Yesterday, I posted the following blog to mark the anniversary (today) of my uncle's last battle with the 509th in WWII.I haven't spoken to my uncle today, and I certainly did not want to bring up the anniversary (as I know he's trying to forget it), but I will always remember what he and his fellow troopers did on this date, 64 years ago in Italy.
And my thanks to everyone who has (or is) serving our country.
In the event anyone here may be interested, I've pasted the blog below.
Thank you.
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In honor of those who serve…
Today, I felt a need to address those in our armed services who have sacrificed much for our nation, both past and present. While it’s neither Veteran’s nor Memorial Day, I thought it would be fitting, nonetheless, as tomorrow marks the 64th anniversary of my uncle’s last (and perhaps bloodiest) battle in WWII.
Still with us at 88 years of age, while still remembering much about his service all those years ago, my uncle has mercifully forgotten most of his combat experiences. I say mercifully as I cannot even begin to imagine what it must’ve been like to have experienced the horrors of war -- to have lived through them, day after day, week after week, month after month -- for the two years of active service he‘d undergone as one of the charter members of the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion.
While many may be familiar with the 506th (thanks to Ambrose’s book and HBO’s Band of Brothers series several years ago), unfortunately, the 509th has been woefully overlooked by history -- even though they were the first (and arguably best) parachute unit in the war.
As a brief history, they were the first American parachute unit deployed overseas -- ever (June 1942 -- a full two years before the much-flaunted 506th ever saw combat). The 509th holds the record for lowest altitude mass parachute jump ever executed: 150 feet (that’s not a typo; it was 150 feet -- August 29, 1942: for an exhibition exercise in Northern Ireland). (My uncle participated in, and remembers that jump: “As soon as I was out of the plane, I was on the ground.”)
On November 8, 1942, the 509th were the first American paratroopers to drop into combat (Operation Torch in North Africa) -- which also holds the record for the longest combat parachute deployment of WWII (1600 miles). (My uncle participated in, and remembers this operation -- most notably for how low the planes were flying over the sea.)
The 509th also holds the distinction of having the first American paratrooper killed in action, the first to receive the Distinguished Service Cross, and the first to receive the Medal of Honor. The unit was also the first to earn the Combat Infantryman Badge. (The unit was also awarded the “red beret” by the British, and was the first American unit to be awarded a foreign badge in WWII: 3rd Zouave.) The 509th’s CO, Edson Raff, was the first American to be awarded the French Legion of Honor.
The 509th was also the first American unit to attack German forces (Faid Pass, Tunisia - Dec. 1942). In September 1943, the 509th conducted the first American pathfinder operation behind enemy lines (Avellino - Sept. 1943), and was the first paratrooper unit to participate in an amphibious invasion (Anzio - Jan. 1944). (My uncle participated in all of the above-mentioned actions.)
In addition, the 509th was the most decorated American parachute battalion of WWII with 1718 Purple Hearts.
Sixty-four years ago today (Monday, February 28, 1944), my uncle and his company (B) was returned to the line at Carano (in the Anzio campaign) to face what would turn out to be his last combat before being rotated home in spring of 1944.
Three months earlier, my uncle’s company had faced the 71st Panzer Grenadier Regt at Venafro (also in Italy) for 33 days -- leaving with just 43 of its original compliment of 92 men.
Just before dawn on Tuesday, 29th February 1944, three German divisions (of the LXXVI Panzer Corps) attacked across the American front, defended by the US 3rd Infantry Division.
The 509th’s B Company was defending an area at a cemetery on a hill, just northeast of Carano when it was struck by elements of the 1028th Panzier Grenadier Regt, and found itself engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat -- outnumbered 3-to-1.
According to Lt. John R. Martin (B Company CO) from the book, Stand In The Door:
“The German artillery and rocket preparation began in earnest at 0530 hours, and when it lifted, they were all over us. The Krauts had reached my Company CP, and all of us were engaged at point-blank range. Grenades were falling all over the place.”
“Things were kind of calm for what seemed like a few minutes, and then heavy firing erupted on our right flank. Some of our boys began to withdraw down the creek, and I sent them back up… I don’t know what happened to them, for their second wave began rolling over us. We were forced down the creek with grenades falling all around us…”
“About this time we began to receive heavy artillery and mortar fire from our own side. Yarborough told me years later that he considered the position lost, and asked for Corps Artillery on the position. It was all downhill from this point.”
According to Capt. Carlos “Doc” Alden (also from Stand In The Door):
“John Martin’s and his company’s stopping, or at any rate slowing down the Germans’ February 29 attack is connected in my memory with one of the saddest experiences that I ever lived through. John Martin and his men did a wonderful job up there. It was without a doubt, horrible for them to go through, yet they did more than could have been expected of them. It was equally horrible for someone to go up afterwards and clean up the mess. It was my job, along with my medics, after the fighting was over to attend to those who were still alive. The sights I saw that day can unravel a guy. The sights of the many shell-torn, bayoneted bodies must be etched unforgettably in the minds of all who walked over that ground. In my own mind, it was by far our roughest day, the roughest certainly that I ever went through emotionally.”
“Even though B Company was practically wiped out, it stopped a push clearly designed to split the beachhead. Somebody had to stand in the way of that drive, and fate handed that honor to B Company. Had the Germans continued on through its positions with a full head of steam, they might well have succeeded in doing that.”
The survivors of B Company were ordered to withdraw, but only a single officer and 22 of his men made it to the main US defensive line farther to the rear. (Obviously, my uncle was one of the 22 survivors -- something which he will not talk about to this day.)
For their actions on that day, the battalion subsequently received a Presidental Unit Citation -- the first American parachute unit to do so.
Presidental Unit Citation --
“The 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action, on 29th February 1944, near “XXX” in Italy. This battalion, depleted in strength after many days of continuous combat, received a terrific enemy artillery barrage during early morning hours. An enemy attack was imminent, and at dawn a German assault wave advanced toward the paratroopers positions. Being considerably outnumbered, the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion held its fire until the last possible moment; then every weapon opened fire cutting huge gaps in the first attacking wave. The enemy faltered in his advance; then surged relentlessly ahead under the shear pressure of large numbers of troops in the rear. The soldiers of the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion fought desperately, disdaining retreat, engaging the overwhelming and constantly increasing German Forces with rifle butts and even fists. Late in the afternoon the German attack was halted. The badly battered but determined paratroopers immediately re-organized in preparation for counterattacks. Outnumbering the paratroopers three to one, the enemy had over-run the front line, but was later held to a standstill, suffering immense losses in men and equipment. The courageous and determined stand made by officers and men of the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion resulted in the retention of a vital sector of the beachhead and prevented a dangerous German wedge between two infantry divisions.”
Talking with my uncle last March, I asked him about his war experiences, and when we‘d finished talking on camera, he related to me that in all of the years since, he has never once watched anything about the war. If he’s flipping through the channels on the television and sees something about the war -- movies, documentaries, anything at all -- he immediately turns it off.
Prior to our interview, when I told my uncle about an offer by a paratrooper re-enactment group for him to participate in a free, all expense-paid trip back to Anzio (for April 2008), he responded, “I’ve seen enough of Anzio.”
I have subsequently understood his reluctance to return.
I mention this only to underscore the sacrifice of all those who have (and still do) serve in our nation’s armed forces -- particularly those in combat, facing horrors which most of us could never (nor want to) imagine.
Liberty is not free.
Those of us who enjoy its fruits today, owe it to those who served when called, sacrificing much -- many never to return.