Ladies and Gentelman:

The primary reason after Normandy we got very few SS as POW s. The 17th SS Slaughtered wounded paras of the 507th and french villagers. Needless to say this became known in the ranks an they took steps.

The volks grenidiers were german army formations that were brought up to stength by Hitler Jugen( Hitler Youth). These were very political people that thought A. Hitler pissed lemonade. We did not like them

Those are the facts as I recall them.

As Ever,

Walter L. Marlowe

( Airborne all the Way)

Can't argue with that reasoning. When an opponent conducts business in such a savage way, it tends to stiffen resolve and motivation across the board. You'll find no critics here.

__________________
On the Plains of Hesitation
lies the blackend bones of countless millions
who, at the dawn of victory sat down to rest,
and resting died....
(author unknown-I wish it was me)

my laugh for the day!

__________________
-Dustin

"Zey send zer hounds! zey to vill find only death!"

Ladies and Gentelman:

On May 19,1944 we were in reciept of Divisional Field Order No.1. My regiment recived 5 copies. All line officers that could do staff work arrived a regimental HQ on the evening May 19 to draft our field order No.1

The divisional field order assigned our mission as follows.
Extract:

502 Parachute Infantry with the 377th Parachute Field Artillery Bn attached linding on Drop Zone "A" will destry the enemy battery located west of ST.MARTIN- DE-VARREVILLE (405980) and will sieze the western edge of the inundated area back of UTAH BEACH between ST. MARTIN-DE- VARREVILLE(405980) and AUDOUVILLE -LA -HUBERT(4096), both inclusive prior to H-hour. It will protect the north flank of the Division within the regimental sector. See Annex No. 3. Upon being relieved by the 4th Inf.Div. it will assemble in place prepared for movement to the southwest. See Annex 3a.

We then wrote regimental Field Order and had it printed before 16o Hours of the 21st of May. We were then told that all present could not leave the unit area with out written permission of the Commanding General. Since we knew the location we were considederd BIGOTED.

When we returned to units all we could say the chore was done. Before I left the conference I asked Fred Drennon a senior 1st Lt. now commanding the Company,if I could have 3 door bundled. He asked what for? I suggested ammo and batteries incaes we could not find the parapacks dropped. He took to see Captain Hatch now Bn Operations Officer and gave his approval.

I told my platoon sergeant ther would no discussion untill regiment gave the OK by I wanted a complete weapons check. Fred Drennon told that a briefing would be held on June 3. All equipment had to have a final check before June 1.

The word came down that our quarters would be changed on June 2. At night I began to read the Michlin Guidebook I had purchased in London. The part about Normandy and St. Martin de varreville got most of the attention.

As Ever,

Walter L. Marlowe

(Airborne All the Way)

Sir,

First of all let me thank you for finding the time to respond to my inquiries via PM. With your permission I would like to share them with the rest of the broad on this thread.

Mr. Marlowe's answer:

Mr. Marlowe,
I have spoken to a local gentleman who was there on D-Day, and after. He said the first time he shot a "kid" in a German uniform it bothered him. He then said that a friend was next to him and was shot, when they found and eliminated the threat it was a very young German boy. After that, he said, "If they are old enough to kill my friends, they're old enough to be killed".
Did you ever experience anything like that?
John

Surfsami:

The only person I killed that I examined was a young panzergrenidier in Holland. In order to notify the Red Cross i had to get his military paybook. It showed that he was drafted just before his 19th birthday and the only job he had had was working on the family farm. I told in my best German to drop his rifle and he didint so I shot.

Sorry i cant give more details but you dont see a lot in combat and things happen quickly.

as Ever,

Walter L. Marlowe

( Airborne all the Way)

Thank you for your reply, I guess I should have made my statement and question more appropiate, I didn't mean to have you recall a graphic event, sorry if that happened, I was more interested in the way you might have felt and dealt with the incident. Thankfully I have never been at war, and hope I never have to fight in one. I can only imagine from my personalities view, and my moral beliefes, how I might react in that situation.
You and other war veterans on this site have given me a great deal of insite, and plenty to reflect upon and to be thankful for. Thank you!

Notify the Red Cross? For what services? Did they help with burial and registry?

Red Cross notifications:

The Geneva Convention required combatants to keep track of POWs and enemy dead buried by you. I turned the info over to the Regimental Casualt Officer for disposition.

You know as much as I did at the time. I also turned the dog tag of any of my people buried in the field. Another reason some men did not want to commanders.

