by Ray Lambert
Eleven
Ray has the Silver Star medals he was awarded, but the whereabouts of the documents for numbers two and three remain a mystery. Neither is recorded in the documents he received in the 1990s when requesting a review of his medals and discharge paperwork.
Like that of so many others, his original paperwork was lost in a fire that consumed government records at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis in 1973; the fire destroyed about 80 percent of the records of U.S. Army servicemen discharged between 1912 and 1980. Though some of these records were reconstructed from other sources, large gaps similar to those in Ray’s record remain.
Officially, his service records indicate one Silver Star and two Bronze Stars with oak clusters (effectively, four Bronze Stars total), as well as a number of other awards.
For more information on the fire and records recovery efforts, see the post at: https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/fire-1973.
Ray wears a single Silver Star on his uniform, and generally refers to that award in the singular when asked. It is only after prompting that he tells the story of the lost medals.
Twelve
Euel W. “Bill” Lambert’s obituary states he was born October 19, 1917, and died July 16, 2010.
Index
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Alexander, Harold, 56–57, 110–11
Allen, Terry
and Operation Husky, 107, 117
reassignment of, 121–23, 267
on replacement system, 250
and return to Algeria, 96
and Tunisian Campaign, 71, 74, 88, 90, 92, 96
Ambrose, Stephen, 256
Anderson, Kenneth, 64, 69
Appleby, Stanley, 142, 156, 196–97
An Army at Dawn (Atkinson), 256
Army Medical Department Museum, 255
Atabrine, 130
Atkinson, Rick, 256
Atlantic, Battle of the, 149
atomic weapons, 150, 214
Augusta, 191
B-29 bomber, 213–14
Baliga, Joe, 156
battle fatigue. See post-traumatic stress disorder
battlefield medicine
conditions treated, 60–61, 65–66, 91, 130–32, 248–49
D-Day training, 147–49, 150–52
equipment for, 245–46
and Geneva Conventions, 42, 68, 78, 156–57
and guilt, 109–10
Lambert’s company man experience, 114–15
Lambert’s training for, 26–27, 28–30, 249–50
and Lambert’s veterinary work, 24–25
lessons of, 61
organization of, 25–26, 49, 66–68, 147–48, 246–47, 262
Patton slapping incidents, 127–29, 251, 267
professional attitude for, 30, 60
and replacement system, 250
treatment methods, 26, 249
venereal disease prevention, 62–63
visibility mission of, xxi–xxii, 66–67, 104, 157
Bedford, 54, 58, 263, 264
Beevor, Antony, 256
The Best Years of Our Lives, 253
“Big Red One.” See 1st Division
blood transfusions, 29
Bouncing Betties (land mines), 89–90
Bowen, George H., 197–98
boxing, 30–31
Braddock, Willard, 156
Bradley, Omar
and D-Day, 127, 185, 191
and Operation Husky, 117, 125
and Operation Overlord, 212
presents medals, 133
and Tunisian Campaign, 70, 86, 265
Bulge, Battle of the, 220
Bullard, Robert L., 22
Camp Devon (England), 145–46
Cantigny, Battle of (1918), 21, 24
casualties
Battle of Gazala, 263
D-Day, 171, 177, 179, 181–82, 210, 268–69
friendly fire, 109
Italian campaign, 213
Operation Husky, 110, 112, 120
Operation Torch, 60
Slapton Sands, 146–47, 267
Tunisian Campaign, 68, 78–79
U.S. World War II total, 269
Civil War, 2
Clark, Mark W., 149
