I Wouldn't Want to Do It Again…: D-Day in Normandy as Seen Through the Eyes of Private Fayette O. Richardson (Pathfinder) and 1st Lt Rex G. Combs, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, US 82nd Airborne Division
By Jöel Baret
()
About this ebook
In order to better understand the motivations of those young men, the author describes their family upbringing, taking us through the youth and adolescence of these heroes in an America directly hit by the crisis of the 1930s. He shows us the similarity in the education received in the family, at school and in church, and belief in the same values which constituted the foundation of rural society in the American Heartland. He then vividly describes -almost on a day-to-day basis - the rigorous training undertaken by a trainee parachutist in different camps throughout the USA, before finally pinning the much-sought-after Wings on his chest.
Finally the big day arrived -D-Day. We follow the emotions, fear, but also the feat of arms of our heroes. Together, we jump from a C-47 rocked by the explosions of shells and machine-gun fire, and find ourselves in the hostile Normandy woodland crawling with the enemy, and at times far from the planned Drop Zone.
With the help of original plans and unpublished photos, the author discovers unknown details and specifies precisely the movements between June 6th and 10th 1944 of small elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, principally between the two bridges over the flooded valley of the Merderet at La Fière and Chef-du-Pont. The capture of just these two passages was necessary for the American troops whose objective was to cut off the Cotentin peninsula thus isolating Cherbourg and preventing enemy reinforcements to move north.
The epilogue tells how these fierce warriors, still alive after three years of war and innumerable battles, returned to their homeland, readapted - at times with difficulty- to civilian life, married and in time had children.
This is a worthy addition to the available literature concerning the 82nd Airborne Division and its key role in the Normandy invasion of 1944.
Jöel Baret
Joël G. Baret resides in Normandy, France. He specializes in the personal accounts of soldiers who took part in the warfare on D-Day.
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I Wouldn't Want to Do It Again… - Jöel Baret
Helion & Company Limited
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Published by Helion & Company 2011
eBook edition 2011
Designed and typeset by Farr out Publications, Wokingham, Berkshire Cover designed by Farr out Publications, Wokingham, Berkshire Printed by Henry Ling Limited, Dorchester, Dorset
Text and maps © Jöel Baret, 2011. Photographs as individually credited. Please note that the quality for many of the original images was poor. The publishers’ have attempted to improve this as much as possible, but inevitably, some images remain poor. We have included them for their historic value, and ask readers to take this into consideration.
ISBN 978 1 907677 09 0
eISBN 9781907677847
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written consent of Helion & Company Limited.
Front cover: 3/508 PIR Pathfinders team, plane #18. (Courtesy of J & N Richardson)
For details of other military history titles published by Helion & Company Limited contact the above address, or visit our website: http://www.helion.co.uk.
We always welcome receiving book proposals from prospective authors.
Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgements
I Introduction
II Pathfinder Fayette-O Richardson 508th PIR
III First Lieutenant Rex Combs 508th PIR
IV Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Dedication
Iwas there when the Allied troops reached my village in the Haute Marne, on 12 and 13 September 1944. Aged 13 months, and in my mother’s arms, I threw flowers to the soldiers on the tanks. They were American tanks but were also flying the French flag. I have no memory of those wonderful events, but the scene has been described to me so often that I can imagine being there.
From that day I have carried this book in my heart. Above all, I have written it to enable my two sons to keep alive the memory of their maternal grandfather, Bernhardt Freese. Bernhardt died before they could get to know him. Born in Hanover, he succeeded in fleeing Hitler’s Germany and enlisting in the American Army. Knowing little of his life, I decided to honor him, together with his comrades, through the ‘story’ of two other young men, either one of whom could have been Bernhardt.
I dedicate this work equally, and with respect, admiration, love and eternal gratitude to:
‘Uncle’ José Stockmans, hero of the Belgian resistance
‘Aunt’ Anne-Marie Malmanche-Stockmans, who in liberated Paris devoted herself to helping American soldiers through the American Red Cross
My parents and parents-in-law
P Stewart and B Freese, F-O Richardson and R Combs, soldiers of the US Army
The soldiers, sailors, parachutists, airmen and tank crew of the Allied Armies who were rendered immortal on 6 June 1944
Joël Baret
Marcilly-et-Dracy
Acknowledgements
Day by day as this work gathered substance, it was thanks to the unwavering support given to me by members of the Richardson and Combs families. They did not know me. There seemed no reason why they should confide in a stranger. Nevertheless, from our first contact they all considered the project to be viable. With much enthusiasm, they agreed to show me the documents in their possession, to search their family archives, and to advise me on my own research. They often added information from and about other veterans. To all of them I wish to express my thanks, gratitude, appreciation and indebtedness.
