School.

Norman Cota then became the executive officer for the 16th Infantry Regiment at Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York.

Norman Cota was promoted to the one-star general officer rank of brigadier general in the Army of the United States on February 2,1943 and was quickly sent to the United Kingdom, where he served as the American advisor to the Combined Operations Division of the European Theater of Operations.

In that capacity, Norman Cota helped supervise the training for amphibious landing operations.

Norman Cota landed with a part of the 116th Infantry Regiment, part of the 29th Division, in the second wave, approximately one hour after H-Hour on the Omaha sector known as Dog White.

Norman Cota was one of the highest-ranking officers on the beach that day.

Two quotes Norman Cota spoke during the initial fighting later became famous:.

General Norman Cota landed on the beach shortly after the first assault wave of troops had landed.

Norman Cota was not pleased with the operations order he was given.

Norman Cota's complaints were given little weight by his immediate superior, the V Corps commander, Major General Leonard Gerow.

Furthermore, Lieutenant General Bradley criticized Norman Cota for remaining in his command post, visiting the front only once late in the fighting, by which time he had already lost control of the situation.

Norman Cota's division sustained heavy losses and failed to secure its objectives.

Norman Cota reviewed and approved the death sentence handed down by a court-martial on Private Eddie Slovik, who refused combat duty on October 8,1944, and was executed on January 31,1945.

Norman Cota hoped to remain on active duty after the war, and perhaps be promoted to Lieutenant General.

Norman Cota had sent several letters to the Army requesting a variety of duty assignments, but none of the letters were answered.

Norman Cota retired from the army on 30 June 1946 as a permanent major general.

Norman Cota died in Wichita, Kansas, on 4 October 1971, and he is buried with his wife Connie at the West Point Cemetery in West Point, New York.

Norman Cota married writer and teacher Constance Martha "Connie" Alexander at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation in New York City on November 1,1919.

Norman Cota's son was a US Army Air Corps fighter pilot and provided reconnaissance for the 28th Division during the Battle of Hurtgen Forest.

Norman Cota was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Order and Silver Star for his heroism on Omaha Beach.

Norman Cota received a Purple Heart and a second Silver Star in the attack at Saint-Lo.

Norman Cota is a central character in the film The Longest Day, a historical drama about the D-Day landings.