clearing stations, 148, 262
collecting stations, 148, 262
Colleville-sur-Mer, 1
company aid men, 25
dangerous role of, 66, 80–81
Lambert’s experience as, 114–15
visibility mission of, xxi–xxii, 66–67
consumption. See tuberculosis
courts-martial, 144–45
Curran, Una, 49
Dawson, Joe, 144–45, 183, 192
The Day of Battle (Atkinson), 256
D-Day: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II (Ambrose), 256
D-Day: The Battle for Normandy (Beevor), 256
D-Day, xix–xxiv, 155–79
amphibious landing training for, 145–47, 261, 267
Bill’s injury, 183, 199–200, 201, 206–8, 216
casualties, 171, 177, 179, 181–82, 210, 268–69
command, 127
equipment for, 150–51, 162, 195–96
first-aid stations, xxii, 151–52, 156, 182–83
heroism, 196–98
information on, 256–57
Lambert’s injuries, 169, 178, 186–87, 202, 217
Lambert’s last words with Bill before, 153–54
Lambert’s survival, 189–90, 191, 198–99
landing under fire, xix–xx, 164–66, 169–72
maps, xii–xiii
media reports, 203–4
medic training for, 147–49, 150–52
memorial for, 256
memories of, 1–2, 3–4
obstructions, 167, 172–73
progress of, 166–68, 183–85, 191, 192–95
riding in, 155–58
Roosevelt on, 3
Roosevelt prayer, xvii, 203
strategy, 159–63, 185, 191–92
29th Infantry role, 162–63, 256
Utah Beach landings, 167, 185, 193–94
water medic operations, xxii–xxiii, 171–72, 173–75, 176–79, 186–87
weather impact on, 152–53, 167, 168
WN 62 surrender, 175–76
See also Operation Overlord
DD tanks, 162, 195–96, 268
The Dead and Those About to Die (McManus), 206, 257
Denholm, Charles, 266
Djebel Tahent, Battle of, 92
doctors, 25, 26, 49, 66
Eastern Task Force, 64–65
“Easy Red,” xxi, xxii
82nd Airborne Division, 167
Eisenhower, Dwight D.
and Allen’s reassignment, 122, 267
and D-Day, 99, 127, 142, 152, 194
and Montgomery, 126
and Operation Husky, 133
and Patton, 127
and Tunisian Campaign, 70
electrocution, 60–61
El Guettar, Battle of, 74, 80
England
1st Division retraining in, 135–40, 145–49, 150–52
Lambert’s training period in, 45–49
vengeance attacks, 215–16
evacuation hospitals, 247–48, 252
See also field hospitals
field hospitals, 127, 148, 247, 262
1st Division
and Battle of the Bulge, 220
casualties, 210, 268–69
command, 124–25
England retraining, 135–40, 145–49, 150–52
information on, 255, 257
Lambert’s enlistment in, 19, 20
Operation Husky, 103
Operation Overlord, 212, 213
Operation Vulcan, 86
order of battle, 261–62
postwar reunions, 233�
�34
regiment structure, 22–23
reputation of, 22
return to Algeria, 94–97
Tunisian Campaign, 63–64, 68–72, 86, 93
in World War I, 20–22
See also D-Day; Operation Husky; Tunisian Campaign
first-aid stations
and battlefield medicine organization, 25, 26, 29, 247
D-Day, xxii, 151–52, 156, 182–83
McNair treatment at, 90–91, 266
positions of, 67–68, 114, 118–19, 262
as targets, 68, 78–79
transportation of, 59–60, 61
VIP presence at, 90, 129
First Division Museum, 255
Fitzsimons General Hospital (Denver), 29–30, 249
V Corps, 159–60
flea bites, 91
fluoroscopy, 29
food, 55–56
Fort Devens, 37, 49, 263
Fort Jay (Governors Island), 33–34, 262–63
Fredenall, Lloyd, 69, 70
Gazala, Battle of, 41–42, 263
Geneva Conventions, 42, 68, 78, 156–57
Givens, John, 142
Glassford, Herbert, 142
Goering, Hermann, 106
Gold Beach, 168, 195
See also D-Day