Jon, Rebecca and Nancy Richardson
Geoffrey, Arlene, William and Charley Combs
My thanks go to all the learned friends, as well as professional and amateur historians, whose knowledge enlightened me on many occasions. In particular:
Sue Elfving, Bob Murphy (505 PIR), John Marr (507 PIR), Wayne Pierce and Bud Olson (325 GIR)
Steve Droter at the World War II National Museum
Jason Davidson at the Library at Allendale
Auguste Cousin, Chantal and Yves Poisson, and my dear friends of the US Normandy
In memory of and gratitude to:
Daniel Briard, Emile Lapierre, Lucien Hasley, Vivian and Rodolphe Roger
Marie Thérèse Holé, Mme Lagouche, and all the people of Normandy who helped me
I am much indebted to:
Kenneth Thomas Jr. and Lynn Beahm from Arcadia Publishing
Richard (Dick) O’Donnell, Webmaster of 508PIR.org
O H Berry, Tom Timmes, Janice Silver, William Lord, Brigadier General Gavin, Clay Blair, Ed Ruggero, Zig Borroughs, J J Hayes, Jeff Moran, Joeph Balkoski, Napier Crookenden, Phil Nordyke, Robert Anzuoni, and Yves Bellanger
I send heartfelt thanks to Reginald Howarth, who undertook the translation into English with enthusiasm, great care, and rigor.
I have had incredible support from my wife. She encouraged me when the task seemed unattainable, constantly reread my proofs, and accepted that I lived my passion even when the weight seemed to be a very heavy burden. Therefore, to her, all my love and gratitude.
However, a history book containing a course of events is never complete. It is only when, after questioning as many veterans as possible, and by gathering a multitude of information, that a scenario is revealed that comes close to the truth. But what is the actual truth? Each veteran has his own interpretation of events, his own personal experience. Occasionally I have asked myself if the two veterans to whom I was talking, had in fact fought on the same side, in the same Normandy orchard, or had experienced the same battle at the same time!
Time also creates a certain erosion of memory, leaving a truth to emerge that is slightly or even completely different in the memories of those involved. More than 65 years have elapsed since D-Day. Over time, each of our heroes (I know they refuse this designation, but …) of this epoch ‘makes his last jump’.
The author would be grateful for comments and memories from other veterans, their families, and the citizens of Normandy.
Bless you all for having enriched my knowledge with your precious information.
Joël Baret
21350 Marcilly et Dracy, France
jobaret@orange.fr
Part I
Introduction
The wealth of books describing the objectives of D-Day, unit by unit, place by place, dispenses with the necessity of providing in-depth background detail. Readers keen to follow the military activities of their favorite unit, or to obtain a summary of the decisions of the High Command, or to understand the motivations, political or strategic consequences, should refer to such sources.
This book, however, allows the reader to live through the four most important days of the Normandy Landings, in the company of two soldiers of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. One was Pathfinder F-O Richardson, still a youth at the age of 21. The other was Rex Combs, 30 years old, married, and a Lieutenant. They grew up with their families in the America of the 1920s and 1930s. It will become clear why they were to put their lives in jeopardy for the freedom of others.
They had to jump from a C-47 plane, shaken by explosions. They landed at an unknown site, surrounded by the enemy, in a landscape divided by the hedgerows of Normandy, where they constantly had to expect the unexpected. They had to survive enemy fire and night attacks. They had to link up with other comrades, in order to do the job for which they had been prepared over many months. Then there followed the defeat of the Nazis, the freeing of France and, eventually, the whole of Europe.
In order to have a better understanding of the subsequent chain of events, the following diagram sets out the missions officially assigned, on 6 June 1944, to the three Parachute Regiments belonging to the 82nd Airborne Division, the famous ‘All American’, commanded by Major General M Ridgway.
