The Men of World War II

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The Men of World War II Page 39

by Stephen E. Ambrose


  Rice, Farris, 132

  Rice, George C., 177

  Richey, Ralph D., 257, 261

  Ridgway, Matthew, 119, 242

  Riggs, Carl, 105

  Ritsema, Jan, 295

  Robbins, Woodrow, 72, 104

  Roberts, Murray, 38, 105

  Roe, Eugene, 181, 188, 235

  Rogers, Paul, 69, 75, 282

  at Foy, 188

  promotion of, 112

  wounding of, 128

  Rommel, Erwin, 58, 91

  Roosevelt, Franklin D., 254–55

  Rosenheim, 265

  ROTC, 15

  Ruhr, 245, 246, 255

  Russian front, 219

  Saalfelden, 285

  St. Côme-du-Mont, 63, 89, 90

  Ste. Marie-du-Mont, 62–63, 73, 77, 86, 87

  Ste. Mère-Eglise, 63, 73, 75, 76, 90

  St. Vith, 176

  Salzburg, 264, 265

  Samaria, 43–44

  Sampson, Francis, 103

  Saverne, 236–37

  Schmitz, Raymond, 64–65, 70

  Schuschnigg, Kurt von, 265

  Schwarzkopf, H. Norman, 295

  searchlights, 227, 230

  2d Armored Division, French, 265–66

  2d Armored Division, U.S., 101

  Second Army, British, 120

  2d Battalion Headquarters Company, 15, 28, 62, 226

  basic training of, 28–29

  in liberation of Son, 124–25

  Webster and, 110–11

  2d Battalion of 506th, 39, 120, 226

  in Austria, 274

  basic training of, 27

  on D-Day, 79

  formation of, 17–18

  in Germany, 265–67

  in liberation of Son, 124–25

  in march to Atlanta, 28–29

  in Normandy invasion, 77, 78, 87, 89, 92, 94

  officers of, 15–16, 38

  physical training of, 18–22, 25–29, 30, 33, 37, 39

  2d Panzer Division, German, 179

  self-inflicted wounds, 187

  Services of Supply, 175

  Seventh Army, 223, 258

  VII Corps, 172

  Exercise Tiger and, 58–59

  Normandy invasion and, 57, 91

  17th Airborne Division, 119, 220, 239

  in Operation Varsity, 244

  79th Division, 225

  Shames, Edward, 158–60, 299

  at Bastogne, 188

  at Mourmelon, 168–69

  at Noville, 217–18

  Sheehy, Pvt., 103

  Sherman tanks, 87, 99, 120, 136–37, 173, 215

  Silver Star, 85, 186, 202, 206, 241

  point system and, 281–82

  Sink, Robert, 17–18, 64, 66, 153–54, 236, 283

  in Alsace, 224

  Ardennes strategy of, 213–14

  in Austria, 280–81, 286, 288

  basic training and, 27, 28–29

  in Berchtesgaden, 264, 266

  at Camp Toccoa, 25, 27

  commendation of, 102

  at Fort Benning, 33–34

  at Haguenau, 234–35

  in march to Atlanta, 28, 29

  at Mourmelon, 240

  at Normandy, 85

  pep talk of, 121

  promotion of, 289

  “Rescue” and, 158–60

  severity of, 34, 53–54

  strategy at Bastogne, 177

  Sisk, Wayne “Skinny,” 18, 67, 93, 299

  in Austria, 276–77

  6th Airborne Division, British, 119

  in Operation Varsity, 244–45

  6th Parachute Regiment, German, 77, 89, 91–105, 135

  Slapton Sands, 57–70

  Smith, George, 99, 109

  Smith, Robert “Burr,” 38, 185, 300

  Snider, Gerald, 105

  sniper fire, 126, 183, 226

  Sobel, Herbert, 15, 22, 38, 79, 98, 169, 210, 289, 290, 298–99

  in Austria, 277

  at Camp Mackall, 36–37

  contraband and, 36–37

  dissatisfaction with, 37, 47, 48, 52–54

  form letter written by, 41

  in Normandy invasion, 98

  as officer, 23–27

  reassignment of, 240

  severity of, 23–27, 36–37, 45

  as supply officer, 122

  tricks played on, 36, 47–48

  Winters and, 23–26, 50–52, 53, 85, 241

  Son, 120, 124–25, 130, 135, 139

  South Pacific, 116

  souvenirs of war, 91, 155, 239, 244, 260–61

  Sowosko, Carl, 220, 222

  Speirs, Ronald C., 83, 205–6, 209, 237, 288, 289, 301

  in Alsace, 224

  in Austria, 276–77, 279, 283–87

  in Berchtesgaden, 269, 271–72