Great Depression, 10–12, 14–15
The Guns at Last Light (Atkinson), 256
Hall, Fred, 156
Hansen, Chet, 191–92
Hastings, Max, 256
Hays, Bud, 73–74
head injuries, 252–53
Helms, Doyle, 142
heroism, Lambert on, 3, 236–37, 239–40, 241
Hicks, Herbert, 219, 220
Higgins boats, 103–4, 151, 155, 156–58, 265
Hill 609, 92, 266
Huebner, Clarence R., 124–26, 127, 150
Italian campaign, 149, 213
See also Operation Husky
Jeeps, 265
Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, 34–35
Juno Beach, 168, 195
See also D-Day
Kasserine Pass, Battle of, 69
Kisker, Leroy, 143
Lambert, Arthur (son), 44, 72–73, 224
Lambert, Arthur Ray, background, xxi, 5–15
farm life, 7–8, 10–11, 29
father’s accident, 11–12
and Great Depression, 10–12, 14–15
lumber business, 5–6, 9, 12–13
siblings, 8–9
Southern culture, 9–10, 48
veterinary work, 13–14, 24–25, 29
Lambert, Arthur Ray, initial training period, 26–37
Bill’s enlistment, 27–28
boxing, 30–31
Fort Benning, 26–27, 261, 262
Fort Jay, 33–34
friendships, 32
live fire exercises, 47
medical training, 26–27, 28–30
passage to England, 44–45
rifle training, 42–43
romance, 34–35
sightseeing, 48–49
Tidworth Barracks (England), 45–49
visit with Estelle, 43–44
Lambert, Arthur Ray, medals, 236–37
Bronze Stars, xxii, 219, 269
Purple Hearts, xxii, 80, 85
Silver Stars, xxii, 87–88, 133, 219–20, 239, 267, 269
Lambert, Arthur Ray
bayonet fight, 81, 83–85
commission offer, 97–98
compatriots of, 142–44, 196–97
D-Day injuries, 169, 178, 186–87, 202, 217
D-Day survival, 189–90, 191, 198–99
enlistment, 18–20
evacuation of, 201–2, 206, 207, 210
fatherhood, 72–73
first conflict engagement of, 60–61
on heroism, 3, 236–37, 239–40, 241
human connections with enemy, 77, 84–85, 123–24, 218
injuries, xxiii, 73–74, 79–80, 114
leadership experience, 49, 50–51, 218, 242
mechanical ability, 10–11
medic assignment, 24–25
and medic’s job, xxi–xxii
memory of, 240–41
nickname of, 31
and postwar reunions, 233–34
postwar work life, 228, 229–30
promotion of, 65–68
PTSD experience, 225, 226–27, 253, 254
recuperation of, 217, 218–19, 222, 224, 227–28
remarriage of, 232
stateside arrival of, 220–24
Lambert, Barbara Mahan (second wife), 232
Lambert, Bill (Euel), 8, 12, 40
capture of, 92–93
and D-Day, 49, 153–54, 167
D-Day injury, 183, 199–200, 201, 206–8, 216
death of, 232, 269
discharge of, 228
England retraining, 139
marriage of, 49
medic enlistment, 27–28, 97
nickname of, 28
and Operation Torch, 58
postwar work life of, 228, 230
promotion of, 49, 144
Lambert, Clyde C., 268
Lambert, Estelle Saunders (wife)
Arnold Jr.’s birth, 72–73
death of, 231
and Lambert’s stateside arrival, 222–24, 228–29
marriage, 40
romance with, 35–37
on WAACs, 95–96
Lambert, Euel. See Lambert, Bill
Lambert, Gloria, 9
Lambert, Harland, 8, 9
Lambert, Linda (daughter), 230, 232
Lambert, Ross E., 268
Lambert, Una Curran (Bill’s wife), 49, 216
Lambiasi, Angelo, 110
land mines, 73–74, 89–90, 118–19, 130
Lepore, Ray, 143, 156, 179, 181–82
Liberation Trilogy (Atkinson), 256
litter bearers, 25, 26, 66–67, 113–14
The Longest Day (Ryan), 257
Louisiana Maneuvers, 30
M1 Garand rifle, 43
MacArthur, Douglas, 40–41, 150
MacDonald, Charles B., 256
malaria, 130, 249
Marshall, George C., 42
McManus, John C., 206, 257
McNair, Lesley, 90–91, 266