(a) Force A
will drop between 0100 and 0315 on the night of D-1/D-Day in accordance with Annex N°2 (Revised) Air Movement Table, seize, clear, and secure the Div area, establish a bridgehead west of the MERDERET, (Para 2. a. above) and protect the Northwest flank of VII Corps. (See Overlay)
(b) (1)The 505th Prcht Inf with Det 456th Prcht FA Bn, one Plat Co. B
307th A/B Engr Bn and Naval Gun Fire Party attached, landing in DZ O, will:
(a) Capture and hold STE MERE EGLISE and secure the general line : Bridge at (308987) –
(b) NEUVILLE AU PLAIN-BAUDIENVILLE, Incl.
(c) Seize and secure the crossings of the MERDERET RIVER at (315957) and (321930).
(d) Clear the Div area within its sector.
(e) Establish and maintain contact with the 101st A/B Div at (374980) and (330928).
(f) Patrol aggressively to the line indicated.
(g) Mark LZ W
for glider landings.
(c) (2) The 507th Prcht Inf, landing in DZ T
, will :
(a) Seize, organize, and defend the area along the general line CR 265958 - CR 269975 - RJ 283992.
(b) Clear the Div area within its sector.
(c) Assist The 505th Prcht Inf in securing the crossing of the MERDERET at (315957).
(d) Establish and maintain contact with the 508th Prcht Inf at RENOUF (264950).
(e) Patrol aggressively to the line indicated.
(f) Be prepared on Div order to advance to the West to the line of the DOUVE RIVER.
(d) (3) The 508th Prcht Inf, with Co B
(-1 Plat) 307th A/B Engr Bn atchd, landing in DZ N
, will:
(g) Seize and destroy the crossings of the DOUVE at BEUZEVILLE LA BASTILLE and
(h) ETIENVILLE.
(i) Seize, organize and defend the area along the general line CR (261938) - RENOUF (incl.).
(j) Clear and secure the Div area within its sector.
(k) Assemble one Bn without delay in area indicated as Force Res.
(l) Patrol aggressively to the line indicated.
(m) Be prepared on Div order to advance to the West to the line of the DOUVE RIVER.
Hq 82 A/B Div.APO 469, U.S. Army28 May 1944 (US Archives)
The three DZ (Drop Zones) theoretically assigned to each regiment are indicated on the map on the following page. The conditions for parachuting were, in the main, catastrophic, except for the 505th PIR. The troops, particularly those of the 508th, were spread over a wide area, at a great distance from the DZ. The limits of the swamps, and the flooded zone of the Merderet and Douve valleys, such as drawn on the map, were indicative only. In effect, none of the aerial photos taken by the reconnaissance groups were able to pick out those areas. They were masked by the aquatic vegetation that had grown enormously in the previous four years. As a result, the capture of two river crossings, at La Fière and Chef-du-Pont, became priority objectives for the Allies. All the more fateful as the Germans had blocked and held on to them. Therefore the scene was set for one of the bloodiest battles of the Landings.
Part II
Fayette richardson, Pathfinder
508th Parachute Infantry regiment
North witham airfield england at dusk on 5 June 1944
The engines popped, coughed, and then sputtered to life, and began their roar. Now you couldn’t talk either. Only a yell in the ear could get through. The plane began to taxi down the runaway towards the take-off point. We stopped, turned, and began our take-off run. There was rising roar and the bumping and then one last bump and it smoothed out; we were in the air.
By squirming I could look out the tiny round window in back of me. As we moved slowly into position with the other two planes I could see tail lights – red in the dark. Sparks from the engine flicked by the window. The roar of the motors rose and fell.
Lamoureux was nudging me. I turned and looked out of the window. We were over water. The moonlight was shining on it. It seemed frozen in smooth, unmoving ripples.
The engines droned on. More sparks flew by. Then somebody gave a yell. I twisted around enough to see out the window again. We were over land: France! Below us was enemy territory. Germans with guns were down there.¹
The C-47 carried twenty-four men, comprising 5 crew and 19 pathfinders of the 3rd Battalion of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, US Army. In a few minutes it had arrived over its drop zone, coded DZ ‘N’. A few seconds more, and the aircraft banked into an ocean of flames, cartridges and shells. The pilot tried desperately to enable the parachutists to jump, if not in the centre, at least as close as possible to the zone that they must mark. The Pathfinder, soldier 1st class Fayette-O