The Men of World War II

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The Men of World War II Page 138

by Stephen E. Ambrose


  Gondrée, Georgette, 54, 172, 175, 176

  Gondrée, Thérèsa, 16, 29, 39, 54, 68, 76, 87, 125, 128–129, 167, 171–73

  Goodwood, operation, 150, 161

  Gray, Corporal Billy, 78, 81, 83, 86, 90, 117, 141, 148, 167

  Brotheridge and, 43

  on dash across bridge, 95, 96

  during flight over channel, 20

  and German antitank gun, 123, 132

  and German gunboat, 147

  Hickman and, 169

  In NAAFI break-in, 49

  Gray, Glen, 118

  Guards Armored Division, British, 161

  Halifax bombers, 19, 22, 55, 61, 87

  Heckler, Ken, 11

  Herouvillette, 152, 155–57

  Hickman, Sergeant Heinrich Heinz, 19, 24, 29, 39, 54–55, 74, 76, 87, 94–96, 160, 169

  Hill, Brigadier James, 46

  Hitler, Adolf, 30, 53, 54, 94, 124, 127, 182

  Holland, 39

  Hooper, Lieutenant Tony, 21, 37, 59, 60, 78, 126, 153, 155, 159

  Horsa gliders, 19–21, 25, 27, 28, 51–52, 55, 57, 59, 61, 65, 83, 88, 90, 92, 99, 121, 170, 172

  Horne, Lena, 85

  Hotspur gliders, 51

  Howard, Ethel, 32

  Howard, Jack, 32

  Howard, Major John, 23–14, 27, 32–38, 73–87, 93, 102–117, 120–22, 125, 126, 129–139, 151–68, 170, 174, 175, 176–80, 181

  assigned to Ox and Bucks, 35–36

  background of, 32–33

  briefings by, 80–81, 83

  during crash landing, 89, 90, 92

  and death of Brotheridge, 103

  and D-Day planning, 58–59, 63–69, 73–74, 77–78

  in defensive phase of battle, 156–59

  in final D-Day preparations, 84–87

  during flight over channel, 20–22, 28

  at fortieth anniversary celebration, 172–73

  and glider pilots, 81–82

  Gondrée and, 171

  injured in automobile accident, 165–67

  in King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 33–35

  on last furlough before D-Day, 25

  on march to Escoville, 152–155

  marriage of, 34–35

  and operation Mush, 60–61

  Poett’s orders to, 23, 63, 65–67, 73, 184–88

  postwar career of, 167

  put in command of D Company, 36

  return to England of, 126–63

  subalterns under, 37–38

  training practices of, 40–45, 48–51, 55, 75–77

  von Luck and, 168, 172

  wounding of, 159–60

  Howard, Joy Bromley, 20, 22, 24–25, 34–36, 40, 60, 87, 144–45, 160, 165, 166

  Howard, Penny, 20, 22, 24, 25, 60, 167, 173

  Howard, Terry, 20, 22, 24, 25, 40, 60, 167

  Independent Parachute Regiment, German, 68

  Italy, 19

  ITV, 169

  Jodl, Field Marshal Alfred, 53

  Juno Beach, 182

  Kane, Sergeant Joe, 126, 140

  Kasserine Pass, Battle of, 168

  Killean, Corporal, 144

  Kindersley, Brigadier Hugh, 50, 57–58, 81–82, 135, 138, 148

  King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 32, 35

  Klare, Tommy, 118–19

  Kortenhaus, Lieutenant Werner, 127, 147–48

  Leclerc, General, 168

  Le Havre, 47

  Leigh-Mallory, Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh, 90n,

  Le Port, 39, 94, 107, 109, 111, 115, 119, 136, 138–45, 148, 150, 181

  Lion Sur Mer, 9

  Longest Day, The (film), 11, 166, 170–72

  Lovat, Lord, 64, 136, 146–47

  Luck, Colonel Hans A. von, 14, 18–19, 24, 74, 87, 114, 127, 137, 143, 145, 154, 160–61

