I am also interested in finding out how I can become an associate
member. I cannot seem to find the information.
Alysa Burkman
Wayne Cross
Dragoon--After Action Reports
Headquarters Company
"2nd"
Battalion
"D" Day
Hd. Co. 2nd Bn. enplaned at Ombrone
Airfield near Crossette, 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 LaMotte, and S. to LEs Arcs, E to Le Muy and W to
Draguigean. 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. Neimann 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 LeMuy until 1230 hours, at which time it was relieved by
Hq. Co. of the 551st Parachute Battalion.
On "D" plus one, 15 Aug 44, Headquarters Company
moved into position on the hills S of Chateau St. Rosseline near 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 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 Arcs. 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
necessitating their evacuation.
The positions were not
changed until "D" plus three when the Company moved to the vicinity of
Bagnola.
ROBERT B. GLAUER
Capt. 517th Prcht.
Inf.
Commanding
Record of Events
Company "D"
Co. D was assigned the mission of clearing
the DZ, located as described above by sending two platoons (reinforced) to seize
and hold the hill front commanding a possible approach to the Bn. AA. The
other platoon was to push forward to seize the left flank of the Bn.
Sector. At 0425 hours on 15 Aug 44, Capt. David H. Armstrong, Co. Co. D
led his first plane load of paratroopers out the door of the 1st plane of the
1st wave over S France from a height of 1500 ft. Simultaneously, seven
more plane loads of D. Co. troopers bailed out with their equipment
bundles. They landed about three kilometers SE of LaMotte, France.
The night was dark, and a thick fog approximately 800 ft. in depth obscured the
ground and materially affected the assembly of the men and equipment. Some
of the Company units encountered a light enemy resistance, characterized
principally by small arms fire. This fire came from enemy patrols and was
quickly silenced. The majority of the Co. was assembled by daylight on the
highway leading into LaMotte. At that point, the Co. joined Hq. Co. which
was about 50% strength.
The command of the Co. was delegated to
Lt. Laron, S. James, former Co. Exec. Officer as the injuries sustained by Capt.
Armstrong when he landed made his evacuation necessary. Other Co. jump
casualties were: Pvt. Flagle, sprained ankles; Pvt. R. A. Allen, broken
foot; Lt. Sherman Williams, sprained ankle; Pvt. F. Waprci, sprained back; Pvt.
Foute, sprained ankle; Pvt. Sloav, sprained ankle; Pvt. Bill Jones, broken rib;
Pvt. Payne, ruptured ear drum; ???Melvin Edwards, back injury. Lt.
Williams and Pvt. Flagle and Jones and Edwards later joined the Co.
Pvt. Frederick Johns, while attempting to join the Co. was killed by 3 MC
bullets in his back. His last words were "I’m sorry I let you fellows
down." The other injured were evacuated, Pvt. Jones broken rib; Pvt.
Payne, ruptured ear drum, Lt. Williams, Pvts. Flagle and Jones rejoined the
Co. The remainder were evacuated.
The 2nd Bn. with Co. D leading assisted by
a French guide, moved to the planned assembly area near a large Chateau located
1-l/2 miles SW from the Chateau,
Lt. Williams took one squad from the 2nd
Platoon and put out a road block on Highway 7 moving through the valley.
This squad proceeded to a point 500 yards from the Chateau where Cpl. Fred
Gensianni blew down poles with demolitions and cut down important communication
wires with wire cutters. Trees were also down along the road. The
remainder of the Co. went into position on the high ground commanding the valley
through which the road ran.
Approximately at 1200 hours on D Day, a
reinforced squad, commanded by
Sgt. Roger Goodwell, accompanied by Lt.
Starkey to high ground on the right of the valley and prepared to defend the
high ridge until relieved by the 551st Prch. Inf. The 3rd Platoon,
commanded by Lt. Cooper occupied the high ground E of Lt. Starkey and organized
for defense. The 1st Platoon, now commanded by Lt. Williams, was in
reserve with the remainder of the 2nd Platoon.
Although the 551st jumped into the valley
protected by the 2nd Bn. at 1310 hours, plans evidently were changed since the
3rd Platoon was not relived and remained in position all night until "D" plus
1. The reinforced squad from the 2nd Platoon stayed in position until 2200
hours when they were ordered to withdraw. They withdrew under the light of
enemy flares and were attacked by a superior force of Germans who threw more
than 10 hand grenades into their positions. The withdrawal, however, was
without mishap and they joined the 1st Platoon.
The night of "D" plus 1, the lst and 2nd
Platoons moved to a bivouac near the Chateau and spent the night. The
following day the 2nd Bn. moved out to take over the objective of the 3rd Bn.,
which was delayed because of dropping so far from the DZ. At that time, a
small force from the 1st Bn., commanded by Maj. Boyle, was trapped in the town
of Les Arcs by an overwhelming force of Germans. The two platoons of Co. D
were ordered to proceed to the town, get Maj. Boyle out, then
withdraw.
The 2nd Platoon moved out first, followed
by the 1st Platoon. They met no opposition until they moved into the
town. A defense was thrown up from house to house 200 yrds from the
railroad station in the S part of Les Arcs early in the morning of "D" plus
2. The defense held despite repeated massing of enemy troops at the
railroad station and constant threat of attack. One attack was broken up
by extremely effective firing by the 2nd Platoon mortar squad, commanded by Sgt.
Hillhouse, and the 1st Platoon MG gunner Pvt. Joe Haynes, with other
riflemen. A second attack was stopped by strafing and dive bombing P-51’s
and the Germans massing for a third attack was stopped by a barrage from 4.2
mortars of Co. D 63rd CWS Bn. During that time the S end of Les Arcs was
held by the 2nd Platoon. The 1st Platoon held the right flank while the
left flank was lightly held by scattered men from the 1st Bn. Prior to the
attacks, the 1st Platoon led by Lt. J. P. Witt, reconnoitered deep into enemy
territory where Lt. Witt and Pvt. Salinas were wounded. The 1st Platoon
commanded by S/Sgt. J. V. Benton, then defended the right flank.
At approximately 1500 hours, Co. F
reinforced D. Co., and secured the N end of town. Ten men were sent from
Co. F to reinforce the 2nd Platoon in the S of the town.
During the day, 4 patrols led by Lt.
Starkey penetrated into enemy territory on reconnaissance missions. On D
plus 2, Lt. Starkey finally contacted a patrol from the 3rd Bn. and a
reconnaissance until from the 45th Div. Following this the enemy was
dispersed.
In the section of Les Arcs, the following
were wounded, Lt. Witt, Pvt. Salinas, Pvt. Haynes, Pvt. F. Callucci, Cpl. B.
McKean, Pvt. Gallucci and Cpl. Mo Koan were injured by shelling from German
artillery.
The 3rd Platoon on D plus 1 at 2200 hours
moved to the N side of town and organized defense and sent out 4 patrols to
locate 3rd Bn., without success.
At 0730 hours on D plus 3 the Bn. moved to
new positions 9 miles SE of Les Arcs where the Co. organized positions on high
ground protecting the 7th Army on its right flank.
On "D" plus 6 the Co. moved a l/2 mile W
of Fayence and set up a defense in conjunction with E and F Co’s. They
hold that defense to date ("D" plus 7).
LOREN S. JAMES
1st Lt.,
Inf.
Commanding