Ben:
The US Army Airborne Officer mentioned in
the Co. H, 517th PRCT DRAGOON AFTER ACTION REPORT identified as Lt. Col. Decarue
was in fact Lt. Col. Chet Degarve from Hq. 1st Airborne Task Force. He is
mentioned in several of our DRAGOON After Action Reports each of which spells
his name incorrectly. He later became a General Officer and always spoke highly
of the 517th PRCT and of his experiences with us. Dick Seitz and I believe Bill
Boyle too always spoke well of Chet Degarve
Regards, Tom Cross
Wayne Cross
Dragoon-- After Action Report
Record of Events
Company "I"
"D" Day
At about 0230 hours, the Co. took off for the coast
of Southern France from the airbase at Orvetello in eight C-47 planes. At
about 0430 hours, the entire Co. jumped and landed just outside the town of
Ceillans, which was about 23 miles from the predesignated drop
zone.
Company Headquarters: Upon landing, Capt.
Fastian located a house at which point he was met by Pvt. Egand and Ayers.
After a brief survey of the area, he came to the conclusion that the Co. had
been dropped in the wrong DZ. Since the house was a natural assembly
point, Capt. Fastain stayed there with Pvt. Ayers while Pvt. Egan went to locate
his equipment. After a short while, elements of the Co. began to drift in
and Capt. Fastain told Lt. Birder to take the men to a small hill nearby and set
up a defensive position. Meanwhile, Cpl’s Vastiglione and Kuyscyek and
Pvt. Pisaro came along and they were used at the house as guided by Capt.
Presently Col Zais, Maj. McMahon,
Capt. Pencak, Lt. Preist and many of the
Hqs. Co. communication section joined at the house.
Col. Zais took complete charge of the
situation. After a short while, Col. Zais asked for a report of the Co.,
which, at that time, as all had not arrived, stood at 85 EM and eight
officers. Just as dawn came, a report from Lt. Birder stated that Lt.
Scott,
Pvt. Loeffler, Sigonga, Jerena, Sailor and Ayers were hurt and it was
not likely that they would be able to continue. We were then joined by Lt.
Neiler and his S02 section. In a short while, Col. Zais established his
exact location by questioning some French civilians.
Soon a group of British paratroopers joined us with
their Capt. in Command. Maj. McMahon revealed a severely bad cut on his
right leg and was given first aid and decided to continue with us. At
about 0800 hours, Col. Zais ordered Capt. Fastain to form the Co. and move out
in the direction of St. Clariers, the next town in the direction of the
Regimental area. As this was being done, P-38’s dropped small bombs on us,
no doubt thinking we were the enemy. Capt. Fencak set up a yellow smoke
pot and soon the planes recognized us as friendly troops. We moved out at
about 0830 hours cross-country and at 1000 hours, Col. Zais ordered a halt, at
which time the three platoons set up a perimeter defense.
At 1800 hours, we moved down the road towards St.
Clariers, and as we crossed at a railroad, Col. Zais ordered that the section be
blown up. This was done by
Lt. Ronton and some men. We passed
through the town of St. Clariers and continued on towards the town of
Callas. About l/2 mile from the town, Col. Zais ordered a halt for the
night and again the three platoons took up a perimeter
defense.
First Platoon: After landing at the DZ, the
elements of the platoon preceded to the Co. assembly area to Lt. Birder and the
Platoon leader, Lt. Terrell, reported that
Cpl. Bailey, Pvt. Loeffler,
Sibonga, Jerene and Sailor were injured and that Pvt. Clark was missing.
After searching the Co. assembly area, the platoon put out its local
security. Then the order came to move out, the 1st Platoon took its
position in the march, that of support platoon.
Second Platoon: Upon landing on the DZ, they
assembled with the rest of the Co. and also set up a local security. Lt.
Stotte reported to Lt. Birder that he had sustained a back injury and that Cpl.
Boyer, Sgt. Miller and Pvt. Hughes were missing. When the order came to
move out, the 2nd Platoon and rear guard. After preceding a short way, the
injured men could no longer continue. Capt. Fastain ordered Lt. Stotte to
remain behind with Cpl. Bailey, Pvts. Loeffler, Sibonga, Jerence and
Sailor. At this time, Sgt. Miller and Pvt. Hughes joined the platoon and
since Pvt. Hughes was hurt, he also stayed behind. After obtaining all
necessities, Lt. Stotte took charge of the group at a nearby farm house and the
rest of the Co. moved on. Lt. Stotte then moved himself to a nearby hill
where he and the men dug in and put out local security.
Pvt. Bennett, a platoon medic was also left behind
with Lt. Stotte to aid the injured men. At 1500 hours, four French
patriots approached the group. They left and later returned with a Scotch
Lt. and a truck, which the group boarded and proceeded to the town of
Seallans. There they went to a small hotel and were treated by a local
doctor, after which the group rested outside of town in a barn for the
night.
Third Platoon: Upon landing, the platoon was
guided to the assembly and set up its local security. Lt. Feaney, in his
report to Lt. Birder, stated that Pvts. King and Colli were missing. When
the order came to move out, the 3rd Platoon formed the advance party of the Co.
and moved out as directed by Col. Zais.
"D" Plus One
Company Headquarters: At 0730 hours, the Co.
moved out towards the town of Callas. We passed through the town and
continued on towards the Regimental area which was the town of St.