  as company commander, 209–12, 221

  in Germany, 253–58, 259–60

  at Haguenau, 229–30

  at Mourmelon, 241, 242

  Spina, Ralph, 180, 181, 183, 261

  SS troops, 144–54, 262, 267, 268

  Stadium, M. L., 194, 293

  Stafford, Ralph, 154, 158–60, 305

  Strayer, Robert, 15, 97, 100, 229

  Hawg Innards Problem and, 27

  march to Atlanta and, 28

  reassignment of, 240

  Strohl, Rod, 26, 32, 70, 91, 95

  woundings of, 100, 122, 144–45

  supplies, 139

  in Alsace, 224–25

  Ardennes offensive and, 174

  at Bastogne, 186, 190, 219

  at Foy, 185, 214, 219

  at Haguenau, 236

  on “Hell’s Highway,” 132, 135

  at Noville, 219

  see also ammunition, ammunition supplies

  Talbert, Floyd, 169, 290, 297–98

  in Berchtesgaden, 269, 272

  in Normandy invasion, 74–75, 95–96

  reassignment of, 241

  wounding of, 99, 109

  tanks, 87, 99, 120, 136–37, 173, 215

  in battle at Eindhoven, 127–28

  British, 120, 127, 136–37, 140

  in coordination with infantry, 140

  MARKET-GARDEN and, 120

  in Normandy campaign, 87, 101

  Taylor, Amos “Buck,” 22, 169, 301

  at Foy, 188

  promotions of, 38, 241

  Taylor, Maxwell, 55–56, 65, 106, 119, 168, 244

  in Austria, 280

  Bastogne strategy of, 205, 213

  declaration of martial law and, 263

  at Mourmelon, 242

  Normandy invasion tactics of, 91–92, 98

  Operation Eagle and, 62

  personality of, 122

  point system and, 282

  redeployment of 101st and, 287–88

  at Saverne, 237

  Winters and, 190

  telephone communications, 83, 226

  Telstad, Elmer, 105

  10th Armored Division, 179, 191

  Third Army, 139

  Ardennes offensive and, 191, 193, 223

  Normandy campaign and, 116

  3d Battalion of 327th, 97

  3d Battalion of 506th

  at Bastogne, 179

  at Haguenau, 236

  on “Hell’s Highway,” 135

  XXX Corps, 124

  37th Tank Battalion, 190, 236

  327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 92, 97

  340th Volksgrenadier Division, German, 267

  363d Volksgrenadier Division, German, 144–54

  Tiger, Exercise, 58–59

  Tiger Royals, 136–37

  Tipper, Ed, 305, 306

  at Camp Mackall, 36, 37

  Camp Toccoa and, 18–19, 24, 27

  in Normandy invasion, 93–94, 96–97

  TNT, 83

  Tolsdorf, Theodor, 267–68

  Tongelre, German attack at, 127–29

  Torquay, Exercise Tiger and, 58–59

  Tournai, 119

  Toye, Joe, 35, 59, 67, 169, 1
83, 295–96

  at Bastogne, 183

  on D-Day, 76, 79–82, 85

  wounding of, 196, 200–201

  tracer bullets, 69, 146, 227, 231, 233

  Transportation Corps, 174

  transport vehicles, 132

  Trapazano, Ralph, 197–98

  trench foot, 162

  trench warfare, 58, 142, 165

  Troop Carrier Command, 244

  12th Replacement Depot, 170, 222

  12th SS Division (Hitlerjugend), German, 198

  29th Infantry Division, 91, 101

  Uden, 130–35, 138, 139, 140, 164

  United Services Organization (USO), 115

  Uppottery airfield, 60–61, 62

  Utah Beach, 13, 225, 291

  Allied strategy and, 57–58, 77, 83

  defense of, 83–85

  museum at, 87

  significance of E Company at, 83–84

  supply depot at, 106, 107

  Van Gogh, Vincent, 126

  Van Klinken, Robert, 129

  Varsity, Operation, 244–45

  Veghel, 120, 124, 131–34, 139, 164

  Vest, Allen, 231–32

  Vittore, Al, 183

  von der Heydte, Frederick, 77, 89, 91, 94, 99, 135

  V-2 missile, 142

  Waal, 141, 143

  Warren, Thomas, 105

  Warriors, The (Gray), 22, 155, 156, 221, 227–29, 235, 250

  Wartime (Fussell), 24–25, 84, 155

  Webb, Harold, 209, 211

  Webb, Kenneth, 220

  Webster, David Kenyon, 20, 28, 32, 44, 59, 62, 125, 228, 247, 260, 301–2