medics. See battlefield medicine; company aid men; first-aid stations; stretcher bearers
mementos, 77, 84–85, 217–18
“Mental Cases” (Owen), 251
Meyers, Herbert, 143, 156, 177, 179, 187
Midway, Battle of, 149–50
The Mighty Endeavor (MacDonald), 256
military rations, 55–56
Mims, Eunice, 13
Mims, Ralph, 13, 19–20
Montgomery, Bernard
and Operation Husky, 103, 110–11, 132
and Operation Torch, 56–57
and Patton, 126, 137
and Tunisian Campaign, 64, 69, 70
Morchan, Samuel, 54, 66, 115–17, 264
mortars, 114
Muslim culture, 64
National D-Day Memorial, 256
National Guard, 162–63, 256
National World War II Museum, 255–56
noncommissioned officers (NCOs), 25, 97, 252
Normandy, Battle of. See Operation Overlord
Normandy landings. See D-Day
North Africa campaigns, 41–42
See also Operation Torch; Tunisian Campaign
O’Connell, Helen, 34–35
officer class, 25, 46, 51
Omaha Beach, xiii, xxi, 159–60, 185, 191–92, 209
See also D-Day
101st Airborne Division, 167
Operation Husky, 101–33
Allen’s reassigment, 121–23, 267
Battle of Troina, 117–20, 267
casualties, 110, 112, 120
command, 103, 124–28
conditions treated, 130–32
friendly fire casualties, 109
human connections with enemy, 123–24
&nb
sp; Lambert’s company man experience, 114–15
Lambert’s mortar injury, 114
Lambert’s tank rescue incident, 115–17, 267
landing, 103–5
land mines, 118–19, 130
map, xi
medal awards, 133
medic experience, 120–21
medic logistics, 113–14
progress of, 106–8, 109, 110, 111–12, 117–18, 119–20
strategy, 102–3, 110–11, 112–13, 117
U.S. Coast Guard role, 266
USS Thurston transport, 101–2
victory, 132–33
Operation Neptune. See D-Day
Operation Overlord
casualties, 269
progress of, 208–13, 220
strategy, 159–60
See also D-Day
Operation Torch, 57–63, 264–65
casualties, 60
engagement lessons of, 59–61
landing, 58–59
Oran security, 61–63
passage near Spain, 53–55, 264
ship rations, 55–56
strategy, 56–58
Operation Vulcan, 86
Oran (Algeria), 57, 61–63, 96–97, 265
Overlord (Hastings), 256
Owen, Wilfred, 251
Pacific campaign, 40–41, 149–50, 213–14
Patton, George
and firing of Allen, 121–22
and Montgomery, 126, 137
and Operation Husky, 103, 109, 111, 117, 132
and Operation Overlord, 212–13, 220
personality of, 126–27
slapping incidents, 127–29, 251, 267
and Tunisian Campaign, 70, 86, 265
Pearl Harbor bombing, 37, 39–40
Pershing, John “Black Jack,” 24
Pitt, Alton, 143
plasma, 29, 112, 249
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 128–29, 225, 226–27, 248, 251–54
postwar reunions, 233–34
psychoneurosis. See post-traumatic stress disorder
Pyle, Ernie, 32–33, 262
Queen Mary, 221
quinine, 130
Rangers
and D-Day, 161–62, 166, 184
and Operation Husky, 105
and Operation Torch, 57
Ray’s Rock, 2, 233, 260, 268
Regimental Combat Team 16, 58
Regimental Combat Teams (RCTs), 264–65
replacement system, 250
Robinson, Sugar Ray, 31
Rommel, Erwin, 69–70, 94, 168, 208
Roosevelt, Franklin D.
Christmas Eve broadcast, 141–42
and D-Day, xvii, 3, 203
and European front, 42
and U.S. military buildup, 18
Roosevelt, Theodore (Ted), 72, 121, 123, 193–94
Rudder, James E., 166
Russell, Harold, 253
Ryan, Cornelius, 257
Sainte-Mère-Église, 167
Saving Private Ryan, 257
Shay, Charles, 143, 207
shell shock. See post-traumatic stress disorder
shrapnel, 79–80, 119, 250
Sibert, William, 22
Sicily invasion. See Operation Husky