Norman Cota

Norman Daniel "Dutch" Cota, Sr. (May 30, 1893–October 4, 1971) was a senior United States Army officer who fought during World War II. Cota was heavily involved in the planning and execution of the invasion of Normandy, in June 1944, codenamed Operation Neptune, and the subsequent Battle of Normandy. He is famous for rallying demoralized troops on Omaha Beach, by engaging in combat with them and personally leading their first successful breakout, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions there.

Quotes

 * Rangers! Lead the way!
 * Famous exclamation he would say exhorting men of the 5th Ranger Battalion to leave the cover of the seawall and lead an increasing mass of soldiers through the Vierville breech [Vierville-sur-Mer in France], Major General Cota and the Battle of the Huertgen Forest: A Failure of Battle Command?