  at Aldbourne, 44, 110–11

  in Austria, 278–79, 280, 284, 288

  in Berchtesgaden, 268–70, 272

  at Camp Toccoa, 20, 28

  Displaced Persons’ camp and, 256–57

  E Company observed by, 112–14

  on end of war, 117

  in Germany, 249–51, 257

  at Haguenau, 225–33

  at Joigny, 289

  at Mourmelon, 238, 242–44, 245

  point system and, 281–82

  at Saverne, 237

  souvenir hunting and, 155

  on surrender of German soldiers, 261–62

  transferal of, 110–11

  wounding of, 149, 169–71, 220–22

  Wehrmacht, 175, 261, 266, 268, 274

  Ardennes offensive and, 172

  combat attitudes of, 110–12

  disintegration of, 261–62

  morale of, 138

  Normandy campaign strategy of, 77, 91

  punishment in, 155

  strength of, 172–73

  Welling, James, 185, 252, 284

  Welsh, Harry, 16–17, 38, 68, 68, 90, 96–97, 108, 114, 168–69, 305

  in Austria, 279

  in Berchtesgaden, 266

  on D-Day, 70, 72, 87, 88

  in Germany, 253

  promotion of, 112

  reassignment of, 240

  in “Rescue,” 158–60

  wounding of, 188

  Wentzel, Jerry, 105

  West Point, 17–18, 85, 229, 234

  West Wall, 173, 191

  Wilhelmina Canal, 120, 124

  Wimer, Ralph, 105

  Winters, Richard, 17, 64–65, 78–83, 84–85, 86–87, 92, 95–107, 108–9, 161, 167, 169, 286, 288, 289, 306–7

  in Alsace, 224

  in Austria, 274–76, 277, 278, 279

  in Berchtesgaden, 266, 268–70, 272

  breaking point and, 202–4

  at Camp Toccoa, 18

  at Carentan, 89–107

  character of, 22–23, 114, 163

  concentration camp and, 262–63

  D-Day and, 68, 76

  D-Day diary of, 66, 71, 88, 102

  at Foy, 186, 203–4

  in Germany, 254–55

  at Haguenau, 229–33, 234

  at Mourmelon, 239, 241, 242, 245

  on paratrooping, 16

  promotions of, 25, 106, 236

  reassignment of, 154, 240

  Regular commission declined by, 283

  respect for, 22–23

  at Saverne, 237

  Sobel and, 23–26, 50–52, 53, 85, 241

  on surrender of German soldiers, 262

  Taylor and, 190

  transfers of, 52, 54

  wounding of, 97–98

  X.O. assignment of, 154, 160, 161

  World War I, 142–43

  Doughboys in, 165

  “40-and-8s,” 238, 258, 259

  trench warfare of, 58, 142, 165

  World War II

  combat attitudes in, 110–12

  comradeship of troops in, 20–22, 26, 46, 62, 110–12, 155–57, 219–20

  end of, 271–73

  morale of troops in, 84, 112, 138, 177–78, 186, 219–20

  Wright, Richard, 68, 73, 245

  Wynn, Robert “Popeye,” 36, 259, 304

  on D-Day, 76, 78–84

  at Haguenau, 229

  wounding of, 78–84, 122

  Yale University, 15, 17, 272

  Zell am See, 274, 275, 278, 279, 281, 283, 285, 289

  Zetten, 143

  SIMON & SCHUSTER

  Rockefeller Center

  1230 Avenue of the Americas

  New York, New York 10020

  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  Copyright © 1992, 2001 by Stephen E. Ambrose

  All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole on in part in any form.

  Second Touchstone Edition 2001 Touchstone and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  DESIGNED BY LISA CHOVNICK

  The Library of Congress has cataloged the Simon & Schuster edition as follows: Ambrose, Stephen E.

  Band of brothers : E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st

  Airborne : from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s nest /

  Stephen E. Ambrose.

  p. cm.

  Includes index.

  1. United States. Army. Parachute Infantry Regiment, 506th. Company E—History. 2. World War, 1939–1945—Airborne troops. 3. World War, 1939–1945—Regimental histories—United States. 4. World War, 1939–1945—Campaigns—Western. I. Title.

