Memories from Dad, June 6th 1944

[Smoken D]

I was a member of Task Force A, commanded by Brig. Gen. James A. Gavin. Task Force A consisted of the 505th, 507th and 508th Parachute Infantry Regiments and the 325th Glider Infantry --- all elements of the 82nd Airborne Division. I was with B Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry. we were at an airfield at Cottesmore, England, on June 5, 1944. We had been alerted that day (June 5th), but later the alert was cancelled. At 1500 hours, again on June 5, we were assembled at the airfield with full combat equipment. This consisted of an M-1 rifle, 156 rounds of .30 caliber ammo, a .45 caliber pistol with three magazines of ammo, an entrenching shovel, knife, canteen, first-aid-packet, four grenades, rations, maps, a raincoat, our main parachute and the reserve chute. At this time I weighed about 165 lbs. With all that equipment, I weighed about 265 lbs.

Our pathfinder teams (to mark the DZs or Drop Zones left before midnight and landed in the Drop Zones about 0100 or 0200 hours on June 6, 1944. The fields and areas were marked wherever possible and Task Force A with the exception of the 325the Glider Infantry left on time and jumped from an altitude of 600 feet at about 0415 hours on D-Day, June 6, 1944

We landed near the Merderet River, north of Lu Fiere, Farance about three miles from the Lu Fiere Bridge, not too far from the town of Ste. Mere-Eglise. This was determined much later. At the time we were some three miles from were we were supposed to be, were in a swamp, and were totally lost for about four hours. Later on in the morning we joined up with another group from the 505th and later with our own battalion.

We spent most of our time avoiding enemy units both in front and to our rear and returning fire only when necessary. The bridge was taken and we passed on to the town of Ste. Mere-Eglise.

The battle continued on to the town of La Haye-du-Puits, where on July 3, 1944, the regiment participated in the final attack of our part of the Normandy Invasion. We were withdrawn on July 11, 1944, and a few days later were returned to our billets in England.

During our campaign, our regiment, the 508th, had 46% of the members killed, missing in action or evacuated s wounded.

I celebrated my 19th birthday on June 12, 1944, at St. Mere-Eglise ---- with coffee heated over the exhaust system of a truck and cold rations. A picture of myself and Paul Goforth was taken on June 14, 1944, at St. Mere-Eglish. Goforth was killed on June 17, 1944.

A picture of me pointing to a glider was taken sometime in April or May, 1944, at the airfield. I trained on this glider, with the number 13, but did not fly in the invasion, as I jumped.

The 325the Glider Regiment entered the battle on June 8, 1944 D-Day plus 2 and suffered even greater losses, as the fields were full of obstacles and stakes and many of them broke up on landing.

 

 

Dad never talked about it much, only this writing which was printed in a paper. I do know that when he returned to those billets he was severely wounded returning home on the newest hospital ship, spent many months in the burn hospital, was discharged. He then went to California and got himself re-enlisted but was never sent back into battle. At a USO club in California he met mom, married in 46, and life went on. He left the army in 48 as a Sgt.

[Utah Bob #35998]

No Better Place to Die

And your dad says simply "The bridge was taken".

[Jim No Horse]

Thank you for posting his story..and him for the service he rendered our country in time of greatest need. We salute him....Thanks Jim

[Utah Bob #35998]

I would like to see that pic of the glider.

But I would not like to fly in one!

[Smoken D]

I would like to see that pic of the glider.

But I would not like to fly in one!

 

 

Cool photo, buried at my sister's home in the basement. Someday, will retrieve with a lot of other stuff dad had. Lost him at age 59 back in 1985. Do wish he was still around.

Photo of dad and the KCPD Shooting team back in 1960. Most of the medals were dad's.

 

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[Branchwater Jack SASS #88854]

[Clueless Bob]

My dad, Granville Garnett Fox Army Air Corp, was stationed in England. He never really said a lot about his time there. The one thing he always mentioned was D-Day. All day, the sky was filled of C-47'S full of paratroopers and towing gliders heading toward France and empty C-47's coming home, some full of holes.

My whole life, I have always known him as a carpenter, but his D-Day story struck me as odd until I got a bunch of paperwork he kept. It was at this time, I found out he was an Aircraft Mechanic when he was there. He never said anything other than that story, even after I enlisted into the Air Force as an Aircraft Mechanic.

He passed in '96 of Alzheimer's, but this story he always remembered.

[watab kid]

i wish i had been able to get more from my father before he died in 2000 , he was in the pacific , but i believe they all held their stories in - except those very few , it is well worth remembering

[Coffee]

No Better Place to Die

And your dad says simply "The bridge was taken".

 

 

Excellent book.

 

Young men were given a job to do, and they did it.

 

Coffee