  and German command structure, 124–25

  Howard and, 168–172

  planning of defenses by, 76

  Rommel and, 18, 38–39, 52–54, 125

  and SPVs, 138

  training under, 54–55, 81

  Ludendorff Railroad Bridge, 11

  Luftwaffe, 161

  Lysander aircraft, 16

  Mark IV tanks, 118

  Marshall, S. L. A., 13

  Merville Battery, 28

  MG 34 machine guns, 41, 94, 99, 102, 149

  Millin, Bill, 146, 147

  Ministry of Food, British, 166

  Moaning Minnies, 138, 141, 145, 148

  Mons, Battle of, 155, 156

  Montag, Frank, 176

  Montgomery, Field Marshal Bernard Law, 47, 84, 151, 159, 161, 182

  Morgan, General Frederick, 47

  Mulberry Harbor, 162

  Mush, operation, 59–61, 67

  National Savings Committee, 166

  Navy, British, 125

  Nazis, 17, 18, 54, 136

  Neilson, Captain R. K. Jock, 59, 78, 83, 104, 137

  Nijmegan Bridge, 165

  9th Armored Division, U.S., 11

  Ninth Army, German, 168

  North African campaign, 18, 30, 38, 46–47, 52–53, 55

  Northern Ireland, 10

  O’Donnell, Paddy, 173, 179

  Officer Cadet Training Unit (OCTU), 35, 37

  Omaha Beach, 9, 130, 182

  101st Airborne Division, U.S., 14

  125th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, German, 18

  Orne River, 21, 23, 25, 28, 47, 48, 68, 72, 76, 127, 144, 160, 181, 182

  bridge over, 17, 56, 63, 114

  Osborne, Captain, 55

  Ouistreham, 19, 29, 64, 70, 71, 130, 136, 182

  Overlord, operation, 130

  Ox and Bucks, see 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

  Oxford City Police, 35

  Panzer Lehr Division, German, 183

  Parachute Regiment, British, 10

  Paris, 161

  Parr, Irene, 25, 60, 75, 87, 170, 179

  Parr, Corporal Wally, 36, 60, 75–76, 78, 82, 83, 107, 142, 146–49, 156, 159, 167

  during crash landing, 88, 90

  in dash across bridge, 95

  and death of Brotheridge, 101–2

  at Escoville, 155

  during final D-Day preparations, 85–86

  during flight over channel, 19–21, 25

  at fortieth anniversary celebration, 173

  and German antitank gun, 122, 132–33, 136, 138–39, 149

  and German gunboat, 147

  in NAAFI break-in, 48–49

  postwar life of, 170, 179

  during training exercises, 43, 44, 50

  as volunteer for airborne, 31–32

  Pas de Calais, 182

  Piat guns, 41–42, 107, 109, 113, 116–118, 136, 137, 143, 144, 155, 158, 170, 181, 182

  Pine Coffin, Colonel Jeffrey, 98, 112, 119, 121, 129, 136, 139, 141, 143, 146, 149

  Poett, Brigadier Nigel, 46, 58, 83, 84, 97–98, 105, 119, 120, 135, 139, 149, 179, 180

  arrival at river bridge of, 111

  in flight over channel, 23–24, 28

  orders to Howard, 23, 63, 65–67, 73, 184–88

  postwar career of, 169

  put in command of glider company, 57

  training exercises observed by, 75

  Poland, 18

  Porter, Corporal, 152–54, 179

  Priday, Captain Brian, 21, 28, 37, 59, 67, 77, 78, 100, 104, 126, 153, 159

  Ranville, 9, 10, 17, 23, 29, 39, 56, 63, 64, 87, 98, 106, 111, 112, 135, 137, 141, 147, 148, 150–53, 171

  Remagen, bridge at, 11

  Resistance, 16, 19, 39, 68, 73, 87, 182

  Rhine crossing, 166

  River Dives, 23, 28, 47, 56, 76, 104, 182

  Roberts, Colonel Mike, 49, 58–59, 149

  Romer, Private Helmut, 13, 28, 39, 54, 87, 89, 93–94, 161, 176–78

  Rommel, Field Marshal Erwin, 12, 18, 38–39, 47, 52–54, 74, 124, 125

  Royal Air Force (RAF), 40, 68, 73, 74, 81, 98, 145

  Royal Engineers, 59, 83

  Royal Fusiliers, 46
>
  Rundstedt, Field Marshal Karl von, 124

  Russia, 30, 53

  Ryan, Cornelius, 11

  Salerno, 54

  Schmeisser carbines, 41, 94, 96, 102, 110, 149, 158

  Schmidt, Major Hans, 17–18, 29, 54, 74, 76, 81, 84, 87, 112–13, 181

  2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Ox and Bucks), 35–36, 148, 166, 169, 174