  D769.347 .A57 1992

  940.54’21—dc20 91-47684

  CIP

  ISBN 0-671-76922-7

  0-7432-1645-8 (Pbk)

  ISBN13: 978-0-7432-1834-4 (eBook)

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Epigraph

  Maps

  Prologue

  1. THE DEFENDERS

  2. THE ATTACKERS

  3. THE COMMANDERS

  4. WHERE AND WHEN?

  5. UTILIZING ASSETS

  6. PLANNING AND PREPARING

  7. TRAINING

  8. MARSHALING AND BRIEFING

  9. LOADING

  10. DECISION TO GO

  11. CRACKING THE ATLANTIC WALL

  The Airborne into Normandy

  12. “LET’S GET THOSE BASTARDS”

  The Airborne Night Attack

  13. “THE GREATEST SHOW EVER STAGED”

  The Air Bombardment

  14. A LONG, ENDLESS COLUMN OF SHIPS

  The Naval Crossing and Bombardment

  15. “WE’LL START THE WAR FROM RIGHT HERE”

  The 4th Division at Utah Beach

  16. “NOUS RESTONS ICI”

  The Airborne in the Cotentin

  17. VISITORS TO HELL

  The 116th Regiment at Omaha

  18. UTTER CHAOS REIGNED

  The 16th Regiment at Omaha

  19. TRAFFIC JAM

  Tanks, Artillery, and Engineers at Omaha

  20. “I AM A DESTROYER MAN”

  The Navy at Omaha Beach

  21. “WILL YOU TELL ME HOW WE DID THIS?”

  The 2nd Ranger Battalion on D-Day Morning

  22. UP THE BLUFF AT VIERVILLE

  The 116th Regiment and 5th Ranger Battalion

&n
bsp; 23. CATASTROPHE CONTAINED

  Easy Red Sector, Omaha Beach

  24. STRUGGLE FOR THE HIGH GROUND

  Vierville, St.-Laurent, and Colleville

  25. “IT WAS JUST FANTASTIC”

  Afternoon on Omaha Beach

  26. THE WORLD HOLDS ITS BREATH

  D-Day on the Home Fronts

  27. “FAIRLY STUFFED WITH GADGETS”

  The British Opening Moves

  28. “EVERYTHING WAS WELL ORDERED”

  The 50th Division at Gold Beach

  29. PAYBACK

  The Canadians at Juno Beach

  30. “AN UNFORGETTABLE SIGHT”

  The British at Sword Beach

  31. “MY GOD, WE’VE DONE IT”

  The British Airborne on D-Day

  32. “WHEN CAN THEIR GLORY FADE?”

  The End of the Day

  Photographs

  Glossary

  Endnotes

  Bibliography

  Appendix A: Veterans who contributed oral histories or written memoirs to the Eisenhower Center

  Index

  Maps

  The Final Overlord Invasion Plan

  German Strength in Western Europe

  Landing Diagram, Omaha Beach

  Utah Beach Airborne Assault on D-Day

  The Allied Assault Routes on D-Day

  Utah Beach Infantry Assault on D-Day

  Omaha Beach First Wave Landings on D-Day

  Omaha Beach Eastern Sector

  Omaha Beach Evening of D-Day

  FOR FORREST POGUE, THE FIRST HISTORIAN OF D-DAY

  Acknowledgments

  Dr. Forrest Pogue began the process of collecting the oral histories of the men of D-Day on June 6, 1944. He was a sergeant (with a Ph.D. in history) serving with S. L. A. Marshall’s team of historians in the Army’s Historical Section, charged by Gen. George C. Marshall with collecting data from men of all ranks for an official history of the war. The team ultimately produced The U.S. Army in World War II (known as the Green Books from the color of the bindings), a series of scores of volumes known worldwide for accuracy and thoroughness. In 1954, Dr. Pogue published the penultimate volume in the ETO series, The Supreme Command, based on the documents generated by SHAEF and on interviews Pogue conducted with Eisenhower, Montgomery, and their principal subordinates. The Supreme Command is a genuinely great work, still the authoritative account.

  But on D-Day, Dr. Pogue was working at the other end of the chain of command. He was on an LST serving as a hospital ship off Omaha Beach, interviewing wounded men about their experiences that morning. This was pioneering work in oral history; later Dr. Pogue was one of the founders of the Oral History Association.

  Since I first began working for General Eisenhower as one of the editors of his wartime papers, Dr. Pogue has been my model, guide, and inspiration. He is important to my life, and to this book, in ways that go far beyond his publications (which include his four-volume, classic biography of Gen. George C. Marshall). For three decades he has been marvelously generous with his time and wisdom. At historical conferences, on eight long trips to Normandy and the other European battlefields, by correspondence and over the telephone, he has taught me and encouraged me in more ways than could ever be counted.

 

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