Operation Dragoon - After Action Reports

Record of Events

Headquarters Company

“2nd” Battalion, 517 Parachute Infantry Regiment

“D” Day

             Hd. Co. 2nd Bn. enplaned at Ombrone Airfield near Grossetto, Italy at 0200 hours.  The Company departed the airfield at 0235 hours on 15 Aug 44 for Southern France.  Lt. Col. Seitz, Commanding Officer, 2nd Bn. was the first man in the lead plane of the Company.  He jumped at 0435 hours.  The Co. was scattered over a large area extending roughly N to La Motte, and S. to Les Arcs, E to Le Muy and W to Draguignan.  However, approximately 50% of the Co. assembled three kilometers SE of La Motte and moved with Co. “D” to the assigned area.  Several injuries were sustained in this operation.  Major Cross, Battalion Executive Officer, suffered a fractured leg but refused to quit his post until given a direct order by Lt. Col. Seitz.  The Battalion Sgt. Major, S/Sgt Backus could not continue due to a sprained ankle.  Cpl. Neirmann of the Light Machine Gun Platoon neglected his injured ankle so that he might go on with his squad until the following day when it became necessary to evacuate him.  Less than an hour after descent, Lt. Miley, was electrocuted while cutting wires which he thought to be used for communication.  A group of machine gunners consisting of Lt. Robinson, Sgt. Furneison, Pvt. Clark and Pvt. Bagan, while searching for equipment bundles was attacked by an enemy force with machine pistols.  Lt. Robinson took cover in an irrigation ditch.  While Clark and Began were searching for better cover for protection, Clark was shot in the back.  Began turned to aid him, but was urged to go on by Clark.  Clark was later found dead with several bullet holes in his body.  Sgt. Furneison was captured but escaped later.

            Fifty percent of the company was assembled and in position by 0230 hours on “D” Day.  It remained in position on the road from Draguignan to Le Muy until 1230 hours, at which time it was relieved by Hq. Co. of the 551st  Parachute Infantry Battalion.

           On “D” plus one, 15 Aug 44, Headquarters Company moved into position on the hills S of Chateau St. Roseline near Les Arcs.  The 81mm Mortar Platoon was attached to Company “D” in Les Arrs.  The Light Machine Gun Platoon outposted the railroad between Les Arcs and Le Muy and also served as protection to the 2nd Bn. CP which was located three kilometers N of Les Arcs.   The 81mm Mortar Platoon was attached to Company “D” in Les Arcs.  The Light Machine Gun Platoon outposted the railroad between Les Arcs and Le Muy and also served as protection to the 2nd Bn. CP which was located three kilometers N of  Les Arrs.  While in this position the Co. was shelled several times by German artillery with scattered mortar fire.  Both Lt. Lewis, Battalion Adjutant and Cpl. Fischer, Battalion Clerk, received wounds requiring their evacuation. 

            The positions were not changed until “D” plus three when the Company moved to the vicinity of Bagnola.

ROBERT R. CLAUER
Capt. 517th Prcht. Inf.
Commanding