WW II-2nd Infantry in Normandy TB

Please drop this item in rural OR Premium Member Only caches.  Do not place it in an urban cache or abandon it at a caching event.  Transport the bug in the original plastic bag for as long as the bag lasts; the bag keeps the trackable clean and prevents tangling with other items.  Otherwise, take the travel bug anywhere you wish.  No permission is needed to leave the U.S.

Photos in the travel bug logs are appreciated.  I will be re-post them here, where they can be seen by other cachers.

Replica Shoulder Patch. This travel bug is one of several made to recognize the US Army Divisions that fought in Normandy and elsewhere in France in 1944. In the summer of 2012 the travel bug owner activated, dipped, then, in October, took the travel bugs to Normandy beaches, towns, museums and the American cemetery above Omaha Beach. Some of the bugs were released in France, but most were brought back to the states to be put into circulation.

The origin of the 2nd Infantry “Indian Head” patch goes back to the earliest days of the division's history.  While training with the French in 1917, Col. Herringshaw of the Service and Support Supply of the 2d Infantry Division noticed the French trucks were marked with symbols representing the unit which it belonged. He sponsored a contest among his men to design a symbol for his trucks. There were three winners: first prize winner was a design featuring an Indianhead; second prize went to a plain white star and the third prize is lost in history.  The Colonel combined the two symbols of the white star.
 
After training in Northern Ireland and Wales from October 1943 to June 1944, the 2nd Infantry Division crossed the channel to land on Omaha Beach on D plus 1, 7 June 1944, near St. Laurent-sur-Mer. The Division liberated Trévières, 10 June, then assaulted Hill 192 an enemy strongpoint on the road to Saint-Lô.  This was accomplished on 11 July under Command of Col. Ralph W. Zwicker.  After the Saint-Lô breakout, the 2nd Division then advanced across the (Vire) to take (Tinhebray) on 15 August 1944. The Division then advanced to the heavily defended U-boat port fortress of Brest.