As Ever,

Walter L. Marlowe

( Airborne all the Way)

Mr. Marlow,
I was watching a current movie of which during an action seen more ammunition seemed to be expended than on D-Day itself. How often did you aim as opposed to just laying down a field of fire? It seems todays films show the "bad guys" hosing down the "good guys" with thousands of rounds and never hitting, while the "good guy" methodically snap shoots every one of the "bad guys".
I know this is just Hollywood, but were there times you just pointed in the direction of the enemy and emptied your rifle? Or did you use a very purposed aim?
John

Surfersami:

As an elistedman I was a marksman of some skill before I fired I likesee my target. I feel quite sure that my platoon knew of my marksmanship beliefs and to a large degree adapted them to their own methods. As I have said before runningout of ammo is nota good thing.

Coservation of ammo was near and dear to a units commanders heart.

As Ever,

Walter L. Marlowe

(Airborne all the Way)

Hello Mr. Marlowe,

Thank you for your service and thank you for participating in this fascinating thread. With respect to prisoners; do you recall handing them over to, or working with Joe Pangerl for interrogation? I know he was on IPW detail for a good part of the war.

I know you served with Major Vaughn, did you happen to be with him and the Cole group at the T junction when he was killed?

If you were present I would be curious about your recollection of those events, if it is not too painful.

I know Dick Ladd (502 RHQ S2) was there and has recently shed some additional light on the occurrences that morning.

Thank you very much,

Kevin Distel

kevindistal:

I was on D Day part of the 2nd Bn. My platoon was assigned Exit No. 4 and the St.Martin de Varreville Battery. If we did not get it the 3rd Bn was to pick it up with exit No.3. The D Day plan called for th 4th Divto land at Exit 4. They landed at Exit No.1. The 1st Bn had responsibility for securing it. Thats why Harrison Summers had to take WXYZ on D Day morning.

I did not learn of Jack Vaughns Death until June 7.

As Ever,

Walter L. Marlowe
( Airborne all the Way)

Mr Marlowe, I have two questions if you do not mind.


Did you even encounter any SDKFZ Half-tracks (Manned or empty) in your travels? If so, what did you think of them?


Were you ever forced to use German weapons?

__________________
-Dustin

"Zey send zer hounds! zey to vill find only death!"

Totekopt:

German half track were first encounted by me in the fight at Hill 30 just beyound Carentan. Their armor was not as thick as we thought. The .50 AP round penetrated its side armor easily.

Air cover would make shorth work of them. In Holland IX Fighters mostly P 47s took out both half tracks and German light armored cars.

As Ever,

Walter L. Marlowe

( Airborne all the Way)

Dear Mr. Marlowe,

First of all I would like to extend my utmost gratitude for having fought to help liberate Europe. Thanks to you and so many others, I could enjoy my youth the way I did. Thanks!

I have a question for you : When in Normandy, did you come close to a place called La Madeleine? This was a tiny village about 875 Yards from Utah Beach. I was just wandering how close to Utah Beach you came.
If so, do you remember perhaps any civilians that lived their?

Thierry

__________________
Tour Manager - Beyond Band of Brothers

Thierry:

The 2nd Bn.closer to St. Marcouf than La Madeliene. I got close enough to Utah beach to see the surf on D Day but the 4tyh Division landed at Exit 1 near Poupeville. after D day my unit moved toward Carentan.

I spent a lot of time near RN13. highway and around Carentan.

As Ever,

Walter L. Marlowe

( Airborne all the Way)

Mr Marlowe: Was there a great number of French civilians to be found in Normandy?

Were they usually found in attics and bomb shelters?

__________________
-Dustin

"Zey send zer hounds! zey to vill find only death!"

Totekopf:

Most of the French civil population were people that lived in the small villages. They appeared to be most middle aged. If some could talk to us we had liguist that could interpert.

Most civilian had heard the naval bombardment and stayed under cover.

About June 8 I got to meet my first member of the FFI.

As Ever,

Walter L. Marlowe

( Airborne all the Way)

First I would like to thank you so much for your service. You saved my life quite literately because my grandfather was a Holocaust survivor. I have one question and that is what happened to you after D-Day? I have read and re-read your experiences and I cannot wait to learn more about what you did.

__________________
In memory of the family I will never know:
Moszek Flumenbaum-Great-grandfather
Ruchla Flumenbaum-Great-grandmother
Mania-Malka Flumenbaum-Great Aunt
You died in Treblinka but you live on in those who care about you