  B Company of, 42, 59, 65, 152

  D Company of, see D Company

  2nd Panzer Division, German, 182–83

  2nd Panzer Grenadiers, German, 154

  Seine River, 47, 161, 162

  Seventh Army, German, 54

  716th Infantry Division, German, 17, 18, 54, 73, 115

  736th Grenadier Regiment, German, 17, 64, 73

  SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces), 47

  Shell Oil Company, 169

  Sicily, invasion of, 19, 54, 55

  6th Airborne Division, British, 9–11, 14, 19, 23, 46–48, 73, 114, 129, 137, 139, 147, 172, 181–83

  6th Airborne Division in Normandy, The (Gale), 64

  6th Parachute Regiment, German, 19

  Skylark, operation, 61

  Smith, Lieutenant R. “Sandy,” 83, 84, 87, 93, 100–102, 107, 109, 111, 116–17, 134, 152, 179

  and D-Day plans, 77–78

  evacuated to Ranville, 132

  during flight over channel, 20–21, 24

  at fortieth anniversary celebration, 173

  joins D Company, 59

  postwar career of, 169–70

  wounding of, 96–97, 103–4, 113, 126, 131

  Somerset Light Infantry, 112

  Spitfire aircraft, 135, 161

  SPVs (self-propelled vehicles), 18, 54, 124, 138, 143, 145, 154

  Stalingrad, 53

  “Stalin organ” (rocket launcher), 54

  Sten guns, 41, 56, 85, 87, 93, 94, 96–98, 101, 109, 116, 123, 143, 153

  Stirling bombers, 98, 109

  Stock, Corporal, 166

  Stormy Weather (film), 85

  Sweeney, Lieutenant H. J. “Tod,” 37–38, 48, 59, 99, 103, 106, 111, 114, 121, 126, 139, 145, 167

  bridge rushed by, 100

  and D-day plans, 78

  during flight over channel, 21

  at fortieth anniversary celebration, 173

  on march to Escoville, 151–154

  postwar career of, 169

  relationship with his men, 43

  Schmidt captured by, 112–113

  Todd and, 140

  on training exercises, 60–61

  wounding of, 159

  Sword Beach, 9, 47, 56, 130, 134, 144, 182

  Tappenden, Corporal, 44, 103–105, 108–9, 111, 134, 154

  Taylor, Major Nigel, 111–12, 119–20, 127, 138–40, 142–144, 148, 169–71, 179, 180

  3rd Division, British, 47, 134

  3rd Infantry Division, British, 64

  3rd Para Brigade, British, 46, 64

  Thornton, Sergeant M. C. “Wagger,” 109, 113, 142, 145–46, 181, 182

  at Arnhem Bridge, 164–165

  at fortieth anniversary celebration, 173

  Fox and, 98–99

  German tank blown up by, 116–19, 121, 178

  and interrogation of prisoners, 123–24

  postwar life of, 170

  wounding of, 159

  Tiger tanks, 18

  Timmerman, First Lieutenant Karl H., 11

  Todd, Captain Richard, 98, 109, 111, 120, 135, 140, 143, 144, 167, 169

  Todt Organization, 81, 134

  Tunisia, 18, 53

  21st Army Group, 47

  21st Panzer Division, German, 18, 53, 55, 74, 114, 125, 127, 144, 147, 154, 161, 168

