Every Man a Hero

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

  The pagination of this digital edition does not match the print edition from which the index was created. To locate a specific entry, please use your ebook reader’s search tools.

  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�
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  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