Dear Ben: I will send this reply cc to Jean-Loup but
thought it might have some interest to others. One sad note is that
Elsworth Harger is no longer with us. Fortunately, Jan and I were on the
same floor with the Hargers at Savanah so we were able to rekindle our G Co
memories there.
When I think of St. Cezaire, I think of a trio
of mountain top villages in that area--Callian, the first town the majority
of the 3rd Bn., Service Company and a British parachute unit went through
just after parachuting into France, 0430 hrs. 15
Aug 44, Montereau, where Doc Plassman took care of our jump
casualties in a small medical "hospital" until several
days after the les Arcs attack, when Longo and I got them out in a
141st Infantry ambulance, and St. Cezaire which the 3rd Bn. took later in
our push toward Grasse.
After our attack on les Arcs on D plus 1, Lt. Col. Zais asked
me to act as 3rd Bn. S-2, as John Neiler had gone to regiment to replace
Capt. Dearing who was injured on the jump. While our Bn. Hq. was in
Callian, the S-2 job was made official by Major Paxton who took over
from Zais who became Regimental Combat Team Executive Officer. We planned
to attack from Callian northeast on to Grasse. It was my job to
determine where the enemy was in our path. I foolishly set off to do this
on my own, as a one man partoll. I learned that there were 400
Germans in St. Cezaire, and by the grace of God was missed by inches
by a burst of German machine gun fire in the process. We attacked St
Cezaire the next day and had completely taken the town by the morning after
that. G Co. either did most of the work, or my familiarity with its
members from having been in it, makes me remember their casualties more
clearly. Lt. Dick Spencer, a G Co. platoon leader, took a mortar fragment
on the chin. Pfc's Hector Colo, Jesse Goswick, and Charles F. Stanford,
and Pvt. John A. Staat were killed in the attack.
If Jean-Loup wishes to be in touch, here is the
information. First, he must remember I have WWII ears, but will do my
best. Phone # (904) 270-8797.
Boom Boom Alicki
Darrell Egner
Ben
You requested information in Mail Call #1112 regarding the
members feelings on using AFR for all future National Reunions. I also
agree that this matter should come up for a vote at the Portland Reunion.
Due to prior commitments I will be unable to attend.
I am 100% for using AFR for all future Reunions and I would
suggest using Option 3. It's to much to expect two people like Helen and
Hal to work two years to put the excellent Savannah Reunion on.
Darrell Egner