  Utah Beach, 9, 130

  Vaughn, Dr. John, 24, 83–84, 93, 107–9, 113, 126, 131–132, 147, 170, 173

  Verdun, Battle of, 156

  Verey pistol, 94, 95

  Vimont, 18, 87

  Vion, Madame, 16, 68, 74, 76

  V-1s, 160

  V-2s, 160

  Waco gliders, 48, 55

  Waller, Fats, 85

  Wallwork, Staff Sergeant Jim, 14, 39–40, 86–87, 92, 107, 110–11, 122, 134, 171, 177, 179

  at Arnhem Bridge, 164, 165

  assigned to D Company, 79

  crash landing by, 88–90, 102–103

  and final D-Day preparations, 82–84

  during flight over channel, 20–23, 25–29

  at fortieth anniversary celebration, 172, 173

  glider pilot training of, 40, 51–52

  at invasion of Sicily, 55–56

  in operation Deadstick, 61–62, 80

  in operation Skylark, 61

  postwar career of, 170

  War Office, British, 31, 51, 159, 160

  Warriors, The (Gray), 118

  Warwickshire Regiment, 149

  Wehrmacht, 161

  Weigley, Russ, 13

  Wood, Lieutenant David, 41, 59, 92, 104, 113, 126, 167

  assigned to D Company, 37

  and D-Day plans, 77

  evacuated to Ranville, 132

  during final D-Day preparations, 85, 86

  during flight over channel, 20

  at fortieth anniversary celebration, 173

  postwar career of, 170

  relationship with his men, 43

  wounding of, 102, 103, 108, 131

  Zanuck, Darryl, 167, 170–72

  SIMON & SCHUSTER PAPERBACKS

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  Copyright © 1985 by Stephen E. Ambrose

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

  SIMON & SCHUSTER PAPERBACKS and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  Designed by Levavi & Levavi

  The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:

  Ambrose, Stephen E.

  Pegasus Bridge.

  Includes index.

  1. World War, 1939-1945—Campaigns—France—Normandy.

  2. Normandy (France)—History. I. Title.

  D756.5.N6A47 1985 940.54'21 84-23557

  ISBN-13: 978-0-671-52374-9

  ISBN-10: 0-671-52374-0

  ISBN-13: 978-0-671-67156-3 (Pbk)

  ISBN-10: 0-671-67156-1 (Pbk)

  ISBN-13: 978-1-4391-2667-7 (eBook)

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  CONTENTS

  Band of Brothers

  Foreword

  Epigraph

  Maps

  CHAPTER ONE “We Wanted Those Wings”; Camp Toccoa, July–December 1942

  CHAPTER TWO “Stand Up and Hook Up”; Benning, Mackall, Bragg, Shanks, December 1942–September 1943

  CHAPTER THREE “Duties of the Latrine Orderly”; Aldbourne, September 1943–March 1944

  CHAPTER FOUR “Look Out Hitler! Here We Come!”; Slapton Sands, Uppottery, April 1–June 5, 1944

  CHAPTER FIVE “Follow Me”; Normandy, June 6, 1944

  CHAPTER SIX “Move Out!”; Carentan, June 7–July 12, 1944

  CHAPTER SEVEN Healing Wounds and Scrubbed Missions; Aldbourne, July 13–September 16, 1944

  CHAPTER EIGHT “Hell’s Highway”; Holland, September 17–October 1, 1944

  CHAPTER NINE The Island; Holland, October 2–November 25, 1944

  CHAPTER TEN Resting, Recovering, and Refitting; Mourmelon-le-Grand, November 26–December 18, 1944

  CHAPTER ELEVEN “They Got Us Surrounded—the Poor Bastards”; Bastogne, December 19–31, 1944

  CHAPTER TWELVE The Breaking Point; Bastogne, January 1–13, 1
945

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN Attack; Noville, January 14–17, 1945

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN The Patrol; Haguenau, January 18–February 23, 1945

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN “The Best Feeling in the World”; Mourmelon, February 25–April 2, 1945

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN Getting to Know the Enemy; Germany, April 2–30, 1945

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Drinking Hitler’s Champagne; Berchtesgaden, May 1–8, 1945

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN The Soldier’s Dream Life; Austria, May 8–July 31, 1945

  CHAPTER NINETEEN Postwar Careers; 1945–1991

  Acknowledgments and Sources

  About Stephen E. Ambrose

  Index

  D-Day

  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

  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”

 

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