Rosseline. At about 1030 hours, we met a jeep, our first sight of one I
France. Capt. Brooks and another officer were in the jeep and informed
Col. Zais the location of ABTF Headquarters. We passed hundreds of
American and British Gliders enroute. They were badly smashed and showed
signs of many casualties. At 1500 hours, we passed through the town of La
Motte, and at 1630 hours, we reached our Regimental Area at St. Rosseline.
During the march, a few men dropped out, but they rejoined their platoons later
on. At 1900 hours, the Col. Called the Commanding Officers and told them
that the Bn. would proceed to a AA outside the town of Les Arcs and would attack
in the morning. We moved out to our forward position, but enroute the
attack order was changed to 1945 hour that night. We reached our position
and
Capt. Fastaia received the attack order from Col. Zais. Musette
bags were dumped at a nearby shack and the Co. went into the attack
position. The first platoon was on the left, rear of the formation.
We attacked as ordered after a heavy concentration of 12 mortars was placed on
the enemy. The Co. on our left met some enemy resistance. At 2000
hours, we captured three enemy who were lying in the vineyards. They were
placed under guard by the men of Co. Hqs. and we advanced to the outskirts of
Les Arcs. We halted on an order from Col. Zais and set up defensive
positions for the night. A squad led by Colo. Reyacyck went to the town of
Les Arcs and reported that no enemy were in the town.
First Platoon: This platoon became the advance party
of the Co. and led the entire way to St. Rosseline where we joined the rest of
the Bn. On the attack, the platoon occupied the left sector of the Co.
area and accomplished its mission. At 2000 hours, Cpl. Wulton and Staff
Sargeant Shenk noticed movements in the vineyard. They investigated and
found it was five Germans, which they captured. Upon reaching the halt for
the night, the platoon set up its security and dug in.
Second Platoon: This platoon, with Lt. Renton in
command remained as support throughout the day and during the attack, they
searched out all houses and barns in their sector. They found much German
equipment, but no enemy. Lt. Stott and his group meanwhile moved his
injured men to houses throughout the town where they were cared for by the
friendly villagers. Lt. Stott and a French Cpl. And five Patriots boarded
a truck and went to a bridge which they blew up. They saw a German truck
coming in the direction of the bridge and when the bridge was blown, a falling
rock from the bridge demolished the truck completely and killed its lone
driver.
Third Platoon: The platoon became the rear guard of
the formation throughout the march and when in the attack position it occupied
the right sector of the Co. formation. After they had taken defensive
positions for the night halt, Cpl. Ryescyck led a squad to the town of Los Arcs
and reported no enemy activity in the town. The platoon dug in and set up
security for the night.
"D" Plus Two
At dawn, we moved forward and attacked the left
section of the town of Los Arcs. The formation was still the same in the
Com, but I Co. and H Co. switched sections and
I Co. now occupied the left
sector of the attack. Enroute, Capt. Fastais met Lt. Starkey and he was
informed that Co. been in the right part of the town during the night. The
2nd Platoon picked up a prisoner in one of the houses and he was added to the
other three. We took our section of Les Arcs and Col. Zais gave the Co.
the left sector while the 2nd Platoon remained in support. We dug in and
took defensive positions for the rest of the day.
First Platoon: The attack continued with the 1st
Platoon still on the left of our sector. No resistance was encountered and
upon reaching the objective, the platoon took the forward position, dug in, and
continued to send out patrols throughout the day. Pvt. Coark rejoined the
platoon at 1030 hours.
Second Platoon: The platoon, still in support,
continued its mission of cleaning out houses and barns and that the lead
elements had by-passed. At one of these barns,
Pvts. Sparga and
Patterson picked up a German hiding inside. Upon reaching the objective,
the platoon remained in support, but a patrol of 12 men led by Sgt. Dallas,
investigated a house and reported German bicycles but no riders.
Meanwhile,
Pvts. Britsky, Egan, Carall, Cornett, Moore and Conwyenck, with
their LMG, were sent under the command of Lt. Heinsleigh of Hqs. Co. and a
section of that Co.’s bazooka’s to guard the crossroad on the rear left flank of
the town of Les Arcs. Meantime, Lt. Stott with his group, were shown by
the French a load of chutes, MG’s and mortars and ammo that they (the French)
had collected. Pvt. Bennett and 11 French Patriots boarded a truck to pick
up some Italian prisoners. One returning truck turned over killing one man
and injuring Pvt. Bennett’s left arm. Lt. Stott and Pvt. Hughes and a
Frenchman proceeded to a nearby bridge which they blew up. The time was
2300 hours. Then Lt. Stott met
Capt. Renna and Sgt. Palmer of the SSF
and informed Lt. Stott that Germans were in the vicinity. Lt. Stott sent
out a patrol, reported back no German activity.
Third Platoon: The platoon continued on the right
sector during the attack and after reaching the objective of Les Arcs, set up a
defensive position and dug in. A small patrol at 0600 hours consisting of
Sgt. Russell, Pvt. A. C. Fields and Holbrook were fired upon by a German sniper
and they immediately returned fire and killed the sniper and discovered a 50
Cal. MG (American) which had been captured by the Germans near the dead
sniper. There were three dead Germans by the 50 Cal MG, apparently killed
by the French. The next day the Bn. moved out to a position to protect 7th
Army right flank.
MARTIN J. FASTAI
Capt., 517 Prcht.
Inf.
Commanding