Hi Ben,

FRENCH PARATROOPS. I jumped with the Hq. 3^rd machine gun/bazooka section. We had no French paratroopers in this stick. Soon after the jump I replaced Johnny Neiler as S-2. He went to regiment to replace Albin Dearing who was injured on the jump or wounded soon after. In the 3^rd Bn. S-2 Section we had two French paratroops with us for several weeks. According to Red Meline, they did not jump with the section, but we are quite sure they parachuted into France on D Day. Their homes were in that part of S. France. After a few weeks they came to me and said they had not been home for several years and would like to see their families. I wrote up a message to all allied forces for them to carry, asking that they assist the young men in transportation, rations etc. on their way home. After visiting their parents, they came back. They patrolled with us and made themselves useful. After a few weeks we parted company and they went back to their units. Their CO was going to charge them with being AWOL, but dropped charges when I wrote a letter stating that they had been on the lines with us until they were released.. .

We liked them and they liked us and our rations. Language was a problem. We communicated via Rene Benoit our S-2, I Company, French Canadian from Vermont. We lost a 3^rd Bn. man who did not give the countersign quickly enough and that have hastened their departure

PASSWORD & COUNTERSIGN. I remember using the Lafayette Clark mentioned during the first day or two after the jump. I also remember using the crickets just after the jump. Just in case there were any clues in my after action diary, I looked. What I found stumped me:

"I pulled my M-1 out of the Johnson bag, assembled it, inserted a clip and put her on safety. Then by a few ‘Green 2 s’ I got a couple of men from the badly scattered stick. Sgt. Podalac was one of the first, later Sgt. Boyer. We began collecting men and equipment by sending out patrols in all directions. We had 70 or 80 men before we got wind of another officer."

At the time I wrote this, I knew exactly was Green 2 s were and knew it was something I would always remember. So much for the infallible memory. Does this make sense to anyone else? It does not sound like Lafayette, Democracy, or a cricket. Howard Hensleigh

Howard Hensleigh

Dear Ben,

Sorry some of you guys didn’t get your crickets. Joe Calder made sure I got mine. He was a good S-4. He even offered me some vitamin pills to supplement the K rations on which we tried to survive during the Bulge. I carried my cricket for a week or two after it served its original purpose. I became attached to it. I clicked it every once in a while just for old times sake. Eventually when the part that makes the noise broke, I tossed it away. It probably lies in some deserted gully in picturesque Provence. I’m not going to look for it just to prove a point. This wheel chair won’t traverse that rough terrain over which we easily bounded in the days of our youth. If you guys still want a cricket, try the old supply channel, a moonlight requisition, and the VA in that order. Good luck, Howard Hensleigh

Lory Curtis

Ben is right, you did win the war for me and everyone else who enjoys freedom today. Thank you so much for your service and sacrifices. Then and now.

My father does not have email so I relay information to him. I told my dad about the clicker information from Howard Hensleigh,(email #632) and the comments from Tom Cross (email #633). For what it is worth my dad says his memory is correct on this issue about the challenge/password. He firmly remembers the challenge as Democracy and the password as Lafayette not Roosevelt. He also said if soldiers forgot the challenge and password they were to suppose to say Billy-the-Kid.

Lory Curtis, son of Bud Curtis, HQ, 1^st BN

Richard Hammel

Don't remember the password but I did have a CRICKET. Saw several British troopers several days after the drop but no Air force jumpers or French. I remember hearing that or Red Cross man jumped in with us. Richard Hammel Co E.

RICHARD HAMMEL

hammel@coastalnet.com

Randolph Coleman

Ben, I guess I was the only one in the south of France that had a cricket. Glad it did not get me into any trouble with our own troops. Randolph Coleman

Gene Brissey,

I appreciated Bob Christie's note concerning the article by Gen. Dick Seitz. I chose the wrong words, Dick Seitz never left us hanging on anything anytime, He was an outstanding commander and I enjoyed his account of our trek to St. Vith and am looking forward to the conclusion in the next issue of the Thunderbolt. I was with the troops all the way and among other things we spent an exciting night in Hunnange, now named Hunningen, trying to get some sleep in a basement. The area was being shelled all night but it was better than our usual "snow beds'. The family in the house cooked some potatoes for us and we shared our rations with them. With respect to the Thunderbolt, it was well done and I'm sure that it was enjoyed by all. Looking forward to the next issue. Gene

Bob Dalrymple

Dear Ben, I might as wel put in my two cents worth: We used the crickets
in the 596 . I believe the sequence was as stated in a previous Mail
Call . Younger troopers hould b e able to tell us. I don't remember a
sign nor counter sign other than the crickets . Bob

Boom Boom Alicki

For the past 60 years the following words have been indelibly marked on my mind. "Lafayette" and the answer was "We Are Here." Is there anyone from Regimental Headquarters that can verify that?
Bom Boom