Comes with a hand-signed C.O.A.

*On July 4th, 1944 Pvt. Michael A. Dotoli (31196223) was severely WOUNDED IN ACTION while fighting during the Battle of Normandy with the 331st Infantry Regiment, 83rd Division.

On 4 July, the 83rd Division left Carentan and moved south toward Sainteny, a short march of about four miles that quickly turned into a six-day battle claiming over 1,400 casualties in the first 24 hours. By the time Sainteny was taken on 10 July, that number multiplied to 3,264. 

This original and museum-grade WWII combat European Theater Operations letter is dated June 1943, and was written by Pvt. Michael A. Dotoli (31196223). During his service, Pvt. Dotoli was an infantryman of the infamous ≈ Infantry Regiment, 83rd Division. 

The 83rd entered France on the 21st through 24th of June 1944. They landed across Omaha Beach and from there, they fought all across Europe. The men of the 83rd Division weren't just on the front line. Most of the time they were in the center of the front line, and often out in front leading the way. They not only fought in Normandy and Brittany but liberated Luxembourg. They fought in the Ardennes, facing the point of the German Bulge. They fought in the Rhineland and were the first to reach the Rhine. They raced across the rest of Germany, covering 280 miles in 13 days, and were within 60 miles of Berlin when they were ordered to stop.

Pvt. Dotoli landed on Omaha Beach with the 331st Infantry Regiment, 83rd Division on D-Day +16 in June 1944. Pvt. Dotoli and his Infantry Regiment were on the frontlines during some of the most intensive fighting during the Battle of Normandy as the Allies pushed the Germans further from the beachhead and into France. 

On July 25th, 1944 a Western Union Telegram was sent to Mrs. Rose Dotoli (Pvt. Dotoli’s mom) stating…”Regret to inform you your son Private Michael A. Dotoli was seriously wounded in action 4th of July in France.”

Pvt. Dotoli was wounded in action and sent back to England where he was treated for his wounds. For nearly two months Pvt. Dotoli was treated for wounds at the General Hospital Section D (Ward 2) in England. Following his treatment of his severe wounds, Pvt. Dotoli could not return to his unit of the 331st Infantry Regiment, 83rd Division, and was placed in the 1st Provisional Replacement Battalion.   

Pvt. Dotoli was transferred to the 386th Military Police Battalion in Paris, France he supported ETO operations in France, regulated traffic on both the critical White Ball and Red Ball Express supply routes, oversaw German Prisoners of War (POWs), maintained a semblance of order in devastated towns, and provided security for military trains.